Lovefordgalaxie Posted December 13, 2017 Share Posted December 13, 2017 Back in 1991 I was in my last year of regular school before entering high school, and had a pall that was also into cars as much as I was, and into the same kind of cars, the old Fords and Chevrolets up to the '70s. We were the freaks, the crazy lozers, as most guys our age were into VW Gol GTIs, or Miuras, Pumas, the Chevy Kadett GS, or Escorts XR-3, or the Fiat Uno 1.5R, the then current and "desirable" sports cars. Me and Robert? We were into Galaxies, Maverick GTs, Dodge Chargers, Model A Fords, '40 Fords, '48 Fords, old Impalas, anything big, full of chrome, whitewalls, and with a V8. Well, you got the picture. One day he bought a AMT '37 Chevy convertible, and asked me to build it for him, as he had zero experience with models. Tried to convince him to give it a try, but he refused to "ruin" the kit (as if what I was doing was any better...) Anyway, I built the '37 Chevy at the Same time I built a AMT '64 Impala. Those two kits were my first attempts at foil, and they resulted quite nice for the day. Well, after school we lost contact, and I went to college. A few days ago, I bought online a big box full of spare parts, something I'm always looking for. Among all of the chrome parts, and spare engines, and wheels and tires, there were the bagged remains of a '37 Chevy convertible. Yes it is the very same I built in 1991. The guy that sold me the parts have no idea of it's origin, as it was already in the box when he got it. Many parts are missing, the paint is badly stained with what looks to be pen ink, and the entire thing is a mess. I really don't know if a restoration could be done, or even a preservation, trying to put most parts together the best I can. It will still look like a mess, so i'm tempted to bin it. The Desoto engine on the pictures was in the same bag, even tough it was not used on the car. I used the stock Chevy six. This is one of those cases I really don't know what to do, or I'm not sure of what to do. 1937 Chevy by CCCP Digital Studio, on Flickr 1937 Chevy by CCCP Digital Studio, on Flickr 1937 Chevy by CCCP Digital Studio, on Flickr 1937 Chevy by CCCP Digital Studio, on Flickr 1937 Chevy by CCCP Digital Studio, on Flickr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr68gts Posted December 13, 2017 Share Posted December 13, 2017 In my opinion I would salvage it as best you can. I am sure much of the parts and paints would still be able to be located. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TooOld Posted December 13, 2017 Share Posted December 13, 2017 Reassemble it repairing any broken parts and pieces but don't restore it , it's a survivor . And it's your survivor ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kit Basher Posted December 13, 2017 Share Posted December 13, 2017 Use it as an excuse to track down your old friend. Find him and tell him the story. Should make for an interesting conversation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
espo Posted December 13, 2017 Share Posted December 13, 2017 Great story, I think you should try restoring it. You have the basic body that needs some repair work on the windshield frame and there are suspension parts that will need repair or replacement. I guess it's up to you as to how much attachment you feel for this model. I have no doubt you have the skills to return it to it's former glory. Find another Blue Flame Six and redo your old build. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iamsuperdan Posted December 13, 2017 Share Posted December 13, 2017 I think it's pretty amazing that your friend didn't just throw it out! I mena, most people don't really get this whole modelling thing, and would just look at a built kit as an old plastic toy. For it to have survived a couple of owners and make it's way back to you is pretty awesome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PARTSMARTY Posted December 13, 2017 Share Posted December 13, 2017 I'd restore it to beautiful Tulio original !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
W-409 Posted December 13, 2017 Share Posted December 13, 2017 That first chapter sounds just like me! Most of my friends are into those new cars that have nothing cool in them, plus that they all look pretty much the same. Then there's me who has zero interest in those, I rather stick with old US Iron... Anyway, to me that Chevy looks like a great starting point for a restoration project! And with your buiding skills I'm sure you could do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Eh? Posted December 13, 2017 Share Posted December 13, 2017 Tulio, I would definitely consider this as a "once in a lifetime" event. As such, I would take pictues of the parts as they exist now. I would then suggest that you work your magic to restore the car to the condition that it was in when you gave it to your friend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovefordgalaxie Posted December 14, 2017 Author Share Posted December 14, 2017 Well gentlemen, I took careful examination on the model's parts, and it's more like a Titanic artifact than a model kit. The body is full of fissures. The rear end came apart just by carefully washing it. The plastic is quite brittle. I don't know what could have caused it, but most parts can't be worked on without cracking. The Impala I built at the same time is still fine, so I guess it was some sort of environmental factor, like high humidity, and or heat that did no good for the plastic. In this care I decided I will try to carefully preserve what's left, and put it together the best I can. Also have the idea of building a replica of the original build with a new kit. Will post some pictures of the parts back together as soon as I finish. Started looking for a '37 Chevy kit locally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercuryman54 Posted December 14, 2017 Share Posted December 14, 2017 Tulio, that sounds like a good plan to me!!! Have fun and do your magic!! Dennis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renegade Posted December 14, 2017 Share Posted December 14, 2017 It came back to you for a reason. It wants to be rebuilt by you to the best of your ability. