1953/54/55 Corvettes - The Legend Begins Here
AussieReg
Associate Editor
#007
Victoria, Australia
Joined: June 09, 2009
KitMaker: 8,156 posts
Auto Modeler: 2,953 posts
Posted: Saturday, September 27, 2014 - 01:33 AM UTC
Hi folks.
I thought I might put in some time on a classic car build prior to
the big event next year, and where better to start than the very first Corvette?
I eventually plan to build one of every years version of the 'Vette as I can find, with the late 60's being my favourite body shape.
There is a good little article
HERE on the History Channel website detailing the people involved and the timeline.
I am building the 1/24th Revell boxing, pics below of the box, sprues and decals.







I have been on the road this week for work and managed some time with a basic tool set to make a start on the first few steps of the build.


No problems so far, parts all fit well and minimal cleanup of flash and mold lines required.
Cheers, D
ON the bench
Revell 1/24 '53 Corvette (building as '54)
Revell 1/24 BMW 507 Coupe and Cabrio
Italeri 1/48 Me262 B-1a/U1 Nightfighter
Monogram 1/24 '57 Chevy Nomad
Dragon 1/350 USS Frank Knox DD-742

#439
Washington, United States
Joined: November 05, 2005
KitMaker: 4,950 posts
Auto Modeler: 555 posts
Posted: Saturday, September 27, 2014 - 01:36 AM UTC
Neat, from before it turned into a big fat sloppy excuse for a sports car.
Hanger Queens in Waiting:
Monogram 1/72 F8F-1
Corsair the Sky Pirate - 1/72 Ace A-7D
Century Series - Airfix 1/72 F-105G
Anti Shipping - Academy 1/72 PBJ-1D
Academy 1/72 F-84E
AussieReg
Associate Editor
#007
Victoria, Australia
Joined: June 09, 2009
KitMaker: 8,156 posts
Auto Modeler: 2,953 posts
Posted: Saturday, September 27, 2014 - 06:16 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Neat, from before it turned into a big fat sloppy excuse for a sports car.
Well that took 3 minutes. I knew it was inevitable, but had hoped for a bit longer before the MOPAR and FORD groupies chimed in!
Jealousy is a curse Mark, it's never too late to see the error of your ways and admit to the undeniable superiority of the Bowtie Brigade!
Cheers, D
ON the bench
Revell 1/24 '53 Corvette (building as '54)
Revell 1/24 BMW 507 Coupe and Cabrio
Italeri 1/48 Me262 B-1a/U1 Nightfighter
Monogram 1/24 '57 Chevy Nomad
Dragon 1/350 USS Frank Knox DD-742

