The very first '53 Chevy I built! Still alive!

[Lovefordgalaxie]

I only know it was vacation from school time, so, it was any time from  December '91 to February '92. 

I was 14 years old, and always spent all my money on model cars and paint. I had just found out I could actually spray paint a model car (I was afraid the spray paint would "eat" the plastic), and had successfully painted a '64 Impala. That Impala was also my first foil job, and I was using household aluminum foil and white glue. It was a real pain to foil like that. Like every 14 year old I didn't have much money, so, sometimes I had to buy kits for cheap, like the ones with tags on the box. Tags like: "Missing glass", or "missing stock wheels". 

The Monogram '53 Bel Air was just like that. it was a cheapo kit, as the guy at the hobby shop I got it from had already used the stock wheels and the kit's tires on a project of his own (actually a scratchbuilt trailer for his own '53 chevy build) and had the rest of the kit for sale with one of that tags...

Well, I got it, and on my way home I got a very 50's - ish color of Colorgim household spray paint. It was a light green I really liked. 

I had to use the custom wheels on the build, and like it was a 1:24 scale kit, I had to get creative on the tires. I had to use a set of tires from a Monogram '29 Ford RPU kit (that one with the "Early Genuine Iron" decals), that I wanted to convert to stock, and ended converting into a all Ford model a few years latter, using whitewall tires, T-Bird hubcaps, and a Flathead V8. 

So, custom wheels, some big tires on the rear and small tires on front, the car ended a so so hot rod. I used the three carburetor option to suit the wheels and tires, and chrome plated the stock valve cover with my new and exciting magic foil. 

The model survived well until now. It just had one accident when I dropped it from the shelf, and all parts flew away... Other than a cracked rear glass, and a little piece missing from the rear fender, it was in one piece again in no time.

The paint kind of changed color a little, what can be seen comparing the underhood area with the front fenders.

This Chevy was my second foil job, and I didn't know how to foil the vents, so those are painted silver. The chrome survived pretty well, since I had just being told it was a good idea to clear coat the chrome parts. I forgot the front bumper, and ended having to foil it a few years after the car was done. The foil on the bumper is a little dull already, but the clear coated chrome is still great!!!! I always clear coat the chrome parts, and recommend doing it to everybody. 

Anyway, here she is, a 24 year old build. 

Now i'm after my '64 Impala. I posted it here some time ago, but the pictures were really bad.

1953 Chevy bel Air "Hot Rod" by Túlio Lazzaroni, on Flickr

Note the piece missing from the rear fender, just by the bumper:

1953 Chevy bel Air "Hot Rod" by Túlio Lazzaroni, on Flickr

1953 Chevy bel Air "Hot Rod" by Túlio Lazzaroni, on Flickr

1953 Chevy bel Air "Hot Rod" by Túlio Lazzaroni, on Flickr

1953 Chevy bel Air "Hot Rod" by Túlio Lazzaroni, on Flickr

1953 Chevy bel Air "Hot Rod" by Túlio Lazzaroni, on Flickr

1953 Chevy bel Air "Hot Rod" by Túlio Lazzaroni, on Flickr

1953 Chevy bel Air "Hot Rod" by Túlio Lazzaroni, on Flickr

[GTJUNIOR]

It has survived pretty well. Still looks very good.

[peekay]

Extraordinary model for a 14 year-old! Most adults can't paint and foil that well. This was definitely a taste of things to come!

 

[Lovefordgalaxie]

It has survived pretty well. Still looks very good.

Thanks!! I guess it survived so well because I just kept it on a shelf for about a year. After the accident, I decided to keep my models inside their boxes, and to get acrylic cases to the ones without boxes. The worse enemy of a little plastic model car is dust. The second one? Big clumsy hands... One wrong move with a feather duster, and bang, parts all over the floor.

Extraordinary model for a 14 year-old! Most adults can't paint and foil that well. This was definitely a taste of things to come!

 

Thanks!! I should show you the ones I brush painted. Well, maybe not... Anyways, none survived in it's original brush painted state. When I started spray painting I tossed them one by one on brake fluid, so I could re paint them. A lot cheaper than buying new kits

 

[cobraman]

Nice looking Chevy.

[Deathgoblin]

Very nice!    Better than I was doing at 14.  

[Dave Darby]

Looking good. Always love seeing your work, Tulio. Now I can see how early you mastered the craft. I wish I had more of my oldies from my teen years.

[DumpyDan]

Still looking good after all these years

[vintagercr]

Sharp!

[Greg Pugh]

14?! Wow!

[Sixties Sam]

Very nice build, especially for a teenager! My builds never looked that good when I was a kid! Great color!

Sam

[slusher]

Real sharp Chevy...