1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Sport Coupe

[Rodent]

7 hours ago, ModelcarJR said:

Used matte aluminum foil for the rear fender insert.

John, did you foil the insert first and then go back over with the chrome on the moldings? Is there a seam in the foil on the moldings around the insert?

[ModelcarJR]

Thanks, Mike, Carl, and Steve! I appreciate your comments! Steve, I only did the insert in matte aluminum BMF. The trim around the insert is chrome BMF.  I'm not sure what you mean by a seam. But I did cut the aluminum foil along the inside of the chrome trim before finishing with the chrome foil. 

Finished the engine. Somehow I managed to lose the fan belt. I remember I was thinning it down when I was interrupted one day. When I got back to the bench I pushed it aside and worked on something else. And it was never to be seen again! But I used one from a Revell Sedan kit and although it doesn't fit exactly, I made it work. I used a MAD pre-wired distributor and cut off the coil molded to the distributor in the kit and used it.  Thanks for looking! ?

[ModelcarJR]

Engine is in and the chassis is done. The transmission mounts didn't work for me. I thought I had them glued in the right place and I had the engine in place but the transmisson mounts held the transmission too high and the driveshaft wouldn't go through the tunnel. So I removed the mounts and used a piece of .015" strip plastic across the chassis mounts and glued to the bottom of the transmission (photo is a little blurry).  Other than that and the fact that each pin had to be trimmed and each receiving hole needed to be enlarged, it was an easy assembly! Thanks for looking! ?

[TransAmMike]

1 hour ago, ModelcarJR said:

Engine is in and the chassis is done. The transmission mounts didn't work for me. I thought I had them glued in the right place and I had the engine in place but the transmisson mounts held the transmission too high and the driveshaft wouldn't go through the tunnel. So I removed the mounts and used a piece of .015" strip plastic across the chassis mounts and glued to the bottom of the transmission (photo is a little blurry).  Other than that and the fact that each pin had to be trimmed and each receiving hole needed to be enlarged, it was an easy assembly! Thanks for looking! ?

Good idea there John on the transmission mount. Those little mounts are hard to get just right (at least for me)....and that was after it took me a long time to actually figure out exactly where they went?.   Continuing to look really good?

Edited December 5, 2021 by TransAmMike

[BlackSheep214]

How did I miss this one!?! Looking fantastic! I love the color choice too! Well done!

I may have to go the PE route for the grill. Looks really good! I need to get 2; one for the Bell Air and the other for the Nomad. 

[slusher]

Really great and clean work, John..

[ModelcarJR]

Interior is assembled and I also got the tires and wheel covers together.  I trimmed the seats with foil but had to run a bead of Elmers glue along the seat edge before applying the foil. I would have trimmed it a little thinner but am afraid I would just peel off the foil. The steering wheel is too high but there is nothing I can do about that. The tires are from an old Jo-Han 69 Plymouth GTX kit and the imprinted whitewalls are out of round on a couple of tires so I hope I can hide them on the rear. I don't like the wide whites so I went with these. Thanks for looking! ?

[espo]

Great looking interior. I think they were trying so hard to get the engine mounts like the 1:1 they ended up with a mounting that can give a builder brain damage trying to get it right.  

[ModelcarJR]

Thanks, David! I appreciate your comment! Yes, I agree on the transmission mounts. More time should have been spent on on parts fit! 

Body is mounted with a little bit of coaxing and its on wheels. I also got smart and attached the engine compartment heater hoses and steering box before installing the radiator and hoses.  Engine compartment is done. Its all over but the shouting! Thanks for looking! ?

[slusher]

Beautifully done engine and engine compartment and interior, John.  You have made fast progress on your build..

[deuces wild]

??

[ModelcarJR]

Thanks, Carl and Guido! I appreciate your comments! 

I've been painting while the weather is good so I haven't finished this 57 yet. I have made some progress on the front end. Couldn't get the left side the hood bar lined up with the extensions but I'll keep working on it.  I also painted the body for the 63 Nova station wagon that I picked up at Walmart the other day. I used my last can of Testors Nassau Blue Metallic.  Thanks for looking! ?

[adamelvis]

Nice color !!  Good build !

[slusher]

In the south you have to dodge the rain ☔️  and humidity.  Nice color for your wagon John..

[mustang1989]

Man alive this thing is looking good JR!!! Wow!!! 

[ModelcarJR]

Thanks, Adam, Carl, and Joe! I appreciate your comments! 

I've gotten the hood to close a little better. Probably didn't sand enough plastic off the sides of the hood. I'm thinking that I will build this one with the hinges and the hood in the up position for several reasons. Its only a matter of time before I chip some paint off the hood edges if I leave it in the down position. I haven't ever built any model that way and I have a separate case that I can use for display. I'll probably never be satisfied with the hood bar alignment and there is nothing I can do about it at this point. So up it is! 

I screwed up the paint on the trunk when I was adding the V and Chevrolet script so I took off the hardware, sanded it down and re-painted the lower trunk portion. Today, I will remount the hardware and see if I can mount the trunk in the up position. The rest of the rear end is in pretty good shape. 

Finally, I tried to paint another body.  Although I try not use Krylon on a body, from time to time I try to see if I can squeeze one out. So I painted a 64 Olds convertible with Krylon Gloss Bright Idea. Looked OK until I put Tamiya clear on it. They are both supposed to be lacquers but something is not compatible as I got some cracking and bubbling of the paint. I could sand it out but its on the sides in addition to this trunk lid, so into the purple pond it goes! I try again with some Tamiya paint. Thanks for looking! ?

[TransAmMike]

Well John, you are continuing to make great progress. You're nailing the details, very impressive?

[ewetwo]

It's going to be beautiful!

 

[ModelcarJR]

Thanks, Mike and David! I appreciate your comments! 

And another 57 Chevy is done! 

[bisc63]

I was loving this build based on your color choice alone (which is gorgeous on a '57) but your attention to detail and clean build really put it over the fence! VERY well done.

[David G.]

Beautiful work on this!

I was late to the party on this one but I enjoyed following your progress, thanks for taking the time to share it with us.

David G.

[ewetwo]

Beautiful!

[mustang1989]

Such a good build to follow. Looks 1:1.

[ModelcarJR]

Thanks, All! I appreciate your comments! ?

[deuces wild]

Sweeeeeet.....??