Hello everyone. I am building my first scale model car since I was a kid. I am building this Vega modified, as a surprise to the owner of the real car! Kind of a long story. I am so impressed with the professional models on here! Anyway, I am coming to the detail phase of my work. I need some help with that part. I believe the original engine is a SB Chevy 355. I want to recreate the wiring patterns and hoses. I was considering detail kits from Detail Masters and Parts by Parks. I was thinking of adding at least a distributor with wires and maybe a tachometer on the dash. I don’t work on cars myself so I’m not sure what’s most important to recreate. I also bought a scale air cleaner that looks much better than the one in the photo.
Here is a picture of what I think is the actual engine of the car on the left and the scale model on the right.
Blackthistle,
Unfortunately your pics didn’t make it through. Adding detail is almost like racing, how much do you want to add and how much are you willing to spend? The easiest way to add some detail would be to add spark plugs wires to the model. You can accomplish this in a couple of ways. The first is to buy a pre-wired distributor from Parts by Park or Detail Master and install it. The second would be to buy a pin vice with some drill bits, buy some spark plug wire from PbP or Detail Master, and drill out the kit distributor and wire it up. A proper wiring diagram for the small block Chevy is easily found online. A tachometer would be a simple add, there’s only one cable coming out of the back. Radiator hoses should come in the kit. Since it’s an open wheel car, the brake lines on the front and rear may be visible and fairy easy to replicate. A five or six point harness would necessary for the interior as well as a window net. I’ve done both. The window net is the easier of the two and looks a whole lot better than the kit piece. It’s usually made out of paper strips that you weave and glue together using a photo etched jig. Use a Sharpie to color. Looks a whole lot better than the kit part. The photo etch racing harness is extremely fiddly to build, but the results are worth it. To get an idea of what you might want to duplicate, see if he’ll let you do a quick walk around of it in race configuration. Take pics (if you haven’t done so already) of what’s visible and duplicate what you see. If the fuel pump is visible (and it probably is), you’ll need to pumb it as well. As always, post pics.
The Chevy Vega never had a V-8 originally, so are you starting with a kit with a 4 cylinder engine, or a kit with a Chevy small block V-8? One thing you can use is Google Images (or other site), and search for photos of modified Vegas with V-8’s as that was a popular mod during the late 70’s and 80’s. Thois will help in the layout of parts and the mods needed to add a V-8.
Modifieds always used bigger engines than original equipment. Big HP engine in small, light engine. I always do plug wiring on a race car engine. Only thing you need is small wire, small drills and pin vise. Cut off the plugs, drill holes in those spots. Then carefully drill holes in the distributer for the other ends of wire. You need small guage wire. If you have any old electronics around that you were planning to scrap, try finding transformers inside and unwind wire. That wire is usually about the right size. It will already have an enamel coating, so it takes paint easily.
I don’t know why my pics didn’t come across. First time using this forum, so I’ll have to figure that out. Thanks for your tips!
Looks like I’m starting with a V8 that came in the MPC kit. Thanks for the suggestions!
Thank you. I will.
Thank you. I have a small micromark drill press that might work for this.
I had a friend years back who built a Vega with a 350 ‘mouse’ motor (two bolt main) and fiberglas front end to make it look like a mini Camero. The little beast hauled butt and looked great. Yes, it can be done.