Nova SS 327

This is going to be a model of my third car. It was a 325 HP 327 with a Muncie 4 speed still in original paint. But it was not a pretty or even well maintained car when I got it.

I started by painting and weathering the chassis and engine bay.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v92/Scale-Master/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05477_zps0mtpj72r.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Scale-Master/media/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05477_zps0mtpj72r.jpg.html)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v92/Scale-Master/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05478_zpsmwwg6ktq.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Scale-Master/media/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05478_zpsmwwg6ktq.jpg.html)

The engine was filthy. The Chevy Orange was barely visible under the grunge. I still need to work the weathering and grime as I build more on the engine.
The wiring was special too. (This is how I got it.) There were “insulators” made of foil tape to protect the #2 and #4 wires from the (rusty) exhaust manifolds. It had stock ignition wires, and I think the ones on the model are in a lot better condition…
It had nice aluminum valve covers, I sourced them for the model from the AMT ’70 Z/28.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v92/Scale-Master/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05480_zpsji8j7ybf.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Scale-Master/media/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05480_zpsji8j7ybf.jpg.html)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v92/Scale-Master/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05479_zps1xiec4zn.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Scale-Master/media/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05479_zps1xiec4zn.jpg.html)

nice so far,
That engine looks great, whats your weathering technique ?

Basically I build and paint as if it were going to be clean, then I use a variety of washes and spray finishes to build up the grime, rust, dirt, etc. I like the Tamiya acrylics for the washes. Mostly I use Light Earth, Flat Black and Rust. I've also been experimenting with a cold galvanizing coating for texture and a light dusty gray effect.

I used the kit provided steel wheels but I used the tires from the Revell ’67 Camaro since they looked closer to what was on the car.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v92/Scale-Master/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05476_zpsla5o6mvq.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Scale-Master/media/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05476_zpsla5o6mvq.jpg.html)

The rear suspension has been installed.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v92/Scale-Master/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05482_zpsxhlj5xeq.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Scale-Master/media/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05482_zpsxhlj5xeq.jpg.html)
And the engine bay is ready for the motor.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v92/Scale-Master/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05481_zpsae12wo54.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Scale-Master/media/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05481_zpsae12wo54.jpg.html)
I added an upper bracket for the alternator, made out of aluminum.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v92/Scale-Master/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05483_zpsafvmyg5z.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Scale-Master/media/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05483_zpsafvmyg5z.jpg.html)

The engine is in. Still more fine-tuning of the sheen is required.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v92/Scale-Master/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05486_zpshmjnlrft.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Scale-Master/media/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05486_zpshmjnlrft.jpg.html)
And the exhaust has been installed. The exhaust on the real car was cheesy. Original and rusty pipes ran from the manifolds and were cut off mid-car and metallic blue glass packs were sloppily welded on. No muffler hangers were used. (I think there were some welding rods or coat hangers wrapped around the cross-member; I’ll add them later.) The car smoked a bit so I figured there was probably some soot around the outlets.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v92/Scale-Master/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05485_zpshgcbivfh.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Scale-Master/media/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05485_zpshgcbivfh.jpg.html)
I made the glass packs from brass and aluminum. The pipes are from the kit cut short.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v92/Scale-Master/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05484_zps4foassg3.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Scale-Master/media/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05484_zps4foassg3.jpg.html)

The front suspension is installed and I added the “muffler hangers” to the cross-member.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v92/Scale-Master/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05496_zpszgwiehev.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Scale-Master/media/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05496_zpszgwiehev.jpg.html)
The radiator and core support are installed too.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v92/Scale-Master/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05497_zpsrmbuouwp.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Scale-Master/media/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05497_zpsrmbuouwp.jpg.html)
I test fitted the body and I can see I’ll have some minor adjustments to do to get the front wheels aligned a bit better.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v92/Scale-Master/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05494_zpsixi8frq5.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Scale-Master/media/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05494_zpsixi8frq5.jpg.html)
I primed the body along the mold seams and will use that as a guide when I prep the body.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v92/Scale-Master/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05495_zps5vyenumq.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Scale-Master/media/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05495_zps5vyenumq.jpg.html)

The real car had some nasty worn out and stinky carpet. I used black flocking for the carpet, but tinted it with dirt. I purposely did not go for a nice uniform texture since a lot of the padding was gone, and there were cracks all over the carpet. The interior that “junkyard smell”. (I don’t recall ever vacuuming it.)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v92/Scale-Master/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05498_zpstit7cj3l.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Scale-Master/media/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05498_zpstit7cj3l.jpg.html)

Since the back seat had been removed from the real car I made a panel to represent the stamped steel detail of the rear bulkhead.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v92/Scale-Master/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05499_zpszsxqxtq0.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Scale-Master/media/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05499_zpszsxqxtq0.jpg.html)

The top of the driver’s door had the paint worn through (from resting an arm on it I’m sure) and was rusting a bit too.
The bottoms of doors had red and black furry carpet glued to them.
The kit comes with a bench seat and two custom buckets. I used resin copies I cast for the ’68 Camaro and cut the headrests off.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v92/Scale-Master/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05500_zpsysvvtja6.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Scale-Master/media/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05500_zpsysvvtja6.jpg.html)

