StevenGuthmiller

I've been having a few issues with the paint on my 1960 Chrysler Imperial project, so while I try to resolve that problem, I thought I would get started on another build, just so I don't get too rusty! This one is an AMT 1962 Ford Sunliner convertible. It started out as a basket case built kit that I had picked up & over time has become a sort of "Frankenstein's Monster"! I began picking up parts for it here & there on ebay over the past couple of years & have basically ended up with a very expensive brand new kit! New body, hood, uptop, fender ornaments, hubcaps, interior tub, dash & steering wheel. Basically the only original parts left are the engine & chassis along with re-chromed front & rear bumpers. It should be a fun one! Doing it in "Chestnut" with a chestnut interior & white top. Steve

The interior looks great Peter!! That's all you're going to be able to do is something "in the ballpark" with these old kits. Replicating an accurate upholstery pattern would be next to impossible on a lot of them. The whole thing is coming along nicely! A breath of fresh air from the usual Camaros, Mustangs & Cudas. Not that there's anything wrong with them, it's just nice to see something a little more "unusual" occasionally! Steve

Just a warning DW. At some point when you've finished your build, people will critique your decision to use black for the panel lines. I've used black in the past also but have switched to using a darker shade of the body color, especially on a light colored body. Depending on the color, the black can look very stark & can immediately draw your eye to it. Steve

Welcome Ronald! I think Mark summed it up pretty well. I'll just throw in my 2 cents worth as far as paint anyway. I use automotive lacquers almost entirely on my builds, but if you do, plenty of primer is a must. Everybody has different techniques but I use, in general, about 4 coats of primer for automotive lacquers. Nothing can ruin your attitude faster than a rare vintage kit with a destroyed body because of "crazing". A good source for automotive colors, if you have an airbrush, is "Model Car World", (MCW). He carries just about every factory correct color imagineable for almost every car ever built for $7.50 for a one ounce jar. If he doesn't carry it, he'll custom mix it for you for a additional fee. If I need a particular color that can't be found in a rattle can, I definately go with him. For instance, at the moment I'm working on a 1960 Chrysler Imperial painted "Dawn Mauve". Try to find that one in Duplicolor! Anyway, have a great time with your renewed hobby & good luck!! Steve http://mcwautomotivefinishes.com

Looked at some color chips & you nailed it! The color looks pretty much exact! Nice work! Steve

Love the '61s! my favorite body style from that era! Your color choice is relatively close to "Aquamarine". Just a little darker. I built a '60 Ford in Aquamarine a couple of years ago. As well as a '61 Sunliner. Did mine in "Desert Gold". I'll be interested to see how it comes out! Steve

Beautiful Peter!! I've got one of these I hope to be building shortly also. Nice work!! Steve

Great work Tulio! I'll bet I've got 5 of these kits lying around that I've never built. Always had good intentions but I think subconsciously I always had "display restrictions" in the back of my mind! Great job! Steve

Very nice Stephen! I'm not much of a wagon fan myself, probably mostly because my mother carted me around in every ugly Mopar wagon produced from about 1965-1978. But it's a very nice conversion! I had a good friend back in the early 80s who had a '61 Falcon 2 door sedan that we "dubbed" the "Flintstone Mobile" because the floor boards were so rusted out you could watch the road go by between your knees! Great job!! Steve

Thanks for the input guys, but I'm pretty much past the point of return now. Already have the first clear coat on & will do a second tonight. The black & white interior is still an option though. Only thing that's making me shy away is my '59 Dodge build I did a little while back. Steve

You're probably right Froghawk. It would look good like that. Unfortunately, I don't have any Dusk Mauve & I think I'll pass on spending the $15.00 it would cost me to order it. Especially for such a small area. Besides I have a similar combo slated for a '60 New Yorker. "Lilac" with an "Iris" top. Great idea though!! Steve

The Caddy looks a little closer to "Dusk Mauve" Amere. Here are a couple pics of Dawn & Dusk Mauve. (Dusk being the darker) I think the Ivory would be too light. It would be hard to tell the difference. Steve

They Didn't do two tone combos on the Imperials Amere. At least not in '60. But some models did come with the "cove" area on the roof painted a contrasting color rather than stainless steel. I thought about doing that area black along with a slightly darker shade of mauve & black interior ? Ivory might look a little too "washed out". If anything, I think a darker color would be a nicer contrast. Steve

Finished up the color coats on my '60 Imperial today. I know this type of color is not everyone's cup of tea, but I love these unusual 50s-60s colors. This one is called "Dawn Mauve" & is a correct '60 Imperial color. A sort of pale purplish pink. Hard to get a good photo that shows the color well. Still have to clean the paint off of the "Imperial" scripts & then several days of clear coating, sanding & polishing. Still tossing around whether I want to use aluminum BMF or "Polished Aluminum" Alclad on the roof panels? Steve

Yes Shane! Looks much better without the black! Steve

Thanks Rusty. I already have a '59 Imperial & a '59 Fury with the "tire cover" so I thought I'd try something a little more "unique" on this one. I got really lucky on this kit! I picked this up on ebay about a year ago for $75.00. It was a complete, pristine, in the box kit. All of the parts were still on the trees. So this is basically a "brand new" build. Steve

Thanks Nick. But I think I'll leave it as is. Steve

Well, the concensus seemed to be to go with the trunk moulding, so that's the direction I went. Still needs a little fine tuning, but I think it'll prove to be a good decision. It should make it somewhat unique anyway. This was all done with peices of sprue. The hole in the ornament wasn't planned, the sprue used just happened to be hollow. I may leave it. There's no way I'm going to recreate the tiny gold crown in the center anyway. Steve

I don't have a '61 Peter, but I built my '59 with the tire cover & was thinking I'd do something a little different this time. So far the concensus seems to be without, but I'll still have to give it some consideration & maybe a little extra research. The "toilet seat" isn't 100% correct as is anyway. There should be a small chrome "handle" on the rear of it which isn't there & the cover needs to be molded into the trunk lid, unlike the '59 which had a chrome ring around the base. So there's work involved either way. Thank you everbody for your suggestions! Steve

Very nice Tom! I would say for not building for 50+ years you did a terrific job! I took a 10 year hiatus at one point & it was a real struggle for me to get back into it also. Now that I'm back, I can't get enough! Keep up the great work! Steve

Hey guys. I'm having a hard time making a decision on this one. 90% of the pics I see of 1960 Imperials have the "toilet seat" spare tire cover. I'm not hugely partial to them, although I did order the correct chrome cap for it. (the kit never had the correct cover, this is a re-pop of the promo peice). Only problem is, without the spare tire cover, the trunk lid should have a chrome spear & handle/ornament. So either I do the tire cover or replicate the standard trunk trim. What do you all think? Steve

Thanks guys!! I really appreciate the great comments! Can't wait to get started on the next one! Steve

Another nice one Tulio! This one's a bit out of my "genre", (post 1950) but a beautiful build is a beautiful build! Great job!! Steve

You & I would get along great Tulio! I've been shying away lately from doing some nice old kits just because they have engines. ('62 Ford Sunliner, '61 Buick Invicta, etc.) I've been kind of enjoying the "instant gratification" that comes with building a curbside kit. I'll build them eventually, but it's kind of nice just concentrating on paint, foil & interior & exterior detailing. (the parts of the build that I really enjoy) I also don't like working with resin. I only go that route if it's impossible to find in styrene. Steve

Thanks guys! Tom, For some reason the convertibles are relatively easy to find, the hard tops are a little tougher. I finally found just a good body & used a convertible for a donor kit. Steve