1959scudetto Posted June 21, 2021 Posted June 21, 2021 About 1985 or 86 I built 2 Monogram '56 Thunderbirds: one was built stock out-of-the box, brush-painted with Humbrol light blue directly onto the red plastic. The other was robbed of its Continental kit (I needed this for a slightly customized '56 Ford), so I tried to make a '55 lookalike out of it (front bumper from a 3rd one was used at the rear, portholes of the hardtop were closed with sheet plastic and putty), steering wheel and some other details are wrong, but it got the look - inspiration for the white paint came from the movie "American Graffiti" - I know Susan Somers had a '56, but who cares? White paint is from rattle-cans, hardtops of both cars, too.
bisc63 Posted June 21, 2021 Posted June 21, 2021 Nice pair of 'birds! That blue is just beautiful! White with a red interior is always nice. There was an article some years back on exactly how to backdate a '56 to a '55 that went into all the details. If memory serves, it was written by Bill Geary, who posts here as Mr Obsessive. Apologies to the author if I'm wrong on that. Any way, well done on these beauties!
MrObsessive Posted June 22, 2021 Posted June 22, 2021 Ooooh! Very nice! 2 hours ago, bisc63 said: Nice pair of 'birds! That blue is just beautiful! White with a red interior is always nice. There was an article some years back on exactly how to backdate a '56 to a '55 that went into all the details. If memory serves, it was written by Bill Geary, who posts here as Mr Obsessive. Apologies to the author if I'm wrong on that. Any way, well done on these beauties! Yes, I built a '55 but I don't remember publishing an article on it. I built it loooong before I had a PC and internet. Mine is here if anyone wants to take a look.
1959scudetto Posted June 22, 2021 Author Posted June 22, 2021 19 hours ago, bisc63 said: Nice pair of 'birds! That blue is just beautiful! White with a red interior is always nice. There was an article some years back on exactly how to backdate a '56 to a '55 that went into all the details. If memory serves, it was written by Bill Geary, who posts here as Mr Obsessive. Apologies to the author if I'm wrong on that. Any way, well done on these beauties! Thank you, Rusty, glad you like them. 17 hours ago, MrObsessive said: Ooooh! Very nice! Yes, I built a '55 but I don't remember publishing an article on it. I built it loooong before I had a PC and internet. Mine is here if anyone wants to take a look. Thank you, Bill - but my most of my builds are mediocre at best. But the one that you built (I've looked up all the photos)- excellent in this mint green - I couldn't come close to that! 11 hours ago, slusher said: Two beautiful birds! Thanks, Carl! 2 hours ago, ewetwo said: They are both beautiful. Thanks, David!
oldscool Posted June 22, 2021 Posted June 22, 2021 Those are both very nice. For brush painted blue over red plastic that finish is quite good.
1959scudetto Posted June 23, 2021 Author Posted June 23, 2021 22 hours ago, oldscool said: Those are both very nice. For brush painted blue over red plastic that finish is quite good. Thank you, Gerald!
SickBoy Posted June 25, 2021 Posted June 25, 2021 Nice clean pair of T-birds, the brush painted blue is so nice. Good work.
1959scudetto Posted June 25, 2021 Author Posted June 25, 2021 13 hours ago, PappyD340 said: Very nice pair! Thanks, Larry ! 11 hours ago, SickBoy said: Nice clean pair of T-birds, the brush painted blue is so nice. Good work. Thank you, Josh !
NOBLNG Posted June 25, 2021 Posted June 25, 2021 They both look beautiful Helmut. That blue one has to be the smoothest brush job that I’ve ever seen!?
1959scudetto Posted June 25, 2021 Author Posted June 25, 2021 8 hours ago, NOBLNG said: They both look beautiful Helmut. That blue one has to be the smoothest brush job that I’ve ever seen!? Thank you for the compliments, Greg !
David G. Posted June 26, 2021 Posted June 26, 2021 Nicely Done! In detail and finish, both are well ahead of the time in which they were built. David G.
1959scudetto Posted June 27, 2021 Author Posted June 27, 2021 21 hours ago, ChrisR said: Great looking T Birds! Thanks, Chris ! 20 hours ago, David G. said: Nicely Done! In detail and finish, both are well ahead of the time in which they were built. David G. Thank you David !
ATHU Posted June 30, 2021 Posted June 30, 2021 Beautiful pair Helmut. Your brush painting skills are really really impressive, fantastic work!!
1959scudetto Posted June 30, 2021 Author Posted June 30, 2021 11 hours ago, ATHU said: Beautiful pair Helmut. Your brush painting skills are really really impressive, fantastic work!! Thank you, Anders - don't know about my brush paintins skills today - this has been 35 years ago, and I had perfectly suited enamel paint at hand back then.
dimaxion Posted September 20, 2021 Posted September 20, 2021 On 6/21/2021 at 8:29 PM, MrObsessive said: Ooooh! Very nice! Yes, I built a '55 but I don't remember publishing an article on it. I built it loooong before I had a PC and internet. Mine is here if anyone wants to take a look. Bill . IMHO you replicated the Stock Steering Wheel 100% . I am familiar with those T Birds . On Evil Bait : Up for sale is this original steering wheel and horn button off of a 1955 Ford Thunderbird, this wheel is in decent original condition but it does have some cracking and crazing as shown in the pictures. This wheel could be cleaned up and used as is. It is also a great candidate for restoration. The horn button is pretty well pitted as shown, and the lower ring is broken off like most of these 55s. Please view all pictures, I can send additional pictures if needed. This wheel is being sold as is. Thanks for looking!!! Your build is typically beautiful and corret Factory Stock . I am admittedly Retentive and Proud of it . Thanx 1
dimaxion Posted September 20, 2021 Posted September 20, 2021 Just now, dimaxion said: Bill . IMHO you replicated the Stock Steering Wheel 100% . I went to the link you posted here . I am familiar with those T Birds . On Evil Bait : Up for sale is this original steering wheel and horn button off of a 1955 Ford Thunderbird, this wheel is in decent original condition but it does have some cracking and crazing as shown in the pictures. This wheel could be cleaned up and used as is. It is also a great candidate for restoration. The horn button is pretty well pitted as shown, and the lower ring is broken off like most of these 55s. Please view all pictures, I can send additional pictures if needed. This wheel is being sold as is. Thanks for looking!!! Your build is typically beautiful and correct Factory Stock . I am admittedly Retentive and Proud of it . Thanx
doorsovdoon Posted September 20, 2021 Posted September 20, 2021 Stunning looking builds. Very clean. I really like the white one with the red interior.
Zippi Posted September 20, 2021 Posted September 20, 2021 Sharp looking Thunderbirds. both colors look great.
1959scudetto Posted September 22, 2021 Author Posted September 22, 2021 On 9/20/2021 at 9:49 PM, doorsovdoon said: Stunning looking builds. Very clean. I really like the white one with the red interior. Thank you, Gareth ! On 9/20/2021 at 9:51 PM, Tom99 said: They both look very good. Thanks, Tom ! On 9/20/2021 at 10:35 PM, Zippi said: Sharp looking Thunderbirds. both colors look great. Thanks, Bob !
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