In work: Viper GTS

Hello there !!
My latest project, a AMT 1:25 Viper GTS Coupe that Im restoring. It was started many years ago, but luckily never finished so all the clear parts and details were still in good condition.

I stripped all the paint and started over:

http://plexxi.c-sam.nu/viper/bilder/DSC01512%20kopia.jpg

The engine has been rebuilt and slightly detailed.

http://plexxi.c-sam.nu/viper/bilder/DSC02497%20kopia.jpg
http://plexxi.c-sam.nu/viper/bilder/DSC02499%20kopia.jpg

The body was then primered and sanded:

http://plexxi.c-sam.nu/viper/bilder/DSC02500%20kopia.jpg


For paint, I mixed a special lemon yellow color from some Tamiya X-8 Lemon (!) Yellow and X-2 white, about 50-50.
The painted body was then masked up and I sprayed some gunmetal colored stripes. The gunmetal paint was mixed by X-11 Chrome silver and a touch of X-1 Black

http://plexxi.c-sam.nu/viper/bilder/DSC02512%20kopia.jpg

Right after this picture disaster struck !
I was too quick and didn't let the yellow paint harden fully. The result was that the masking tape made some pretty serious damage to the yellow paintjob. Damn.
Had to wait a week or so and then sand the yellow down again to a smooth finish, mask the stripes and shoot a new coat of yellow.
Now it looks better, but there are still some minor stuff to fix before clearcoating. I'm really pleased with the colour choise at least. The gunmetal and lemon yellow really looks good together dont you think?

http://plexxi.c-sam.nu/viper/bilder/DSC02535%20kopia.jpg
http://plexxi.c-sam.nu/viper/bilder/DSC02539%20kopia.jpg

Nice restoring work. :)
Lemon Yellow and gun metal stripes looks cool.
Keep up the V10 monster project!

Nice color! I agree with Kunta, the yellow and gunmetal goes very nice together and the engine looks really good.
Keep it up!

/Fredrik

looks good!!

Looks awsome!

Nice colour choice.

Those stripes looks very smooth. Keep up the good work.

That color combo is awesome!! Keep us posted on the progress of your resto!!

Nice! :smokin:

sweet :D

Hey,

Awsome! Color combo works great. Nice detail on the engine too. Keep up the great work.

Frank X.

Looks good. I love vipers, that’s probably why I got a job where I work with them every day... anyway don’t forget that the vents on the top of the hood are black...

http://gallery.viperclub.org/data/509/100472001-acr-yellow-blackstripes-med.jpg

http://gallery.viperclub.org/data/510/3596185IMG_2795web-med.jpg

This is going to be a good looking snake when finished. You sure did find my soft spot, yellow paint jobs....sigh! Looks very good indeed!

Keep us posted.
Niclas

Edit: Men hur f-n lyckas du jobba med dessa akrylfärger? Av alla jag försökt så är det bara en som blivit duglig, alla andra har sett bra ut men gått åt fanderns innnan de blivit klara. Tycker den är för mjuk och vill aldrig härda ordentligt, har en lastbil som efter ett år fortfarande inte gick att peta på ordenligt utan att sabba lacken!?

Great Restoration!!!!

Today I have been fabricating some nice wheels.
The box wheels looked really small. Here is a short How-to on wheel and tyre fabrication:

First you need some plastic tubes. I found these 23 mm tubes used for electric installations in walls.
Cut it off using a sharp knife:

http://plexxi.c-sam.nu/viper/bilder/DSC02550%20kopia.jpg

For theese wheels I will use the stock rims as a center. I cut off some thinner tubes that fit inside the bigger ones as support for the centers:

http://plexxi.c-sam.nu/viper/bilder/DSC02551%20kopia.jpg

Make a chamfer on the edges to get a nice rounded lip of the rims:

http://plexxi.c-sam.nu/viper/bilder/DSC02553%20kopia.jpg

Then get the Bare metal foil out:

http://plexxi.c-sam.nu/viper/bilder/DSC02554%20kopia.jpg

Then I put the centers in. Looks pretty nice already:

http://plexxi.c-sam.nu/viper/bilder/DSC02557%20kopia.jpg

I did some testing today, and discoverd that you can make your own tyres (slicks at least) out of self vulcanizing rubber tape. This tape starts to vulcanize when you stretch it out, and then the tape layers bond together forming a solid rubber layer. If you put the last layer with a little overlap over the "sidewall" of the tyre it will get nice and smooth. Takes some practice, but soon you can get pretty decent tyres that are made out of real rubber !
(I missed a little bit on the edge of the rim where the BMF splitted):

http://plexxi.c-sam.nu/viper/bilder/DSC02559%20kopia.jpg

The final result is pretty "bling": :naughty:

http://plexxi.c-sam.nu/viper/bilder/DSC02561%20kopia.jpg

Oh, and by the way: Thanks for all the nice comments guys !

Proosen: Det gäller att inte lägga för tjocka lager. då torkar det fasen aldrig...

Wow, that's a very nice way to make tires. Where did you get that vulcanizing rubber tape? This is something I'll have to try! Have you tried Alclad2? If not give it a try and make chrome without any hazzle!

Niclas

I bought the tape and the tubes at Clas Ohlson.
(swedish shop).
Haven't tried the alclad paint yet, but it seems nice. Do you know where to get it in sweden (stockholm)? Harambee hobby?

Looks pretty good already, Martin. May I just say that on almost every Revell Viper I've seen built the hood doesn't fit too well and spoils the realism factor, so this is perhaps something to look out for.

What is the original purpose of this self-vulcanising rubber?

Thanks. I have test fitted the hood before painting (pic 1) but I know it will be a nightmare to put all three pieces (hood, bumper and body) togehter.
By the way this is the AMT kit (same as revell?)

I think the vulcanizing tape is mainly used for fixing leaks, isolating electrical wires etc. Can be found in most hardware stores.

hmm. thats pretty cool- looks like your an electrician to me ;) Anyways, i might have to try that some time, i bet it'd give a pretty good effect.

I bought the tape and the tubes at Clas Ohlson.
(swedish shop).
Haven't tried the alclad paint yet, but it seems nice. Do you know where to get it in sweden (stockholm)? Harambee hobby?

Rebell hobby (http://www.rebell.com) har Alclad, ligger i Solna! Sorry about that to all of you guys that don't speak swedish, it's about a shop in Stockholm, just follow the link, it's in english to.

Niclas

That is awsome!

Sweet! i might try that with the tyres. Keep us posted!

Thats very bling indeed! I´m also planning on making my own wheels, we´ll see how that turns out but anyway I´ve said it before and I say it again, great progress!

/Fredrik

Those wheels are sweet. They are awsome. The paintjob is awsome also. Nice job so far.

Looks superb, great modeling........ :smile:

Mike

Ok a small update. Made some front wheels today and mocked up the hood and front bumper to check the stance of the car.

Also fabricated a rear wing after being inspired by Kunta's fabrication of the Pantera wing. Not sure if I will use it or not since the viper looks pretty good anyway. We will see..

http://plexxi.c-sam.nu/viper/bilder/DSC02578%20kopia.jpg
http://plexxi.c-sam.nu/viper/bilder/DSC02580%20kopia.jpg
http://plexxi.c-sam.nu/viper/bilder/DSC02582%20kopia.jpg

looks good! Can we se ow it looks with the wing please? keep it up!

Very cool!! Great idea!!!!

Nice job with the color scheme. The rims look great, keep up the good work.

gorgeous colour and great work overall!

So nice to have people doing stuff that's easily explained, that way we can all benefit from it (this in saying the wing looks very nice)

Oli