53 Chev Panel builid WIP

[Farmboy]

I'm about to begin building the Revell '53 Chev panel gasser. 

I'm sure this kit has been around for a number of years, seems I've seen it in a red/white/blue boxtop livery and maybe even some other configuration, however, memory fails as one gets older....  Anyway, this kit is very simply, a very simple kit.  Some parts are unrecognizable, so much so that I thought it could use slight massaging in just about every step of it's construction.  So, using my limited skills I thought I would give it a go and post mods/updates as I got them done.

Release the Kraken!

A number of pieces in this shot.  The frame at the top has already had it's gas tank removed.  I'm going with a moon type tank on the front of the car.  The frame takes a lot of cleanup to make it sit flat against the floor pan.  My specimen had lots of flash sticking up from the mold release dots, flash on the outside of the frame....take your time and clean it up.  I'll also be removing the front bumper mounts (the antennae on the front frame members).

     Moving clockwise is the axle/spring assembly...or, it looks roughly like one.  Fit is very sloppy with no detail.  By the way, this is a one piece item.  I plan to do my own axle and try building my own springs and mounts.  As  it 'hangs out there' in full view, I found 4 wheel backing plates with embossed detail in my parts box.  The axle is my first plan of attack.

     Next to this is the engine support brace (Step 2).  I've already modified this by removing two little nubby things.  My guess is they were supposed to be shocks?  Anyway, I'm already removed them and will install other shocks, either parts box or scratch built. 

    The last piece is I guess the tie rod (control arm?).  I would think it's for a power steering unit maybe, otherwise than that I don't recognize it.  I will make my own tie rod/control arm from aluminum tube.

 

The floor pan

This is the underside the floorpan.  That curved raised piece is the spare tire well, a separate part. There is some embossing on the inside guiding you where to cut out  the rectangle so it will fit, but the part isn't even listed in the instructions!  I installed it anyway just to add some variety.  If you do this, hold the frame in position so it will fit correctly later.  

Next post I'll show what I have done on the axle so far.  Hope you enjoy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[cobraman]

I remember building the original version of that kit many, many years ago. It did not go well as I recall. I am sure you will have better luck with yours. Carry on !

[Farmboy]

 I made the axle from aluminum tube and half round styrene.  When ready it will be shot with Alclad.  I keep the original for measurement purposes.

 

The pic shows the knuckle joint before and after. I made it from a T section of sprue....and almost limitless supply!  I simply carved and filed away to fit the end pieces on the axle. 

You can see how it fits on the end (this is before final finishing).  Pardon the dust, it's on the actual glass lens protector but obviously shows up on super macro. 

and here's how it sits on the back of the wheel.  These are the wheel backing plates I got from the parts box, and they sit in the tire better lol. 

...and here's an idea I'm working on for the knuckle horn(s) as they will fit on the knuckle.  Made from small diameter solder, I simply flattened the ends and put a bend to suit.  It looks worse at high mag than normal size, but it's my first one and hasn't been smoothed yet.   There will be an upper and a lower on the passenger side wheel for the control arm off the pitman (upper) and drag link (lower).  The driver's side will have a lower only for the drag link.  Thanks for checkin' in.

Comments and observations welcome.

 

[rsxse240]

really cool that you're detailing one of these relics.  It will take a LOT of work, but will be worth it when done.  I can't wait to see what you do next!

[DumpyDan]

Well done, great looking work

[Farmboy]

I've decided to rethink my axle....

The straight one just wasn't doing it for me....so to reduce the vehicle's nose-in-the-air stance a bit, I made a dropped axle from a length of tubing.  Left to right is the kit part, the previous aluminum straight axle and the new dropped axle.  It's painted flat black to get a better look at how even the symmetry was and mocked it up with the in progress knuckles. 

Comments and observations welcome.

[Farmboy]

Here are a couple of mockup  views of the front suspension with scratch built springs and hangers in the body/frame assembly.  Details like spring straps and rear spring anchors ar yet to be added.  Upside down but you do what you can

To make it a bit clearer, here's the same assembly by it's lonesome.  You'll notice (or not) that I had to add a couple of filler blocks for the springs to rest on.  These will be refined before painting.

....and how it compares to the kit piece.  This will lower the ride front considerably

Comments and observations welcome

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 17, 2016 by Farmboy
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[Farmboy]

Well, better late than never.  My apologies for the delay in this build but sometimes life gets in the way.....

For anyone that may have been following, I'll try to get this completed in a timely manner from here, so here's where the build is at....

 

In this mockup, I've narrowed both the rear frame assembly and transaxle to allow tubbing of the tires.  Note I added gussets to help with the integrity of the glue joint.  I again modified the front end to clean it up a bit.  I substituted a new spring/axle assembly so it won't sit so nose-high.  Note the front spring extensions to keep the springs relatively horizontal.  I also added a couple of 'lobes' for the rear of the springs to attach to.

Here's a better view of the front end.  Tires are from the kit but the rims are from the parts box.

and here is how the floor assembly sits on it.  I tubbed the wheel wells and gave them an aluminum skin made from an aluminum beer can.  The decking is made from stir sticks from a coffee shop just to add some texture to the build.  Rest of the floor will be done in a dark green.  Gasser regulations were (are?) that there have to be 2 seats up front.  I'm having one.  I'll explain why in a future post.

more later.

