Corvette Z06 gift project

The Corvette is my 26 year old sister's favorite car. Since I am in high school, I can't exactly get her one, so I'm settling for a model. At first, I planned to get Revell's 2004 Z06 Le Mans Commemorative edition car, but then I looked up at my shelf and realized that, Hey! I have a 2001 Z06 right there, already built! Actually, though, it would have been better if it were not already built, because I had done a pretty terrible job the first time around. So I took it down, tore it apart, and began yet another restoration (something I'd promised myself I would never again do). :shakehead I ordered a new wheel retainer, two mirror housings, a mirror, and decals from Revell, then put the body, hood, and wheels into a pan and sprayed them with oven cleaner. The chrome came off the wheels easily, but it took two sessions of soaking to get all the paint and primer off the body. Once it was clean, I removed the rear deck lid, filed it down to a more realistic thickness, and made some paper-clip hinges for it. Then, I sprayed the body, hood, trunk lid, and new mirror housings with Plasti-Kote auto body primer (which I've found to be much better than Testors). After a sanding with 2000 grit, I sprayed a few coats of dark blue. My sister doesn't like the regular blue color of the Corvette, but her favorite color is the dark navy blue. Testors' so-called "Dark blue" is almost the same as the regular blue, so I darkened it with gloss black. My first paint session was not so great--I wore through the paint when polishing. The second time around, I darkened the paint a little more, sprayed a good even coat, then, once it was dry, applied the emblem decals and covered it with 7 coats of GlossCote (clear). This polished out great--I only wore through on the left "Z06" emblem, chipping the "06" off. A little touch of silver paint was good enough to fix this. After polishing, I applied Bare-Metal Black Chrome foil to the trim, painted some semi-gloss black, and then put Bare-Metal chrome foil in all the light bezels. Here are the results:
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/472219Corvette_Z06_body_front-med.jpg
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/472219Corvette_Z06_body_rear-med.jpg
In the meantime, I started the engine. Sorry about hardly any progress pics--I wasn't thinking about posting when I started (this is my first WIP post). Here are some shots of the engine in its almost-completed state. Still to be added is a wiring harness, the fuel rail covers, and an oil cap.
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/472219Corvette_Z06_engine_0--front-med.jpg
It's hard to see in this picture (which darkened for some reason :screwy: ), but I added a completely new drive belt, made of masking tape. The kit part was about the size of a 2x4, so it had to be fixed. I also replaced the crank pulley with a handbuilt one, and built a bracket and new cap for the power steering fluid tank. You can also see the oil fill tube (at left) that will connect the oil cap (on top of the fuel rail cover) with the valve cover.
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/472219Corvette_Z06_engine_0--left-med.jpg
You'll notice a pipe near the exhaust manifold in this picture. That is what I assume to be an air injection pipe. It took two different sizes of copper wire and numerous bits of carefully shaped sheet plastic to make the complicated valve assembly (again, hard to see).
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/472219Corvette_Z06_engine_0--right-med.jpg
This picture shows a good view of the tranny fluid cooler lines that I added. To fit together the two different sizes of wire replicating a pipe and a hose respectively, I used a piece of .04" sheet plastic, drilled a hole through it, superglued the two wires into either side of it, then ground it into a hex shape with my Dremel sanding wheel to make it look like a fitting. This technique works well for everything from power steering to A/C.
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/472219Corvette_Z06_engine_0--top-med.jpg
This picture shows a good view of the dipstick I made. I glued a drilled-out disk of .01" sheet plastic to the top of a wire, then painted it heavily with gloss yellow to make it look molded, like a real plastic dipstick handle. You can also see my fuel cross-over ( I filed the molded-on one off), and its valve (driver's side), plus my vacuum/emissions hoses to the throttle body. The big one around back is either EGR or AIR. I don't think it can be seen in any picture, but I added spark plug wires from the ignition modules to the plugs, as well. Now, for the wiring harness.
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/472219Corvette_Z06_wiring_1-med.jpg
This shot illustrates my method of plotting a harness. Although I don't have much reference material, I guessed about the routing of the harness. Since most of the engine details are covered by the fuel rail covers, the wiring is simple--I only need connections to the PCM (which is under the battery, and not visible), alternator, idle air control valve (which I discovered after making my harness; I will just make a stub of wiring that disappears into the fuel rail cover), IAT sensor, MAF sensor, and TPS. The bottom of the page in the picture shows my "looping diagram;" since there are about six wire ends (two to the alternator, and the third will just be a stub), I need three loops. These loops of wire tie the harness together and make it easier to contruct. The top diagram on the paper is a 1:1 chart showing how long my wires need to be.
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/472219Corvette_Z06_wiring_2-med.jpg
Here are my three loops, made of .13mm wire.
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/472219Corvette_Z06_wiring_3-med.jpg
Here I've cut a strip of masking tape to wrap the harness with.
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/472219Corvette_Z06_wiring_4-med.jpg
This picture shows the first two loops tied together with tape. The wire to the far left, already wrapped, goes to the the PCM. The T off of it goes to the TPS.
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/472219Corvette_Z06_wiring_5-med.jpg
To replicate the convulted tubing used in modern harnesses, I've wrapped .13mm wire around a larger .29mm piece of copper wire. It does not work to wrap it directly around the core wire of the harness, because that wire is too small and bends too much. Besides, most convulted tubing is larger than the wires inside of it by quite a bit. For the even tinier tubing, I just paint the wires black.
