59 Impala

I too was on SA for a long time, but since they changed their forum, I had such a hard time looking at the pictures because they're to big for the screen since they put the adds on the right side, I just got so frustrated, I took their site off my favorites and haven't gone back since. I too like the people on there, but the hassles logging on and bringing up the pictures done it for me. I like here, BnB, and Modelers Haven. All three are great places to go and alot of friendly people. That's my story and I'm stickin to it. Dan

WOW, thanks guys for the moral support and trying to come up with the lights. Marshall might have something that I can use. If not I'll come up with something. I love this kit and really want to finish it. Since this thing has sat in the box for over 30 years, I've lost one of the tail lights also. The original issue kits have the red lens and the reissued ones have the lights built in the chrome part. Bummer. I think that I can make a red one from a piece of red sprue. I sure hope so. Dan

Thanks. This sat in the box since the early 70's cause I didn't think that I could fix it or have the skills to fix it. Well, now I just took a chance to see if I could fix it and it didn't come out to bad so far. I really like the 53 Studebakers. Real nice design ifin ya ask me. I'm letting it set for a few days to really dry out and in the meantime, I'm working on the interior and chassis. I'll post more pics when I get some more work done. So stay tuned. Dan

I got the colors on tonight. SNJ silver on the bottom, then antique silver pearl in the middle and true blue pearl on top. Here are some pics. Thanks fer lookin. Dan

I agree with you Chuck on how ugly these cars are. I never liked the 78-80 Monte's. Here are a couple of pics of what I did with my 1980. These are not very good pics but they are all I have. It does have a 454 from a 1970 Impala in it. I cut that butt ugly side decal in half and trimmed off the red going around the silver. I also replaced the glass with blue accetate. I mixed the color for the paint and added the fin from a camaro. Traction bars from the parts box and the rear end is from a chevy truck. I cut out the one molded in the chassis.

Thanks Marshall, I got your PM and returned one back at ya. As far as magic, weeeelllllll, I don't know about that , but thanks. This build means alot to me. I started it in the early 60's and customized it in the early 70's and that's when I broke it and now I've gotten up the courage to finish it (fix it also). Boy, I think this has to be the longest time period for finishing a model, 40 some odd years. Dan

Thanks guys, and Clay, I customized this way back in the early 70's and that's when I also broke it. I just now got it back out of the box to fix and I've lost the 65 GTO's clear lens, so I don't know what I'm gonna do now. I hope that I can find them on the net from someone. The fenders are cut out for these so I can't use the stock lights. M, I like what you've done to yours also. Looks kinda cool. I'll keep ya posted on the progress. Later, Dan

I got updated pics of this. These are after the first coat of primer. These next ones are after the second coat of primer. I still need to do a little more bodywork yet. Now I have to decide which hood to use, the one with the V8 or the one without. Any suggestions? Thanks fer lookin. Dan

Good ideas. I use Future to seal the BMF. I haven't seen it dull the BMF at all. Just me 2 cents. Dan

Thanks guys. I got the first coat of primer on it last night to see what needs to be gone over again and I'm doing a little more body work. Hope to have some pics up tonight if the storms allow. Stay tuned. Dan

I have a small update on the body work. Here are some pics I took this morning. In this 1st pic you can see the green vent window piece. This came from one that I chopped the top off of for the Bonniville flats car "Mr.Speed". I saved this top for just in case and it came in handy. In this pic you can see the headlights from the 65 GTO. I lost the clear pieces for the lights and I have no clue where or if I can get them replaced. I'm looking for them in my parts box but I dought that they'er there. Thanks fer lookin. Dan

Thanks guys. It was a fun build to do, plus it got 1st place at our club meeting this past weekend, which was a total surpprise, but a nice one though. Dan

Thanks Don. She's setting on the shelf now lookin perty Dan

Thanks Ron. This one is going to take some tender loving care to get it fixed and I really want to fix it. The glue putty and filler are still drying out so now progress yet. Stay tuned. Dan

I built this in the early 60's and then I customized it in the early 70's and then I dropped a pair of pliers on it and broke the top. I was really mad at myself. Well, I'm trying to restore it now. The 1st pic shows it before the purple pond bath. You can see the damage that was done also. This pic show it right after the bath and a little clean up. Next shows the pieces of the puzzle that has to be put back together. A little glue putty and a mini close pin and she's starting to go back together. Redoing the front end. Thanks fer lookin. Dan

Well, I did this in just over one week. I took a brake from restoring glue bombs and just built it out of the box. I did make my own decals, the "STRIP RAT" and the U.S. flag. Well, here are the pics. The Color on this is flat sky blue with brilliant gold pearl sprayed over that and then sprayed with future. Hope ya like it. There are more pics in my photobucket if you're interested. Dan

Thanks Marshall. By the way your videos were awesome, just stay safe. Dan

Thanks for the kind comments guys, and Marshall you're welcome my friend. I'm glad that you can use them. Well, she is finished and it didn't turn out to bad concidering what it started out as. Here are the pics of the finished truck. Hope ya like. The violet doesn't show up on the white I guess cause it's so close to the white. It does show up over the black though. Marshall, I sure would like to see what you do with yours soplease post pics when you can. Thanks fer lookin. Dan

Sorry it's been so long on this build but I got some work done finally. I almost thru it across the room a few times. Nothing fits very well on this kit and I had some problems with the painting of the hood. Anyway, here are some pics of what she looks like now. I painted it using white pearl in front and then about midway thru the door I used interferance violet and painted it all the way back to the end. This was a real experience for me that's for sure. I will post more pics when I'm done with it. I have to install the exhaust, outside mirrors and the battery and she'll be finished. So stay tuned. Dan

Jeff, the IPMS nationals are coming up this August in Columbus Ohio. It could show up here. If I can go, I'll surely look for it and let the people who are in charge know about it. Dan

Well, I got this one finished. I had to use exhausts from either the 40 or 32 Ford. I also used the mufflers from the same kits. These parts are from back in the 60's and I don't remember which kit they came from Anyway, I had to strip them and then I painted them Aluminum. Here are some pics of the finished car. Hope ya like it. Thanks fer lookin. Dan

Thanks Visio. I enjoyed working on this one. I've learned alot from this. Dan

Well, I got-er-done today. Here are some pics. Hope ya like. Thanks fer lookin. Dan

Thanks guys, and Ed, I have the exhaust headers that were on the engine and I guess that's what I have to use. I was hoping that I could use something different instead of stock headers, but it doesn't look like that's gonna happen. That's Ok though. Thanks again. Dan

Thanks George. 426 sounds good to me. I think that I've ran into a little problem. The exhaust. What I was planning on using I found out that I can't. They won't fit, so, it's back to the drawing board for the exhaust. Dan