Duddly01

Cleaned up the body pretty well, etched the doors, vents and gas doors deeper. Added etched taillight buckets and added headlight doors. As soon as I have the photo-etch set in hand I will be removing the emblems. Trial fit the body, interior existing chassis and windshield. The windshield frame will be stripped, and molded wipers removed. I prefer photo-etch wipers.

thank you!

Thank you.

Yikes, sorry to hear how that went. I am sure I can make something of the body and interior, just not the chassis. Hopefully at the So Cal Open model car show this weekend I can find a donor 56 rebuilder or something. Being as hard as they are to find I wouldn't want to take one from a new unused 1956... Plus I would be tempted to build it instead. I personally prefer the 1956.

Thanks. Thankfully AMT older kits proportions are usually dead on so with some work it will turn out ok. For at least the body anyway. The mold has definitely had better days.

Going to be a lot of work, but most of my projects lately have been.

From what I understand the 1956 is a great kit, but somewhat hard to find. It was from around 2003 so a newer mold. The 57 kit however is from around 1963 or so, and the mold is showing its age. One thing I like about older AMT kits is their proportions are usually dead on, but their attention to detail is extremely lacking. This applies to the 1957, very shallow door and trunk gaps and very heavy mold lines. Takes some work but can get good results, for the body at least.

Thank You! Thank You!

Cleaned up the mold lines and started etching the doors and trunk lid. Eventually I will cut open the trunk. Drilled the headlight area for eventual LED headlights. The door and trunk gaps were so shallow it was hard not messing up too bad. It is still going to take some filling and putty to get them looking really good. I still have to get the vent a gas door gaps. It really doesn’t concern me about the emblems, those will be getting shaved for photo-etch anyway. It really is time for this body to get a retooling. It’s age is really showing.

Thank you

Too funny. I have used the 67 AMT Mustang kit for my 66 & 67 Mustang builds. It is a great kit but it doesn't have a frame, etc. like the t-bird. I buy extras of it when I see it on sale just because it makes such a great donor for any mustang build though.

the kit came with some wide white pad printed tires and I have a bunch in my parts stash. I will likely go with the standard wheel covers. I am not sure why the Kelsey Hayes wires are so popular on the birds. They weren't available till 1962 from what I understand. I am hoping I can find a rebuilder of the AMT 56 Thunderbird. I can't imagine using a nice 56 kit for this thing. I actually prefer the 56 myself as it is and would rather build it if I found a new kit. The mold lines are heavy and the panel lines are so shallow. I am thinking this mold is on it's last legs.

Thank you!

My wife asked me to build a 1957 Thunderbird next. I opened the box and I have to say I am really not happy with what I have to start with. I knew the top wasn’t good so I already purchased a resin top from Drag City Castings, but the chassis is not something I would be happy with. Anyone know of a donor chassis I might look for? I was thinking maybe the 1956 AMT Thunderbird? Those I don’t think are as easy to find. Maybe I will find a rebuilder or junker at the So Cal Open show this weekend. As always it will get as much detailing I can stand for the quality of the kit and LED lighting. I am going with Willow Green with a colonial white top. Something like the last image.

Thank you. Talking about not so good kit. My wife wants me to build a 1957 Thunderbird next. The chassis is terrible. Probably a reissue from the 60s I am guessing. Thank you!

Thank you. Thank to you.

Thank you. I really like MCW finishes paint. With Splashpaints 2K. Takes very minimal wet sanding to get smooth.

Thank you. I registered my cars for the show. It will be nice just to participate and meet and learn from others. Thank you, I registered. I understand this is a pretty nice show. I saw a YouTube video from 2022 BG posted. I have no misconceptions of winning, but will be nice to be a part of the show.

Thank you! Maybe next build. The top storage door is where I am hiding the battery.

Thank you! Thanks. my daughter is telling me that now I am not allowed to build a scale model without lights. I can tell you the corvette headlights were a lot of work. Not a lot of room to get the headlights moving up and down and light up the front and side front marker lights. Thank You!

I only really got back into build model cars in the last year after a long hiatus. I did build a model of a car I owned last, in 2011. I never really even knew about the shows or scale model magazines. I was always into the full scale classic cars almost exclusively. Thank You!

Thank you! Thank You!

Finished and posted images in the under glass section.

I started out with an Mpc 1975 convertible kit, scratch built headlights and added LED lighting. MCW finishes 1973-74 Corvette Orange with Splash Paints 2K clear. I have only been a spectator at a couple of scale model show, just the last year. I have never entered a scale model show, I am thinking about taking this model and some of my Mustang builds to the So Cal Open scale Model car show next weekend. if you missed the work in progress thread it is here:

Pretty close to finishing, will take some pictures and post in showcase shortly. I am considering entering this one and a couple of the Mustang builds in the So Cal Open scale model car show next weekend. Last year I went to a couple scale model shows as a spectator, never entered one before.