customline

Thanks Olskool, for both .

Thanks rusty, I agree. The whole rear treatment needs a rethink ?. There are changes ahead. I was about to do the "sunk in the trunk" thing but I wanted to try a different idea. I lost my focus and tried to do too much. Less is more! It's not too late, fortunately, for a re-do ?

Thanks, Trevor, it's not a great kit but it is a good one. There are not enough pre-war MoPars in 1:25 styrene. ? got a soft spot for 'em.

Thanks, Rusty, and that color is Boyd's (Model Master) orange pearl. I was able to find some on ebay. Luckily, I have enough to fix this mess. It was going so well......

Thanks, Bill, and yeah, not an easy one. Even a Model A can be trouble if it's the first attempt. It's the window reveals that kill you. I chopped the Revell 56 F100. Cut the roof in quarters to expand it both ways. That was scarey but not as difficult as making a Model A coupe look good. But it is addictive, I agree. It's the construction phase I love. I'll skip lunch when I'm cutting and filling. Zone right out. For this one I watched a bunch of you tube video of 1:1 forties types. Just did what they did. It's a lot easier in plastic ? . That '36 is a tough one. Just take your time around the windows. How far are you into your chop?

Here's my take on the AMT '41 Plymouth. I have made it my business to chop as many tops as possible ?. This one was somewhat of a challenge. This project is close to completion but for a paint issue. I tried to fix a blemish on the right door and it looked great in the sun....then I went inside. Out of the bright sun I saw that the new paint was a few shades darker. AAAAAUGHH!!! Anyway, here's the build from the beginning.

Thank you all for your comments, I appreciate the suggestions too! I thought about trying to do the Mercury side trim but I like the '53 trim. I tried to do too much on some other customs and found that I loose focus on the main idea. This is an experiment ( like most of my stuff) and I wanted to get some feedback on the build so far. I absolutely love that 1:1 above and I am leaning toward a similar color, but that's a ways off. I attached some evergreen strips to the corners with the intention of foiling them, the idea being closely fitted nerfs. I'm seriously considering removing them along with reshaping the the whole rear roll pan. I realized the 1:1 has what looks like old Corvette rear bumpers turned upside down. ?. I may be able to do that. I think I have those parts. We'll see.

Looks great, Miles, I also like the color choice. I just finished one of these and regret the color I chose. The look of a daily driver with slightly dulled paint is a good look for this subject. I wish I had gone that way. ?. Planning is everything. What did you use to install the quarter glass? The parts in my kit needed some "adjustment" to make them fit. I glued mine with the low odor CA. Love that stuff.

I was looking for inspiration for a custom build of a Lindberg '53 Ford when I was taken aback by the blue car below. I have seen roof swaps on other cars but not on one of these Fords. I absolutely love it and wanted to do something like it. The most compatible donor I could find in my limited inventory was a Revell '69 Z 28 coupe I had already stolen a few parts from. After taking a few quick measurements, I figured it could work. I'm not totally confident it will but it's happening. The roof on the blue 1:1 looks like mid-60s GM sheet metal to me. I dunno. The Camaro roof gives my 1:25 a business coupe look, not exactly what I wanted but it has its own look that I'm OK with I'm well beyond the point of no return. ? There are some things I did lately that I may reverse but this one is back burner for now.

Mr Mike, I glue ALL my wheels. Nobody is going to play with my little cars ?

The "new" Revell model A kits are great kits and yes the front suspension is pretty fragile. I figure they were trying to be more in scale. I've built both kits and will be building them again (I have the new coupe kit on its way to me at this very moment ?. ) There's nothing more dreadful than a paint job simulating wrinkle paint when that wasn't the intent. It's happened to me a few times. I like Duplicolor but that first coat must go on very light and if your primer is compatible (as stated above by RRR) and the first color coat is allowed to dry, you should be golden. Incidentally, I neglected to fill the door handle holes until it was too late and had to install the handles. Many hot rod roadsters don't have any; I goofed. Just sayin'

Both of these Chevys look fantastic! I especially like the Bel Air. Great color! I don't understand about the White Lightning over the ATL-45, though. What is "White Lightning" and why did you cover the pearl with it? Maybe I would understand if I could see it "live"; the photos probably don't do it justice. I have a can of TS-45 white pearl I was saving for something special. Now I'm concerned. ?

