WIP: Dale Jr's AMP #88 '08 Impala SS

My first thing I wanted to tackle was the new Chevy engine. The R07 was slowly phased in last year and I would imagine most Chevy teams will be running it full time this year. It's quite a bit different that the older SB2, so I had to get creative to decide where to start. I began by using the block, heads and valve covers from a Tamiya McLaren Mercedes V10. I removed the back two cylinders and built up the bottom end with sheet stock to give it some height. All the valve cover bolts were drilled out and will be replaced with Scale Hardware pieces. I added a new resin oil pan, new front cover/water pump, and added the water in and out line mounts.

Next was a new intake. I modified a PF Ford piece and added some height and a new carb platform and it was ready for primer. The carb and distributor with both be from ProTech.

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I've also been building up my various AN lines that will be added later. These are a combination of Detail Master and Pro Tech braid and fittings. More on those as I get into detailing.

http://images34.fotki.com/v1077/photos/1/174078/5803039/P1129213-vi.jpg

I haven't gotten too far on the chassis yet, so far from my research it looks like they are no longer using the old stamped steel floor pans and they are all fabricated. So I removed both side of the floor and replaced it with sheet plastic, as well as the back shelf between the frame rails. I'll start on the oil tank box next.

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Made some good progress on the engine. Everything was painted various shades of Alclad, and then assembly began. I used Scale hardware brass bolts on both valve covers and oil pan. Distributor, plug wires and boots are all from Pro Tech. According to the ref pics I found, it looked like the plugs were shielded with some insulated boots on the plug end of the wires. I stripped out the copper core of some Pro Tech braided line and slid it on before gluing into the heads.

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I also bent up a set of new headers from solder, heat shrink tube and aluminum tubing. These were then shot with Alcad's as well.

http://images33.fotki.com/v1069/photos/1/174078/5803039/P1139215-vi.jpg

http://images34.fotki.com/v1077/photos/1/174078/5803039/P1139216-vi.jpg

I received my Impala and Avenger bodies from mike's Scale Speedshop on Friday, and got right to work. I began by removing the window flash, and all around clean up work. I also spent a bit of time thinning out the wheel wells. it's a bit thick in some spots, but the resin is soft and a sanding stick or Dremel makes short work of it. Using the supplied template I cut out a splitter from .040 sheet plastic and installed it under the nose. I also removed the side skirts so I can make my own later.

http://images34.fotki.com/v1082/photos/1/174078/5803055/P1209228-vi.jpg

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With the body finally in hand I could get back to work on the chassis. Using the Pro Finish chassis, and a lot of .080 rod, I began building up a new roll cage and support bars. I also built a new oil can box as well as new frame rails in the trunk and fender areas. I've since finished the front bumper bars, but no pics of that yet.

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Here's a few more chassis shots. It's almost ready for primer and paint. I built up a new front bumper, and added all the rest of the small details including the new style CoT drive shaft tunnel. Couple more small details and it's ready.

http://images31.fotki.com/v1083/photos/1/174078/5803042/P1219243-vi.jpg

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http://images32.fotki.com/v1090/photos/1/174078/5803042/P1219252-vi.jpg

I caught a nice day earlier this week and got the chassis painted and cleared. I also started adding a few small things. Pro Tech roll bar padding, and the oil tank box lid from black styrene.

http://images31.fotki.com/v1100/photos/1/174078/5803042/P2079254-vi.jpg

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http://images34.fotki.com/v1123/photos/1/174078/5803042/P2079258-vi.jpg

Also did a bit to the body. Cowl and deck lid have been opened up, and I did more thinning to the insides.

