AMT 1967 Impala custom bodywork

[Plasticated Guy]

Hello, all. I've been doing some bodywork on this car and I decided to shave  some of the trim along the lower section as well as the emblems on the trunk lid and fenders. The problem is that when I was sanding off one of the fender emblems I might have flubbed up the upper character line. It doesn't seem like I can reshape it and I don't want to get another model. I'm thinking of smoothing out this line. Has anyone else have this happen or seen it either in scale or on full-size cars? I've looked for pictures but no luck. Every Impala with custom bodywork I've seen has had that character line

[customline]

1 minute ago, Plasticated Guy said:

Hello, all. I've been doing some bodywork on this car and I decided to shave  some of the trim along the lower section as well as the emblems on the trunk lid and fenders. The problem is that when I was sanding off one of the fender emblems I might have flubbed up the upper character line. It doesn't seem like I can reshape it and I don't want to get another model. I'm thinking of smoothing out this line. Has anyone else have this happen or seen it either in scale or on full-size cars? I've looked for pictures but no luck. Every Impala with custom bodywork I've seen has had that character line

Is this the rear quarter, top ridge you smoothed out too much?

[Plasticated Guy]

No. This was where the 427 emblems were molded on the front fenders. The top peaks are fine. It was the belt line.

[Mark]

If you took it off, you can put it back on (except for emblem or script detail).  

I've applied putty over the damaged crease area, then sanded on each side of the crease to bring it back.  Doesn't work first time, keep trying until you get it.

[customline]

1 hour ago, Plasticated Guy said:

No. This was where the 427 emblems were molded on the front fenders. The top peaks are fine. It was the belt line.

Are you familiar with Bondo professional glazing putty(the 2 part type) ? It's excellent for this sort of thing. I have fixed some pretty terrible things I've done with it

Edited May 22, 2022 by customline
Additional info

[Oldcarfan27]

I suggest laying a piece of tape along the line you want to recreate, then build up a thin layer of putty next to it. Sand the area with 150 grit sandpaper while the tape is in place. Following that, remove the tape and lay a new piece on the same line over the area you just built-up, then putty the opposite side and sand. This will build a ridge that can be used to recreate the crease that was previously lost.

A line of tape can also be used to protect a styling line when you have to sand off trim that is close to it. Use the tape as a shield to keep the sanding from obliterating it.

[customline]

If I may, I would suggest the use of sanding blocks, sized for the job. I mentioned using Bondo glazing putty and, if you decide to use this, you would use 220 grit for prepping the styrene  and most of the shaping operation, as directed in the Bondo instructions.  Adding layers, you want a proper surface for each new layer to grip. After contour is achieved,  finish up with 400 or 600.  I use the Bondo because it is fast and it does not shrink. It is ready to sand in 10 minutes if properly mixed. My patience is thin these days so it works well for me. I use it for all filler jobs and any irregularities found after priming can be cleaned up with Mr Surfacer. A job like this can be completed in an hour or less, depending on how fussy you are. Use your sense of feel as well as light and shadow to tell you when you have it right. Sight it from many angles. I will use a small flash light shining it across the surface at low angles. Watch the shadows, they tell you everything. 

[Plasticated Guy]

Thanks much for the info. I also found this. 

https://www.admcars.com/1967-chevrolet-impala-dark-blue-ss-396-4-speed-c-835.htm

I don't know if it was how the car was looking or if the photographer was trying different angles, but it doesn't look like there is any  belt line. If the techniques described above don't work out in my favor, I'll probably go this route. 

[customline]

The line is subtle, not a sharp crease but it does show up when the light is above or below on a low angle.  Maybe you're OK without having to do much of anything ?

[customline]

If your defect is minor, maybe a little care with some 400 on a small block will do the trick.

[Can-Con]

10 hours ago, Oldcarfan27 said:

I suggest laying a piece of tape along the line you want to recreate, then build up a thin layer of putty next to it. Sand the area with 150 grit sandpaper while the tape is in place. Following that, remove the tape and lay a new piece on the same line over the area you just built-up, then putty the opposite side and sand. This will build a ridge that can be used to recreate the crease that was previously lost.

A line of tape can also be used to protect a styling line when you have to sand off trim that is close to it. Use the tape as a shield to keep the sanding from obliterating it.

That's exactly hoe I did this '74 Impala. This line is very rounded on the '74 to '76 bodies compared the the '71 to '73 bodies which are correct. Sometimes I use 2 layers of masking tape to make sure I have the area built up high enough. 

[Plasticated Guy]

Jim, it was pretty minor but sometimes your mind grinds to a halt when you find out when it happens and you're not sure why. LOL.

Anyway, I used some 100 grit sandpaper along with Patrick's suggestion of using tape and I was able to reshape the line. Thanks much again to all who replied with their ideas and I will use them on future builds. 

[customline]

33 minutes ago, Plasticated Guy said:

Jim, it was pretty minor but sometimes your mind grinds to a halt when you find out when it happens and you're not sure why. LOL.

Anyway, I used some 100 grit sandpaper along with Patrick's suggestion of using tape and I was able to reshape the line. Thanks much again to all who replied with their ideas and I will use them on future builds. 

Glad it worked out. I had a '67 Impala back in the day. Always loved that body style for the kicked-up rear quarter and the fast roof. Beautifully aggressive styling.