How would you repair this?

[redscampi]

I have this 62 Falcon that has suffered an unfortunate accident. It's otherwise pretty nice. I was thinking of just chopping it out a bit and splicing in a corner from a 60 Ranchero. What would you do?

[Mark]

That's pretty much what I would do.  I'd only piece in as much as is needed to make the repair, and use the Ranchero's windshield glass as well.  The door pillars are missing too; you'll have to make those.

[JollySipper]

It would look cool as some sort of speedster, I bet! '80s street machine street freak style.......

[Ace-Garageguy]

I've done multiple repairs similar to this. There are several ways.

I prefer to avoid sacrificing another model to do something like this, if at all possible.

The method I'd use to do this one involves "regularizing" the hole, then splicing in flat styrene stock that's thick enough in depth to entirely fill the gaps. The added stock would stand proud of the model surface both above the roof and under it. Then sculpt it to close-to-final shape. A little filler, a little sanding, a little primer, and she's new again.

Another method involves making molds from a similar vehicle, then forming thin fiberglass replacement parts in-place, with the mold(s) attached to the model body.

See below:

 

Edited December 12, 2023 by Ace-Garageguy

[redscampi]

2 hours ago, Mark said:

That's pretty much what I would do.  I'd only piece in as much as is needed to make the repair, and use the Ranchero's windshield glass as well.  The door pillars are missing too; you'll have to make those.

Thanks, Mark. This seems like the simplest solution. At least for me.
I could have sworn there was a hardtop Falcon. They should have made one. It looks “right “. Can’t find a picture anywhere though. I have a 61 with the  same B pillar issue. It shouldn’t be hard to build some. 

[redscampi]

2 hours ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

I've done multiple repairs similar to this. There are several ways.

I prefer to avoid sacrificing another model to do something like this, if at all possible.

The method I'd use to do this one involves "regularizing" the hole, then splicing in flat styrene stock that's thick enough in depth to entirely fill the gaps. The added stock would stand proud of the model surface both above the roof and under it. Then sculpt it to close-to-final shape. A little filler, a little sanding, a little primer, and she's new again.

Another method involves making molds from a similar vehicle, then forming thin fiberglass replacement parts in-place, with the mold(s) attached to the model body.

See below:

 

Bill, I am in awe of that appropriately named Phoenix. Hope to see it finished someday. 
I may try your layered styrene approach on this. Very tempted because even though they’re cheap and plentiful, the little Ranchero kits are cool and I’d hate to waste one.  I guess I can save that for a backup plan if I can’t manage to carve something acceptable. 

[redscampi]

2 hours ago, JollySipper said:

It would look cool as some sort of speedster, I bet! '80s street machine street freak style.......

I like the idea! I am really attracted to resto-rods that don’t mess too much with the original styling. Stance and rolling stock are the key elements. 

[ChrisBcritter]

A problem you may have here is that this is a Cycolac promo body rather than styrene, so regular glue may not hold - try using one of the stronger solvent glues (Tenax?).

If you do have access to a Ranchero body, you could use it to copy the missing area with two-part mold putty and resin.

[Mark]

7 hours ago, redscampi said:

Thanks, Mark. This seems like the simplest solution. At least for me.
I could have sworn there was a hardtop Falcon. They should have made one. It looks “right “. Can’t find a picture anywhere though. I have a 61 with the  same B pillar issue. It shouldn’t be hard to build some. 

There was a 1960 "hardtop" promo, with no pillars.  It's exceedingly rare (I don't think I've ever seen one, only a picture or two), and all are promos molded in warping/shrinking acetate plastic.  A couple of resin '63 hardtop bodies were made by different casters.

The "cut up a Ranchero" fix is probably the easiest way out.  Judging by the way the light is hitting the windshield on that promo, it's loaded with stress cracks and needs to be replaced.  Just a few weeks back, the last issue of that kit was available as a closeout item.  I myself have parted out a couple of them in the past, to get the glass for Modelhaus '62-'65 kits.  Those days are long gone, but I did turn up an unbuilt Ertl issue kit at a flea market, for a buck.  

[redscampi]

3 minutes ago, Mark said:

There was a 1960 "hardtop" promo, with no pillars.  It's exceedingly rare (I don't think I've ever seen one, only a picture or two), and all are promos molded in warping/shrinking acetate plastic.  A couple of resin '63 hardtop bodies were made by different casters.

The "cut up a Ranchero" fix is probably the easiest way out.  Judging by the way the light is hitting the windshield on that promo, it's loaded with stress cracks and needs to be replaced.  Just a few weeks back, the last issue of that kit was available as a closeout item.  I myself have parted out a couple of them in the past, to get the glass for Modelhaus '62-'65 kits.  Those days are long gone, but I did turn up an unbuilt Ertl issue kit at a flea market, for a buck.  

Yeah I think the 63 hardtop is what I was remembering without posts. The rear roof line is quite different. Thanks! 

There are definitely stress cracks in the glass. I do have two or three coke Rancheros to use so front glass is covered. My 61 Falcon glass has the same issue as this to a lesser extent. I also have a red 62 that the entire roof is gone from so it will become a convertible. May be time for a few more Walmart Ranchero donors.

