When modeling helps to restore a car!!!

[Lovefordgalaxie]

Some people use to say model building has no purpose. Of course those guys never built a model, and don't know what they are talking about. 

One of them is a close friend of mine. 

Early this year he bought a 1977 Ford Landau, that needed some minor cosmetic work. 

The paint was new, as the chrome and interior, but the problem was on the details missing. Mostly I was able to find online for him, but the plastic emblems on the wheel covers were a no show. 

Ford here used Lincoln wheel covers on the Landau. The car badge was a Lincoln star sideways. The wheel covers are the ones from 1975 to 1981 Lincolns. 

The emblem on the center is a plastic disc, with a Lincoln star embossed from behind, and chrome plated. The rest of the emblem is painted black from the back.

On my own Landau I had one with a huge crack, and back in 2012 I found one on e-Bay. It was a NOS part, but since my other three emblems were like new, I paid the 80 bucks the guy wanted for it. I know, I'm crazy, but the car is all original, including paint, vinyl roof, interior, engine... Just like new. And I wanted a brand new factory original part.

My friend didn't have the same luck. I spent two months looking daily on e-pay, and the emblem was a no show. Found plenty of complete wheel covers, but by the pictures, the emblems were cracked and faded.

So the guy who says modeling is useless asked me if I could make replicas of the emblem for his car. Since his car had none of the mentioned emblems, I would have to use one of mine...

No problem, the mold making silicone wouldn't hurt the piece.

So, I got the emblem out of one of my wheel covers, and made a mold.

Made four with clear UV protected epoxy resin.   Did the chrome from the back with household aluminum foil, and painted the resin discs black from behind. 

Looking at the car one would never imagine those emblems were home made... With all that useless modeling stuff.

Wheel cover emblems. Ford Landau. by CCCP Digital Studio, on Flickr

Wheel cover emblems. Ford Landau. by CCCP Digital Studio, on Flickr

Wheel cover emblems. Ford Landau. by CCCP Digital Studio, on Flickr

Wheel cover emblems. Ford Landau. by CCCP Digital Studio, on Flickr

[CometMan]

Great looking pieces, as well as the story, Tulio!

[Lovefordgalaxie]

This is the original part on my car:

Sunday Ride by CCCP Digital Studio, on Flickr

[peteski]

Nice!

[1930fordpickup]

Very nice. 

[Zoom]

Well done!

[ChrisBcritter]

Wonderful job on these, Tulio! When I had my '71 Mk III it took a lot of junkyard hunting to find four good centers like that one. You could probably make a few bucks reproducing them.

What brand of UV-protected epoxy resin did you use? I imagine a lot of folks here would like to use a clear epoxy that doesn't turn yellow for things like lenses on models.

[disabled modeler]

Awesome work...!

[Snake45]

Nicely done! I hope you charged him $50 apiece for them.

[JTalmage]

Fantastic use of skills to create an obsolete piece. love it. 

[bobthehobbyguy]

Nicely done. 

[espo]

This goes beyond "modeling skills". this is problem solving and it is a real gift to have such skills. This ability should serve you well in life.

[iBorg]

It will be curious to see how they hold up to road use and UV exposure. If they did, you hit more than a home run but a game winning grand slam in the ninth. 

 

Very nice use of the skills you've gained playing  with toy cars....:)

 

[Lovefordgalaxie]

Thanks a lot guys. The epoxy resin I'm using is from Redelease a Brazilian brand. The UV protection is done with a separate additive the same company provides to be mixed to the resin. It makes the resin a little thicker thus the big "feeding" holes on the mold.

[High octane]

Very nice and great job. Now can you post a photo of the rest of the car? TIA

[DumpyDan]

Awesome

[Lovefordgalaxie]

  On 11/23/2016 at 6:55 PM, High octane said:

Very nice and great job. Now can you post a photo of the rest of the car? TIA

Here is the picture I have from when he bought it.

 

[Lovefordgalaxie]

This one is my old '82:

Unrestored original car. Factory paint, and original 78.000 Kms from new. 

The '77 is almost the same car. The upholstery changes, and the '77 was only available in Continental Silver with a silver vinyl roof.

1982 Ford Galaxie Landau by CCCP Digital Studio, on Flickr

1982 Ford Galaxie Landau by CCCP Digital Studio, on Flickr

1982 Ford Galaxie Landau by CCCP Digital Studio, on Flickr

1982 Ford Galaxie Landau by CCCP Digital Studio, on Flickr

1982 Ford Galaxie Landau by CCCP Digital Studio, on Flickr

1982 Ford Galaxie Landau by CCCP Digital Studio, on Flickr

1982 Ford Galaxie Landau by CCCP Digital Studio, on Flickr

 

[Dragline]

Stunning 1:1 car and those repros are dead nuts on. I think you found yourself a niche should you decide to.

 

I'll be your pal was happy and has changed his tune a bit.

[1972coronet]

Beautiful work , comrade!  There's a saying here in the U. S. :"Necessity is the mother of invention." , and you have taken the spirit and practise to heart ! 

Beautiful piece ! Keep up the "useless" work ! ??

[Hawk312]

 

Very nice, clean restoration. That engine looks flawless. Nice work on molding the part as well! 

I had to do something similar, but much simpler that what you had to do on yours. While I was restoring my `85, I lost one of the fender moldings.   I took the one from the other side, made a mold, and cast the other one and even made a few spares.

[Ace-Garageguy]

Very nice work, Tulio.

I'm surprised you don't concentrate on vintage Ladas, Zils, Gazs and the odd Moskvitch though.   

[espo]

Always nice to see a car that has been well cared for and appreciated. The body style is interesting since it is different than what I am used to seeing. The main part of the body, from "A" pillar to "C" pillar, resemble a Ford Galaxy/LTD from that era. The front grill looks very much like a Mercury and some of the  emblems are from the Lincoln.  It all works together well.  

[Lovefordgalaxie]

Thanks guys!!

  On 11/24/2016 at 2:03 PM, Hawk312 said:

 

Very nice, clean restoration. That engine looks flawless. Nice work on molding the part as well! 

I had to do something similar, but much simpler that what you had to do on yours. While I was restoring my `85, I lost one of the fender moldings.   I took the one from the other side, made a mold, and cast the other one and even made a few spares.

That's a great use of our useless modeling capabilities. By the way, the car on the pictures is not the one restored. I don't have current pictures of it, unfortunately. 

  On 11/24/2016 at 2:22 PM, Ace-Garageguy said:

Very nice work, Tulio.

I'm surprised you don't concentrate on vintage Ladas, Zils, Gazs and the odd Moskvitch though.   

Thanks Bill. don't worry, I have a VAZ-2104 too. 

  On 11/24/2016 at 3:49 PM, espo said:

Always nice to see a car that has been well cared for and appreciated. The body style is interesting since it is different than what I am used to seeing. The main part of the body, from "A" pillar to "C" pillar, resemble a Ford Galaxy/LTD from that era. The front grill looks very much like a Mercury and some of the  emblems are from the Lincoln.  It all works together well.  

It's basically a '66 Galaxie. Just like all Galaxies manufactured here. 

[vintagercr]

Excellent work, Tulio!