http://images35.fotki.com/v1129/photos/1/174078/5803055/P2079261-vi.jpg

http://images110.fotki.com/v1111/photos/1/174078/5803055/P2079262-vi.jpg

This should be the last update before primer and paint. I've been sanding and thinning for what seems like ever trying to make it as smooth and as in scale as I can make it. I added new side skirts from .015 sheet plastic, as well as getting the hood and trunk both hinged with PE tabs. On the underside of the deck I added new molded supports from sheet plastic layer on top of itself and there is also a new fuel filler hole from aluminum tubing. The roof flap boxes were also cut open and boxed in. The wing is just tacked on for the moment, I'm doing more work to it now. Just a few more small things to do and it will be ready for primer.

http://images35.fotki.com/v1132/photos/1/174078/5803055/P2139267-vi.jpg

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http://images33.fotki.com/v1119/photos/1/174078/5803055/P2139277-vi.jpg

Thanks for looking!
ClayK

looks great, its amazing how you and Skyline build these Nascar cars


only complaint, anyone but Jr. :p

Ohh another one of those. Just incredible... great work!

PS.: I just hope someone builds the #27 soon :biggrin:

Hey,


OMG i am i huge JR fan. You are doing a VERY! good job with this build. PLZ! keep us updated.

Love these builds! It looks perfect so far.

Your craftsmanship never ceases to floor me. Awesome stuff. I've been looking at this CoT on your Fotki for a while, I'm pumped you're doing Jr's #88 - the AMP scheme looks cool and you're sure to do a great job. :smokin:

Absolutely amazing! The weathering on the engine is perfect, please keep updating.

A real COT - that is very cool. I will be following this one very closely. And your engine looks just great. Keep it up!

Thanks guys!

Made more progress over the weekend......I started in by building up Jr.'s carbon fiber HMS style seat. The center came from The same Tamiya F1 kit I robbed the engine from. I removed all of the stuff I didn't need off of it, and added leg extensions, shoulder braces, and the wrap around headrest from sheet plastic. Once it was all smoothed out I shot it with gloss black and decaled it with F1 Specialties carbon fiber decal film. Then it was cleared, flocked and finally I added the padding with soft black foam padding from Walmart.

One the left side I scratch built a new radio in a PE metal box, and started wiring it up with Pro Tech wire.

http://images31.fotki.com/v1097/photos/1/174078/5803060/P2179292-vi.jpg

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http://images33.fotki.com/v1136/photos/1/174078/5803060/P2179291-vi.jpg


I also got the body and smaller parts in primer. The rear wing was built up as well. I removed the molded in end plates and replaced them with sheet plastic ones. It was also covered in CF decal and cleared. Still needs a bit of a polish to remove some trash, but it's just about done.

http://images34.fotki.com/v1144/photos/1/174078/5803055/P2179282-vi.jpg

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http://images34.fotki.com/v1123/photos/1/174078/5803055/P2179286-vi.jpg

Hopefully next weekend I can get some white and green shot.

Thanks for looking.......
ClayK

aklshjklhuiqyuioyei, i've lost control of my mouth. I almost thouht it was a compressed pic of a real one.

Wow, great job so far !!!!

Awesome Clay.

You do a great job of making things look like they were deisgned for the car you are building. Taking that seat, making the mods, and having be Dale Jr's seat is a hell of a talent.

When the rest of us try to do it we end up with a big cluster that people look at and wonder what we were trying to do with that F1 seat jammed in a NASCAR.

Awesome.
Andy

Fantastic work Clay.
I too saw the COT build on your Fotiki site and was wondering how that was going. :popcorn:

I am revved up for the new racing season after the Daytona 500. The Aussie V8 Supercars start this weekend too.:smokin:

Cheers
Nenad

If you feel any earth tremors Stateside during this build, don't worry, it's just all the chins hitting the floor.....:eek:

I love it dude!! The chassis mods & the motor are sick! I just got a couple CoT bodies & can't wait to dive in! I have to finish my C6R first of course.....

Loving it, excellent work as usual from you Clay. Great topic mate....look forward to seeing colour hit the body.

Sorry for not many updates lately. Lots of other projects going on here. But I did finally catch a few nice days and got some color on my Impala.