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/472219Corvette_Z06_wiring_6-med.jpg
Here I've slipped that tubing coil over the TPS wire. This really adds realism; while tape is fine for the entire harness in a muscle car, since they used electrical tape for harnesses back then, modern cars just don't look right with tape on the little wires. It's fine for big sections, though.
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/472219Corvette_Z06_wiring_7-med.jpg
Here I've taped the rest of the way over to where the alternator wires T off. This is as far as the tape will be going on this harness. It's taking shape now.
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/472219Corvette_Z06_wiring_8-med.jpg
Here I've added a tubing coil to the alternator wires and another to the main part of the harness. I stuck the main harness wire into the middle of the tube so that a section of tube is T'd off for the MAF sensor. I had planned to loop the MAF with the alternator, but discovered that two wires don't fit in this size of tube, so I just put stubs in the MAF and alternator tubes. With superglue to hold everything together, it works fine.
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/472219Corvette_Z06_wiring_9-med.jpg
Here, the tubing is complete, all the way to the IAT sensor (on the air duct in front of the radiator). That big bump halfway down is the MAF sensor tubing; it's just a weird camera angle that hides it. You can see it in the previous picture.
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/472219Corvette_Z06_wiring_10-med.jpg
Here I've added connectors. There is one tiny one for the alternator (the other two alternator wires have a boot and a screw-on terminal, respectively). I also added the TPS/connector, which I carved from sheet plastic.
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/472219Corvette_Z06_wiring_11-med.jpg
Here, I've added another tape wrap to the main part of the harness to make it larger. Then, I painted the harness with semi-gloss black. The alternator connector is gray, and one of the wires is red. Although this harness is simple, the same process can be done to any harness. For example, a '99 Mustang Cobra that I am building has an engine harness with 17 wire loops and over 20 connectors/senders/sensors. It just takes patience and finesse. I just finished this harness last night, so I haven't yet installed it! Keep tuned for more updates to the engine. In the meantime...
The interior:
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/472219Corvette_Z06_interior--done_front-med.jpg
This forum really darkened my pictures! This one was easy to see before. You might be able to see my seatbelts--they are masking tape, with sheet plastic and wire buckles and hangers.
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/472219Corvette_Z06_interior--done_rear-med.jpg
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/472219Corvette_Z06_interior--done_side-med.jpg
I also added flocking; the color is done all with paint. The kit seat, dash, and door panel decals were too bright and obscured detail. I just masked and sprayed Insignia Red and semi-gloss black.
Now, the brakes: I'm never content to leave kit parts the way they are. The Corvette has vented disc brakes, so I went ahead and made them. Here is a step by step procedure:
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/472219Corvette_Z06_brakes--in_progress_1-med.jpg
I drew 12 circles on .01" sheet plastic with a compass and cut them out. Six were 13mm (which is 13 inches in 1:1 scale), while six (the rear brake parts) were 12mm. Here are three of the 13mm parts.
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/472219Corvette_Z06_brakes--in_progress_2-med.jpg
Here I've divided one of the discs into 32nds with a pencil.
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/472219Corvette_Z06_brakes--in_progress_3-med.jpg
I cut out 32 little triangles, leaving 32 points, which are on the pencil marks.
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/472219Corvette_Z06_brakes--in_progress_4-med.jpg
This picture is blurry, but you can see that I am drilling out the centers of the discs with a pin vise to make the centers big enough for a straight pin.
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/472219Corvette_Z06_brakes--in_progress_5-med.jpg
This picture is also blurry, but you can see that I have glued the modified disc to one of the regular ones, aligning them with a pin. I used liquid cement for this because it doesn't melt the plastic like tube glue.
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/472219Corvette_Z06_brakes--in_progress_6-med.jpg
Another blurry shot. Here, I've glued the other regular disc in place, sandwiching the pointy disc between. Now, I'm boring out the center hole. If this picture were clearer, you could see the 32 little vents in the edge of the brake.
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/472219Corvette_Z06_brakes--in_progress_7-med.jpg
Here is a kit brake. I'm sawing off the hub part, which is used to mount the brakes.
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/472219Corvette_Z06_brakes--in_progress_8-med.jpg
Here's the hub removed...
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/472219Corvette_Z06_brakes--in_progress_9-med.jpg
...and cleaned up.
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/472219Corvette_Z06_brakes--in_progress_10-med.jpg
Here, I've glued the hub to one of my new brakes.
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/472219Corvette_Z06_brakes--in_progress_11-med.jpg
Next, I removed the caliper from the kit part.
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/472219Corvette_Z06_brakes--in_progress_12-med.jpg
You can't see it, but the caliper is cleaned up and has a notch in the bottom for mounting.
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/472219Corvette_Z06_brakes--in_progress_13-med.jpg
Here is my new brake and the caliper ready for assembly--I've cut a bit of the brake off so that the caliper will fit.
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/472219Corvette_Z06_brakes--in_progress_14-med.jpg
And here it is assembled.
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/472219Corvette_Z06_brakes--in_progress_15-med.jpg
This brake is done (except for paint). I've finished cleaning out the center with a round file.
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/472219Corvette_Z06_brakes--in_progress_16-med.jpg
Here are all four brakes done. Next--Metalizer Aluminum!
Stay posted, this model has to be done before Christmas!
Alex

