johnwitzke

Since building my first '63 lightweight Galaxie, Brannan's car, I learned a lot about how I would improve upon my next build. With that said, I have started another 1963 lightweight Galaxie. This one will be Les Ritchey's Viking Blue/Beige interior car. I figured this time I would put more detail into the engine, specifically the intake and carb areas. So I ordered resin carburetors, Holley 4160 from Fireball Modelworks. These carburetors have excellent detail and really make the engine look real. I highly recommend them. I have added addition detail making the intake and carb as close to factory correct as I can. I will be adding to this topic as the build goes along. Enjoy and thanks for looking.....John

Really nice work on that T-Bolt!

Tasca's car was not one of the 5 preproduction cars. It was a lightweight car and had red interior like the other 200 or so cars. The 5 preproduction lightweight cars were as follows. All had code 24 beige interior and black steering wheels Romy Hammes - Dick Brannan - Corinthian White / Beige Interior - The very first 63 lightweight Bob Ford - Len Richter- Raven Black / Beige Interior Downtown Ford - Gas Ronda - Heritage Burgundy / Beige Interior (according to sources, car was originally Viking Blue the same as Les Ritchey car but repainted Heritage Burgundy) Vels Ford Sales - Les Ritchey - Viking Blue / Beige Interior (later sponsor was Downtown Ford same as Gas Ronda's car) Ed Martin Ford - Rangoon Red / Beige Interior

Great photo, Thank you. The decals are available from Jack Smith -Top End Decals.

Sorry but no color photo exist at this time. Will be able to show decals based on what is known about the car soon. It was Viking Blue with beige interior. All five pre production '63 lightweight interiors were beige.

Sneak Peek. Two more 1963 Galaxie Lightweight bodies are being prepped. These two will take me longer as I am focusing on a WingNuts Wings 1/32 scale Sopwith Camel. I will building these two along side the plane. These will become Ronda's (Vintage Burgundy) and Ritchey's (Viking Blue) lightweights. I will provide updates as I move along Harry....I will provide step by step photos for making the Bostrom seats once I get to that step.

Placed third in documented replica class at the 2017 IMPS National Convention.

Wow, beautiful builds!

Thanks all. As mainly an airplane builder (I still like the weathered look), I learned a lot building this one, the ups and downs. Paint for one thing (airplanes are more forgiving due to flat paint). I know what I will do differently to make the next two even better. A plane is my next build (WingNuts 1/32 scale WWI Sopwith Camel). I will however be building Gas Ronda's and Les Ritchey's pre-production 63 Galaxie lightweights along side the plane. I already have purchased the correct colors for the next two from MCW. I will post up my progress on the next two, however, the updates will be spread out over a longer period of time. Thanks again for all of the comments.

Thanks all. One done four to go. Yes, the M&H Racemaster slicks are from Speed City

Making an accurate 1963 Ford Galaxie Lightweight There were five pre-production 1963 lightweight Galaxies produced each differed slightly 1963 Romy Hammes – Brannan Super Stock Ford Galaxie Lightweight Pre-Production #1 Kit – AMT 1/25 scale Prestige 1963 Ford Galaxie Donner Kit – AMT 1960 Ford Starliner Exterior Modifications · Remove Galaxies emblems from front fenders · Remove FORD lettering from hood · Added Pro Tech photo etch hood pins · Exterior paint single stage Model Master and polished to replicate factory paint from 1963 · Bumpers and grill painted Vallejo Metal Chrome paint to replicate the real aluminum bumpers · Decals from Slixx · Air valve stems on wheels · Bare metal foil trim Interior Modifications · MCW Resins 1963 Ford Lightweight Interior · Extensive modification of front bucket seats to replicate real Bostrom lightweight seats · Added black mat to floor in place of carpeting · Painted to replicate Code 24 beige using Ford colors Lt. Beige, Rose Beige and custom mix beige · Thin wire used to replicate chrome trim on door panels · Steering wheel and column painted black as the original · Rotunda column tach · Added cloth Headliner and dome lights Engine Compartment Modifications · Ford 427 engine with correct “THUNDERBIRD” valve covers. Production lightweights have 427 decals. The 1960 kit includes a dual 4bbl intake and carb that accurately depicts a 1963 427 low-riser · Oil breathers added to valve covers · Ignition wiring routed per actual firing order · Firewall modified to replicate actual lightweight cars · Weathered to replicate “as raced” and not restored · Accurate red Rotunda oil filter with correct decal (Whoopie Kat) Chassis and Underbody · 1960 Starliner underbody and chassis modified to fit the 1963 body · Traction Master style traction bars included in the 1960 Starliner kit · Underbody painted red oxide with body color overspray · Front control arm tips left bare metal color as the original car Finally, a very special thanks to Mr. Dick Brannan who through his guidance and the countless question that he answered, made this project possible.

Here are some additional photos

The decals are Slixx from 2005. I was able to locate a set. For a 12 year old decal set, they went on without any issues.

It has been a long haul but here is a photo of my finished Dick Brannan's 63 Ford Lightweight. The very first pre-production 1963 lightweight built, and most successful with 65 wins and 22 records

I would say yes to a off white headliner, it would be consistent to other cars.

The interior is black

Here are a couple of interior photos

Working on the lightweight firewall detail. Firewall will be weathered as will the entire engine compartment.

After this one is complete, the next couple will be another of the 5 pre production cars. A Viking Blue car and a Heritage Burgundy car

Finally painted. Single stage and polished to replicate a factory finish. Next step is to foil the trim.

Thank you Edgar. Harry, I will still post how to make the seats when I do the Gas Ronda or Bob Ford car. Right now I am under a time crunch to have this project completed for the IPMS National Convention at the end of this month. Here is my work so far on the front grill and bumper. Body color still needs to be added between the grill and the bumper and the turn signals need to be painted amber. The picture is hard to see but the bumpers have the appearance of polished aluminum not bright chrome. Also there is a license plate bracket and plate that says FORD the I will add.

Once I have Dick Brannan's car finished I plan on doing three other early pre production 63 Galaxie lightweights. The cars are, black Bob Ford driven by Len Richter and was also built in the Ford Experimental Garage, Gas Ronda's Heritage Burgundy car and Les Ritchey's Viking Blue car, both bodies built at the Los Angeles plant and delivered to Bill Stroppe. All were re bodied 1962 lightweight chassis. All of these cars had the Code 24 beige interior instead of the production lightweight red interior.

Scratch built 63 lightweight bucket seats using a heavily modified MCW buckets that are included in their 1963 Lightweight Interior kit. The first 5 preproduction lightweight Galaxies (Romy Hammas Brannon car was the first pre production car) had code 24 beige interior. The production 63 Lightweight Galaxies had red interior

Update...Removed mold lines in front and rear bumpers chrome stripped and primed with Tamyia white primer. Next will be to shoot them with Vallejo black primer then Vallejo chrome paint to simulate aluminum. Front bumper has been modified to match up to the 1960 Galaxie underbody and chassis. Same with the rear bumper. Working to get the correct stance as raced. Additionally the hood has the FORD lettering removed and primed. Basecoat to follow.

Basecoat has been applied. Clear coat will be applied this weekend