Corvair Group 5: Complete (#4 for 2021)

This was built as part of a build-off on one of the Facebook modeling sites, where the topic was "Sick Builds". The basic idea was that if the basic Corvair was unsafe at any speed, this one would take that to the next level, with a 9.5 litre LS3 V12 motor. 

A fun build and one that helped me improve my scratchbuilding skills. I previously widened the Honda S600 using the same approach in order to squeeze in a complete S2000 drivetrain. 

This has been fun and I am looking forward to more customising as I improve my skills with the styrene strip. 

Stay tuned! 

Corvair Group 5: Body (2)

Final puttying and sanding included adding two air scoops in the fenders. 

The chassis is too long and was cut to fit. 

Paint consisted of TS-34, Camel Yellow, and TS-53, Deep Metallic Blue. The 956 wheels and tires are just a little big and went back into the spares bin, to be replaced by this set of unknown origin.

I'm happy with the result; a bit of fiddling needed and it will be fine.

Next is the interior and finishing touches to the chassis. Stay tuned!

Corvair Group 5: Body (1)

Lots of cutting and splicing! Also some putty and filing. Here are some pictures. 

 Here's the body sliced up into main components.

A key step is gluing in some bracing before cutting up the last few links between left and right sides, then splicing in an extension of the appropriate length. Here it was 10 mm, but in retrospect I could have made it 12 or even 15 as the 956 track is still wider. Some chassis mods may still be necessary to get those fat Dunlops under the fenders.

Next the roof got shortened by close to 20 mm. It will also be moved forward just a millimetre or two.

Then 5 mm wide strips were cut and shaped to fit, with 0.020" sheet used inside to keep it all lined up. 

I eventually decided to use the "Sprint" roof sails out of the kit, to make it look a bit less like a pickup truck.

Putty came next, in a couple of applications with sanding and filing in between. The modified rear axle also got glued in. 

The engine lid finally got glued in because it is needed to strengthen the rear fenders, and because it isn't covering much beyond the gearbox. 

The former panel between the rear window and the engine lid had to get taken out to clear the engine which is sitting pretty much where the back seat used to be. (Photos to come for these steps.) Meanwhile the stance is nice! And the 956 chassis has been cut and sliced to fit. 

Stay tuned! More to come.

Corvair Group 5: Initial cutting

Interestingly, it turns out that the wheelbase of a 1/24 Porsche 956 is the same as a 1/25 Corvair. So moving the rear wheel arch backwards will require lengthening the 956 chassis, but will save me from having to move the cockpit relative to the body if I don't want to.

At the same time, the option of tacking on some fenders from somewhere else (such as a 935) is crude. I decided instead to widen the body, as I have already done once before when I shoehorned the Honda S2000 drivetrain into the S600. 

Finally I may take the opportunity to shorten the roof somewhat, and/or to move the cockpit forward. So cutting has begun, meanwhile the V12 now sits where the Porsche flat six used to sit in the 956 under tray. 

Stay tuned! It's going to get more gruesome as the hacking continues.

Corvair Group 5: Initial planning/dreaming

I've always liked the shape of the last Corvair, but was less enthused about the rear-mounted air-cooled six. The Germans did that layout way better. 

I've also seen 1:1 cars and models of Corvairs converted to V8 power, either rear-engined (talk about unsafe at any speed!) or converted to mid-engined layout. 

Separately I have had this LS3 V12 engine and transaxle (3D printed by Ron Olsen at Shapeways) lying around for some time. This is essentially a 6-litre small-block Chevy, with 4 more cylinders tacked on, and apparently models an actual real engine. So what would be a better place for a mid-engined 9-litre small-block Chevy than in the back seat of a Corvair? I knew you would agree with me. 

One issue of course will be fender flares, and a quick trip through the boneyard unearthed remnants of a couple of previously hacked-up 935s (see my 956 pickup, here). A better but more challenging plan will be to pull the Corvair fenders out. Either way maintaining some structural integrity of the body will be key to success. (I also have some 956 chassis bits left over from the 956 pickup, such as rear A-arms, hubs and driveshafts.)

Some planning reveals that I will likely need to alter the wheelbase, probably by moving the rear axle rearwards. Some initial layout suggests that moving it back 1/2" would allow reuse of the Corvair fenders, but will stillrequire moving the cockpit forward. Extending the wheelbase a full inch (which would be 24" at full scale) requires using the 935 or new fabricated rear fenders. Being a reasonable fellow, I think I'll go for the less extreme option.

The cockpit, along with the windshield and dashboard, may need to be moved forward a bit with some minor intrusion of the front wheel wells into the footwell. This opens up all kinds of opportunities for a shortened and lowered roof... so stay tuned while I verify the stash of spare #11 blades and fine razor-tooth saws. 

Dr Tom is wanted in Surgery! Hacking and slashing is in the forecast!

1960 Plymouth Wagon: Complete (#3 for 2021)

The latest Land Yacht is complete. A simple build that suffered from my hamfisted approach in a couple of cases. (Memo to self: lacquer thinner will dissolve styrene... but the resulting custom grille isn't too bad.)

My Chrysler fleet shows the progression of corporate design. The 300B (1956) illustrates a relatively sober '50s approach; the wild swing to fins shown on the '60 Fury didn't last and Chrysler went back to a more sober approach by 1968 as shown by the later Fury and 300. (In between there were the horrid '63 to '64 monstrosities which I won't discuss.) 

So what's next. Not sure, stay tuned!

1960 Plymouth Fury Wagon: Quickie build (1)

These old Jo-Han kits are pretty basic, and can benefit from a bit of upgrading. 

I always thought a Viper motor would fit in here nicely, and I bought a Viper kit for that purpose. But then I discovered that I had a badly-painted Viper in the boneyard, so this got excavated and the unused kit is now on a Facebook model trading page (Let me know if you want it).

Wheels were going to be Cragars and big NASCAR tires, or some form of '60s steelies with hubcaps and whitewalls. But having picked a flashy paint job, the Cragars got the nod. The whitewalls are better suited to a subtle Q-ship approach.

Paint consists of Tamiya TS-7, Racing White, for the roof and front fender coves; the original white was probably closer to TS-26, Pure White. The rest of it is TS-39, Mica Red, over TS-30, Silver Leaf. The paint is on and final assembly looms large, just as soon as I sort out a few minor issues. 

It will look good next to the other Mopar land yachts in the collection. The '68 Fury wagon is a study in contrasts: it's amazing how quickly Detroit ditched the two-tone paint and fins, and moved to slab sides.

What's next? Well, I am clearly avoiding getting back to the Porsche 917K; and there are close to a dozen WIPs that could be used for further prevarication purposes. Stay tuned!