What a gret idea! Good luck with it!

nice! and your sister's lucky to get one really detailed kit. :D

Thanks. By now I've installed the harness, but I still need to take/post some pictures. Stay tuned for updates.

http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/472219Corvette_Z06_PCM_harness-med.jpg
Here is a picture of the installed harness.
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/472219Corvette_Z06_PCM_harness_2-med.jpg
As of this photo, I still needed to make the alternator wire boot (for the red wire) and touch up the red wire. I've got that done now; I'll show it when I finish the engine.
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/472219Corvette_Z06_injection_shields-med.jpg
Here are the fuel rail covers. The kit's parts were designed for the original C5 Corvette, and were not accurate for the Z06. While the passenger side cover was fine as far as I could see (except for a notch for the fuel cross-over), the driver's side one had two unneccesary divets at the rear, which I filled in, and two fuel hoses instead of one. To remove these hoses, I had to remove the four little ribs along the lower part as well, so I used pieces of .13mm wire to replicate the ribs after I had removed the fuel lines and cut a new hole for the single line. I also had to make a notch for the fuel pressure regulator. In this picture, I've painted the Corvette lettering with black paint, but I'm not satisfied with the results. At this point in time, I've already stripped the paint from the letters and applied Bare-Metal Black Chrome foil over them. I then plan to seal the lettering with clear coat, airbrush another coat of gloss red, and carefully sand or otherwise remove the paint from the lettering, revealing the black foil. This should look massively better. I've also discovered that the torque tube and both bell housings should be aluminum, not black. More airbrushing...
Alex

The proper term for the covers on top of the valve covers are FRC's.Fuel rail covers,sorry had to share that as Im an LS1 guy.

Great job on that harness, that was a lot of research it seems!

I hope your sis knows how much time you are putting into this!!!

