Ramfins59

Phillip, I actually love ALL the cars from the 1950's not just the "finned" cars. I just haven't yet gotten around to building many of the "bumper bullet" cars. Most of those would be the mid 50's Cadillacs of which there are not very many kits or promos available. I have built a '53 Caddy from the American Metal kit by Welly and the IMEX '58 Caddy kit and then there is the '55 Buick Highway Patrol diecast car that I redid As soon as I can get my hands on a few more of those beautiful "bumper bullet" cars I will definitely add them to my collection of 1950's cars.

Thank you all very much for your encouraging comments.

Hi guys. After Steven Guthmiller's comment/question regarding two-tone roofs on these Chryslers, I went back and reviewed the Google reference pictures that I downloaded. Some of them were taken from a low angle which kind of made it look like the roofs were a solid color, but they were in fact two-tone. So, after I had clearcoated the body and let it dry for a couple of days, yesterday I masked off the front, flat area of the roof and the rest of the body, using Tamiya tape and wide masking tape. I then sprayed the remaining unmasked area of the roof with Tamiya Red Brown to match the side trim insert. Once that completely dries I will unmask the roof and respray it with clearcoat then polish the entire body when completely dry. Then I can do all of the BMF work. No, I'm not really sick of BMF work. While it is a time consuming chore on these 50's land yachts, it is a necessary part of building and finishing the model. I just love the look of all the chrome and stainless trim on these cars. One of the reasons why I buy a half dozen sheets of BMF at NNL East every year is to be sure that I don't run out of it. With all of the 50's cars that I still have in my TO DO pile I know I 'll be needing a lot of it. I also started painting the resin "59 Dodge interior I'm using for this car. As soon as I have enough additional progress completed I will be able to post more pictures. Thanks to all for continuing to follow along on this project.

Humidity can cause your paint to "blush" or come out looking like a flat, dull finish rather than nice and glossy. I've had this happen to me several times. The last time it happened I sprayed a gloss clearcoat over the dulled paint and it worked just fine. There was no color difference. To be on the safe side though, I'd wait until it's not raining and is a dryer day to spray on a clearcoat.

Wow Steven..!! That really looks great. I love your rear window treatment on that convertible top... great idea to use a piece of a ziplock bag.

That looks pretty sharp Jim.

Curt, that is very wild and imaginative. Great job.

I'm beginning to think that Greg Myers has a little too much free time on his hands to be digging up and posting all this crazy stuff... It is all VERY entertaining though.

Thanks Anthony, I appreciate your encouraging comments.

Yep, I use it to glue clear parts also, especially windows... after tacking them in with non-fogging CA glue I run a bead all around the window on the interior using a toothpick.

That interior really looks great Steve. Do you ever use flocking or embossing powder for carpets?

Geeze Ira...... what don't you use when building your models??? Now a plastic cookie tray...!!! Talk about creativity and thinking outside the box...!!! You're amazing... Go man go!

I agree with you Steven, especially when you can get one of these old promos for a good price. I paid $42 + $7 shipping last year for this New Yorker promo. Back in March I was able to score an original AMT kit of a complete, unassembled and unpainted 1959 Edsel for $54. I get lucky sometimes . Tom, thanks for your kind comments as always. I agree with you also in that I'd rather go with a pricey resin kit rather than go through all the extra work involved with cleaning up and partially restoring an old, beat up, nasty built up. Greg, I might be interested in one of those '58 New Yorkers if and when you might get them in production. Will you be including bumpers, grille and head and taillights. and dashboard with it? Possibly some of the parts from the '57 Chrysler would work with it. I know that Modelhaus makes the grille and bumpers.

Jim, you did a great job on this model. I love it.

That's great to hear Jim. Congratulations.

Bob, IMEX made a '58 Cadillac Eldorado in 1/24 scale which I've built and there's the Monogram '59 Caddy. Revell made a '57 Caddy multi-piece body kit which I also have yet to build.

Thanks a lot Carl. I appreciate your kind words.

That looks awesome Kenn.

Thank you Peter and Dave. Peter, I don't mind at all, you're not intruding. That's a great idea using the Chrysler wagon interior in your Chrysler promo. I also have a '59 DeSoto in my TO DO pile that I'll again be using a Modelhaus '59 Dodge resin interior in. Dave, I agree it's a shame that these great cars can't be made anymore. We can only hope that maybe someday one of the manufacturers will tool some of them up as kits. Until then we've got to search for these old promos.

Thanks for the replies guys. I pretty much have all of the kits in my stash or have already built some of the Chevy's Fords, Hudsons, Olds and Studebaker that Tom mentioned. I'm aware that some promos were made in that warping acetate and I don't go near those. I have gotten and rebuilt a few of the ones made with the Cycolac plastic which is less susceptible to warp. I've also bought and will buy more eventually of the Modelhaus' offerings as finances permit. I've had bad experiences with R&R's stuff so I usually stay away from those. Hendrix has a '51 Pontiac and a few others that I've looked at but I haven't bought from them yet mainly due to the fact that none of their stuff comes chromed. I have yet to buy and use Alclad in a spray can as I don't have an airbrush. I'll keep searching EBAY and vendor tables at shows for the elusive cars.

Other than '57, '58 & '59 Cadillacs, there are rarely any earlier Caddys that show up on EBAY except for a couple of warped promos. I never see any Mercurys other than 1959 promos or builtups. Does anyone know if any other Caddys or Mercs from the 1950's were ever made in either kit or promo form in 1/25 scale? I know that Modelhaus makes a '50 & '56 Caddy, and '56, '57, '58 and '59 Mercs. The same seems to be true for Buicks, Oldsmobiles, Plymouths and Pontiacs. Modelhaus makes a few from the late 50's, but nothing from the earlier 50's years. The pickings are really scarce for these cars from 1950 through 1954. I also know that WHEAT has a bunch of promo stuff but I can't afford his prices and I won't buy anything that is warped.

Thanks very much Dave.

That looks really great Emmanuel.

Kenn, that is a gorgeous looking car. Great job.

Have a fabulous Birthday John.