Finding any kit for a buck is a good day. Finding one you really want is a great day!

[bobss396]

I would attempt to make a mirror-image replica from styrene using the good side as reference. Over size, then whack the bad one off at a 45 degree angle, cut the new piece to fit. I would make the inner structure first so that the glass has a nest to fall into.

[redscampi]

39 minutes ago, bobss396 said:

I would attempt to make a mirror-image replica from styrene using the good side as reference. Over size, then whack the bad one off at a 45 degree angle, cut the new piece to fit. I would make the inner structure first so that the glass has a nest to fall into.

Sounds workable but this may be beyond my skill set. I'd probably end up with something looking like Chubbs's hand in Happy Gilmore.

[NOBLNG]

I like the gluing in a chunk of styrene.The only other way I can think of would be to use an epoxy putty like Milliput. I would drill some small holes in the broken edges…something for the putty to key into. Or better yet, glue some short pins into the holes. The putty could be sculpted very close to the finished contours, with just a bit of finish sanding required. Just another option.?‍♂️

Edited December 12, 2023 by NOBLNG

[Lunajammer]

On 12/11/2023 at 9:21 PM, redscampi said:

the little Ranchero kits are cool and I’d hate to waste one.

There are plentiful wasted ones already. Put a post in the Wanted section and you could probably land a cut up glue bomb body for a meager trade.

[Ace-Garageguy]

11 hours ago, Lunajammer said:

There are plentiful wasted ones already. Put a post in the Wanted section and you could probably land a cut up glue bomb body for a meager trade.

That's a good point, but lately lotsa folks have seemed to succumb to the RARE!!! rebleating-fever when listing hacked up messes on the 'bay, trying to get real money for trash that's only of ANY value for something like this.

[Matt Bacon]

I’m with @NOBLNG. A few pins drilled into the edges to provide anchors, and then white Milliput squished out more or less flat. Damp finger to smooth it roughly, let it dry leather hard and sculpt in the gutters and windscreen trim with a sharp knife, and sand to final shape and blend after 24 hours when it’s cured hard…

best,

M.

[Chariots of Fire]

You didn't say if you have the missing piece or not.  If you do I'd suggest gluing it back in and then just cleaning up the edges.

'

[redscampi]

1 hour ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

That's a good point, but lately lotsa folks have seemed to succumb to the RARE!!! rebleating-fever when listing hacked up messes on the 'bay, trying to get real money for trash that's only of ANY value for something like this.

Man, ain't it the truth! Built up glue bombs should be CHEAP!

[redscampi]

1 hour ago, Chariots of Fire said:

You didn't say if you have the missing piece or not.  If you do I'd suggest gluing it back in and then just cleaning up the edges.

'

Yeah, that would have been ideal, but no, I don't have it.

[oldcarfan]

The Ranchero idea is probably the easiest, but I hate to waste a body! LOL I bought an 84 Camaro promo one time and the guy threw in a second for nothing because it had similar damage to your Falcon. I bought some two part silicone mold putty from Hobby Lobby and made a press mold from the good kit, then used some casting resin also from HL and a little piece of fiberglass to make a replacement part. I stuck it together with super glue and kicker and a piece of wire to add extra strength.

[Chariots of Fire]

8 hours ago, redscampi said:

Yeah, that would have been ideal, but no, I don't have it.

In that case I think it would be easy enough to cut a piece of plastic that would fit the opening and glue it in.  You can build up the A post and trim with some strip stock and then with some putty clean up the seams.  It seems a shame to ruin another model kit just for such a small area.

[redscampi]

On 12/13/2023 at 8:11 PM, Chariots of Fire said:

In that case I think it would be easy enough to cut a piece of plastic that would fit the opening and glue it in.  You can build up the A post and trim with some strip stock and then with some putty clean up the seams.  It seems a shame to ruin another model kit just for such a small area.

Yep, and this is what I'm doing. Although I'm using thin sheets of plastic so I can add some shape, then sandwiching new layers on. Probably 4 layers or so and some body filler. After that I can see about restoring the drip rail and trim.

[redscampi]

On 12/13/2023 at 6:18 PM, oldcarfan said:

The Ranchero idea is probably the easiest, but I hate to waste a body! LOL I bought an 84 Camaro promo one time and the guy threw in a second for nothing because it had similar damage to your Falcon. I bought some two part silicone mold putty from Hobby Lobby and made a press mold from the good kit, then used some casting resin also from HL and a little piece of fiberglass to make a replacement part. I stuck it together with super glue and kicker and a piece of wire to add extra strength.

The lengths we will sometimes go to to save a kit is a bit crazy. But it feels great to successfully repair something like this.

[redscampi]

Here's an interesting aside - at least to me. I began disassembly of this car for repair. After removing the interior I was greeted by this. There are unused headlights still attached to the window frame. Score!

[Mark]

The headlamps were put there for the kits, which used clear lenses for the custom grille.  In the case of the Falcon, I'm not sure the '62 kit used them.  But the '60 and '61 did.