Awesome re-build

Thanks, LS1Aaron; I made up that term because I didn't know what they were called. I went back through and replaced it in the previous posts. Oh, and for those of you who are thinking that my "darkened pictures" in the first post aren't really that dark, I realized that it was actually my monitor! Looking at this on another computer, the pictures were fine.:lol:
I'll be working on this tonight--look for some more posts soon.
Alex

Nice project, I really like all the wiring and details on the engine!:grinyes:

No problem.looking good,C5's are beautiful cars!

OK, my painting plans for the fuel rail covers didn't work so well. They're in oven cleaner right now; my plan is to once again use Bare-Metal black chrome foil, but with isopropyl alcohol to remove the paint, not sandpaper. They should be done in less than one week. In the meantime, I started on the braking system. I already built the brakes themselves; the next item is the ABS hydraulic unit, which is located just behind the rear supsension cradle. Two brake pipes run back to it from the master cylinder; two lines go to the rear wheels, while two more run back up to the front wheels, alongside those from the master cylinder. The kit had a decent ABS unit (actually two pieces), with molded-on fittings and electrical connectors, but the actual motor pack was molded to the bracket that holds the unit. I added the motor with 2mm copper wire, then cut out the molded-on motor. The real car has a cut-out in the bracket, so this is ready to go (with a little touch-up).
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/CorvetteZ06ABSunit.jpg

I also worked on the wheels. No pictures to show, but the wheels got badly damaged inside when I tore the model apart. I spent a long time with a Dremel tool and then some plastic sprue making attachment parts to put my wheels on the hubs. Fortunately, this fairly rough work will be hidden by the brakes. Stay tuned--I'm doing my repaint on the torque tube and bell housings tonight, and working on some more wiring!
Alex

At last, an update! I'm still working on the FRC's, but here is some more progress.
Engine with correct paint colors on torque tube and bell housings:
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/CorvetteZ06drivetraininaluminum.jpg

I'm also working on the forward lamp harness. The radiator had part of it molded on, but that didn't look very realistic. So, off it came, along with parts of the fan shroud. These will be rebuilt soon with sheet plastic.
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/CorvetteZ06radiatorshroud--step2.jpg
The brakes have aluminum paint on them now, so I just have to paint the calipers and then I will show them too. That's all for now! Thanks for looking.
Alex

Another update:
I worked on the fan shrouds last night, and got one done. Here are the results:
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/CorvetteZ06fanshroudpart3.jpg
That is .01" Evergreen sheet plastic. That was tedious work, so I didn't feel like doing the other one right away--I'll probably finish it tonight.
In the meantime, I painted the radiator:
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/CorvetteZ06radiatordetails.jpg
Model Master Metalizer aluminum, and Model Master acrylic semi-gloss black. The fans were molded on--with the shroud over them, there's no need for more detail.
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/CorvetteZ06chassiswiringharness.jpg
I also built the chassis wiring harness. This connects to the PCM and attaches to the O2 sensors, transmission, and ABS hydraulic unit. This is my first all-wire harness--there is no tape at all, just a big coil of wire around everything. Of course, that is the peak of realism--it looks just like a modern wiring harness. Close up: (sorry for bad picture)
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/CorvetteZ06chassiswiringclose-up.jpg
And, I hand-painted my brake calipers--my handbuilt brakes are now finished! :grinyes:
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/CorvetteZ06brakes--done.jpg
I don't mind criticism, by the way; in fact I hope to get some. Make comments! Out of almost 800 views, there are only 9 replies. I like feedback! Thanks for looking.
Alex

Very detailed.. I like this!!


keep us updated!!! Nice Work!

Last night's working session was a nightmare. I installed the brakes, then discovered that all four wheels don't touch the ground!! :banghead: This is because the chassis is slightly warped, one of the rear hub mounts had broken off once and I re-built it not quite perfectly, and my wheels were a mess that required heavy modification to install. Using heat (a very messy, imprecise method :disappoin ), I bent the upper control arms around a little, pretty much just warping them without doing much for the car. I finally got it to sit kind of flat (if the body is on), but they are still dicey. This had better work...

