Repairing 1/24 DM 1965 Corvette early prototype, project #2

Wow!  I've frequently used those mini-magnets in a few of my modification builds.  However, I've never used them for assembly!  That's just too clever!  

Here is the "finished car", there are few other parts that I need when I disassemble another donor car.

Next project involves "dechroming" DM chromed part, stay tuned...

More from Doug

thats extraordinary Chav, well done. Sorry but I dont quite get how you removed the damaged windshield. I can where it is separated. Did you cleanup and use the original windscreen frame?

thanks

Everything seems to have worked out nicely Chav....but (personally ) I would've been more comfortable taking this model apart to repair that windshield.  What you did took real guts! 😬 😬 

Very cool Vette! 😎 

Posted by: @geoff-jowett

thats extraordinary Chav, well done. Sorry but I dont quite get how you removed the damaged windshield. I can where it is separated. Did you cleanup and use the original windscreen frame?

thanks

The original windshield was broken and was missing a 1/2 inch piece, I was considering repairing it but gave up. I used a spare windshield from a green 1966 Vette cabriolet (the ones that have diecast rot), I took that car apart and pulled an intact windshield. to remove the broken windshield I chopped whatever pieces I could and then used eXacto knife to cut the brackets remnants between the body and the dash board. That was a difficult operation because you have to apply lots of force but also protect the paint on both sides. Once that cleanup was completed, I cut the corresponding hidden parts of the new windshield until it fit in the gap between the dashboard and the car body. Gluing it in place securely and cleanly with UV resin was another challenge (will elaborate further later).

Posted by: @chris

Everything seems to have worked out nicely Chav....but (personally ) I would've been more comfortable taking this model apart to repair that windshield.  What you did took real guts! 😬 😬 

Very cool Vette! 😎 

Any other model, yes, I agree with you. This one however was a development prototype, opening it up inevitably will cause several broken parts and pins (I had just opened the donor car and knew exactly how it was assembled). I considered repairing the windshield as well. By the way the 2 side windows frames were also broken, I ended up repairing those.

See, the bottom has no backstamp, these are very rare, especially for DM, I did not want to touch this part, there are 4 hidden screws.

Posted by: @chav

This one however was a development prototype, opening it up inevitably will cause several broken parts and pins (I had just opened the donor car and knew exactly how it was assembled).

Well, you got me there.....  knowing exactly what you were in for (by messing around with your donor  ) is justification enough to NOT open her up  and risk FURTHER damage/lower value.  I get it. 

Posted by: @chav

Posted by: @geoff-jowett

thats extraordinary Chav, well done. Sorry but I dont quite get how you removed the damaged windshield. I can where it is separated. Did you cleanup and use the original windscreen frame?

thanks

The original windshield was broken and was missing a 1/2 inch piece, I was considering repairing it but gave up. I used a spare windshield from a green 1966 Vette cabriolet (the ones that have diecast rot), I took that car apart and pulled an intact windshield. to remove the broken windshield I chopped whatever pieces I could and then used eXacto knife to cut the brackets remnants between the body and the dash board. That was a difficult operation because you have to apply lots of force but also protect the paint on both sides. Once that cleanup was completed, I cut the corresponding hidden parts of the new windshield until it fit in the gap between the dashboard and the car body. Gluing it in place securely and cleanly with UV resin was another challenge (will elaborate further later).

OMG!!!

thanks for the detailed response Chav

@geoff-jowett Just to finish from earlier today ... I was on hurry this morning,

I love to work with UV resin, but it has a major issue that is especially dangerous around the windows' plastics. The resin threads tiny filaments that are probably electrostatically attracted to the plastic, and the issue is more pronounced when the resin is a bit older or stayed on air for several minutes. You don't even see these filaments when they mess up your "glass", you see them later when you inspect your work, extremely annoying. The only way to repair the damage is by polishing the plastic that is not a pleasant process. More to come on this issue, I have to repair a window messed with superglue and will give more details and pictures ... another prototype repair. 

Thanks everybody for the positive comments and reactions!

Posted by: @chav

@geoff-jowett Just to finish from earlier today ... I was on hurry this morning,

I love to work with UV resin, but it has a major issue that is especially dangerous around the windows' plastics. The resin threads tiny filaments that are probably electrostatically attracted to the plastic, and the issue is more pronounced when the resin is a bit older or stayed on air for several minutes. You don't even see these filaments when they mess up your "glass", you see them later when you inspect your work, extremely annoying. The only way to repair the damage is by polishing the plastic that is not a pleasant process. More to come on this issue, I have to repair a window messed with superglue and will give more details and pictures ... another prototype repair. 

thanks Chav, very very keen to see what you can do with the messed with superglue window

I just read this post Chan. What a professional repair. I could ever have attempted this. I really enjoyed your comments and this discussion.