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovefordgalaxie Posted December 14, 2017 Author Share Posted December 14, 2017 Yes guys, I wanted to restore it, strip the old paint, and the whole shebang, but the plastic is literally falling apart. I never saw anything like that before on a model kit. Just by holding the body to glue the windshield frame, I cracked it where there was no crack before (at least not that I could see) and for one glued piece, two more broke. It took me one hour to glue the windshield frame back in place, and I had to use superglue, and the glass itself to support the rest of the parts in place. One thing I know, it's not the paint I used back in the '90s, as I used it on many cars and they are not fragile like this one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randyc Posted December 14, 2017 Share Posted December 14, 2017 Cool story. Hope to see it (re) completed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lunajammer Posted December 14, 2017 Share Posted December 14, 2017 Fun story. But that really looks rough. I don't know how much sentimental value it has to you, but yes, pretty rough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovefordgalaxie Posted December 14, 2017 Author Share Posted December 14, 2017 Well, after a LOT of trouble I was able to glue the parts I have back together. Preserved them one by one, first by washing them, then brushing them all with a solution of acrylic "artists" sealer varnish and glass cleaner. It gave some of the gloss back, and got into the cracks, and fissures, and the thing feels a little more solid now. As a note, the chrome plated parts are completely fine, pliable, and strong, like if new. The biggest part missing is the top boot. When I get a new '37 Chevy kit, i'll make molds of the missing pieces, and resin cast the, so I can complete this one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Eh? Posted December 14, 2017 Share Posted December 14, 2017 Well done Tulio! It looks great. I hope you have a proud sense of accomplishmnt in the restoration of this model. Do you think you might find another one to do a sibling build up? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leonidas Posted December 14, 2017 Share Posted December 14, 2017 That's too cool! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovefordgalaxie Posted December 14, 2017 Author Share Posted December 14, 2017 1 hour ago, Bill Eh? said: Well done Tulio! It looks great. I hope you have a proud sense of accomplishmnt in the restoration of this model. Do you think you might find another one to do a sibling build up? I had zero luck finding a AMT '37 Chevy kit. Found a few on e-Bay, but the import tax is too high now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Eh? Posted December 14, 2017 Share Posted December 14, 2017 2 minutes ago, Lovefordgalaxie said: I had zero luck finding a AMT '37 Chevy kit. Found a few on e-Bay, but the import tax is too high now. The original is the best one any way! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovefordgalaxie Posted December 14, 2017 Author Share Posted December 14, 2017 Here are the two Chevrolet cars I built at the same time in 1991. The Impala was built for myself. Other than a fall during my move here that cracked the top of the windshield, the Impala survived quite well. It was never on a display case, always on a shelf on my room. The impala saw a couple of wheel changes over the years, but it has now the same set I originally built it with. Both the Impala and the '37 were painted with the very same rattle can primer, and the same brand of rattle can paint (Colorgin). The Impala could use a little cleanup, and maybe some wax. Not bad for a 26 year old model car!! Yeah, I was into decaling the glass back then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercuryman54 Posted December 15, 2017 Share Posted December 15, 2017 Tulio, looks great for what you had to start with and how fragile it was!! Maybe in it's history it sat in a window shelf or where it got a lot of sun and made the plastic brittle. Dennis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovefordgalaxie Posted December 15, 2017 Author Share Posted December 15, 2017 7 hours ago, Mercuryman54 said: Tulio, looks great for what you had to start with and how fragile it was!! Maybe in it's history it sat in a window shelf or where it got a lot of sun and made the plastic brittle. Dennis Thanks!! Yes, I think it's possible. The chrome is not affected as it would rather reflect the UV light other than absorb it like the painted parts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DumpyDan Posted December 15, 2017 Share Posted December 15, 2017 Great story Túlio, so glad you restored it and kept the memories every time you look at it ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Nice work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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