A little progress--
I got my suspension woes all worked out :grinyes: and now the wheels are nicely balanced. Here is a shot of one of the rear brakes, in which you can see both the vents that I spent all that time making and the pin I had to install to mount the crustified wheels from the original build.
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/CorvetteZ06brakedetail.jpg
And, a little "teaser" mockup to show how this car will sit when it's done:
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/CorvetteZ06teasermockup.jpg
I also finally figured out what to do with those pesky fuel rail covers. I tried black Bare-Metal foil with isopropyl alcohol--that resulted in chrome "Corvette" lettering because the black came right off. Now, I've stripped the paint for the last time (in this picture you can see that I need to add another of those metal wires to the lower part of the driver's side cover, because the one that was there fell off).
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/CorvetteZ06FRCsaftercleaning.jpg
A good coat of red paint will be applied--for the last time (finally :rofl: ), and then the lettering will be applied. My solution? Home-made decals.
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/CorvetteZ06decals.jpg
Yes, they're a little pixelated, and I know that others have achieved much more detailed work. But I used Microsoft Paint to make these, as I don't have a copy of Photoshop or any other good programs. These were done using special Testors decal paper for inkjet printers (I also don't have a special printer), and sealed with the Testors Decal Bonder. They might not be perfect, but they're a WHOLE heck of a lot better than my painting attempts. I just couldn't get it right before.
I also did a little work in the rear. According to Revell's directions, you are to install the engine/transaxle assembly, then the rear suspension. However, the ABS brake unit is mounted to the suspension, and the brake lines are attached to the torque tube with clips. So it's kind of necessary to assemble the engine and rear suspension before-hand. I mocked it up on the chassis, then glued it and let it dry overnight. Voila!...
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/CorvetteZ06tranny-rearsusp.jpg
And, I finished painting the ABS unit. Now, I can install it, plumb the brake and fuel lines, and (once my FRC's are completed), drop this motor in! At last I am getting somewhere! :lol:
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/CorvetteZ06ABSunitpainted.jpg
That's all for now, but hopefully I will make some progress soon. Thanks for looking!
Alex

Well, I've been computer-less for the last month or so, but in light of the impending date of delivery for this kit, I've been working quite diligently. In fact, I only have about 2 days of work left--and tons of pictures to show. I will start posting those ASAP, but in small installments so as not to overwhelm. Almost there...

please do post some pictures of the finished project, dude. I really wanna see the end.

Well, here goes. I'm not really going to make small installments--just 2 (I think), because there really are a lot of pictures. Oh, and for those of you complaining about my fuzzy pics--I've finally figured out this camera, so you should notice a significant improvement--at least in some of the pictures. First off, I decided to get my rear in gear and finish the engine. To that end, I built up some air conditioning hoses. Like the tranny cooler lines I mentioned earlier, these were done using two different sizes of copper wire, joined by sheet plastic ground into a hex shape afterwards.
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/CorvetteZ06AClines.jpg
(This is not a super-great picture). Although the pipes are aluminum, I didn't want to bother with that paint, so I just used silver. It gives them more definition anyway--and it's really easy to apply (Testors enamel, Silver Chrome). The bottom right line is the one from the evaporator (in the dashboard) to the compressor (driven off the engine). Normally, this line has the can-like accumulator (to collect moisture) mounted on it. According to my reference photographs, however, the accumulator is actually mounted behind the firewall. Since that's obviously not going to get seen, I decided to skip the accumulator, and divided the pipe into two sections. I mounted one to the firewall, going into it (to the accumulator, which is really not there) and this one will come out of the firewall and attach to the compressor.

Next was the tie rod. The front suspension is attached to the engine before installation (because the engine mounts to it), so the tie rod had to go on too. I added the steering shaft and the hard lines from the gearbox to the rack.
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/CorvetteZ06tierod.jpg
(Another not-so-good picture. Don't worry--better ones are on the way).

