ModelcarJR Posted August 30, 2023 Share Posted August 30, 2023 (edited) I bought the latest iteration of this kit the other day. I also have a California Wheels edition of this kit that is unsealed. So I thought it would be better to use it and stick the new one in the closet since it is still sealed. The only difference is that the new kit has a few more parts, notably, the stock wheels and tires, etc. I have built the California wheels version before and I have plenty of stock tires and wheels that I can use, if I should chose to do it. I may use the 20" wheels on this one. The last one I built was right about the same time as the Testors One Coat came out so I used Blazing Black and Diamond Dust for the tw o-tone exterior with a gray and black interior. It was box stock but was a hit at one contest where it took a 1st place in Street Machine. So its time to get started! Thanks for looking! 😎 Edited August 31, 2023 by ModelcarJR Copy text 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DumpyDan Posted August 30, 2023 Share Posted August 30, 2023 (edited) Very Nice. But before anyone else points this out change the year from 1956 not 1957 Edited August 30, 2023 by DumpyDan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ModelcarJR Posted August 30, 2023 Author Share Posted August 30, 2023 Thanks, Dan! I usually double-check for spelling and other errors but I must have had a brain fart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zippi Posted August 30, 2023 Share Posted August 30, 2023 That will be a Great looking build with the 20" wheels & tires. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slusher Posted August 31, 2023 Share Posted August 31, 2023 Sweet 56, John! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rattlecan Dan Posted August 31, 2023 Share Posted August 31, 2023 Nice. Looks great already, I'm sure the wheels will make it even cooler. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ModelcarJR Posted August 31, 2023 Author Share Posted August 31, 2023 Thanks, All! I appreciate your comments! I prepared the body including filling a small sink mark in the front right fender and removed the mold lines around the headlights and finally I also found one on the back of the trunk. I decided to paint this one Black and Crocus Yellow. But I don't have any Crocus Yellow. I remembered that I had an old bottle of Yellow Gold, a Dodge color from MCW. A few weeks ago I also picked up a bottle of nail lacquer that I had seen marked down when I bought my Q-tips at Sally's. It was a light green in color and I thought about using it as is, and still might but I thought I could mix it with the Yellow Gold and get a Crocus Yellow. So I painted the black first with Dupli-Color Universal Black and then painted the Crocus Yellow mixture with my air brush. I hadn't used it in two years or so and was concerned that it would even work. But I was pleasantly surprised that it worked like a charm and air brushing was just like riding a bike. You never forget. One coat of clear during each painting session and now I will rub out tomorrow and give the whole thing another coat of clear. Thanks for looking! 😎 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slusher Posted September 1, 2023 Share Posted September 1, 2023 Looks a lot better than I thought. Looks very period correct.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOBLNG Posted September 1, 2023 Share Posted September 1, 2023 Looking good!👍 A bit of foil should really make that pop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zippi Posted September 1, 2023 Share Posted September 1, 2023 Like Greg said, the chrome trim work will bring it all together. Nice looking so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewetwo Posted September 1, 2023 Share Posted September 1, 2023 What kind of tape is that? Looks like masking tape. When I've used masking tape it either removes paint when I take it off or I leaves a smudge look in the paint. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ModelcarJR Posted September 1, 2023 Author Share Posted September 1, 2023 (edited) Thanks, Carl, Greg, Bob, and David! David, that is regular old masking tape. I also use Tamiya tape close to edges to avoid paint bleeding but I use masking tape on wide areas. On primer I don't have any issues usually, but on gloss surfaces I use index cards secured by tape to avoid tape issues on the paint. Well, I got everything rubbed out this morning and decided to add another coat of clear. I knew I would have to rub it out again but it would give my a good shine. When I added the clear for some reason the left side really orange-peeled on me. I guess I got too much on the left side but I normally give both sides, top and trunk two passes one forward and one back. Anyway the other side, top and trunk came out fine. After it dried for a few hours I started sanding out the left side with 400 sandpaper, wet. Unfortunately, I rubbed through the paint. Not willing to give up on it, I thought I could paint the left side with the very little paint I had mixed up. I decided to use the cup that is with the air brush and the paint I had left barely was half of the cup. I managed to get it on the left side. I followed with two thin coats of clear for a spray can. Success! Tomorrow, I rub the entire body out once again, hopefully, for the last time. I also managed to tape off and paint two pieces of the interior. I had previously painted the inserts with the same yellow and now I just have to tape off and paint the black. Thanks for looking! 