Thanks for the advice Mr. M, sanding them smooth enough to look like steel tube would be a chore for me but I'll give it a shot ?. Besides, I already drilled the ends out ?

Thanks for the encouragement. Keeping it all Chevy seemed like the right thing to do ?. Any ideas about the funky header?

Morning update: Decided after all to try the stove bolt 6 thing again. I have the AMT '51 version without a transmission and the '37 version with integral transmission and head. I decapitated the '37 block and grafted the optional Fisher head. I set up the Hilborn injection with trumpets, and drilledsome holes where needed. I have a question about the header supplied with the '51 kit; what is it? It has an all-over texture that resembles cast iron. Is that right? ? shouldn't it be emulating steel tube? Is it some sort of ancient speed equipment? Help me out, please. Somebody must have run into this before. I don't have a clue on a finish for it. Thanks for your interest.

My 2 cents: the first time I applied flock I swore I'd never do it again. ?

I didn't have much regard for the '62 back then but, in my old age, I do now. This is a beautiful body style , full stop. I have this kit in my mess and I'll be following along as your build progresses. Looks good so far ?

Wet sanded body with 400 and made a discovery; I have no recollection of painting it red before the black but there it is.? . The rest went into the purple pond. It's slower but a bit easier. Still playing around with engines. I'll get the body ready for primer in the meanttime. Thanks for your interest ?

Thanks for that, Rusty. I'm going through some kits, looking for the right engine for this reclamation project. The original BBC (that sounds wrong ) is messed up so I'm trying to find something better. The aforementioned stove bolt 6 would be really neat but I just don't have a proper trans. I may use it in a rat-rod though. I'll see if I can find that 65 'vette kit on ebay.

After exploring the possibilities, I no longer think I can use the stove bolt for this application. I don't have a transmission for it and I'm not sure I can mount it easily. So I'm sixing the six. Moving on to a 409 from the AMT '65 convertible and trying to fit an intake system worthy of a gasser with limited choices. Later.?

I found the AMT 51 Chevy stovebolt in the AMT 53 'Vette box, where I put it years ago. Scale-wise, it's not so far off that I can't be forgiven . I found some pix on the net of Fisher head applications with Hilborn injection and it's a VERY cool look. I will build up this engine and decide to use it (or not ) based upon how well it turns out. See below

Found this one. I'm liking this idea. It's quirky ?

Rob, that's a great idea. I have one or two of those stove bolts in baggies somewhere. I did the 53 as a custom with a Caddy engine. There's also the one from a 37 too. Hmmmm. What class would it run in? I was moving toward the hemi, I just tried to disassemble the original rat motor and I don't think I can use it. There should be one in the 41 pickup. If I go with a six, I won't have to make wheelie bars or put a parachute on the back. ? anyway, I have it broken down as far as I can and the next step is paint removal. The chassis was brush painted ? with testers gloss black. I'm thinking brake fluid. Andrew, thanks for your input, the math alone is too much for my 70 year old brain on a good day ?. The engine goes in front of the firewall and behind the radiator. I was joking when asking about the set-back. LOL! Who's gonna know? But I appreciate your interest always and I am going to consider the 6, seriously.

Yup....the Olds won't pass tech inspection. I'm disqualified ? The Mopar is a tad over....I think I can get away with it ? ; I'll let some air out of the front tires. The Chevy will be in compliance ?

Yeah, that would mean I need to check my other gasser on the shelf ?. I'm a bit ignorant on the rules. That's why I'm here! Thanks for the help, Zippy! These two are probably a little too high. The Olds for sure ?. The original chevy axle would probably suffice but I may fab one from aluminum for a better look. I'm going to do this build with what's in the house. I'll play around with the chassis today and figure something out. An inch off the deck. What about set-back? There's a limit on that too, I think. The rules changed from time to time, and NHRA rules differ from AHRA, right? I know it's too complicated for me. I would need to decide on what time period my gasser was in at the time it was built. Then what sanctioning body, what sub-class, etc. A snapshot in time . Can I use Av-gas?