With these parts installed, I did some more work--actually a lot more work, and finished the engine/transmission/suspension assembly!! :iceslolan Here are the illustrious pictures--my clearest-ever photo is in this bunch.
The front:
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/CorvetteZ06enginefront.jpg
The back (tranny):
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/CorvetteZ06enginerear.jpg
The left side (showing power steering hoses and also the very warped-looking front cover :screwy: )--brake lines will be straightened--:
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/CorvetteZ06engineleft.jpg
The right side (best pic):
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/CorvetteZ06engineleftclose.jpg
Overall (a fuzzy picture just to show the general proportions of the drivetrain, and that chassis wiring harness I made):
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/CorvetteZ06engineoverall.jpg

Most of my time was spent on this nightmare. Chevy thought it was a good idea to plumb the brake and fuel lines in a very complex way--leaving me to recreate them. The irritating thing is, you can't even see these lines when the car is done, but my modeler's conscience would never let me get away with not plumbing these suckers--mostly because this car is probably the only one in which I know the exact routing of the brake and fuel lines (even if it is super-complex). So I spent somewhere around four hours patiently pulling copper wire around with tweezers. But it was worth it (though this picture is the only proof of my work now that the lines are hidden):
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/CorvetteZ06fuelandbrakelines.jpg

In the meantime--
Remember the radiator fan shroud I was messing with? It had a molded-on wiring harness across it, which I removed; this resulted in plugged-up fan shroud holes, so I cut out those sections and was in the process of replacing the shroud parts with sheet plastic in the last update. Well, with more plastic and some paint:
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/CorvetteZ06fanshroud.jpg
Looked good to me, so I assembled the whole radiator.
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/CorvetteZ06radiatorassembled.jpg

In the meantime (again), I got myself some awesome Tamiya polishing compound. I had already been concerned about this car's paint--I had cloth-polished it (using MicroMesh by Detail Master), but it was still hazy and dull in the light. This same effect had not been cured by wax on a different model, so I didn't want to use wax here. But with Tamiya Finish compound-- :eek:
I LOVE THIS PRODUCT!!!
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/CorvetteZ06bodyfront.jpg
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/CorvetteZ06bodyback.jpg
And, letting in a little air:
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/CorvetteZ06bodyhatchesopen.jpg
I cannot say enough about Tamiya polish. My advice is: Paint, clear coat heavily, polish with Micro-Mesh to 4000 grit, then use Tamiya Fine and Finish compound! (This had already been polished to 12000 grit, so I just used Finish). And don't bother waxing--looks good as is, and don't want to ruin it!
BTW--the color is not as bland and dull as it looks here--this green countertop, though a nice place to photograph, wreaks havoc on my lustrous blue paint. You'll see the true color in my next big update, in a picture taken at my workbench...:naughty:

But before that--
I worked on the chassis, and built some emergency brake cables. It's hard to see in this mediocre photo, but there is a little hollow square made of .01" styrene that connects the single cable with the duals. (it's just behind that mounting hole for the transmission)
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/CorvetteZ06e-brakecables.jpg

Then, for hydraulic brakes (the hard lines are already strung all over the engine), these hoses and valves:
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/CorvetteZ06brakehoses.jpg
I painted the hoses dark gray because black seems too clean. Rubber hoses are never jet black.
Installed (front view only):
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/CorvetteZ06frontbrakehoses.jpg
This looks pretty good; unfortunately, once the engine was assembled, the hard lines simply could not be attached to those valves, because the suspension was in the way (and also, in the rear, I miscalculated and made the hard lines too short). Fortunately, the only person regretting this is me (just because of the principle of the thing), because you can't see that the lines aren't attached. It's a pretty compact, compressed car, so there isn't much room for observation. The lines are hidden--but the hoses can be seen and appreciated.

Oh, I want to show all the rest--but to avoid boring viewers, I'll have to stop here! Another 15 or so pictures all ready to show, plus more on the way as I chug steadily to completion--I know my sister will like this Christmas gift.

Thanks all for looking! My first WIP thread--I want to get my work out there and shown, and I really appreciate all your views and comments. Comments welcome!! Criticism just as welcome!! Truly, I'm not going to change much on this car, because of how soon it needs to be done, but any tips to improve my next model are more than helpful--so feel free to "drag me over the coals," if I can learn something from it. Or, you can just compliment! :icon16:

Get ready for the next update--complete chassis/interior assembly, true body color, and more little details :naughty:

Alex

:eek2: Man,you nuts. Really. :screwy: Whata detail!! Awesome man! Superb!!

I thought I was anal about detail, but this is extreme!!!

Excellent work on the wiring, and your self made decals for the engine. They really look great in my opinion.

