James Garners All American Racers...L 88 Vette

[maverick]

This is a project I have been working on (on and off for a while) When I have a spare moment...Its progressed pretty far at this point soo, not really a full build thread on this one Sorry gang! Any whoo, Its pretty much at the put the body on the chassis permanently stage. Have a few details to attend to and that will happen...Hopefully this week LOL! I however have ignored the instructions (Like usual) and decided to install the front wheel houses to the chassis instead of the body. Lets face it...This Revell kit always has had poor chassis location When installing it. I figure locating the wheel houses to the chassis will aid in proper orientation and should help with getting the cars stance to look right...We shall see. Thats alot of stuff to squeeze between the front fenders with the hood attached and the int tub glued in place on the body. Yeah, that fit terribly as well on this build! Heres a few pics for ya...Its LeMans blue base/clear from Duponts Chroma system line...Yes, Its old stuff. Parts box wheels/tires and VRM Decals...I have two sets so I can both team cars. Then Ill get another set, so I can do the Promotional Street version the sponsoring Chevy dealer used for advertising/display purposes...

[kyledehart5]

Oh my. This is lovely!! What really exceptional work. And a great livery!!

[handiabled]

Your paint work is just outstanding! The interior detail looks fantastic! What did you cover the floor with for heat shielding?

[benb]

Wow, that looks amazing!

Ben

[bakster]

Yeah, that's cool!

[keavdog]

Very cool!

[maverick]

Sept 20, 2024 4:31:00 GMT -5 handiabled said:

Your paint work is just outstanding! The interior detail looks fantastic! What did you cover the floor with for heat shielding?

Thank you sir! I use a product from Model factory Hiro... Its adhesive backed like chrome  foil but has that texture to it. Its really nice stuff.

[maverick]

Todays installment...Body and chassis...Not married...Had a few issues. First being that the hood would not close fully or sit flush to the body. This is what I get for trying to make the chassis fit properly. Had to grind out the hood hinge locator holes. (That was ugly) then I had to shim the passenger side wheel house top to square the body and get the hood to sit flat...It does now...Engine compartment is done except for switch wires to the coil and a hose clamp for the top hose. (I know, the carb looks rather poor)...It is, I was only interested in the choke horn/venturies on this one since they are visible through the screen on the air box assembly. The rest I had to chop up/shave to get the hogged out air box assembly to sit down on it. soo, not gonna see most of this carb...ever... Then! I can get this thing together!!! Tomorrow Model show in Rochester NY (Rocon) New venue too. promises to be a nice change from previous shows...Till next time gang. Thanks for looking and commenting I really do appreciate it.

[handiabled]

I like the look of the ignition wires not running under shielding like the stock version. Great job on the hood fitment.

[kyledehart5]

Lovely job. The hood looks great and some exceptionally nice engine work as well

[406 Silverado]

This thing is just SICK Pete!!! Definitely not your typicla Vette build in progress here. Detail work is just incredible dude.

[joelw]

Just found your build, and was really curious to see what James Garner was racing back in the day after he got hooked on racing from staring in the movie Grand Prix (which I'm proud to say that I've seen a good 2 dozen times over the years).

Just a very impressive build for sure. It never surprises me about fit issues from older Revell kits. Your corrections certainly did the trick, as the hood aligns perfectly.

joel

[project510]

Very cool, and very nicely detailed. Great job!

[maverick]

Sept 21, 2024 2:44:14 GMT -5 handiabled said:

I like the look of the ignition wires not running under shielding like the stock version. Great job on the hood fitment.

Thank you sir. Yeah, Traco engineering told em to get rid of the shielding. "Its just gonna cook the cap and wires, cause ignition issues while racing"

[maverick]

Sept 23, 2024 7:42:27 GMT -5 joelw said:

Just found your build, and was really curious to see what James Garner was racing back in the day after he got hooked on racing from staring in the movie Grand Prix (which I'm proud to say that I've seen a good 2 dozen times over the years).