I cut apart the dual air clear that came in the kit to make the little Pep Boys style one the car had. Unless I decide to make it dirtier I think the engine bay is done.
I also added the Hurst T-handle using a resin piece I made for the ’68 and ‘73 Camaros. Ironically it is the exact same T-handle I had in my ’73 Vega.
By cementing the interior to the firewall I was able to tweak the warp in the chassis so all four tires touch the ground now.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v92/Scale-Master/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05506_zpstfaftist.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Scale-Master/media/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05506_zpstfaftist.jpg.html)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v92/Scale-Master/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05504_zpsihsmbded.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Scale-Master/media/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05504_zpsihsmbded.jpg.html)

this is coming along nice, i like it!

I used a light blue for the undercoat.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v92/Scale-Master/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05507_zpszvxj2uyb.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Scale-Master/media/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05507_zpszvxj2uyb.jpg.html)
Then I did a quickie Testors enamel airbrush job knowing it did not have to look great since it will get a weather beaten finish. Typical; don’t care about the paint job and it comes out nice without even any dirt. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v92/Scale-Master/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05509_zpsftsu1znp.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Scale-Master/media/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05509_zpsftsu1znp.jpg.html)

lookin good.

Thanks, now it's time to make the body look less good and more like the real car was.


I started knocking down the shine and removing some of the depth with wet 2000 grit sandpaper. (Yes, only a few hours after painting it with Testors enamel.) The hood is how shiny the paint was before sanding for comparison. It also shows how the blue looks lighter after sanding.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v92/Scale-Master/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05510_zpsbcctoomt.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Scale-Master/media/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05510_zpsbcctoomt.jpg.html)

Awesome! I love the weathered look & extra "shoddy" detailing! Very realistic!

Thanks!

The interior is done as is the engine & bay. I made decals (including the Super Sport script) for the dash and the Hurst shifter. The steering wheel is from the Revell ’69 Camaro and matches what was in my car.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v92/Scale-Master/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05512_zps6wejedpu.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Scale-Master/media/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05512_zps6wejedpu.jpg.html)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v92/Scale-Master/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05513_zpstt0kbioa.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Scale-Master/media/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05513_zpstt0kbioa.jpg.html)

I started to grub up the bumpers and grille.
If the plate TSN 662 seems at all familiar it is because it was included in the R/M ’67 Corvette Coupe kit. I chose to use the plates off my Nova when I drew the decal art for that kit. These plates are only a little different from what came in the Corvette and the annual tags are for 1983, not ’67.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v92/Scale-Master/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05516_zpschurcv13.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Scale-Master/media/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05516_zpschurcv13.jpg.html)

I sanded the entire body with 2000 in a very similar way I’d polish out a “good” paint job, but with no worries of accidentally sanding through an edge. In this case I purposely sanded through the metallic blue to the light blue in some places (on the hood, front fender side peaks and rear quarter panels mostly so far) to make the paint look worn through. I’ll add some metal shades and rust once I get the paint worn appropriately.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v92/Scale-Master/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05514_zpszezxlsy2.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Scale-Master/media/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05514_zpszezxlsy2.jpg.html)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v92/Scale-Master/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05515_zps3qkc5z4n.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Scale-Master/media/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05515_zps3qkc5z4n.jpg.html)

I figured since I was going to tone down the chrome anyway I’d just hand paint the window trim instead of using BMF. Sure took a lot less time…
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v92/Scale-Master/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05518_zpsnbxgoa4n.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Scale-Master/media/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05518_zpsnbxgoa4n.jpg.html)

I continued to “spot sand” some areas to distress them more. I also started to add some wear and grime with paints.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v92/Scale-Master/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05519_zps3fiancyx.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Scale-Master/media/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05519_zps3fiancyx.jpg.html)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v92/Scale-Master/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05520_zpsbbjghmtb.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Scale-Master/media/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05520_zpsbbjghmtb.jpg.html)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v92/Scale-Master/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05521_zpss0tkdjno.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Scale-Master/media/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05521_zpss0tkdjno.jpg.html)

Looks like it is about ready for glass and final assembly…
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v92/Scale-Master/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05527_zpsorgweejl.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Scale-Master/media/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05527_zpsorgweejl.jpg.html)
The underhood blanket needs some fine tuning, but I need to let it dry more first.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v92/Scale-Master/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05528_zpsady3lskf.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Scale-Master/media/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05528_zpsady3lskf.jpg.html)

I made a dirt wash for the glass. It’s not uniform, but then often dew dripping down dusty glass isn’t. I installed the side view mirror too.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v92/Scale-Master/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05529_zpsls3kti4u.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Scale-Master/media/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05529_zpsls3kti4u.jpg.html)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v92/Scale-Master/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05530_zpszc6bevw2.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Scale-Master/media/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05530_zpszc6bevw2.jpg.html)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v92/Scale-Master/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05532_zpstnozioic.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Scale-Master/media/Nova%20SS%20327/DSC05532_zpstnozioic.jpg.html)

It's done:
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=7166133#post7166133