JollySipper Posted December 13, 2021 Share Posted December 13, 2021 I was SO VERY excited when I found out that this kit was re-released.... Just had to get one! Started on it as soon as I got it. The plan is a brown exterior (may try to do some sort of panel paint job outlining the brown with gold), and a black and white interior. So far I have the wheels detailed and the basis of the dash painted. I have the seats painted, but they're just white. Still need to detail the dash and finish the door panels to have the interior done. Also need to find a set of knock-offs for the wheels, as the kit ones are kinda clunky.... Anyways, this is my current project! I just love a Thunderbird (as you all well know), so I have a real good feeling about this going in, and what I hope is a solid plan..... Thanks, and any comments are welcome..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slusher Posted December 13, 2021 Share Posted December 13, 2021 I always follow your builds… Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
espo Posted December 13, 2021 Share Posted December 13, 2021 I like the wire wheels for the T-Bird. If you have a Revelle '58 Impala kit it had some optional knockoffs that may work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JollySipper Posted December 14, 2021 Author Share Posted December 14, 2021 Thanks, you two...... 23 hours ago, slusher said: I always follow your builds… I know you do, my friend! I always look forward to your replies..... Some more work on the interior. There's some touch-ups to do, but you get the general idea as to how it's gonna look. The more I work with this kit, the better I like it! It's very detailed and such..... The dash even represents the swing-away column. I've got my brown on order, hopefully it will be here soon so I can move along with this.... Thanks, and feel free to comment! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JollySipper Posted December 18, 2021 Author Share Posted December 18, 2021 I've been working on some of the small parts for the last couple of days. Still waiting on my paint for the body, and since I want things like the engine block and chassis to be keyed with the body, I'm at kind of a waiting stage...... Anyways, that's progress for now, thanks! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris chabre Posted December 18, 2021 Share Posted December 18, 2021 looking good so far TJ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JollySipper Posted December 18, 2021 Author Share Posted December 18, 2021 Thanks, Chris man...... All these small parts had a Bunch of flash to clean up. Also it seems the mold release agent is kinda heavy. I got some fish-eyes on some things. After a scrub with comet, though, everything covered...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JollySipper Posted December 20, 2021 Author Share Posted December 20, 2021 I have just a quick question regarding detailing the chassis..... The front and rear subframes, were they painted with the floor pan, or were they painted black then installed? You can see the subframe in the rear, some structural braces around the transmission tunnel, and the front subframe that ties into the bottom of the firewall area..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris chabre Posted December 20, 2021 Share Posted December 20, 2021 (edited) The "subframes" on Fords and Mercurys are not like the GMS. They are not removable and are part of the floor assemblies. IE not removable The floors would be primer and overspray along the edges (OR complete body color), engine compartment (inner fenders, firewall etc) would be body color Edited December 20, 2021 by chris chabre Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bisc63 Posted December 21, 2021 Share Posted December 21, 2021 Chris has it right on; about the only "detail" painting on that floor pan piece is the gas tank and the upper A-frames (control arms) up front. Cool body style on these 'birds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slusher Posted December 22, 2021 Share Posted December 22, 2021 I would tape off my gas tank and paint my chassis black then paint my tank silver or aluminum.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JollySipper Posted December 22, 2021 Author Share Posted December 22, 2021 Thanks for the info, guys! You've made my job that much easier..... 1 hour ago, slusher said: I would tape off my gas tank and paint my chassis black then paint my tank silver or aluminum.. Carl, what I was thinking of doing was to paint the chassis body color, since I'm wanting this to be a show car/custom. Then I could paint the gas tank aluminum with maybe some black foil for the straps...... We'll see! I did get the paint for this thing finally. Still need the gold to use as a base coat. What I have planned is to paint the whole thing in gold, then mask off some panel accents where I want the gold to stay. Then I could use the brown on it..... When this kit was released about 8 or 10 years ago, I bought one only to ruin it with the paint I was trying to use on it. I'm glad I'm getting a second chance with it to try and do it justice..