#439
Washington, United States
Joined: November 05, 2005
KitMaker: 4,950 posts
Auto Modeler: 555 posts
Posted: Saturday, September 27, 2014 - 07:29 PM UTC
Not quite, many of the earlier flavors, into the mid '70s were sleek sporty cars. And then that same Detroit disease that killed the T-Bird took over, they fattened it up for no good reason. The last two Vettes, C6 & C7 look like they took a good looking front end off of one prototype and crammed on the decent looking back end of another prototype, but the two ends just don't fit together. FWIW, I think they did the same thing with the new Camaro.
If I'm going to drop $75,000 on a sports car, I want one that can go fast, turn left AND right.
Hanger Queens in Waiting:
Monogram 1/72 F8F-1
Corsair the Sky Pirate - 1/72 Ace A-7D
Century Series - Airfix 1/72 F-105G
Anti Shipping - Academy 1/72 PBJ-1D
Academy 1/72 F-84E
California, United States
Joined: October 21, 2007
KitMaker: 3,684 posts
Auto Modeler: 294 posts
Posted: Sunday, September 28, 2014 - 02:50 AM UTC
This should be a fun one Damian, being the Corvette lover that I am I'll be watching with interest
Kobenhavn, Denmark
Joined: June 29, 2004
KitMaker: 6,760 posts
Auto Modeler: 2,182 posts
Posted: Sunday, September 28, 2014 - 06:30 PM UTC
Excellent subject. I'm sure you will do this classic justice. At least, that is what I could say, if it wasn't for the big event next year. So I won't say it.
On the workbench:
MPC: 1972 Pontiac GTO
Revell: 1965 Mustang
Verlinden 120mm guard of the marine.
Revell: 2010 Camaro
Monogram: 1931 Rolls Royce
Italeri: LVT2 Amtrac
AussieReg
Associate Editor
#007
Victoria, Australia
Joined: June 09, 2009
KitMaker: 8,156 posts
Auto Modeler: 2,953 posts
Posted: Sunday, September 28, 2014 - 07:52 PM UTC
Thanks for the kind comments guys, good to know that folks are looking in!
Jesper, you don't need to say it, i know deep down there is a Chev fan just waiting to emerge.
Cheers, D
ON the bench
Revell 1/24 '53 Corvette (building as '54)
Revell 1/24 BMW 507 Coupe and Cabrio
Italeri 1/48 Me262 B-1a/U1 Nightfighter
Monogram 1/24 '57 Chevy Nomad
Dragon 1/350 USS Frank Knox DD-742
New York, United States
Joined: August 25, 2006
KitMaker: 2,539 posts
Auto Modeler: 1,405 posts
Posted: Monday, September 29, 2014 - 12:15 AM UTC
These were nice looking sports cars. Are you going with a street version of a race version?
Jim
"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." ---- Winston Churchill
Scotland, United Kingdom
Joined: February 15, 2013
KitMaker: 1,273 posts
Auto Modeler: 207 posts
Posted: Monday, September 29, 2014 - 01:11 AM UTC
Should build into a nice little model Damien. I will watch with interest.
Pete
Ontario, Canada
Joined: February 04, 2008
KitMaker: 2,507 posts
Auto Modeler: 409 posts
Posted: Monday, September 29, 2014 - 05:26 AM UTC
I m following this one!
" The Die Hards"
43rd MIDDLESEX REGIMENT
MACHINE GUN CORPS
XXX CORP
The most effective way to do it, is to do it.
- Amelia Earhart
Texas, United States
Joined: February 22, 2008
KitMaker: 5,026 posts
Auto Modeler: 20 posts
Posted: Monday, September 29, 2014 - 07:58 AM UTC
HEY! ITS A CHHEVY! ANIT IT?
bOB
If it aint broke dont fix it.
AussieReg
Associate Editor
#007
Victoria, Australia
Joined: June 09, 2009
KitMaker: 8,156 posts
Auto Modeler: 2,953 posts
Posted: Monday, September 29, 2014 - 04:23 PM UTC
Quoted Text
These were nice looking sports cars. Are you going with a street version of a race version?
Jim
I will stick with the street version Jim. I want to create a complete collection of 50's and 60's Corvettes in showroom condition, then I might move on to some race/strip/gasser versions to throw in the mix.
Cheers, D
ON the bench
Revell 1/24 '53 Corvette (building as '54)
Revell 1/24 BMW 507 Coupe and Cabrio
Italeri 1/48 Me262 B-1a/U1 Nightfighter
Monogram 1/24 '57 Chevy Nomad
Dragon 1/350 USS Frank Knox DD-742
Texas, United States
Joined: March 08, 2010
KitMaker: 2,465 posts
Auto Modeler: 15 posts
Posted: Thursday, October 02, 2014 - 03:17 AM UTC
This is gonna be nice, love those old Corvettes.

AussieReg
Associate Editor
#007
Victoria, Australia
Joined: June 09, 2009
KitMaker: 8,156 posts
Auto Modeler: 2,953 posts
Posted: Monday, November 03, 2014 - 01:37 AM UTC
ON the bench
Revell 1/24 '53 Corvette (building as '54)
Revell 1/24 BMW 507 Coupe and Cabrio
Italeri 1/48 Me262 B-1a/U1 Nightfighter
Monogram 1/24 '57 Chevy Nomad
Dragon 1/350 USS Frank Knox DD-742
AussieReg
Associate Editor
#007
Victoria, Australia
Joined: June 09, 2009
KitMaker: 8,156 posts
Auto Modeler: 2,953 posts
Posted: Wednesday, August 12, 2015 - 07:02 PM UTC
ON the bench
Revell 1/24 '53 Corvette (building as '54)
Revell 1/24 BMW 507 Coupe and Cabrio
Italeri 1/48 Me262 B-1a/U1 Nightfighter
Monogram 1/24 '57 Chevy Nomad
Dragon 1/350 USS Frank Knox DD-742
Kobenhavn, Denmark
Joined: June 29, 2004
KitMaker: 6,760 posts
Auto Modeler: 2,182 posts
Posted: Thursday, August 13, 2015 - 12:28 PM UTC
Good to see you making progress Damian.
I wonder why they called the engine the blue flame
On the workbench:
MPC: 1972 Pontiac GTO
Revell: 1965 Mustang
Verlinden 120mm guard of the marine.
Revell: 2010 Camaro
Monogram: 1931 Rolls Royce
Italeri: LVT2 Amtrac
AussieReg
Associate Editor
#007
Victoria, Australia
Joined: June 09, 2009
KitMaker: 8,156 posts
Auto Modeler: 2,953 posts
Posted: Friday, August 21, 2015 - 08:41 PM UTC
Jesper, because even a 6-banger Chev breathes fire mate!


