Another Johan Promo Question

[Perspect Scale Modelworks]

The 68 Imperial I'm working on is molded in turquoise. The exterior of the body is glossy and almost metallic but the "vinyl" roof is not.

Was the outside of the body clear coated or just buffed out?

The turquoise is nice but there are a few blemishes. Also, I don't think the Imperial was available in turquoise in 1968. I'm going with Forest Green on the body and interior and Frost Green for the roof.

If it's cleared, I'll soak it in the purple stuff or oven cleaner and hope I don't damage the plastic.

If it's buffed, maybe a quick pass with 1500 sand paper and then prime and paint.

Thanks

[Snake45]

I've got at least two JoHan promos that were factory painted. I've also seen painted AMT promos. I wouldn't rule out paint. 

[Mark]

Is it a promo (detailed chassis) or a friction model?  People (especially sellers) blur the line separating them but they are two different things.  Friction models were sold as toys, and were often made in non-stock colors.

That said, metallic finishes will be oversprayed.  I looked at my friction Imperial, it is a solid color and does not appear to be clearcoated.  The tooling was probably highly polished as Monogram did with many of their kits, particularly the classic cars.

If you intend to paint it, a soak wouldn't be a bad idea.

[John1955]

Jo-Han did "mist" the pre-colored plastic body sometimes with metallic. The vinyl roof would not have been painted, it was masked off. That turqoise IS an authentic 1968 Imperial color, #13195. Please be aware that painting it will decrease it's value greatly. Collectors prefer promos in their original color even if not in mint condition. 

I have two of these in my collection, neither are turquoise and you have something that is rare. The Jo-Han '68 Imperial is a bit unusual in that it was only made in promo form per a contract with Chrysler, and not issued as a kit. The 1968 Imperial promo was re-issued once, in the early 1990's I believe by X-El products after they purchased Jo-Han molds. But the only color I saw in that re-issue was red with a black vinyl top, so I think yours is an original. 
 

[dimaxion]

1 hour ago, John1955 said:

Jo-Han did "mist" the pre-colored plastic body sometimes with metallic. The vinyl roof would not have been painted, it was masked off. That turqoise IS an authentic 1968 Imperial color, #13195. Please be aware that painting it will decrease it's value greatly. Collectors prefer promos in their original color even if not in mint condition. 

I have two of these in my collection, neither are turquoise and you have something that is rare. The Jo-Han '68 Imperial is a bit unusual in that it was only made in promo form per a contract with Chrysler, and not issued as a kit. The 1968 Imperial promo was re-issued once, in the early 1990's I believe by X-El products after they purchased Jo-Han molds. But the only color I saw in that re-issue was red with a black vinyl top, so I think yours is an original. 

 

This is how I received my Ex-El JoHan Promo '68 Imperial . Pre-Painted and Vinyl Roof as it appears . The Windows were in backwards .  After years of looking at it as awkward looking , I did dissassemble it ro correct it . I Highlighter both F & R Chrome to reduce the eye soreness in my collection . I refrained from all in Detailing . I regret not going all in at that . Thanx .. 
 

Edited April 19, 2021 by dimaxion

[John1955]

Yep, that's the one I bought as well. The original one I have is a pale yellow. 

[Oldcarfan27]

22 hours ago, Perspective Customs said:

If it's cleared, I'll soak it in the purple stuff or oven cleaner and hope I don't damage the plastic.

If it's a metallic plastic, I would suggest you refrain from any paint stripping on Johan plastic. 

I think the metallic ends up making the plastic brittle after stripping and it just isn't worth the risk on such a rare model. 

[Perspect Scale Modelworks]

23 hours ago, Mark said:

Is it a promo (detailed chassis) or a friction model?  People (especially sellers) blur the line separating them but they are two different things.  Friction models were sold as toys, and were often made in non-stock colors.

This is a friction model so a toy and not a promo.

 

2 hours ago, Oldcarfan27 said:

If it's a metallic plastic, I would suggest you refrain from any paint stripping on Johan plastic. 