Just a very impressive build for sure. It never surprises me about fit issues from older Revell kits. Your corrections certainly did the trick, as the hood aligns perfectly.

joel

Thanks  for the kind words Joel! Seems to be the norm with the old school kits in general. LOL seen Grand Prix a few times myself. Its entertaining! His team went to Lolas after a poor and unreliable showing from the two Vettes for the remainder of the 68 season...

[joelw]

I did meet James Garnier at Bridgehampton for a Can Am race but his stay and interest in racing didn't seem to last very long. Now Paul Newman and Steve McQueen raced till they passed, and both were outstanding drivers.

joel

[maverick]

Sept 24, 2024 8:14:01 GMT -5 joelw said:

I did meet James Garnier at Bridgehampton for a Can Am race but his stay and interest in racing didn't seem to last very long. Now Paul Newman and Steve McQueen raced till they passed, and both were outstanding drivers.

joel

Newman and McQueen theres two legends!! Yeah James got out once he discovered It was expensive and a lot of hard work and hustle...I think it was more of a shiny new thing for him. Once the romance wore off...

[maverick]

Ok gang. Its finally looking like an actual car! Got the chassis and body married...That was fun! It actually fell together pretty easily once I got the firewall past the fenders. Had to space the tires off the body with a few tooth picks, to get the chassis to sit in the right place so I could glue it down and have even space between the tires and body all the way around. Once that was done... I finished up a few loose ends in the engine compartment. Made and mounted a prop rod to the hood and finally mounted the side pipes and headers. All that's left now is everything else! lol... Head light covers and trim pieces, that sort of stuff. Then this will be done and I can start on the diorama base its going to be displayed on. Yes, it is going to be part of a three car dio. Myself and two friends of mine decided to do an "L88 Vettes that ran at Daytona" Diorama. Have to start building the chunk of tarmac and the wall. It will be the section at the starting line where Daytona USA is painted on the wall... Gotta start sourcing the materials for that...Hopefully the next installment will be the last and this ride will show up in the finished thread...
Stay tuned!!

[kyledehart5]

Wow!! Terrific work! That is all looking fantastic. And the diorama sounds like it’ll be super cool too. Awesome idea.

[406 Silverado]

You've got the stance all set up very well on this Pete and what really stands out to me is the wheel/ tire positioning in the wheel openings. You frickin' nailed it with that man. Far too often this is a killer of Vette model builds with either the tires sticking out too far from the wheel openings or a stance that is too wonky looking.
70 STING built a C3 Vette that was right on in terms of stance and wheel/ tire positioning and was one of the first C3's that I saw that looked right. 

[handiabled]

Owning a C3 Vette I can say your engine compartment and stance look right on the money! I'm looking forward to some shots of the diorama when you get to that point.

[bakster]

This looks awesome. So cool.

[joelw]

I'm super impressed with the bottom shots. Damn does that look mighty good. And that's coming from a Ford guy.

The Diorama really sounds like a great idea. looking forward to seeing yours come to life.

joel

[70 STING]

Big Corvette fan here. You’ve done an exceptional job on this build. 2 x enthusiastic .

[M1Carbine]

Freaking WOW! that is beautiful!

-Bob

[406 Silverado]

Oct 2, 2024 19:35:17 GMT -5 70 STING said:

Big Corvette fan here. You’ve done an exceptional job on this build. 2 x enthusiastic .

Make that TWO of us on the C3 fans!! 

[maverick]

Ok Gang Here we go last installment: Added all the jewelry, bumpers, mirrors, hood pins, door mirror (which I am not too happy with) and a proper flip open gas cap from Model factory Hiro. Oh and I almost for got. Those ugly Sylvania fixed headlight lexan covers... It is done! Been on the bench since the beginning of July, and I am happy to have this one over the finish line! Thank you all for tuning in and commenting. Sorry it wasn't a full build but, the next one will be.

Just gotta get the finished pics in the finished builds thread...

[kyledehart5]

Excellent!! It was still fun to follow along with even if it wasn’t the full build.