Duddly01 Posted May 4 Author Share Posted May 4 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duddly01 Posted May 4 Author Share Posted May 4 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Can-Con Posted May 5 Share Posted May 5 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. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duddly01 Posted May 6 Author Share Posted May 6 (edited) 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 by Duddly01 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duddly01 Posted May 7 Author Share Posted May 7 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. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David G. Posted May 7 Share Posted May 7 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. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duddly01 Posted May 7 Author Share Posted May 7 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duddly01 Posted May 9 Author Share Posted May 9 Created trunk lip, and fit. Created hinges for trunk and hood. Next on to the LED wiring harness. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dino246gt Posted May 9 Share Posted May 9 The Revell '57 Ford is better for the chassis and parts than the AMT, I believe. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duddly01 Posted May 9 Author Share Posted May 9 (edited) 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 by Duddly01 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David G. Posted May 9 Share Posted May 9 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duddly01 Posted May 12 Author Share Posted May 12 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. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David G. Posted May 12 Share Posted May 12 Very cool! David G. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LennyB Posted May 12 Share Posted May 12 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. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duddly01 Posted May 12 Author Share Posted May 12 (edited) 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 by Duddly01 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duddly01 Posted May 16 Author Share Posted May 16 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. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David G. Posted May 16 Share Posted May 16 Nice grille. With these older kits, I find it's often better to just remove the chrome. David G. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duddly01 Posted May 16 Author Share Posted May 16 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duddly01 Posted May 17 Author Share Posted May 17 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David G. Posted Saturday at 11:42 AM Share Posted Saturday at 11:42 AM Nice lay on the primer! David G. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duddly01 Posted Saturday at 04:03 PM Author Share Posted Saturday at 04:03 PM 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slusher Posted Sunday at 02:09 AM Share Posted Sunday at 02:09 AM Very nice work so far! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duddly01 Posted Sunday at 04:53 AM Author Share Posted Sunday at 04:53 AM 2 hours ago, slusher said: Very nice work so far! Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duddly01 Posted Sunday at 05:01 AM Author Share Posted Sunday at 05:01 AM 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. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David G. Posted Sunday at 12:41 PM Share Posted Sunday at 12:41 PM 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. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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