Corvette Whiffery (now in model form!)

Ed S · July 09, 2010, 07:56:05 AM

Nicely done PW. That looks like a car that would be a blast to drive around.

Ed

sequoiaranger · July 09, 2010, 10:06:48 AM

I really like how this has turned out! Any "criticisms" of mine melt away as I admire the final product.

>The graceful semi-boat tail rear conceals a spacious and tastefully carpeted boot.<

In general I love the "50's advertizing copy" sales language for your "brochure". You're showing your Britishness here, however. Such language in a sales "brochure" in America would cause a frown of confusion. In America a "boot" is nothing more than something leathery you wear on your foot. The "trunk" is the rear part of the car that holds luggage, etc. Luckily you didn't also refer to the location of the silky power as "under the bonnet"! All would be forgiven if you had put the steering wheel on the right side!! Hmmm. Why DIDN'T you put the steering wheel on the right side??

(please excuse the slanted-but-correct license plate #s)

puddingwrestler · July 09, 2010, 04:16:55 PM

Because I didn't want to have to modify the dash. On some cars it'd be relatively easy, but on a 53 'Vette, the dash is quite sculptural and tricksy.
Also because the 53 Vette was never produced in right hand drive (as opposed to wrong hand drive). In general, when I model an American car, I leave it in it's american state.

Oh, and for future reference, refering to an Australian as 'British' would usually be taken as an insult. It's like calling an American a Canadian.

Modelling_Mushi · July 10, 2010, 04:36:45 AM

Lovely looking car that Mr Wrestler indeed. Liking the 3 tone reds in the cabin too . . .

beowulf · July 10, 2010, 05:37:16 AM

noice!!!!

i like that a lot

sequoiaranger · July 10, 2010, 08:57:06 AM

PW--"Oh, and for future reference, refering to an Australian as 'British' would usually be taken as an insult. It's like calling an American a Canadian."

Sorry 'bout that. Us "colonials" need to stick together. If I had actually HEARD you say it, I wouldn't have mistaken you for British. Actually, I think calling an "American" a "Canadian" is far more excusable than calling a Canadian an American!

Looking more closely at the "dashboard" of the Cadvette, I can see all the compound curves in that short distance that would make a RHD switch a nightmare, if not impossible. I drove a 1956 Chevy for a couple of years, and the "fans" under the "humps" on the dash (one on the left for the steering wheel/instruments, and one on the right over the glove box) would have been more-or-less interchangeable for a RHD version. Doesn't look that way on the 'Vette. Still, wouldn't it be nice to drive the Gold Coast and be able to see around the slow lorry in front of you!

Hobbes · July 10, 2010, 09:55:35 AM

Very nice!

puddingwrestler · July 10, 2010, 05:10:36 PM

Quote from: sequoiaranger on July 10, 2010, 08:57:06 AM
I drove a 1956 Chevy for a couple of years, and the "fans" under the "humps" on the dash (one on the left for the steering wheel/instruments, and one on the right over the glove box) would have been more-or-less interchangeable for a RHD version. Doesn't look that way on the 'Vette. Still, wouldn't it be nice to drive the Gold Coast and be able to see around the slow lorry in front of you!

Oh there are RHD corvette conversions out there, but not of the 53 model. There were very few 53 models built. Hand built no less. And all painted the same white with red interior. So no RHD 53s anyway.

Mushi: There are not *really* three tones in the cabin - it's all painted the same colour. Then there is carpet, and some areas have porbably had a bit more dry brushing than others. Also, I used a little trick I picked up somewhere for aging leather seats. One painted, rub them a bit with the finger tip. Bodily oils rub off leaving the rubbed area a bit shiner, just like real leather car seats go.