😎 Edited September 3, 2023 by ModelcarJR grammar 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ModelcarJR Posted September 2, 2023 Author Share Posted September 2, 2023 (edited) I finally got this paint job straightened out and have one side foiled! I'll finish the foil including the interior and then I'll be ready to roll on through the assembly. I probably won't wire the engine since if it is done right it will be hard to see anyway. I have Chevrolet PE scripts for the rear fender but that will be about it for additional detail other than what is in the box. Thanks for looking! 😎 Edited September 2, 2023 by ModelcarJR Copy text 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slusher Posted September 3, 2023 Share Posted September 3, 2023 Looks great John! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slusher Posted September 3, 2023 Share Posted September 3, 2023 On 9/1/2023 at 3:16 PM, ewetwo said: What kind of tape is that? Looks like masking tape. When I've used masking tape it either removes paint when I take it off or I leaves a smudge look in the paint. David, I put masking tape on my shirt before putting it on the model. I use Tamiya on the edges so I don’t get bleed thru. I use masking tape in large areas and I get some paper from a local body shop. They give me some goes a long way.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewetwo Posted September 3, 2023 Share Posted September 3, 2023 Thank you Carl. My cousins husband runs a body shop. I’ll ask him for some. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ModelcarJR Posted September 3, 2023 Author Share Posted September 3, 2023 Thanks, Carl and David! I appreciate your comments! Finished the foil on the body and finished painting the interior with one door foiled. Once I foil the other door panel I'll get busy with assembly. Thanks for looking! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ModelcarJR Posted September 5, 2023 Author Share Posted September 5, 2023 The interior is done. Nothing special. Two-tone with foil and chrome pen. Kit decals. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
customsrus Posted September 5, 2023 Share Posted September 5, 2023 Looking good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewetwo Posted September 5, 2023 Share Posted September 5, 2023 Nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slusher Posted September 5, 2023 Share Posted September 5, 2023 Super nice foil work and interior detailing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zippi Posted September 5, 2023 Share Posted September 5, 2023 Looking pretty sharp John. That chrome trim came out nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Hay Posted September 5, 2023 Share Posted September 5, 2023 Nice, that's close to an original 56 color, my dad had one two tone black and that "green-yellow". I always liked it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
customline Posted September 5, 2023 Share Posted September 5, 2023 Yeah, man, I like it a lot. Really nice interior, too. The black compliments that shade of yellow really well. It totally works, TJ. I need to get back to mine 😔. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ModelcarJR Posted September 7, 2023 Author Share Posted September 7, 2023 Thanks, All! I appreciate your comments! Before starting this build, I watched the HPIGuys video on the Model Roundup website. Some of the things they do, like using Rustoleum paint is a little surprising to me, but I did pick up a couple of things for this build. I assembled the front suspension before painting and painted the whole assembly and chassis at the same time. They also did this for the rear suspension and then cut the tailpipes at the loop under the axle and mounted the tailpipes in two pieces and the cut pipes met with a little glue under the axle so that it wasn't visible. I didn't do that, but I did assemble the rear suspension on the chassis, gluing everything together, except for the spring mounts and shock mounts to the chassis. When the assembled rear suspension glue had dried, I removed it and painted it as one piece. It fit into place beautifully once everything was painted and the tailpipes were in place. I also chose not to use the split spoke wheels that are in the kit and found some suitable replacements in the parts box. Looks like they have a Pontiac logo in the centers so i guess they came from a Pontiac kit. I would prefer a rounded spoke, but this is as close I could find in the parts box. I gave the chrome wheels a coat of Dullcote and then brushed with some blackwash when dry to get the aluminum look. So after having to adapt these wheel hubs to the lowered alternate chassis suspensions, I got the chassis together. I also ran into another problem of my own making in getting the interior into the body and body on the frame. While gluing the interior into the body, My glue stem fell out of my superglue and right onto the rear glass. In my panic I tried to wipe it off but that just created a bigger mess. Instead of sanding for hours to try to get the clear plastic repaired, I found another back glass in my clear parts box and used it although it didn't fit perfectly and I used some black paint to emulate the rubber around the glass and fill the slight gap at the top of the window. Once everything is together it is barely noticeable. So now its on wheels! Here's a few photos. Thanks for looking! 😎 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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