[KensRedZed]

I find the Corvair to be an interesting car. Rear engine flat-6. This car won a lot of races in its day.

Then a guy named Don Yenko developed something called a Yenko Stinger.

I found this old, rare static kit of a Corvair Corsa. The base car for a Stinger.

I decided on Testors Star Spankled Blue for paint.

I thought the colour on the lid looked great! What came out of the can was nothing like it. Do I leave it? Or strip it and start again? Choices...

 

[mickey thumbs]

Tough call. The first pic of the Yenko car is a classic Chevy color from the 60’s. Not sure of the factory name/# but my cousin had a 396 Chevelle in that color. Beautiful. You might want look around in the auto paint world to find a match.

 

[VTECFOUR]

Really, you'd strip and re-paint? Not the lighter tone you were expecting but looks like it applied well.

Dan

 

[KensRedZed]

If something about a car bugs you? It usually won't let you rest.

The debate still goes on. The chassis is machined.

The lesson here is...

Tamiya paint cans = Excellent!

Testors paint cans = Not good.

It's clear why Testors threw in the towel when it comes to spray cans.

 

[Trisha]

I rather like that dark blue, Ken. It suits the car well. Dark colours always make for a pleasing contrast with polished alloy wheels.

A nice model of a much-maligned car. Ralph Nader! Tut. Remember all his ridiculous criticism? And he hadn't even got a driving licence.

 

[Tony.A]

Here is a photo of Frank Gardners Chevrolet Corvair that dominated the Australian Sports Sedan Championship in the mid 1970s.It had a space frame chassis and Lola F5000 suspension and running gear with the motor sitting next to the driver

 

[Kit Spackman]

A nice model of a much-maligned car. Ralph Nader! Tut. Remember all his ridiculous criticism? And he hadn't even got a driving licence.

The early versions of the Corvair, with a different body shape to the one KRZ's building, were pretty lethal as they had swing axle rear suspension, like a Triumph Herald. With a rear weight bias and a wet road they'd oversteer into the hedge without too much difficulty.

I know this because I had one for a while and did exactly that.

The second versions handled much better with their semi-trailing arm suspension, and looked better IMHO.

 

[Trisha]

Kit

Vic Elford never had trouble with the Triumph Herald in his early rallying days.

Would you like a list of successful cars that had swing-axle suspension? It's quite long.

I've spent years listening to people hammering swing-axles. Their criticism says more about their driving ability.

 

[Mark50]

Here is my take on the same body Ken, coincidentally almost the same colour you have chosen:

 

[KensRedZed]

Thank you to everyone for the positive comments!

What really bugs me is the little krinkling going on around/above the wheel well lips on the first painted photo. It looks like the paint foamed up and made small bubbles. It only happened on one side.

Beautiful Corvair Mark. I bet it goes like a bullet. Sits perfect too. To slam, or not to slam? Always...

 

[CW Hall]

One of those would definitely be on my roundtuit list,great job...Chuck

 

[GRUNZ]

That is a beautiful car! I think I would have opted for a deep red livery (as the first pic of the real car you posted) with white stripes.

 

[KensRedZed]

Thank you very kindly, Chuck and Grunz.

Test fitting the chassis to the body. It will be raised a millimeter or two from where it sits now. Lowering it until the tires touch the inside of the body while glueing in the body posts keep it lined up with the chassis. I raise the body and/or move the wheels in after the posts are glued in. Perfect body alignment every time.

The hubcaps are there just for the photo. This car is getting American 5-spokes.

The body height was inspired by Mark50.

 

[mickey thumbs]

Looking better all the time

 

[Mark50]

Looking mean Ken!

 

[stumbley]

My college roommate had a '65 Monza convertible that had been souped up by a guy that was trying to break the Bonneville speed record in his own Corvair. We got it up to about 135 on the way to Las Vegas, but had to ease off because the nose started drifting upwards. It needed a bit of downforce in front. Was a really fun car. I love what you've done with yours!

 

[KensRedZed]

Thank you very kindly, Michael, Mark, and Stumbley.

 

[RichD]

Metallic colors are semitransparent, so the final color will be affected by what is underneath. You could try a test on something expendable, start with a couple of coats of white and put the metallic blue over that. If the result is too light try painting over gray primer. You could also spray over silver.

 

[chappyman66]

I actually like the color....I think the car looks fantasic.

 

[KensRedZed]

Thank you very kindly RichD and Chappyman66.

My friends at the club suggested to leave the paint alone... and stop being such a perfectionist.

Oh well. I guess I'll just keep assembling the rest of the car and go racing.