sdbos777 Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 This is the first build I've done using resin. The goal is to recreate the white 1955 Crown Victoria that was my mom's first car. Her dad, my grandfather, got it for her on her 16th birthday. Swanky. She loved the car and is very happy I'm building one for her. Here is what I am using to do this build: - AMT 1956 Crown Victoria - Hendrix 1955 Crown Victoria set (resin) - Continental kit from seller ronald6386 on eBay - Aftermarket wide whitewalls by Pegasus, from HobbyLinc (1/24-1/25 1950s Style Wide Whitewall Tires Set (4) (Stevens)) - Wire wheels - either from AMT '62 Thunderbird kit, or more accurate ones if I can find them Pics attached. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdbos777 Posted February 18, 2017 Author Share Posted February 18, 2017 I originally ordered the resin continental kit a few months ago. When I got it the part was just fine. After a month or two, when I went to start the build, it had warped. Is it common or uncommon for resin parts to warp like this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdbos777 Posted February 18, 2017 Author Share Posted February 18, 2017 For those who want to know, I got the Hendrix resin body from STAR Models - http://resinrealm.net/Star/HendrixGallery/HendrixAll.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigTallDad Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 Looks like you're off to a good start.As a reminder, don't use the 12v battery from the '56 donor kit; the '55 Fords were still 6v. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdbos777 Posted February 18, 2017 Author Share Posted February 18, 2017 (edited) BigTallDad - do you have a link to where I could buy a proper battery? When I search I get lots of links to actual batteries. Edited February 18, 2017 by sdbos777 spelling correction Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevenGuthmiller Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 Nice!I may have to look into one of these Hendrix '55 kits.I've always liked the '55 over the '56 & the skirts & correct rear fender trim for the Crown Victoria version are a plus.How is the casting? Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovefordgalaxie Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 Nice!I may have to look into one of these Hendrix '55 kits.I've always liked the '55 over the '56 & the skirts & correct rear fender trim for the Crown Victoria version are a plus.How is the casting? Steveif it's anything like a '57 Fairlane I got from them, it's really bad. There is a odd texture all over, the trim is different from side to side, and there are spots where the resin is so thin you can see trough, while there are spots where it's so thick extensive sanding has to be done. Also, my body came ok, and warped after a few months. Still have it, but it's just too bad to use. It will be a lot easier to convert a AMT body into a Fairlane, than to fix the issues with the resin body. The '55 is a little more complicated, but can be done. Thank God I like the '56 better. Also bought a 1948 Ford tudor sedan conversion body from e-Bay, and it's rubbish. It looks like a styrene body that has being stripped about 10 times with lacquer thinner. I don't have the necessary skill on body work to convert a coupe into a tudor, but i'm thinking about trying. The second time I get a resin body that is bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevenGuthmiller Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 if it's anything like a '57 Fairlane I got from them, it's really bad. There is a odd texture all over, the trim is different from side to side, and there are spots where the resin is so thin you can see trough, while there are spots where it's so thick extensive sanding has to be done. Also, my body came ok, and warped after a few months. Still have it, but it's just too bad to use. It will be a lot easier to convert a AMT body into a Fairlane, than to fix the issues with the resin body. The '55 is a little more complicated, but can be done. Thank God I like the '56 better. Also bought a 1948 Ford tudor sedan conversion body from e-Bay, and it's rubbish. It looks like a styrene body that has being stripped about 10 times with lacquer thinner. I don't have the necessary skill on body work to convert a coupe into a tudor, but i'm thinking about trying. The second time I get a resin body that is bad. Thanks Tulio.I have no experience with Hendrix kits, but from what I've heard, they're a little touch & go.I've always had relatively good luck with Modelhaus kits in the past & the Jimmy Flintstone '61 Olds 88 kit that I picked up several months ago, is near perfect.The casting is a little thick, but the body is straight as an arrow, & smooth as a babies butt!I found one tiny pin hole in a rear fender, but other than that, not a single blemish anywhere.I would not hesitate to purchase another Flintstone resin. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vintagercr Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 Steven, your mother will be very happy when you get it done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigTallDad Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 BigTallDad - do you have a link to where I could buy a proper battery? When I search I get lots of links to actual batteries.Sorry, I don't; make sure you include the word model in your search. There is a "Wanted" category on this forum and you might want to use it.It also occurred to me that the 312 engine in the '56 would be incorrect for the '55, since the Thunderbird 312 was introduced in '56. I'm not familiar with your donor kit...if there are "Thunderbird" decals for the valve covers etc. I wouldn't use them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
