smellyfatdude

A few more.

Thanks for the compliments, folks! The sun kept dodging in and out from behind those pesky clouds, so I dashed outdoors with my poster board and grabbed some shots in the varied lighting. This is a simple kit, but it details well. I look forward to building the rest in the ' 59 to ' 70 series.

I'll add the painted up jack when I get some outside shots.

So, here it is finally completed after a long break. Totally box stock except for inside/outside mirrors, licence plates/frames, and a strip of styrene to give the illusion that something actually holds up the alternator. Not sure why I needed to add that, since there aren't even any hoses. Still, a nice addition to the Galaxie collection, which now numbers five. I want to do one of each between 1959 - 1970, so I'm one build closer.

Not sure if it's a match to a factory color, though I did find pictures of a stock looking ' 65 ragtop with upholstery that was very, very close. I used some gold Beauti-Tone paint from the local Home Hardware, and Tamiya dark copper for the seat accents. As for the top, I used some Tamiya flat clear, and it's got all the gloss I want. I think you'll see it better when I get some finished shots, outdoors.

The finished interior. Just need to join the top, the middle and the bottom all together.

Just a test fit, to check things out. I added a second set of spacers under the rear springs, to give the rear an ever so slight rake. The body's done except for the glass, and the chassis as well. Now, on to the interior!

Well, now that I'm working on it again, I'd call it "smellyspeed". Got the foil done this weekend, but still have to black wash some of the trim. Last shot is the painted interior.

Wow, what a piece of junk. Simply beautiful!

I use black acrylic ink, thinned and flowed in to the panel lines, which are scribed before the body is primered to make them a bit deeper.

The simplicity and lack of detail notwithstanding, this kit was produced at a time when you could basically put plastic junk in a box and expect that kids would still buy it. The chassis is so thin, and the one in my kit was so warped, I had to bend it in about three different directions to get it reasonably straight. As well, most of the pins for the engine pieces had to be trimmed off, since it seems they were molded without any thought as to whether or not they actually fit in to their mating surfaces. There's also a noticeable gap on both sides between the interior bucket and the inside of the body. Had I not been able to snag this kit with a 50% off coupon from Michael's, I would have simply used the excellent tires on something else, and kept the rest for parts.

The body was done in Tamiya TS-54 light metallic blue, with Tamiya TS-13 clear. The interior is Duplicolor Medium Maui blue. I put two coats of Testors dullcote on the wheels, then brushed some shine back on the wheel rings with Tamiya X-22 clear. Then a little dab of Tamiya XF-86 flat clear on the hubs.

A few more

First build of this year, though I wish I'd picked a better kit. But, at least I have another Mopar in my collection (that's two now!). Totally box stock, except for the side mirror.

I love GTO's, and yours looks real nice. Certainly a lot better than me trying to build a plane!

Looks like a very well off hippie!

That's a terrific kit, and you did an awesome job on it!

Wow!

Simply stunning, as is usually the case when you build a muscle car, Randy. I love that color!

Nice!

I can't say I know any of the particulars regarding the storage of the car, other than that the owner does indeed run it regularly. According to him, his father purchased about twenty new cars and trucks over the years, and drove every one of them. Except this one. Apparently, he just simply decided he didn't need the Caddy, and while it was plated for the first two years after he bought it, it was never driven aside from the initial trip home. Most of the miles shown on the odometer were accumulated merely from moving it in and out of the garage, over a span of several years. I know it seems odd that someone would pay over $28,000 for a car and then never drive it. Before anyone starts to question that figure, remember that this is Canada, and vehicles then and now cost more up here. Plus, I have seen the original dealer paperwork, and can verify that figure. What is even stranger is the fact that the car was not simply purchased out of the dealer's inventory, but ordered and built to the original owner's specs. Yes, strange indeed. But it's the very fact that some people do strange things with their cars, that leads to those rare gems like this Coupe de Ville being so incredibly well preserved. Interestingly, my co-worker, whose name is Wayne also not only owns the car his Dad bought new and never drove, but now that both his parents as well as a brother have passed away, he holds the distinction along with his sister of being one of only two living persons who actually rode in the car, the one time it was driven.

The only thing sweeter than a tribute build (scale replica of an actual car), is a box art build. Especially two that are that nice!

Super nice! Hope mine turns out as good!