I shot the whole thing with a base of HoK white. Once it was good and dry, (a couple hours), I masked it off and shot on the HoK metallic green followed by two coats of HoK kandy green. Then the whole thing was shot with two coats of DuPont clear. I still need to do a bit of polishing, then I'll mask off and shoot the roof rails silver, and the TV panel matt black. Then get ready for the new Powerslide decals.

http://images34.fotki.com/v1143/photos/1/174078/5803055/P3039304-vi.jpg

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ClayK

It looks sick dude!! Perfect color match too... I'll be picking up a couple of these Powerslide decals at the NNL east next month.

Is it just me or is their a little blemish in the red circle.:rolleyes:http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e384/Xmodkid5321/P3039309-vi.jpg

Is it just me or is their a little blemish in the red circle.:rolleyes:http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e384/Xmodkid5321/P3039309-vi.jpg

Doesn't matter, there's going to be a decal over that area.

That's just plain awesome, Clay!!! Can't wait to see more!!


Turbokid--I'm not sure what part in the circle you're talking about, but part of what you see is the wire keeping the trunk hinges together. If you're talking about an uneven paint line, that will be covered with a decal. I'm just not sure what you see wrong here.:screwy:

That's just plain awesome, Clay!!! Can't wait to see more!!


Turbokid--I'm not sure what part in the circle you're talking about, but part of what you see is the wire keeping the trunk hinges together. If you're talking about an uneven paint line, that will be covered with a decal. I'm just not sure what you see wrong here.:screwy:


I have to agree with Jeremy on this one. If there is one, there is a silver line that will separate the two colors.

Turbokid- I wanted to give you some constructive feedback, but I couldn't seem to find any of your WIP's or completed builds. :disappoin

You guys are all correct. Except turbokid15. Not really a blemish......There is a wire there holding the deck on for mock up purposes, and the two body colors will be separated by a silver/white decal. A decal that will hopefully be here in a week or so.

Thanks guys.
ClayK

deiracefan say "Turbokid- I wanted to give you some constructive feedback, but I couldn't seem to find any of your WIP's or completed builds. :disappoin"


deiracefan:
I don't get, the guy ask if that a blemish on paint job and all the sudden it warrant a little "constructive criticism"? I understand being fans of builders, but why make it where you have to retaliate by offering constructive criticism if someone question a piece of build? Maybe now we go give your builds "constructive criticism" as result of your comment?

Clay, build on please. I glad at least you can take a comments without having to get personal even if your fans do not.

looks very nice. Great engine detail.
Could you please post a photo of the real car

Omg Holy Moly This Rocks

deiracefan:
I don't get, the guy ask if that a blemish on paint job and all the sudden it warrant a little "constructive criticism"? I understand being fans of builders, but why make it where you have to retaliate by offering constructive criticism if someone question a piece of build? Maybe now we go give your builds "constructive criticism" as result of your comment?

Clay, build on please. I glad at least you can take a comments without having to get personal even if your fans do not.


Knock yourself out dude... I welcome it.

As always, flawless execution! Do you ever get tired making such super detailed NASCAR builds? I'd love to see what you can do with a crappy fitting kit OOB. I'm sure it would end up looking stellar.

deiracefan:
I don't get, the guy ask if that a blemish on paint job and all the sudden it warrant a little "constructive criticism"? I understand being fans of builders, but why make it where you have to retaliate by offering constructive criticism if someone question a piece of build? Maybe now we go give your builds "constructive criticism" as result of your comment?

Nice way to introduce yourself here at the forums; you can expect a welcome wagon to greet you shortly. diecrfan has some pretty nice builds (check his photki in his sig); I'd be interested to see what constructive criticism you can provide us with. Would you care to share some of your work with us?

Looks great! the resin body looks to be very nice, i'll have to pick one up!

I love this new look for Jr, and you've already begun to capture it very well. That green really pops nicely.
I'm thinking of getting an Impala body too. Very nice. :)

Wow! Look what I've been missing!
Everything is just so clean. Awesome!