AMT 1957 Thunderbird

[Duddly01]

10 hours ago, David G. said:

A lighted instrument panel? ? 

I can't wait to see that!

When I first saw the chassis plate I thought it looked familiar....

I just finished up my '57 Hardtop, I've been staring at that chassis for months!

David G. 

All of my builds have working gauge lights, headlights and taillights. Enclosed cars have a second circuit for interior lights. 
you can find my other build on the forum and some linked in my signature.  
 

This was my most recently completed build. 

 

[Duddly01]

I did get the engine parts assembled that will all be the same color after the chrome was stripped. Stripped the chrome from the wheel backs. Now why did they chrome so much of this kit?  Tested the stance with the existing chassis, just in case I decide to work with it. Also noticed I etched the top of the front of the doors wrong. There was nothing there in the body from the kit. Fixed that issue and drilled alignment/ pin holes for the future antenna and rear view mirror.

Taking some finished builds to the So Cal Open Model Car show tomomorrow, hope to see some of you there.

 

[Can-Con]

The kit was originally tooled up in the early/mid '60s, chroming the engine was "a thing" back then. A lot of those old kits have a chromed engine.

The wheel backs were chromed because the kit originally came with a set of chromed rings to use with the backs to form a pretty nice set of chromed reverse wheels for the custom version.

[Duddly01]

I picked up a AMT 1956 Thunderbird kit for real reasonable. It was an open kit but complete. The 1956 kit has a separate differential, exhaust and even the frame. The interior is nicely detailed and the body has minimal flash and nice panel gap depth. A 100% much better kit. Even if I used the frame the 1957 interior would be subpar. I even bought a resin hardtop, which looks to be a copy of the one that came in the 56 kit. I can’t bring myself to scrap it for the turd kit but I am considering casting some of the parts.

Edited May 6, 2024 by Duddly01

[Duddly01]

Started casting the clear UV resin taillights, they were on the chrome tree and certainly wouldn’t work with LEDs. Glued on the fender skirts and cut open the trunk lid. 

[David G.]

Along with the rest of the build I'm interested to see the lighting come together. I have a couple of kits that I'd like to build lighted and I hope to learn a few things.

David G.

[Duddly01]

3 hours ago, David G. said:

Along with the rest of the build I'm interested to see the lighting come together. I have a couple of kits that I'd like to build lighted and I hope to learn a few things.

David G.

I do show the process in my other builds in the WIP section. I will be creating the wiring harness soon for this one.

[Duddly01]

Created trunk lip, and fit. Created hinges for trunk and hood. Next on to the LED wiring harness.

[dino246gt]

The Revell '57 Ford is better for the chassis and parts than the AMT, I believe.

[Duddly01]

44 minutes ago, dino246gt said:

The Revell '57 Ford is better for the chassis and parts than the AMT, I believe.

The AMT 1956 thunderbird chassis is great. Separate floor, frame, exhaust and all suspension parts. I am actually looking forward to building that one at some point. I have decided to make the body, interior & engine look great and do the best I can with the chassis on this build. 

Edited May 9, 2024 by Duddly01

[David G.]

On 5/7/2024 at 8:41 AM, Duddly01 said:

I do show the process in my other builds in the WIP section. I will be creating the wiring harness soon for this one.

Thanks Donald, I'll have a look for those.

Nice hinge work too!

David G.

[Duddly01]

Removing the molded in engine wiring, etc. I will be making the details with real wire and scratch built detail parts. Created the LED wiring harness, trunk floor and gauge light enclosure. Also created the tire/ battery cover and wired the resin distributor. Sadly I am going to have to lay the spare down so it will fit in the trunk, it doesn’t vertical. The gauge light should be more of a warm white but the lights I have are too bright for a dash so I am going with a light orange that isn’t as bright.

[David G.]

Very cool!

David G.

[LennyB]

So are you saying the spare doesn’t fit vertically even if it extends down into the well in the floor? Of course you could always do a continental kit.   

[Duddly01]

3 hours ago, David G. said:

Very cool!

David G.

Thank.

3 hours ago, LennyB said:

So are you saying the spare doesn’t fit vertically even if it extends down into the well in the floor? Of course you could always do a continental kit.   

Yeah, and not by a little bit either. Also if I extend down much I wouldn’t be able to change the battery. I really don’t like the continental kit on the 57. They already messed up the proportions extending the back to fit it in the trunk. Oddly though I prefer the 56 that came with a continental kit.  

Edited May 12, 2024 by Duddly01

[Duddly01]

Received a photo-etch set and decided to remove the remaining emblems and door handles. Removed the grill and stripped the chrome from the bumpers. The front bumper did not fit well. I will be rechroming the bumpers and windshield.

[David G.]

Nice grille.

With these older kits, I find it's often better to just remove the chrome.

David G.

[Duddly01]

3 hours ago, David G. said:

Nice grille.

With these older kits, I find it's often better to just remove the chrome.

David G.

Totally agree, kit chrome always looks too toy like. Not to mention the mold lines and flash.

[Duddly01]

On the home stretch. Time for priming and filling before paint. Body has its second coat of grey primer after one sanding and smoothing session. Engine first to check for seams to fill, usually around trans.

[David G.]

Nice lay on the primer!

David G.

[Duddly01]

4 hours ago, David G. said:

Nice lay on the primer!

David G.

Thank you, just about done with body work and should be starting to lay down the base coats today.

[slusher]

Very nice work so far!

[Duddly01]

2 hours ago, slusher said:

Very nice work so far!

Thank you.

[Duddly01]

These are the paints I am using for the Thunderbird. I was able to get a first base coat on most parts, and a second color on the chassis and interior and top. The inside of the top is the light green. A long way to go still. the body will get 2K clear in a few days. 

 I did Re-chrome the bumpers and window frame. If anyone is curious it is revell Chrome, let sit 24 hours, the dipped twice 5 minutes apart in pledge to make it possible to touch.

[David G.]

Nice color choice, very "Fifties".

The chrome looks good too, especially for having a clear coat on it.

I'll have to try that with the chrome paint I use to see if it helps.

David G.