Claude Thibodeau Posted January 31, 2023 Posted January 31, 2023 HI! The 60's saw the peak of Bill Mitchell and Wayne Kady "blade design" in the 66 Riviera, 66 Toronado and, of course, Caddy Eldorado. The term came from those long, sharp and pointy flanks, projecting fore and aft, grafted to wonderfully sculpted central section. Long, low and wide was the mantra! Of those, the 66 Riviera struck me as the most nuanced and balanced. But it doesn't mean you can't go extreme about it... So: two AMT 66 Rivs, sliced mid-flanks, sectionned, with upper sides mirrored at the bottom, totally enclosed wheels, with a opened roof, flush-fit taillight, injected nailhead engine, and totally scratchbuilt interior, but for the dash. Of course, lotsa planning went into making it fit, and with a ground-scraping stance. Tamya's Champagne Gold and AK's Off-white interior. Fully polished. Hours of fun with styrene! CT 20
Just Jim Posted January 31, 2023 Posted January 31, 2023 A beautiful piece of rolling art. The creativity and vision of folks like you inspire me towards greater challenges. Thanks for sharing!
espo Posted January 31, 2023 Posted January 31, 2023 Major plastic surgery so smoothly done you wouldn't know that that isn't the way Buick designed it. Like the way the open roof shows the interior that is also done so well. Takes a while to look at all the details on the interior, but the more you look the more you see. The chassis and looks great compared to what this kit provides in that area.
JessicaMartin Posted January 31, 2023 Posted January 31, 2023 referring to a plastic surgery procedure on a vehicle (likely a car) that was performed so well that the modifications are not noticeable and appear to be part of the original design by the manufacturer. The open roof allows for a clear view of the interior, which is also well done, with many details to admire. The chassis of the vehicle is also improved, and the kit used for the procedure has significantly improved its appearance.
Roger U Posted January 31, 2023 Posted January 31, 2023 Very creative and interesting. That is a beautiful model.
happy grumpy Posted January 31, 2023 Posted January 31, 2023 I am always amazed by your keen eye to design custom cars. You definitely have talent to imagine a concept and execute it with great craftsmanship. This one is no exception. It could easily pass for a concept car Buick came up in the 60's. I love it.
Claude Thibodeau Posted January 31, 2023 Author Posted January 31, 2023 1 hour ago, Just Jim said: A beautiful piece of rolling art. The creativity and vision of folks like you inspire me towards greater challenges. Thanks for sharing! Hi Jim! Thank you, and b all means, go on with your modeling passion! CT
Paul Payne Posted January 31, 2023 Posted January 31, 2023 Superb! Magnificent! Love in particular the cantilevered seats! This one will be providing me with ideas for years to come!
Claude Thibodeau Posted January 31, 2023 Author Posted January 31, 2023 3 hours ago, espo said: Major plastic surgery so smoothly done you wouldn't know that that isn't the way Buick designed it. Like the way the open roof shows the interior that is also done so well. Takes a while to look at all the details on the interior, but the more you look the more you see. The chassis and looks great compared to what this kit provides in that area. Hi David! Thanks for the compliments. To your point: this kit is the "newer version", which is immensely superior to the original "yearly kit" that was offered when the car came out, in the 60's. Having built that one back then, I can appreciate the quality of the current offering. Made my job easier, since the frame and floorpan are separete items. CT
Kah puts Posted January 31, 2023 Posted January 31, 2023 That thing looks like a flippin space ship ? I know these projects don't build themselves so kudos to you ?
tim boyd Posted January 31, 2023 Posted January 31, 2023 I just so admire the imagination on display here and that Claude has the modeling skills to deliver the vision in 3D reality. Way to go! TB
cobraman Posted January 31, 2023 Posted January 31, 2023 Wow ! I was not expecting anything like that ! Beautiful ! The House of Claude strikes again !
Claude Thibodeau Posted January 31, 2023 Author Posted January 31, 2023 5 hours ago, JessicaMartin said: referring to a plastic surgery procedure on a vehicle (likely a car) that was performed so well that the modifications are not noticeable and appear to be part of the original design by the manufacturer. The open roof allows for a clear view of the interior, which is also well done, with many details to admire. The chassis of the vehicle is also improved, and the kit used for the procedure has significantly improved its appearance. Hi Jessica! Thank you for the comments. I never tought of the analogy with plastic surgery, but I'm flattered. The famous Chip Foose once said that success in customizing is when the onlooker senses that something has been done, but can't just nail it at first glance. Well, with that matrix, I think I went overboard! LOL. CT
Phildaupho Posted February 1, 2023 Posted February 1, 2023 WOW seems to be a popular response and I agree.
jaymcminn Posted February 1, 2023 Posted February 1, 2023 Creativity, taste and workmanship all rolled into one package. Sublime!
Spex84 Posted February 1, 2023 Posted February 1, 2023 Dang, that's cool. I like the opened roof! The flowing C pillars look really good with that treatment.
papajohn97 Posted February 1, 2023 Posted February 1, 2023 (edited) What a fascinating creation Claude! This beautifully concept model cause the following thoughts for me: 1) if Bill Mitchell had commissioned his design crew to build him a lead sled to cruise the Dairy Queen’s of suburban Detroit in the evenings when he wasn’t out street racing his Mako Shark, this would be the car, 2) I love the open roof but my mind kept filling it in with a smoked glass roof - did you happen to consider this option when you were building this Riviera ? 3) This model made me flashback on a distant childhood memory, the “Fisher Body Craftsman Guild” car styling competitions when school age kids (mostly boys if I recall) were encouraged to submit a 1/12 scale clay model of a futuristic design for a crack at a GM scholarship to become an auto stylist. Anyone else remember those presentations at high school assemblies???? Another fantastic model Claude! You are one of the most artistic creative model builders posting on this forum. Bravo! Edited February 1, 2023 by papajohn97 Grammer
H.A.K Posted February 1, 2023 Posted February 1, 2023 Thats real nice. Love all of it. I hope he only has to go straight.
Zippi Posted February 1, 2023 Posted February 1, 2023 Long, lean, & mean is what I'm seeing in this fine looking Buick. Killer looking custom and that Tamya Champagne Gold looks nice. Nice touch with the seat supports.
David G. Posted February 1, 2023 Posted February 1, 2023 Holy Cow, that's wild! A tremendous amount of work, all of it exceedingly well done! It makes me think of a vehicle built for a science fiction movie sometime in the Seventies. David G.
NOBLNG Posted February 1, 2023 Posted February 1, 2023 As others have said, that is a work of art! I can’t imagine the hours that went into creating it. Well done Claude!?
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