Oh snap! I should've came back to the site sooner. I soaked it in Purple Power earlier today. It was about 4 hours before I read your reply. No worry's though. There doesn't seem to be any damage. The body is still glossy but less metallic. 

 

16 hours ago, John1955 said:

Jo-Han did "mist" the pre-colored plastic body sometimes with metallic. The vinyl roof would not have been painted, it was masked off. That turqoise IS an authentic 1968 Imperial color, #13195. Please be aware that painting it will decrease it's value greatly. Collectors prefer promos in their original color even if not in mint condition. 

I have two of these in my collection, neither are turquoise and you have something that is rare. The Jo-Han '68 Imperial is a bit unusual in that it was only made in promo form per a contract with Chrysler, and not issued as a kit. The 1968 Imperial promo was re-issued once, in the early 1990's I believe by X-El products after they purchased Jo-Han molds. But the only color I saw in that re-issue was red with a black vinyl top, so I think yours is an original. 
 

I do realize that changing it in any way will reduce the value to collectors but I am still going to pull out as much detail as I can.

As far as the turquoise. I found this color chart on the Imperial Club website. The turquoise it shows is much lighter than the color of the model. Could be the resolution of my screen or their print but I still prefer the Forest/Frost Green combo.

Edited April 20, 2021 by Perspective Customs

[Mark]

1 minute ago, Perspective Customs said:

This is a friction model so a toy and not a promo.

 

Oh snap! I should've came back to the site sooner. I soaked it in Purple Power earlier today. It was about 4 hours before I read your reply. No worry's though. There doesn't seem to be any damage. The body is still glossy but less metallic. 

 

I do realize that changing it in any way will reduce the value to collectors but I am still going to pull out as much detail as I can.

As far as the turquoise. I found this color chart on the Imperial Club website. The turquoise it shows is much lighter than the color of the model. Could be the resolution of my screen or their print but I still prefer the Forest/Frost Green combo.

The "stock" colors on most promos are probably a fair amount off from the actual car colors.  Other details often differed too.  I've never heard of anyone claiming the 1:1 car was misrepresented.

[Snake45]

2 hours ago, Oldcarfan27 said:

If it's a metallic plastic, I would suggest you refrain from any paint stripping on Johan plastic. 

I think the metallic ends up making the plastic brittle after stripping and it just isn't worth the risk on such a rare model. 

I was going to call bull on this, and then I remembered that the two worst cases of brittle plastic I've ever seen were both metallic. Both dark metallic blue, in fact!  One was Monogram and one was AMT. Neither had been stripped, though--neither had ever been painted. 

I can't recall ever stripping a metallic-plastic body, so I don't have any data at all on that. Hmmmmm....

[Mark]

The metallic plastic does seem to be more brittle to start with.  I've got an MPC '65 Dodge 880 convertible kit, the gold body is broken into three or four pieces.  The Revell mid-Seventies metallic plastic is really bad...the bronze '56 Ford pickup in particular.  That stuff doesn't take cement very well either...

[1959scudetto]

I have a JoHan '68 Imperial promo which I got from a penpal in the U.S. I repainted it, but left the interior widely untouched: the whole model was molded in a "Popeye spinach-green (see interior color), only the vinyl part of the roof was semi-matte black.

[Perspect Scale Modelworks]

2 hours ago, 1959scudetto said:

I have a JoHan '68 Imperial promo which I got from a penpal in the U.S. I repainted it, but left the interior widely untouched: the whole model was molded in a "Popeye spinach-green (see interior color), only the vinyl part of the roof was semi-matte black.

Popeye spinach green?. 

Nice Imperial!

Being a GM fan back in the day, I never paid much attention to the Imperial except for the 74-75 models but I'm really starting to like the look of the 68. I think the sedan is a little sexier than the coupe.

[1959scudetto]

13 hours ago, Perspective Customs said:

Popeye spinach green?. 

Nice Imperial!

Being a GM fan back in the day, I never paid much attention to the Imperial except for the 74-75 models but I'm really starting to like the look of the 68. I think the sedan is a little sexier than the coupe.

Thanks Jay, today this one could bring really some money if I had left it untouched, but I found the green rather ugly back then (and still do)...