Thanks for the comments guys. This model should be all done by the end of the week. I will finish it in this thread! (unlike some people whose models just disappear forever from this forum) Then, I will put more "special photo shoot" pictures in the completed projects gallery. Almost there!

A quick update: (I have much more to come)
The firewall, with the A/C line on it (battery clamps have been painted since then)
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/CorvetteZ06firewall.jpg

My forward lighting harness. This is another all-wire harness--I'm really starting to like these. Despite being the most realistic harnesses I have ever made, they are also the easiest to build! I will have to make a How-To out of these--any model can benefit from them, and all you need is wire (no shrink-tubing or special expensive materials). This took me about 20 minutes to build.
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/CorvetteZ06forwardlightingharness.jpg

With that stuff done, it was time to assemble the chassis and interior tub/wheel wells. You can see the rubber band holding that feisty warped chassis to the tub while the glue dries. Also, you sometimes have to take a step backward to take two forward--I had to take the dash top off to permit installation of the firewall!
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/CorvetteZ06chassisassembly.jpg

I'll try to make a bigger post next time, to show the true color of the body! (And more, of course). Thanks for all your comments.

Alex

Ahhhh!! Man,one day i'll wire like that. (if I had patience...)
Stunning! I'll be watching close to the next updates!
Just awesome!

OK, looks like I'll be making small posts after all! :)
Here is the underside of the chassis/interior tub, with the "tie plate" (as the directions call it) covering the torque tube of the engine.
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/CorvetteZ06tieplate.jpg

You can see my chassis wiring sticking out for the O2 sensors. Next, with the exhaust system in place and the rear suspension "bolted" down:

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/CorvetteZ06underpan.jpg

Here's the completed rear suspension. I later did a wash on this part, but rather than define detail, it made the part look dirty :shakehead (the wash was much too thin.) But that's realistic anyway--never seen clean suspension on a licensed car!:lol:

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/CorvetteZ06completedsuspension.jpg

Here is one of the rear wheel well cowls installed. They are separate for easier painting and assembly. (I guess).

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/CorvetteZ06wheelwell.jpg

At last--I installed the body, and you can see the true, rich blue color!

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/CorvetteZ06bodyonchassis.jpg

I think it looks very nice. (The windshield is also installed). After this picture was taken, I had to peel the body back off and fix the seatbelts, as I discovered they were inaccurate. They're fine now.

More updates next time! Thanks for looking and for your kind comments!

Alex

"The irritating thing is, you can't even see these lines when the car is done, but my modeler's conscience would never let me get away with not plumbing these suckers"
I like that train of thought.:wink: I'm amazed by the level of detailing you are putting into this. I think a tuturial on the wire harnesses is a great idea. Nice shine on the body too. You must have great references to do all of this work. Keep up the good work.

You're doing really well on this build, your sister will definately like it. It seems you have the same obsessive detailing disease as me, except your sysmptoms include completely things in a rapid manner opposed to my dragging the build out for a couple years... You really should do a write up on the wiring harness, it's just what I've been looking for. I had been peicing together wire insulation, but it just didn't have the accuracy of these, it really looks like convoluted tubing. My problem is getting branches to stay fixed in position and I didn't quite catch the tape part... I'll keep an eye out for a rediculously in depth tutorial :grinyes: :uhoh:

You were asking to be raked over the coals, I hardly think that's possible with a build of this caliber, but one thing I do see is a few mold lines and some marks from where the part is attatched to the sprue. That's the only thing I could see, and it's a pretty minor deal.

I'll keep an eye on this thread... Nice job!

All I can say is WOW man! Awesome build so far! Just reading this thread is gonna make my next model better

Thank you once again for all your kind and uplifting comments. I have actually completed the Corvette now :ylsuper: , so just a couple more posts of my progress pics and then a link to the gallery! And yes, I will try to get a How-To going on that wiring. I'm planning to start the forward lighting harness for my Mustang Cobra pretty soon, but that, I think, is just a little too complicated for the How-To (it has something like 30 wire ends), so I might just make a generic thing to show my method. I'm happy to share it, though--I love it! Yes, mold lines have always been a problem with me. I saw the two on the front bumper after the model was all painted, so it was a little too late. I'll try harder next time, for sure. Keep an eye on this thread--it'll be wrapped up within days. :wink:

Alex

Vettes look steaming hot in black.
I don't know if that is the picture or the paint, but did you paint your vette a dark blue color?