 

 

[Pete J.]

There are a couple of recent builds here on this kit.  I just finished one.  You are right this is an old and poor kit but it looks like you are off to a good start.  You might want to look through a couple of the other builds that will give you a heads up on some of the issues others ran into.  Mine is here  http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/topic/113782-i-dont-do-hot-rods-well-maybe-i-do/ and I think that there is one under 54 panel also.  Good luck, this was a real challenge.

[mustang1989]

One of the other ones was mine and yeah......you've got some work ahead of you but it's a doable thing. Watching to see how yours goes.

Edited October 23, 2016 by mustang1989

[Farmboy]

While I was doing some research on gassers, came across a photo that looks like it could have been the inspiration for the actual box top art.  What do you think?

 

.....anyway.....

The body was a pretty poor casting, at least in my kit.  It took quite a bit of sanding, filing, and patience to bring it up to an acceptable level.  I mentioned earlier that only one seat will be installed, and that`s because the passenger door was poorly done.  I took it a step further and did a little body work, specifically deleting the door entirely.  Inside, a roll bar support will anchor in the place of what would have been the passenger seat. 

The driver's side turned out ok...

€

....and the passenger side is in the final finishing stage.  Took lots 'o shaping to get it this far.

 

My Primer Queen.  First off, the stance is not this drastic it's simply a mockup.  When I first got the kit I guess my mind's eye dismissed the black colored grille in that I thought the whole lower front end was open....and I liked it!  Off came the lower part of the front.  I'll scratch a moon tank if I can't find one and maybe put some sort of aluminum air deflector below it.  I'm also cobbling together a flathead with triple carbs just to be different.

Comments and observations welcome.

Edited October 23, 2016 by Farmboy
photo adj

[Farmboy]

Didn't get a whole lot done, but the ride height is established.  Still pure gasser, but not to the outrageous tilt the stock build had.  The wheel wells haven't been touched.

...so now it's on to finishing up the body.  Most of the work I'm doing is done, now to fill in those huge open holes up front.  I've removed the 'arms'  from the hood and now the body holes are being first filled with sheet plastic then smoothed with minimal body fill.  Note, I've only ever used body fill once.  My filler of choice is automotive scratch filler used in bodywork.  Goes on thin and sands great!  Anyway, here's the under hood front part before any smoothing..  A touch blurry, didn't think about macro at the time but you get the idea.

Comments and observations welcome.  Thanx for looking

 

[Farmboy]

The body is done to my satisfaction.  I went with only one side door as I'm building this as a custom/gasser

 

 

[Farmboy]

This shows the front part of the engine bay where the openings have been filled.  One of them actually cut a piece out of the bottom of the windshield trim.  Incidentally, I'm using gold as my base coat, it's not the finished color for this build.

 

[Farmboy]

When it came to joining the bottom part of the firewall to the body, there's an ugly gash across the front.  I made a piece to cover this from two different sizes of plastic rod.  The top piece the larger one, and the two pieces under it both a smaller size.  I'm going for a rubber seal kind of look.  seems ok so far....

[Farmboy]

....and a hole in the hood to make room for the velocity stacks from the 429 ford going in there.  I was going to install a flathead, but this engine didn't have a home so...

....and here's the frame/engine assembly..

 

....and how it will look with the bottom piece attached..

that's all I have for now.

comments and observations welcome

 

 

Edited November 6, 2016 by Farmboy

[Farmboy]

I sourced a roll bar from an old amt The Ol' Pro nova kit.  It fits.  I'm deciding on a seat yet.  The dash will go a dark green, the door panels will also echo that color

 

 

[Farmboy]

For whatever reason, this photo is quite different from what it actually is.  I airbrushed this body with two shades of orange with white under accents for a random tiger pelt look.  Whether it 's the green from my desk light (fluorescent), or the yellow caste from the spotlight (incandescent) or a combination of the two, it came out a mustard (?) color in the pic.  Its orange.  Really.  Orange.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Farmboy]

and here's the stripe pattern I'll be attempting.  I downloaded this a couple of years ago online.  It's a repeating pattern.   Anyway, the plan is to cover this page with a sheet of press 'n seal plastic kitchen wrap, cut the stripes out, lay the press n' seal over the body sealing it well and shooting it with a couple of very dry coats of flat black from a spray can.  I opt for flat black because it dries super fast, and can be misted on with much more control and less fear of runs than gloss black from a can.  A coat of clear gloss and you're done.  The paint so far are the $1.00 bottles of craft paint with 1 coat of Krylon clear.

comments and observations welcome

 

[Davewilly]

looking very cool so far!

[Farmboy]

....and here's the end result of the paint, though I may re-do it.

[72 Charger]

That's really cool leave it as it is

[Farmboy]

I finally got around to getting more done.  I did decide in the end to re-do the paint.  I enlarged the stripe pattern so it came down the sides a bit more, and enhanced some of the white and added a bit more orange shading.  All of the paint is the $1 craft paint from the dollar store.  Goes on fine for me.

 

[Farmboy]

I also managed to build a tank.  The two metal lines at the top are a return and vent line, the one on the bottom - not visible in this shot --  is the fuel feed line

 

Edited November 28, 2016 by Farmboy
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[72 Charger]

That's really cool looking paint . Nice work on the motor too