41 replies to this topic

[Ramfins59]

Well as part of my "goal" to build models of all of the gorgeous 1958 cars that I can, I started working on a '58 Plymouth Belvedere kit.  So far I've built a '58 Chevy Impala, a '58 Buick Roadmaster and a '58 Ford Fairlane.  

 

Without looking to start a new discourse on the merits and/or discrepancies of the Belvedere,kit, let me just say that it looks enough like a nice '58 Plymouth to make ME happy......enough about that...!!!

 

This is where things stand on this build at the moment.  Since most people have tried to build a model of Christine with this kit (and Christine is probably one of my very favorite car movies and " star cars", I decided that I would be a little different (nothing new for me..!!).  I'm going to paint this car Duplicolor Arctic White with a mostly gray interior.  It will be built stock and I'll be using some of the pieces from the MCG PE set for this car. So far I've painted the chassis / floor pan and the chassis parts, but it is not completely assembled yet.

 

 

The engine has been completed but not installed yet.

 

 

 

 

Work on the interior has been started.  All the pieces have been preliminarily sprayed gray and the side panels and back of the front seat have BMF trim applied.  The handles and cranks still have to be detailed along with the upper door sills, and then I can apply some gray flocking.  The interior floor has been sprayed flat black and I will flock the floor in black.  The only part of the interior that is "almost" finished is the dashboard.  I'm just waiting on a dashboard gauge panel decal courtesy of member Magnum4342 (Thanks a bunch Kevin..!!), and that will be the crowning touch after which I can attach the steering wheel.

 

 

 

I prepped the body, attached the skirts, sanded all the mold lines and primed it with Duplicolor white primer.

 

 

 

Further progress pics will come as it happens.  Thanks to all for looking in on this.

Edited by Ramfins59, 12 February 2013 - 06:33 PM.

[codie27]

Id love one of these kits!! Looking good so far

[Doobie]

Yeh Id like one too . This is going to be very nice I will be watching for sure . That dash will be great once you get the decal on

[Grant]

The engine looks very nice. I'm enjoying this build. bring on some color!

[scaleauto]

That looks great so far.

[cobraman]

Nice engine and dash. Going to be a cool car.

[Blown03SVT]

The trim looks straight in that picture... I kid, I kid. Seriously looks like a good start.

[crazyjim]

Great start.

[Ramfins59]

Thanks everyone..!!  This is a really nice kit from AMT.  There really won't be much "color" to speak of on this car as it's going to be white with shades of gray inside.  I think once the BMF and all the chrome is on it, it will "sparkle" a little more.

[Duntov]

Nice work here Richard.....   I like the "real car" builds a lot...  this is going to be a good one!!

[MAGNUM4342]

Rich, I just got the notice the guages shipped out today. They're coming from California but they should be here this weekend. Either way I have an envelope all ready, and if they should show up while i'm in the hospital my mom has complete instructions what to do. That way I won't hold up your project. You have a great looking engine. Can't wait to see the rest.

[Ramfins59]

Thanks Bill.  And thank you so very much again Kevin, I appreciate your kindness.  Good luck with whatever is ailing you.  Let me know if there is anything you need modelwise that I may be able to help YOU with.

[IMPALA SS 427]

Nice i like the colour, i will be watching this closely, I would like to see your other 58's..

[Ramfins59]

Thanks James.  Following are pictures of the other '58's that I've built so far...

 

Here's a '58 Buick...

 

 

Next is a '58 Ford...

 

 

and a '58 Chevy Impala...

 

 

Hope you like them.  Thanks for looking in on this.

[Ramfins59]

More progress today.  The chassis is completed, the engine is in, and the wheels are on (and all 4 touch the ground - -  WooooHoooo..!!!)

 

 

 

For those who haven't built this kit yet, I gotta tell you that the exhaust system is a P.I.T.A. to install.  The instruction sheet is vague about placement.  After you install the engine (don't attach the air cleaner until AFTER you get the exhaust all connected and installed properly...... I knocked the air cleaner off 2X and lost the breather..!!)  You have to attach the front part of the exhaust to the engine manifold and the locating holes on the bottom of the chassis floor pan.  THEN attach the chassis frame to the chassis floor pan.  THEN snake the tailpipe pieces under the rear end and around the shocks (not hard to do) and THEN glue the tailpipes to the rest of the exhaust and the locating holes at the back of the chassis floor pan by the gas tank.   

 

The interior side panels have BMF on the trim, and the handles & cranks are painted chrome silver (I can never get BMF to cover handles & cranks properly).  The upper door sills are painted white.  Once all this dries properly I'll apply the gray flocking to the textured areas on the side panels, seats, and rear package tray.

 

 

The body and hood are painted Duplicolor Arctic White.  The paint lay down nice and smooth with NO SCHMUTZ OR DUSTIES...!!!  I'll give it a day or so to gas out and then I'll paint the side trim insert aluminum and then clearcoat it.

 

 

Tomorrow will be flocking day for the interior.  This build is just rolling right along.  Thanks a bunch for looking in and/or following along.

[crazyjim]

Great looking build going on, Rich.

[MAGNUM4342]

 LOVIN that Buick!

[johnbuzzed]

Looking good, Rich.  I have one of the '58 Plymouth kits and I'll try to remember re: the exhaust when time comes to build it.

[impcon]

Looks great in white!!! This will be a nice model when done and it is nice to see one of these in a colour other than red or black - although they do look great in those colours too. The interior colour choice is one that will look good with the white exterior. Still, white will be pretty - very pretty - and different  .

[Ramfins59]

Thanks a lot Jim, Kevin, John and Gary.  Yeah Gary, I like to be a little different than the crowd with my builds.  More progress made yesterday...

 

I flocked the seats and interior side panels in gray and charcoal gray...

 

 

The front seat back has been BMF'd and flocked in gray...

 

 

The side trim insert on the body has been painted with aluminum metalizer..

 

.

 

Today I'll clearcoat the body and start painting all of the engine compartment pieces.  Thanks to all for following along.

Edited by Ramfins59, 16 February 2013 - 05:58 AM.