WIP: WJ's 2003 Grand Am Pro Stock.

[SkylineFan]

I am in the drag mood again!!! This time I am doing Warren Johnson's 2003 Grand Am Pro Stock.
I am using Competition Resins Grand Am Body with Slixx decals. I am going for total detail on this one as well. I will be using Detailmaster, Model Car garage, Scale repros plus, and RB motion Detail products on this car.

I started with the tires and wheels. I used the kit rear slick tires which were put together and then sanded everywhere to get the logos off and reshaped for realism. I then took the rear wheels, sanded off the lips and coated them in silver paint followed by clear orange and yellow tamiya paints. Lastly I added beadlock bolts by hand from the MCG photoetched nut and bolt sheet. The tires decals from a slixx drag sheet were added followed by dullcoat.




Next up was the body, the CR body comes as one solid piece. All window membranes were removed along with the doors. As soon as I get the chassis in place the way it sits inside the body I will hack the front end off as well. Here it is mocked with the tires and wheels.




Here is the begginings of the CHassis. I had to add a new cage due to the Pro stock WJ Superman kit I am using as a donor, had inncorrect bar roof height. I anticipated this since the rooflines of the Grand Am versus the kit firebird were vastly different. I also added new engine bars up front. This is only the main shaoes for the chassis cage, many bars will be added to this setup.




And with the body on............




Lastly, I completed the 4 link setup with the Beefy rear diff from the kit. I contemplated buying the MCG 4 link plate kit, but I was very worried it would not be strong enough, however, the kit 4 link covered in chrome was not convinving to me.... not to mention there were seam marks all over them that could not be sanded without removing the chrome. SO here is what I did. I cut all the kit plastic bars away from the kit 4 link plates. I dechromed the plates, cleaned them up and glued the one set to its place on the diff. Then I painted all the assemblies including the diff in Tamiya silver leaf, then I took small pieces of K&N aluminum tubing, cut them to length of the kit bars I cut off and polished each one! Then I added small wire to the ends of each bar and drilled a hole in each location where the kit bars used to be and re assembled the entire 4 link and wheelie bar assembly back to gether with real polished tubing. I also utilized the wheelie bar wheel assemblies and reattatched them as well. The detailer washes were used to add realism. Then I toped it all off with a RB motion large bolt for the filler plug. All that is left is Brake lines and fitting later....





ANd here is how it will sit in the car...

[blubaja]

Lookin awsome!! Keep up the great work!

[white97ex]

looking good. can't wait to see more!

[freakray]

Hard to believe this is all in 1/24....great work Dave

[Dean23]

O h wow. Im gonna have to follow this thread. great work on the rear suspension. it looks so real. kee the pics coming

[mike@af]

Wow Dave, that rearend is magnificent. Shame it will be covered. I'm looking forward to seeing this at NNLSouth in another 11 months.

[quadzero]

this is great. so nice to see something prostock. i will keep glued to this thread.

[willimo]

Top work, as always from you. Your drag cars are all masterpieces.

[tigeraid]

whew, that's gonna be an expensive build. Can't wait to see the results!

[WasteGas]

Cool! The master at work again

[Robi J]

Fantastic work as usual Dave ! The rear end is simply incredible

Roberto

[gionc]

amazing job like we're used from you
this thread promise to burn-up quickly

[GvEman]

Awesome! Your builds are amazing! And you are one of the best on this forum!

[Merkava]

Absolutely stunning work again! I marvel at your abilities when I read your threads... Keep it up, please!

[Smoke20bbq]

simply amazing, and the 4 link is pure killaaaaa.

great start.