customline

Here's how one guy did it 😯

Possibly. maybe the arms are torsional?

Seconded. That paint is wicked nice. 😛

All righty! Quarter eliptic springs out front? You don't see that very often. Cool idea, Rooster! How we gonna dampen the bounce? Knee actions? I'm following 🙂

Thanks for hangin', Dave. I'm doing "pick-up" today. There's lots of little chores on the body. I don't recall what happened but this one went in the box for a paint nightmare because it looks like I did some scrubbing. It's been in the drink, for sure, but I just can't recall it. 😦 I found pearl green enamel but I think I want to stick with the original idea using the Krylon but decanted this time. Painting weather is here now so maybe I can get the three on the bench done. Then there's 3 more in paint queue. Dennis seems pretty fearless when it comes to body mods. I tried to imagine me doing it and it just scared me. I don't want this one back in the box. I'm not quite ready to chop this type of roof with skinny C-pillars. The swap would be the alternative but that makes you wonder " why didn't he just get a Bel Air body?" I had fun with it. Now it's time to get it done. No pancake hood this time either. Too much work for too little improvement. If I was starting fresh, I could plan the mods better and do some things different. Primer tomorrow is the plan. Doesn't look so bad this way, huh? We shall see. 🤓

Yes indeed. I thought about it. Your method looks like what I figured I would need to do and it scared me off. Then there's the interior that is finished. Not a deal killer but between that and the glass....and you're right about the hardtop looking better. It certainly does. But ive got the sedan and it is what it is and I want to move on. I'm taking roof mods off the table. I've got more of these unfinished projects to get through and this one still has quite a way to go. I appreciate your input, Dennis, as always. Your "hardtop" is sharp. Diggin' the Americans.

Yes indeed. I thought about it. Your method looks like what I figured I would need to do and it scared me off. The '57 I have here is an AMT with the firewall integral to the body and the cowl is not very wide. Then there's the interior that is finished. Not a deal killer but between that and the glass....and you're right about the hardtop looking better. It certainly does. But it is what it is and I want to move on. I've got more of these unfinished projects to get through and this one still has quite a way to go. I appreciate your input, Dennis, as always.

Thank you, Greg, I try. 🤓 Side trim needs a bit more sanding. Time for some primer? Not yet, still some stuff here I don't want you to see 🙁

I checked my paint stash and found two bottles of Boyd's pearl green. This would be a great color for this car in my somewhat biased opinion. It's enamel and I've had good results with it. Body work is progressing and it's down to the little detail stuff. I also added a simple trim sweep using evergreen .060 half round, sanded to reduce the cross-section. In anticipation of foiling, I had to puff up the backlight trim at the roof that had somehow become faint for reasons that escape me. I added a length of .040 and sanded it down likewise. I removed the little trim pieces from the grille and filled the area where they resided. I think it was the right thing to do. Thanks for the lookie 😳

I was just half kidding about the flathead, Mark, but it sorta makes sense. It's an interesting and unusual subject. The photos you take will help you with the body work. Zoom in to find the areas that need your attention.

Thanks for checking in, Dave. Your suggestions are always relevant. I'm pretty sure I'm adding side trim like that Bel Air on the previous page. My paint skills are not up to a Watson style paint job. I will do a two-tone with a snow white on top and that green on the bottom if I do. The wheels are an indication of build era. I can't do a period custom with those wheels - or maybe I find some cool paint that won't clash with the interior. My ideas don't always manifest in styrene as well as I would like. If I started with a comprehensive plan, they might. My '49 lead sled is a fine example. It's not exactly what I thought I was doing. 🥴

Wow....crisp! Looks super, Bill.. Now don't spill glue on it! 😲

Thanks, Michael, the hood thing is under serious consideration, I would like to avoid it but I can't ignore it. The bright solid green of the interior was originally planned for the exterior. The interior is a done deal. I would like to avoid a two-tone but it's on the table. Note to self - check paint inventory 🤔

Here are some ideas I would like to incorporate into this build (at the moment. 🤔) Skirts. Easy to create. Not sure about this only because it will hide the wheels that I love so much. 🥰 Two things here: side trim -1) a simple sweep in the form and position of the original trim minus the upper segments. 2) eliminate trim between front wheel and parking light. I tried to deal with it but now this mod seems like a good idea. How about the C (B?) pillar on this hardtop? It's subtle but it really speaks to me. Maybe go a bit further? This mod could be part of a very mild chop and elimination of the roof trim to smooth it out. Side trim again, too. This side trim mod appears on more than a few '56s. WDYT?

Yup. I did. Still thinking about it. Wouldn't be my first. The car in that photo is using the same headlights. It's quite similar. It could use a better side trim idea.

Thanks, Mark. It's still evolving but nothing is decided yet. Do they still burn at the stake for blasphemy?

I'm dealing with the voices again....😏"Chop it!" "Chop it!".......🥲 Oh... I know....maybe if I make a hinge for that left one?.....🙂.....🤔......no. I've got an extra set of '56 Chevy tail lights if you want 'em. 🙂 no gas cap, though 🙁

Welcome to the madness!

1) I enjoy raising eyebrows, Dave. 😯...😲😧🤡 2) yeah, I recall the idea passing by. The grille is a done deal politically. I don't want to do everything over. Just continue on till it hits a wall or I finish it. 3) that's exactly what I was thinking! 4) so much for great minds 🤣.....but no two tones! 😖

Okay, so....before the game starts, I want to....💩! The game started ! Here. You can figure this out. 👇

I thought I'd check the responses on that. There's plenty to do without it, though. Because there are verticle A & B pillars, a mild chop should be fairly easy and beneficial to the perception of length. It's how to handle the backlight that taxes my mood altered brain.

I wanted to add this shot last night but I got lost. Here's the tail light shots. This mod is the whole purpose of the build. Others may not feel the way that I do about how it looks generally, but it adds to the length of the stubby tri-5. Adding the fins in '57 was a good idea to compete with Fords and Mo-pups till they could roll out the new Impala. Now....what about a chop or maybe partial roof mod? This is my new experiment. 🤣

Yeah, but when an idea shows up uninvited, you've got to be a good host and invite it in. This is probably why there's so much "junkyard" on eBay and elsewhere. It's just in our nature. 🥴

See above 💩.....thanks Topher!

My ideas generally cause lots of problems to solve, work around, or ignore. This one sat in the box and I don't remember why but it may have been pushed off the table by the squirrels, although there is some evidence of paint removal. Hopefully the direction it goes is not "south" 😔