1960 Chevy Impala

[ModelcarJR]

Thanks, Jim! I appreciate your comment! I should get back to it tomorrow. I've been busy painting all the many parts for the 2021 Charger because its gonna be rainy and cold all week! ?

[Rattlecan Dan]

This thing is gonna' be beautiful. Lovin' everything you've done so far. Did a great job on the chrome and paint. The interior is a trip!

[ModelcarJR]

Thanks, Dan! I appreciate your comment! 

Finished the interior today. The dash was pretty straightforward. I wish they had included a decal for the steering wheel center but I added a crossed flags decal that I cut from another decal in the stash. You can hardly see it but you see something is there. In addition to the door trim and the decals for the seats, I de-chromed the rear seat radio speaker grill and painted it red.  Then I added some foil to make it look more like the speaker grills I have seen in photos on the internet. The wire sticking up is the coil wire from the coil on the firewall. Thanks for looking! ?

[slusher]

Real nice engine detail, your door panels ar beautiful, John!

[Slotto]

Super clean work. Love the details 

[ModelcarJR]

Thanks, Carl and Steve! I appreciate your comments! 

Got the windows in and it was time to mount the body and interior onto the frame. For some reason, this one needed a little more persuasion than normal. Maybe I could have mounted the dash a little lower but it lined up  with the door panels really well. The firewall mounts on the interior so there is no way to shorten anything there. Its done now and I guess I'll always have to do it the hard way! Thanks for looking! ?

[ModelcarJR]

I have a horror story to tell from Halloween! While the little cretons were knocking on the door, i noticed that the back window had fallen down on this build that I had been working on all day. Maybe it was the pressure on front and back from the C-clamps that just buckled it out.  No problem even though I had to install it while the interior was in, I thought I could do it. So I took the window out to clean it up and get the glue off. While cleaning the window broke right across the middle in two pieces! So that was it for the night. Maybe I could sleep on it and think of something to fix it.

So the next day I remembered that I had built this one before and maybe I could steal the rear window from it.  I built it years ago and it probably wasn't very good. So I found it in one of the first 5 scrapbooking cases that I keep built models in. I pulled it out, dusted it off and noticed that it probably looked as good as the one I am currently building! As a matter of fact, it probably looks better than the one I am building! So my next thought was to cut a piece of clear acetate and try that. I did, but the curvature of the rear window really won't work with the clear acetate. What next?

I thought I had a 59 in the closet and I could steal the back window from that kit, even though I would like to build it again. So I dug through the closet and look what I found! Another 1960 Chevy Impala! 

So I decided since I have a good rear window, I should take this one apart, clean it up, and install the rear window in right and tight. It was a battle, but I got it apart and cleaned all the glue edges up. I had to re-do some of the chrome trim and polish the paint again. 

 

One more time through the clamps and it on wheels again!  Hopefully, just hardware and decals to finish! 

[Kah puts]

It’s always something, that extra fiddling paid off ?

[David G.]

On 10/31/2023 at 3:15 PM, ModelcarJR said:

Thanks, Carl and Steve! I appreciate your comments! 

Got the windows in and it was time to mount the body and interior onto the frame. For some reason, this one needed a little more persuasion than normal. Maybe I could have mounted the dash a little lower but it lined up  with the door panels really well. The firewall mounts on the interior so there is no way to shorten anything there. Its done now and I guess I'll always have to do it the hard way! Thanks for looking! ?

 

Hi John.

Fabulous work so far, I've enjoyed watching this build come together.

The problem you had with mating the body to the chassis looks similar to the one I experienced when I built my 1960 Impala.

 

 

That slot in the front of the door card is supposed to receive the windshield glass. Unfortunately due to the age and wear of the molds, the windshield glass had become way too thick to fit. 

My solution was to cut out the slot in the door card and some of the dashboard to accommodate the overly thick glass.

Thanks again John for taking the time to share your build with us. I've really been enjoying following along.

David G.

Edited November 2, 2023 by David G.
typo

[Slotto]

Glad things worked out for you John. She looks great! 2 steps forward, 3 steps back. I know that dance all too well.

[TransAmMike]

Yer killing it John. Everything you have done is first class. Finished product will look great! 

[ModelcarJR]

Thanks, Glen, David, Steve and Mike! I appreciate your comments! David, I was sure there was a more engineering-type solution to this issue but not having that skill, I resort to clamps. 

While I am working on the taillights, etc. I have taped off the top of the front fender to re-paint. It wasn't caused by the clamps but by a spot of superglue that I apparently had on my finger while holding it together while putting the clamp on. I thought I could sand and rub it out but that was not to be. Although it is hard to see, I can see it clearly, so I am going to re-paint the top of the fender  as soon as the weather and humidity permit.  Thanks for looking. ?

Edited November 2, 2023 by ModelcarJR
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[Rattlecan Dan]

Whew! Looks like you're winning. Good work on a stubborn build.

[papajohn97]

3 hours ago, ModelcarJR said:

a spot of superglue that I apparently had on my finger while holding it together

I’ve been there more than once or twice, CA can be a real hand grenade when you accidentally get it on your fingers without being aware of it. Look’s like you’re recovering nicely.

Really love the black over red color combo on your Impala and your interior came out so cool. These ‘59 -‘60 Monogram-Revell Impalas are among my favorite auto kits, they are such a great canvas for paint, detailing, foiling. The styling also still looks as futuristic as it did when I first saw these cars on the street as a kid. Great job John!

Edited November 2, 2023 by papajohn97
Correction

[David G.]

That superglue can be a sneaky trouble causer.

It looks like you've got a handle on working it out though.

David G.

[slusher]

Glad to see that your staying with it John, I hope you don’t have anything els happen..

[ModelcarJR]

Thanks, Donato, John, David, and Carl! I appreciate your comments! 

This one is done, except for the heater hoses. The kit piece wouldn't work so I already had drilled holes in the block so I can add the aftermarket Pro Tech hoses tomorrow. I am warn out now after doing all the detailing all day. I wanted to use the red decal in the strip on the side but the decal wouldn't cooperate and the red acrylic paint I am using didn't look good and wasn't very forgiving. So I opted for the white decal but first painted around the Impala script and then added the decal from that point. I also added the antennas on the rear but the chrome on the kit pieces was so bad I cut off the stem, drilled out the base with a tiny drill bit, and inserted Jewelry Shoppe pins cut down to about 3/4" each. Oh, earlier I lost one of the backup lights to the carpet monster (before I realized I had another kit) so while searching for a replacement, I found some clear round thingys attached to a clear part and I cut them down and used them. And I didn't add the black on the emblets up front - enough black already!   Here are a few photos! Thanks for looking! ?

[Roadrunner]

Looks real good to me.

[KWT]

Man this came out sweet!