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JollySipper Posted December 31, 2021 Author Share Posted December 31, 2021 Got a little more progress to show! The body and all associated parts are in primer..... Also, I found some knock-offs for the wheels. I've read about some fitment issues when it comes time to mate the body to the chassis/interior assembly, so I plan on building up the "guts" as much as I can and test fit them to the body before I continue with the paint work.... That's it for now, please comment freely! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris chabre Posted December 31, 2021 Share Posted December 31, 2021 nice. Happy new year TJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JollySipper Posted January 1, 2022 Author Share Posted January 1, 2022 31 minutes ago, chris chabre said: nice. Happy new year TJ Thanks, Chris man....... You, too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rightrudder Posted January 9, 2022 Share Posted January 9, 2022 (edited) Looks fantastic so far! I'm watching with great interest as I'm a huge fan of the Bullet Birds and have this kit on order. I'm gonna go with Emerald Green Metallic for the body, and a slightly lighter shade of green for the interior, with silver for the dash and door panel inserts. I might use a few of the custom parts, and maybe get the PE set for emblems, etc, but it will be mostly stock. I'm curious to see how you do the taillights. Here's the car that inspired me, done in a beautiful color called Deep Sea Blue. The '62 is so clean in its side detailing...the '63 with the door hash marks just doesn't work for me. Edited January 9, 2022 by rightrudder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JollySipper Posted January 9, 2022 Author Share Posted January 9, 2022 23 minutes ago, rightrudder said: I'm curious to see how you do the taillights. Do you mean how I install them, or how I go about detailing them? Neither one looks like it will be a simple task! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rightrudder Posted January 9, 2022 Share Posted January 9, 2022 (edited) I meant how you detail them, with the silver part in the recessed part of the lens. Depending on how they're molded, maybe paint would sort of flow into that well? I'm worried that I'll really mess this part up! I guess some solvent on a Q-tip could remedy anything I botch with an unsteady hand. Part of me really wants to go with tiny LEDs for head- and tail light illumination, but I think I'll have my hands full with other stuff. Looking forward to seeing your progress! Edited January 9, 2022 by rightrudder 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rightrudder Posted January 9, 2022 Share Posted January 9, 2022 Fun facts about the Bullet Bird...you may already know these, but I thought they were interesting. President Kennedy had 50(!) of them in his inaugural parade. Obviously a man of good taste (see also: Jackie, Marilyn Monroe!) Stylist Bill Boyer was really a pioneer of the center console. He had fabbed one up earlier for his daily driver, and he incorporated that into the T-Birds. Bullet Bird was early adopter of unit body construction. Chrysler really led the way in 1960 for unibodies in American mass-produced cars, although there were earlier examples that saw smaller production numbers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afx Posted January 9, 2022 Share Posted January 9, 2022 Great looking project TJ. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ratdoggy Posted January 9, 2022 Share Posted January 9, 2022 14 hours ago, rightrudder said: The '62 is so clean in its side detailing...the '63 with the door hash marks just doesn't work for me. And that's why I bought my 1:1 1962 instead of a 1963 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bisc63 Posted January 9, 2022 Share Posted January 9, 2022 4 hours ago, rightrudder said: Chrysler really led the way in 1960 for unibodies in American mass-produced cars, Ford led in 1958; 58-60 squarebirds were uni-body. Also, Lincoln in '58. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JollySipper Posted January 9, 2022 Author Share Posted January 9, 2022 4 hours ago, ratdoggy said: And that's why I bought my 1:1 1962 instead of a 1963 THAT is a nice car...... I'm guessing it has the 390 engine? 6 hours ago, rightrudder said: I meant how you detail them Most likely I'll be using the custom tail lights for this build...... If I was to use the factory ones, I would get some silver acrylic craft paint. They rinse cleanly until dry, so any mistakes could be cleaned with water.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rightrudder Posted January 9, 2022 Share Posted January 9, 2022 (edited) TJ, great suggestion on the craft paint. Ratdoggy, lookin' good! I wish I had an extra garage space for the real thing. Rusty, good to know. Thx! Edited January 9, 2022 by rightrudder 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace-Garageguy Posted January 10, 2022 Share Posted January 10, 2022 Looking great. Your choice for new knockoffs looks good too. Thanks for posting this, as I wasn't actually even aware a kit of this car with a non-blobular chassis had ever been done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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