Original AMT '57 Bel Air detailing questions

[Monty]

1) Did all 1:1 '57 Bel Airs come with gold anodized grilles? 

2) What is the best way to replicate this finish using the original AMT kit's grille/bumper assembly?

[pharoah]

I'm not an expert,but as far as I know - yes they did have gold mesh grille,gold 'V' on the hood and trunk and gold 'louvers' near the headlights. 

As for painting,you might try Tamiya gold,and the a black wash to fill in the openings. Good luck. I'm sure others will chime in on this.

 

[espo]

Pharoah is correct on the gold trim. This was only on the Bel Airs and all others were either chrome or polished aluminum. I recall building the AMT kits and used a gold leaf type paint with diluted flat black paint for the back ground. Now AMT has offered two different '57 Chevrolets. So by original are you speaking of the one with the optional 409 engine with a  super charger and no detail in the side trim for a Bel Air, or the much more accurate one with the trim detail on the sides and opening trunk and duel quads ??     

[BigTallDad]

Did your kit come with photo etch and plug wires? If so, that's the more accurate one espo mentioned (aka pro modeler kit); some thinned gold paint on the grille should suffice.

While you're at it, don't forget the black mesh surrounding the headlights.

Edited May 16, 2017 by BigTallDad

[Monty]

Pharoah is correct on the gold trim. This was only on the Bel Airs and all others were either chrome or polished aluminum. I recall building the AMT kits and used a gold leaf type paint with diluted flat black paint for the back ground. Now AMT has offered two different '57 Chevrolets. So by original are you speaking of the one with the optional 409 engine with a  super charger and no detail in the side trim for a Bel Air, or the much more accurate one with the trim detail on the sides and opening trunk and duel quads ??     

Mine is one of the re-re-re-re-releases of the original AMT kit with the wire-axle chassis and the 409.  The other day I posted a question on here about optimizing the accuracy of the rear fenders and learned that Model Car Garage offers a P/E set with pieces to replace the rear fender decals.   

Where's a good place to look for gold leaf paint?  

[Longbox55]

Pretty much anything you could want to know about a stock '57 Chevy.

https://www.gmheritagecenter.com/docs/gm-heritage-archive/vehicle-information-kits/Chevrolet/1957-Chevrolet.pdf

[berr13]

Tamiya clear yellow brushed over kit chrome gives a pretty good gold color.  I used that on the V8 emblems on the Revell '57, and that gave a nice scale looking gold effect.

[espo]

Mine is one of the re-re-re-re-releases of the original AMT kit with the wire-axle chassis and the 409.  The other day I posted a question on here about optimizing the accuracy of the rear fenders and learned that Model Car Garage offers a P/E set with pieces to replace the rear fender decals.   

Where's a good place to look for gold leaf paint?  

Between the information from Longbox55 and berr13's paint suggestion you are well on your way here. I personally really like this kit although there have been others since that are more accurate. The only draw backs, if you want to call them that, that I can see are the side moldings are not right. Close but not 100% The Bel Air trim for the inset was done with a decal in the kit and that is just a little short of what it should be. The advantage for myself, as a former owner of a Two Ten hardtop many years ago, is that this area is smooth and all that was left was to shorten the trim on the top of the rear fenders to make a Two Ten version. The interior is a pretty correct Bel Air pattern.  While not as detailed as some of the new kits of this subject it is still a solid kit to build whatever your trying to build. I look forward to seeing what you do with this.       

[Monty]

It just occurred to me that Bare Metal Foil offers their product in gold as well as chrome, black etc.  Assuming that I followed it up with a black wash, would that nail the color.  I could also use it on the "V's" and the three front fender trim items.  

Any pics of this stuff being used? 

[espo]

I think the problem that you would run into with the Gold Bare Metal Foil is that it is thicker than the normal foil and doesn't like to conform to small details. What I have done is paint the grill portion with Tamiya X-12 Gold Leaf brush paint. I would use several light coats. The gold metallic in the clear tends to settle in the low spots, like the "openings" in the grill. Then use a black wash of either Tamiya X-19 Smoke black or The Detailer Black-It-Out. As for the Hood and Trunk V's and the Bel Air lettering and fender markings I used the X-12 Gold Leaf and cleared it with Future floor polish. I also use a touch of Future instead of glue to attach the moldings as it dries clear  and holds well.