Cheers, D
ON the bench
Revell 1/24 '53 Corvette (building as '54)
Revell 1/24 BMW 507 Coupe and Cabrio
Italeri 1/48 Me262 B-1a/U1 Nightfighter
Monogram 1/24 '57 Chevy Nomad
Dragon 1/350 USS Frank Knox DD-742
Kobenhavn, Denmark
Joined: June 29, 2004
KitMaker: 6,760 posts
Auto Modeler: 2,182 posts
Posted: Sunday, August 23, 2015 - 03:49 PM UTC
The dark blotches on the paper, aren't they oil spill, from the blue spark?
On the workbench:
MPC: 1972 Pontiac GTO
Revell: 1965 Mustang
Verlinden 120mm guard of the marine.
Revell: 2010 Camaro
Monogram: 1931 Rolls Royce
Italeri: LVT2 Amtrac
New York, United States
Joined: August 25, 2006
KitMaker: 2,539 posts
Auto Modeler: 1,405 posts
Posted: Sunday, August 23, 2015 - 05:13 PM UTC
"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." ---- Winston Churchill
AussieReg
Associate Editor
#007
Victoria, Australia
Joined: June 09, 2009
KitMaker: 8,156 posts
Auto Modeler: 2,953 posts
Posted: Monday, February 29, 2016 - 05:39 PM UTC
Hi folks. I dragged this one out of mothballs tonight and spent some time on masking for the interior colour. Tamiya X-7 acrylic Gloss Red was the first try, but I'm not really liking it. I am going to re-mask and dull it down with a drop of Red-Brown in the X-7 and re-paint tomorrow night.



Cheers, D
ON the bench
Revell 1/24 '53 Corvette (building as '54)
Revell 1/24 BMW 507 Coupe and Cabrio
Italeri 1/48 Me262 B-1a/U1 Nightfighter
Monogram 1/24 '57 Chevy Nomad
Dragon 1/350 USS Frank Knox DD-742
AussieReg
Associate Editor
#007
Victoria, Australia
Joined: June 09, 2009
KitMaker: 8,156 posts
Auto Modeler: 2,953 posts
Posted: Tuesday, March 01, 2016 - 10:42 AM UTC
Reggies Custom Paintshop on the job. I took a spare jar and added the thinned X-7, then added drop by drop some XF-64 Red Brown until I hit a tone that looked ok.



Much more betterer! Still not perfect, but I like it.
Cheers, D
ON the bench
Revell 1/24 '53 Corvette (building as '54)
Revell 1/24 BMW 507 Coupe and Cabrio
Italeri 1/48 Me262 B-1a/U1 Nightfighter
Monogram 1/24 '57 Chevy Nomad
Dragon 1/350 USS Frank Knox DD-742
Kobenhavn, Denmark
Joined: June 29, 2004
KitMaker: 6,760 posts
Auto Modeler: 2,182 posts
Posted: Thursday, March 03, 2016 - 01:32 PM UTC
Looks like you hit that color very well Damian.
On the workbench:
MPC: 1972 Pontiac GTO
Revell: 1965 Mustang
Verlinden 120mm guard of the marine.
Revell: 2010 Camaro
Monogram: 1931 Rolls Royce
Italeri: LVT2 Amtrac

#362
California, United States
Joined: December 01, 2013
KitMaker: 1,661 posts
Auto Modeler: 431 posts
Posted: Friday, March 04, 2016 - 12:26 PM UTC
Hi Damian - nice job on the color matching!! I'll have send my color requests off to you in the future! You did what I just can't master!
Looking forward to your next post -
Cheers
Nick
AussieReg
Associate Editor
#007
Victoria, Australia
Joined: June 09, 2009
KitMaker: 8,156 posts
Auto Modeler: 2,953 posts
Posted: Friday, March 04, 2016 - 07:10 PM UTC
Thanks for checking in here Nick. I am definitely very happy with the result on the colour, now I just need to get the difference in the gloss levels correct between the leather seats and the dashboard top.
Cheers, D
ON the bench
Revell 1/24 '53 Corvette (building as '54)
Revell 1/24 BMW 507 Coupe and Cabrio
Italeri 1/48 Me262 B-1a/U1 Nightfighter
Monogram 1/24 '57 Chevy Nomad
Dragon 1/350 USS Frank Knox DD-742

#306
Victoria, Australia
Joined: June 27, 2010
KitMaker: 3,959 posts
Auto Modeler: 495 posts
Posted: Sunday, March 06, 2016 - 04:49 AM UTC
Hi Damian!
just found this build!
Looks like you have as protracted a build rate as I do
My Trans Am has been sitting on the shelf of doom for just as long as your 'vette
Look forward to seeing this one finished
Stay home and build models!
In 1/72
Gloster Gladiator MkII for the Bi-planes Campaign
In 1/350
Airfix 1:350 Type 45 Destroyer