1980 Testors Corvette—Seriously? Picture this. It’s darn cold with snow in Kansas. The really fun 1/1 vintage racing motorcycle project is bogged down because it’s too cold to paint. I could start the 1/12 Testors Lamborghini Countach I’ve been hoarding for years but I really don’t want to spend the next six months messing with that. Hmm, an unfinished NASA F-104 Starfighter laying there too. Resin cockpit, custom paint, that could last awhile also.
What I need to get me through this Winter blast is a short mindless project for a quick change of view. A quick stash search and I find this stock '80 Corvette that I won at the last model show. Way too boring. I guess I could chop it up and make a personal fantasy race version to relieve cabin fever.
Well I’ve got it out of the box which is a start. This may or may not happen but I did kill a little time writing about it. No show winner coming up should you be expecting a glass slipper or silk purse. Hey, it would be my first auto in decades. That should count for something. Let’s see what happens. Maybe just laughs and social interaction or worse–failure. Not much to lose I guess.
Stay tuned and supply comments where necessary. I’ll be wishing for warmer weather and more stimulating projects on the horizon.
I look at the Lambo annually. It’s an old expensive classic a friend gave to me after he looked at it annually for years. Cool kit. Steering, lights, large, complicated or at least, extensive. Looks to be quite the project. Being an aircraft guy I haven’t looked at the Tamiya cars or old Revells for that matter.
Hmm, didn’t Revell buy Testors or am I dreaming? It might be the same kit(s). I dunno.
Not sure, I know Testors hasn’t produced a kit in A LONG time. That kit is one If I spot it at a swap meet or contest I’ll probably buy it if nothing more than like you just to look at it. I will find one someday and I will build it LOL, along with the 300 other kits in my stash.
BTW Hodakas are cool old bikes, didn’t they give Harley Davidson a run back when bike racing was starting? Had a standard Softail, MUCH PERFER my Honda Valkyrie today. Thank for the reply Hodamax.
I seem to remember doing the Corvette. If i recall, there are not a lot of positive locating points to glue one thing to another … just gotta “glue and hold for a minute”
The Testor’s 46 Ford was “Riddled” with problems like that. The instructions tell you to glue Tab “A” into “slot” B … but “slot” B didn’t exist ! The Corvette is the same, just not as bad as the 46 was.
It’s still a good kit, you just have to take your time.
We all need to lighten up on this kit. It’s just a light hearted filler to keep me entertained until Spring. I’ll probably need everyone’s input until better weather. Ok, first blood, er, paint. These cheesy chrome wheels need to be manly magnesium or better yet, jet engine exotic metal. Much better. We’re underway! Ideas welcome, think brutal track Corvette.
Absolutely nothing wrong with what your doing Hodakamax, I wish I kad a kit in my collection I could just build to cleanse the pallet so to speak. I think you will do the sports car justice and it looks like you ate well on the way. Looking forward to seeing the finished product.
Since this is somewhat of a W.I.P. I’ll have to show you the dull things too. Tires mounted and chassis temporarily stuck together for evaluation. This is going to be a project like someone dropped off an old worn and faded dog '80 Corvette in your yard overnight with no title as a gift. Use your imagination. A racer seems the only option except salvage. Let’s give it a shot. [8-|]
Nice job, Testors has been a re-boxer of model kits for decades. Someone else makes the kits and it usually takes a little homework to see whose model kit is in a Testors box.
Now that sounds like fun, I always though cars should be shiny, tanks dirty, planes somewhere in between. Expand my horizon good sir. Great back story too.
A fast road racer should be lowered so as not to push extra air. This looked easy and I just drilled some holes to locate the axles above the floor pan rather than the slots underneath which would be equivalent to a 5" drop on a real car. Perfect, but then the wheels interfered with the inner wheel wells and the body itself. Dremel action, inners cut mostly out and body wheel wells radius enlarged. Check out all the fun I’m having already! This fits in with the racing motorcycle project where the motto is “Leave nothing stock” lol.
I’m building two cars for the Monogram Mafia 4 GB. First in a while, probably last.
One is a AMT Avanti, squillion parts, workable steering, stock, custom or salt racer parts, tires etc.Challenging, tedious. It does have pairs of holes for high or low suspension.
The other is a Monogram Lincoln Futura. Kind of like your kit, almost a toy. Maybe a dozen parts, solid metal axles. More fun.
Being the designated driver of this conceived device I did a little overkill on the roll cage. The diameter is a little large but it probably would be padded and wrapped in reality. I still need the pieces over the windshield which will be easier to build after the windshield is in. It looks “hell for stout” as Dad used to say.
Hey thanks Steve! This light-hearted project is just to keep me socially linked to the Forum and my friends on it. Strange our like interests, backed up by the Nova Black hole program. I was waiting in the great chair with beer, popcorn and recorder running for the first showing!
The “2 the Max” speed attempt motorcycle project is bogged as it’s just too cold to paint in the shop. I have another project planned through the end of February which is a month long model display at our local Public Library. I need to start figuring that out. Four cases to be filled. I’ll probably do a post on what I’ve gotten myself into! Eek! Models should be shown I say. The wife is working on tags and display labels as we speak. The show should make a tale that I like telling along with pictures I like shooting. All fun and hopefully educational for the viewers.
I have been making lotsa Varoom! sounds while working on the Vette, lol!. Kind of a free palate there! [8-|] One needs a mindless project now and then especially when trapped in Winter. Yikes! Only eight days left to prepare the show, I need to get to work!
Very cool on your display coming up thats a real honor. Digging what your doing to the 'vette, although I have to scroll past your initial pictures as every time I see your Lambo I wanna make as ass of myself or burn all my data trying to find one. Looking forward to more pix of your racer.