Vettes look steaming hot in black.
I don't know if that is the picture or the paint, but did you paint your vette a dark blue color?

At last--I installed the body, and you can see the true, rich blue color!

:p Should've read more carefully--but that's OK; it's much easier to tell in person, and in good lighting, that this car is blue. But that's the beauty of the dark blue--it's really dark. (It is quite accurate for Chevy's Navy Blue)

And now, a progress post!

Here is the intake snorkel of the engine. I added Bare-Metal foil to the clamps.
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/CorvetteZ06intakesnorkel.jpg

With that, the rest of the engine bay (the body is off in these pictures).
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/CorvetteZ06fullenginebay.jpg

I think the fuel rail covers turned out quite nice. Revell included some awesome decals for the engine bay--they are actually readable! (To some extent)
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/CorvetteZ06enginebaydecals.jpg

Here is one of the front brake calipers. I drybrushed the Corvette lettering (this is accurate, not a custom touch)
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/CorvetteZ06caliperdetail.jpg

Here are the taillights installed over the chrome foil--they almost look like they are on.
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/CorvetteZ06taillights.jpg

I went to go install the side marker lights and discovered that--huh! They were missing! (Remember that this is a rebuild--my fault that they are missing, not Revell's). I don't know where they could have gone, though--I've kept all the parts in a little divided clear plastic box. Odd. But anyway--I spent little or no time feeling annoyed--I just grabbed a couple of '57 Chevy "custom" taillights from my spare parts box and also my Excel files, and quickly transformed "Part on Left" to "Part on Right." Excellent!
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/CorvetteZ06scratchedmarkerlights.jpg

Installed, they actually fit better than the kit parts used to!
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/CorvetteZ06markerlightsinstalled.jpg

My next step was to do something about the headlights. Back at the start of the build, I opted not to make the headlights actually open and close, because there was really no place for a hinge, and I didn't want to make the model too complicated, since I needed to get it done for Christmas and I was giving it to a person who is not familiar with models. However, I was still annoyed about the fact that you can easily see that the headlights are just thin covers; there is no headlight pod underneath. So, I decided to build up a filler panel. Here it is--with the headlight motor installed (I made one for the other side afterwards).
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/CorvetteZ06headlightpopupmotor2.jpg

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/CorvetteZ06headlightpopupmotor3.jpg

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/CorvetteZ06headlightpopupmotor1.jpg

Here is this part installed in place: (the grainy stuff is just styrene dust, and was cleaned off later)
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/CorvetteZ06headlightmotorinstalled.jpg

Here is a shot of the inside of the hood--Revell really did a nice job of replicating the Corvette emblem and the insulation.
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/CorvetteZ06hoodinside.jpg

With my final scratchbuilding complete (those pop-up motors), it was a steady march to victory...er, completion.

First, I installed the wheels on my custom mounting pins. They worked (phew :rolleyes: )
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/CorvetteZ06wheels.jpg
The wheels are airbrushed with Testors Model Master gunmetal non-buffing Metalizer paint. I love this stuff--the results are gorgeous. The red center emblems were kit decals.

Then, I installed the front pan and spoiler. It didn't fit super-great, but good enough (I had already done a ton of filing and fitting).
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/CorvetteZ06spoiler.jpg

Next, I installed the mirrors with liquid cement.
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/CorvetteZ06mirrors.jpg

And, the last cool detail. My sister's name is Rachel, and she lives in the state of Mississippi. So, I got on the computer, printed out the letters "RACHEL", and then used colored pencils to replicate the current style of Mississippi license plate. The tabs are sheet plastic.
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p225/924_CarreraGTS/CorvetteZ06licenseplate.jpg

And that, folks, is a rebuild of Revell's Corvette Z06! Go to the link below to see my awesome white-box gallery shots!
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=4516607#post4516607

Thanks for watching! I appreciate your kind comments on my first WIP thread. More models to come--I guarantee!

Alex

That's beautiful, man!
Just clean it up a bit and it'll make a perfect gift for you sister!