Shelby Cobra 427 Project

2111 Views 25 Replies 11 Participants Last post by DiecastX, Jan 16, 2004

LUW

Discussion Starter · Dec 16, 2003 (Edited by Moderator)

2

I've been thinking (run for your lives!). I love Shelbys, but there are very few die cast specimens out there. I love my 260 from Exoto in aluminum finish, and a aluminum 427 would go great next to it. So why not make one?

But just stripping the paint of a 427 is too simplistic. So I had another briliant idea (two ideas in one day: I'm making progress). Why not make an aluminum 427 in race livery?

Here's the deal. A web buddy is going to give me a YM 427 just for the cost of S&H (yeah, I know, great guy). I'm going to strip the paint off (chemically, of course), and then I'm going to polish it so that it gets shiny and nice. I'll put some race seats in it and some modern day race wheels, and then throw on some decals (numbers, maybe a few advertisers). It's a TOTALLY FICTIONAL car, so I'm not interested in historical accuracy. I'm aiming for something plausible, like what you could see at a vintage car race.

So here is where I need the help of you guys:
1) I was told that zamac gets dull with time if it's bare and polished. is that true? If so, what can I do to make it have a lasting aluminum look? I don't want to chrome it and I'm not good (at all) with paint jobs.
2) What wheels would fit on a 427 YM? I was thinking of maybe wheels from a 911GT1 (UT), CLK-GTR (Maisto) or even some AUTOart wheels.
3) What seats would fit? At ML I saw the auction of some Recaro seats from AUTOart. And what about Maisto and UT (easier to find and cheaper)?
4) And decals? Right now I'm thinking of just number plates and maybe a few small decals of sponsers (Michelin, Mobil, etc). Where can I find these? If possible, I would love to have DiecastXChange as the sponser. Does anyone know how to make this decal?

That's about it for now. I'll only tackle this in January, but I'll be posting updates everytime I make a development. Keep in eye out for a topic called Project 427. Right now I'm in the planning phase, so any input would be greatly appreciated. As you see, I'm not doing nothing rad, but it would be my biggest mod project yet (so please be gentle with me).

See less See more

1 - 20 of 26 Posts

calgary7er

· #2 · Dec 16, 2003

Sounds like a great project LUW, please post progress photos as you're working on it :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

allanmodel

· #3 · Dec 16, 2003

Sounds like a great project LUW, please post progress photos as you're working on it :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

:iagr: Looking forward to your Project 427 :sm:

rvlyssup

· #4 · Dec 16, 2003

So here is where I need the help of you guys:
1) I was told that zamac gets dull with time if it's bare and polished. is that true? If so, what can I do to make it have a lasting aluminum look? I don't want to chrome it and I'm not good (at all) with paint jobs.

Zamac(Hot Wheels term) w/o clearcoat will dull in time due to dirt and contamination of the human kind(prints, oils, ect). Use a very good brand name, real automotive c/coats is the best. Same painting techniques apply to avoid runs or over-application.

Can't wait to see it... :mrgreen:

Ford GT

· #5 · Dec 16, 2003

Sounds like a great project LUW, please post progress photos as you're working on it :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

Click to expand...

:iagr: Looking forward to your Project 427 :sm:

:iagr: :sm:

LUW

Discussion Starter · #6 · Dec 16, 2003 (Edited by Moderator)

Zamac(Hot Wheels term) w/o clearcoat will dull in time due to dirt and contamination of the human kind(prints, oils, ect). Use a very good brand name, real automotive c/coats is the best. Same painting techniques apply to avoid runs or over-application.

Can't wait to see it... :mrgreen:

I imagine clearcoat is available in spray cans? Is it hard to apply?

rvlyssup

· #7 · Dec 17, 2003 (Edited by Moderator)

Zamac(Hot Wheels term) w/o clearcoat will dull in time due to dirt and contamination of the human kind(prints, oils, ect). Use a very good brand name, real automotive c/coats is the best. Same painting techniques apply to avoid runs or over-application.

Can't wait to see it... :mrgreen:

Click to expand...

I imagine clearcoat is available in spray cans? Is it hard to apply?

in my opinion, easier to work with than paint. The stuff tends to accumualate real easy if your not careful. I also apply clearcoat on the decals that I make on a printer. It has to be thick enough to resist water, hard enough to make it durable, and still thin enough to apply.

Yes. they come in spray cans.

Daniel Gabrian

· #8 · Dec 17, 2003

Luciano, good luck with Project 427!

Dan

G

· #9 · Dec 17, 2003

LUW, this sounds like a great project - can't wait to see the results.

See less See more

JSB 33

· #10 · Dec 17, 2003

LUW there is a guy that posts on the Pub once in awhile that has done some awesome mods to the 427 Cobra's.
I can't remember if he used the Ertl or the Yat Ming (I think they are the same anyway)
I will try to figure out who it was and I will PM you.

LUW

Discussion Starter · #11 · Dec 17, 2003

Thanks guys. I'm trying to find wheels right now. I was told that I wouldn't have trouble with the seats, that most would fit. But wheels are a problem. UT and Maisto wheels would not do, and a web friend told me that AUTOart's wheels would fit YM's axles. I really wanted to put some vintage wheels, like the set that GMP makes, but I can't find them here, and importing a set would be cost-prohibitive. Any ideas?

Max, please send me his name. Any info I can get will be appreciated.

SilentHobbes

· #12 · Dec 17, 2003

Good luck on your project. I hope it works out well for you.

allanmodel

· #13 · Dec 18, 2003

LUW can you pls PM me regarding your project 427.

G

· #14 · Dec 20, 2003

this will be a good project!!! keep us posted LUW, how about a chin spoiler to make it different to a normal cobra???

LUW

Discussion Starter · #15 · Dec 20, 2003

That's an idea. The problem would be how to make it. Any pointers?

G

· #16 · Dec 29, 2003

LUW said:
That's an idea. The problem would be how to make it. Any pointers?

I guess you can use putty or use styrene sheet with putty to join the pieces together. I dun noe how to do this stuff but I'm sure sum1 on here knows how. If you are doin it as a vintage racer, maybe it would be best to leave the spoiler off, d/l some pics of vintange cobras off the net then you can decide how you want to mod the body

MJ

· #17 · Dec 29, 2003

Hey LUW, I took an Ertl Challenger and polished it to a mirror finish. I took fine sandpaper, got it smooth, then worked it over and over with simichrome polish. It's hard work, but looks good.

Denali

· #18 · Dec 30, 2003

Sounds like a great project. Keep us updated. :cheers

JRO

· #19 · Jan 15, 2004

Hi LUW,

This is my ERTL Cobra, which I removed completely the original paint job.
But I didnt polish it.
JRO :happytwo

G

· #20 · Jan 15, 2004

I like that plain cobra mate it looks really cool and olden vintage . Great work mate post more pics eh?

1 - 20 of 26 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.