Getting a chin up: Building a SEMA "Leno" -esque Camaro concept

[ZoomZoomMX-5]

I fell in love with GM's twin-turbo V6 Camaro at SEMA; attributed to Jay Leno. The body modifications are subtle & look factory (because they are), but give the car a lot of character that also helps pull your eyes away from the odd V-shaped grille opening. Perhaps this is the front end of the upcoming Z28. Time will tell...

It also runs what look to be nearly identical BBS "Challenge" wheels commonly seen on some Ferraris. There are now two aftermarket companies making the 20" Challenge wheels intended for the 599 GTB...and will probably look great on this model as well. Until I get them, I have some 23" sleeved Pegasus wheels w/BBS-esque centers.

I'm not out to make an exact replica, just using what I like & not worrying over making it a perfect replica. Silver is boring, so I'm going with a much more vivid shade of "boring"...pure white. That is one reason I'm using the Jada kit as a basis. Secondly I prefer the slightly larger 1/24 scale aspect, and third it has a nicer, crisper body than either AMT or Revell. It also has side glass. It's a great basic kit, aside from the tubbed chassis. I'm building it curbside, so that's not an issue for me. Once I've got it sitting right, I don't care what it looks like underneath :P

First step was making a template to cut in the hood vents:


The plastic is so nice to machine, it's much higher quality plastic than we see from AMT & Revell.

Next step was revising the chin. I cut away the base of the chin, but saved it as I needed it to be lower & pushed out further. I extended the lower grille openings, and cut out the round driving lamps to make room for the larger corner intakes.





Spent the weekend working on this while watching the Daytona race. Four of us were having a "modelpalooza" on Saturday, two of us on Sunday.






It compares pretty well with photos, still lots of tweaks before it is ready for paint. I've also cut out the stamped side vents in the rear fenders, making them into single-opening ducts.


Hope this one is finished & on display at the Birmingham NNL on March 6th. Veyron & GTMike were trying to talk me into building a "Conan" Challenger to go with this one, but I have that 2nd. generation (92-95) Taurus SHO master that I could build & paint green like Conan's favorite car. Who knows?! It could happen...and my A/F SHO stalker could return in a murderous rage

[tuned.by.twenty]

Awesome! I love the 'Jay Leno version' of the Camaro so I'm sure this won't disappoint. I like what you did with the quarter panels-that's the one area I don't really like about the new Camaro.

[scorpiopab]

Originally Posted by tuned.by.twenty

Awesome! I love the 'Jay Leno version' of the Camaro so I'm sure this won't disappoint. I like what you did with the quarter panels-that's the one area I don't really like about the new Camaro.

I'm with him..


Paul.

[da_ashman]

Im sure Jay Leno would be proud, getting his car replicated by an expert modeler.
Cant wait to see more!!

[Viccario]

Great work so far, looks just like your reference photographs!

[MidMazar]

Nice progress, and cool overhauls!

[Mikezibit]

HI

great work




Mikezibit

[mike@af]

I wonder if this will go viral too?

[ZoomZoomMX-5]

Originally Posted by GTmike400

I wonder if this will go viral too?

It's not nearly as provocative as the Grabber Orange melange that did go viral.

Unless I make a diorama & build that SHO I have (provocative itself, but only here on A/F ) in dark green, and include figures of Leno & Conan...then I'll use that "always open door" into Jalopnik to see how viral it might get

[Enzoenvy1]

Could be me but the chin splitters are off and the lower lip is not as pronounced:

[ZoomZoomMX-5]

Originally Posted by Enzoenvy1

Could be me but the chin splitters are off and the lower lip is not as pronounced:

Just a question. Before you took the time to bring that to my attention, did you read my post? Third paragraph down, first sentence, where I explain my intentions rather clearly? And then there's the forced perspective from the camera lens on the SEMA photo that's not evident on my telephoto shot of the model in front of it.

My feelings aren't hurt in the least, but if you pull the same kind of backhanded "pointing out what's wrong without saying anything positive" on someone else's work they might not be as understanding as I am.

[pharr7226]

Great project Zoom Zoom. The mods are very subtle, but very cool. Lets see some more.

[scorpiopab]

Originally Posted by pharr7226

Great project Zoom Zoom. The mods are very subtle, but very cool. Lets see some more.

yep nothing more to say,

other then beautiful build..


Paul.

[stainlesssteel]

Looks Awesome! Really crisp details you're adding! Keep it going!

[ZoomZoomMX-5]

A bit of an update; got some work done yesterday. Not shown are brass grille/vent inserts that were cut from K&S mesh and detailed with "Blacken It" which worked perfectly by turning the brass black. Also not shown is the refined lower grille section, and I have yet to figure out how I'm going to detail the front corner inlets that will also have some sort of driving lamp detail, most likely a close approximation of what the real car has.

Wheels/tires roughly mocked up. Pegasus 23" sleeves, centers will be stripped & painted graphite. Rocker trim (not installed yet) & splitter will also be graphite. Quarter panel vent will be body color or graphite.