I am very pleased on how it all came out. Respect to dedicated model car builders. It was certainly a learning process. For sure there are aspects that my eye goes right too as things that could be improved. But overall I am happy.
My father was blown away with the gift. He didn't know I was working on it, and it came as a great surprise.
For the diorama, I picked up a cheap black picture frame to set the stage. Grabbed some pink foam and drew on the layout for the placement of things. It will be a portion of a paved road, the dirt edge, along with a cattle guard and road sign.
Cattle guard frame built and placed. Trimmed down foam for the earth slope away from the road.
Trimmed think sheet metal to place under the road bed, so the car tires can be magnetized for secure placement.
Barb wire fence installed along with the cattle guard.
Basecoat of paint added.
Road lines added along with some pigment powders.
Painting time for the car. Everything got a black primer coat, then a slight grey edge highlight. Metal received silver paint and a black wash.
Engine, cooling, dash, and seats added to chassis. Small hits of yellow color where some of the engines stickers are.
Build complete. Gloss black body paint. Windows, lights, and wheels added.
I am happy with how it turned out. Although I can see areas that could have been improved, such as sanding the body to get smoother paint. Also the glass could use some work to get more transparent.
Inspired to make a gift for my father based on a 1983 Porsche 928S car he owned, tuned, and raced for years. I purchased this vintage Tamiya 1/20 scale model from eBay.
The idea was to build the car to match as close as possible to his car that he had customized over the years. For the diorama portion, my goal was to represent the car during a specific race we participated in together called the Pony Express. Held in Nevada, this race was held along a closed two lane 83 mile stretch of State Route 305 between Battle Mountain and Austin. During the race we averaged over 150 mph. Certainly one of the most exciting things I have done in my life, and I figured this would be a nostalgic project as well as a memorable keepsake for him.
V8 water cooled engine assembled.
Customizing the stock exhaust to a dual tipped Flowmaster.
Shaved off the door bumper that ran down the side of the car body. And the side mirrors.
Relocated the exhaust exit to the back. Added custom venting in license plate area.
Under carriage getting assembled.