espo Posted February 19, 2017 Share Posted February 19, 2017 (edited) The engine from the '56 AMT kit will be fine. Ford offered the 239 cu in Overhead Valve engine first in 1954. In 1955 Ford changed the bore and stroke around to offer a 272 cu in and a 292 cu in engine based on the original 239 engine. For 1956 they had the same offerings and late in the model year they offered a 312 cu in version. All three displacements were offered in 1957 and in 1958 with the new FE engines starting at 331 cu in they dropped the earlier Y Block engines except for the 292 cu in that was kept as the base V-8. From the outside the Ford Y Blocks all looked alike. A 6 volt battery can be found in many of the Revell offerings of '30's and 40's Fords. Edited February 19, 2017 by espo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larry ray Posted February 20, 2017 Share Posted February 20, 2017 There are 6 volt batteries in kits 51 chevy 49 ford. If you need one P M me. Larry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdbos777 Posted March 3, 2017 Author Share Posted March 3, 2017 Thanks Larry! I now have the correct 6V battery. And a cool little Altoids tin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CabDriver Posted March 4, 2017 Share Posted March 4, 2017 What's the Altoids tin for? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdbos777 Posted March 8, 2017 Author Share Posted March 8, 2017 (edited) I believe Larry carved the batteries out of the Altoids that were in the tin... Edited March 8, 2017 by sdbos777 misread previous post Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larry ray Posted March 9, 2017 Share Posted March 9, 2017 yea thats right Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CometMan Posted March 12, 2017 Share Posted March 12, 2017 Cool project, Steven! I'm surprised no one has ever kitted the '55. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdbos777 Posted May 10, 2017 Author Share Posted May 10, 2017 I had to do some work on the resin hood and nearby body panels and chrome trim lines to get it all to line up. Some sheet styrene and shaved-down round styrene were needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdbos777 Posted May 10, 2017 Author Share Posted May 10, 2017 The parking lights in the front grill were poorly molded, and one actually was so thinly molded it fell out when I tried to fix it. I ended up drilling them out and creating my own. I painted the grill with alclad chrome. For the parking lights, I used a smaller tube of styrene inside a larger tube, creating a silver bezel and white center. Then I put on a large dollop of Micro Kristal Klear and positioned them downward, so they'd drip and protrude as much as possible to create the bullet-shaped lenses. It came out pretty good. The first two shots below are some test runs, the last two are the final outcome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdbos777 Posted May 10, 2017 Author Share Posted May 10, 2017 These show the interior after correcting the interior trim. I sanded off the two trim line's they'd molded in, which continued from the armrest to the base of the rear seat, and used sanded-down small tube styrene to create trim around the armrest. The scratch marks in the white are don't show hardly at all in real life. Photos accentuate every flaw, it seems. I made the seat decals using GIMP and a white speckle pattern I found on the web, printed onto decal paper with my regular home inkjet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdbos777 Posted May 10, 2017 Author Share Posted May 10, 2017 Here are more photos of the interior trim correction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
espo Posted May 10, 2017 Share Posted May 10, 2017 Great job on the interior. I like your pattern for the seats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdbos777 Posted May 10, 2017 Author Share Posted May 10, 2017 Thanks espo. Here is the completed interior. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David G. Posted May 11, 2017 Share Posted May 11, 2017 Looks like excellent work so far."Makin' a silk purse from a sow's ear." as the saying goes.David G. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maindrian Pace Posted May 11, 2017 Share Posted May 11, 2017 Interior looks terrific, a great preview for how the rest of the car will turn out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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