1957 Chevy Bel Air - Boyd Coddington "Chubster" almost

[ModelcarJR]

I've had this old kit in the closet since ERTL got out of the business. Its was marked down to $8.99 from $12.99 as Michaels was closing them out. I looked up Boyd Coddington's Chubster and realized that it was nothing like this kit. I thought I might as well try to make all the changes to the body that I could. So I chopped out the grill, cut up the hood bar and hood bar extensions, glued them onto the body and puttied them in. The hood bar is a little short on the right side but I'll have to live with it!  Next, I trimmed the rockets on the top side, turned them upside down, glued them in and puttied them up. Finally, I sanded off all the exterior trim on the body. 

Everything is red on the "Chubster" including the LS2 engine with air induction tunnels and the custom interior. I will not try to reproduce those areas. I found a low profile scoop and blower to mount on the 409 engine included in the kit.  the interior will be a standard red and black Bel Air interior and I may use the decals in the Revell snap kit for the black inserts in the interior. Not sure yet. But in the meantime, everything is painted except the engine which is next. Everything is in Dupli-Color Bright Red and the paint is looking good today. We're suppose to get storms tomorrow and Friday so I am trying to get everything painted today. Thanks for looking! ?

[OldNYJim]

Ohh cool, I like seeing some of the less obvious Coddington builds get built in scale.

I have the O’Reilly book that details the build of the 1:1 here, if that helps (and of course there’s the American Hot Rod episodes)

[KWT]

That red is pretty slick John. Good job so far

[slusher]

Great paint John!

[bobthehobbyguy]

Nice clean work so far and great paint.

[ModelcarJR]

Thanks, Jim, Jeremy, Carl and Bob! I appreciate your comments! 

Finished rubbing out the body and started on the first pieces of foil! Thanks for looking! ?

[OldNYJim]

Looks like you nailed that shine!  Nice work!!! ?

[ModelcarJR]

Thanks, Jim! I appreciate your comment! 

Finished the foil on this one and now I will see if the insert from the AMT Pro Shop kit will fit. It might be a little larger, maybe 1/24th scale, so it might be too big. But the Pro Shop body has engraved rear inserts so the PE pieces are not necessary for that kit and the PE pieces do not have the Bel Air scripts and Chevy badge so they would be perfect for this build.  Thanks for looking!  

[TransAmMike]

Looking good there John.  Right now, I'm doing the snapper '57 to replicate one my Dad had.  My 5th '57 Chevy build.

[espo]

Great looking paint work. I like the way you did the hood and the upper grill surround. What are you thinking for the grill itself? 

[slusher]

Beautiful paint and finish and foil!

[ModelcarJR]

Thanks, Mike, David and Carl! I appreciate your comments! David, the actual "Chubster" has a modified light bar with a Boyd Coddingtion signature plate in the middle. I won't be able to replicate that so I have a toothy grill with attached turn signals. I'll glue the turn signals to the grill and I think everything will fit. See below. The actual car doesn't have the bumperettes either but I don't have a bumper without them. 

I also finished the engine, chassis and interior so I could mock this up. I think everything will come out OK so this one should be done in the next day or two. The engine is the 409 block with the 283 manifold, fan belt and fan. I found a round plastic part which became an alternator. The carb and air cleaner are are from the parts box and I believe they came from a Plymouth Belvedere.  The interior is the standard black and red Bel Air interior. I removed the shifter on the steering column and added a turn signal lever. The steering wheel and floor shifter are from the parts box.  Here are some pics with a mock-up. Thanks for looking! ?

[Slotto]

Super clean build. Love the stance. Boyd would be proud

[H.A.K]

Looking good.

[NOBLNG]

Really nice work all around, but that paint and foil job is beautiful!?

[SpikeSchumacher]

Looking really good John!

[Zippi]

I'm diggin this one.  Nice work so far.

[KWT]

Man this is looking killer

[ModelcarJR]

Thanks, All! I appreciate your comments! Busy getting ready for a contest on Saturday. I don't know if I'll get this one done this week. Thanks for looking! ?

[ModelcarJR]

Well, it looks like I will get this one done in time for the contest this weekend. Its a mild custom so I can add one to that category. I didn't like the big wheels with rubber band tires in the previous post so I changed them out to regular size tires  from the 33 Ford that look like the American Racing wheels with spinners that I have on my 1:1 57 Chevy.  They look much better to me although they are not the same type wheels on the actual Chubster (which are regular size tires and wheels). I've also finished the front end. I only have to finish the rear and the fender inserts and this one will be done. Thanks for looking! ?

[cifenet]

This is looking very nicely in red!  Good job!

[ModelcarJR]

Thanks, Steve! I appreciate your comment! 

This one is done!  The rear fender inserts from the AMT Pro Shop kit are a bit smaller than this AMT body. So I used matte aluminum foil first as a background so there wouldn't be red along the border and then glued the insert in the middle so that the aluminum foil border is visible on both the top and bottom of the insert. I also had to shorten the insert about 1/16" with a scissors. Other than the mold lines in the poor bumper chrome, that I tried to remove and then use a chrome pen, it looks pretty good to me.  Here are a few photos. Thanks for looking! ?

[KWT]

John, that came out great!

[slusher]

Beautiful 57 Chevy, John!

[ModelcarJR]

Thanks, Jeremy and Carl! I appreciate your comments! I'm happy to report that this build came in 2nd in Houston IPMS, Customs and Low Riders. Unusual, since some of the Low Rider builders didn't show up.  Sometimes its better to be lucky than good! Thanks for looking! ?