customline Posted June 29, 2024 Author Posted June 29, 2024 3 hours ago, LennyB said: Had to build the real one first. Well, Len, I suppose doing that will occupy a lot of your time. Got pix?
customline Posted June 30, 2024 Author Posted June 30, 2024 I tried. I really did. Till 2 AM. No dice. Ordered a resin top from Spotlight. Nuff said. After a number of attempts at painting the white band on the wheel covers, I just said "that will have to do". The black around the outside was much easier. Mostly for black-out work I like to use enamel thinned with reducer and after it dries, clean-up with the same. I don't like water-based paints for some jobs and this is one of them. I couldn't get the white craft paint thin enough. It would not "run around" like thinned enamel. But I was a thick-head and should have quit that and used enamel but no....nope.? That trusty Y-block now resides in its final resting place, held fast with 5 minute epoxy. The wheels are a done deal also. I located front and back in the lowering holes that I created myself with no help from AMT. I have not settled on a color scheme but I may use the MCW lacquer I bought for the Tasca Thunderbolt. "Vintage Burgundy" with a white roof. Same thing on the inside. That or Tamiya white pearl with a red/white interior. I dunno.?. As usual, your thoughts are needed and wanted ? 1
NOBLNG Posted June 30, 2024 Posted June 30, 2024 I think the burgundy and white would look nice Jim. JMO.?
customline Posted June 30, 2024 Author Posted June 30, 2024 Thank you, Greg, your opinions are highly valued ?. I'm a sucker for that shade of red. It may be a result of frequent and excessive partaking of inexpensive red wine.? I think the burgundy would look nice on the little 'Bird. (Maybe a gold roof ? ?)
NOBLNG Posted June 30, 2024 Posted June 30, 2024 7 hours ago, customline said: Thank you, Greg, your opinions are highly valued ?. I'm a sucker for that shade of red. It may be a result of frequent and excessive partaking of inexpensive red wine.? I think the burgundy would look nice on the little 'Bird. (Maybe a gold roof ? ?) I think white or black would look better than gold? Or maybe even grey. You’ve seen my ‘56…that was just grey primer with a gloss clear coat.?
customline Posted June 30, 2024 Author Posted June 30, 2024 4 hours ago, NOBLNG said: I think white or black would look better than gold? Or maybe even grey. You’ve seen my ‘56…that was just grey primer with a gloss clear coat.? I've done the clear-over-primer thing myself on a '51 Fleetline and it was a neat trick ?. I think you're right, though, white or black roof to keep it looking factory. I need to check the factory colors; I might want to go "authentic" on this one. I have a bid on a Monogram '56 right now. Any experience with that one?
FoMoCo66 Posted June 30, 2024 Posted June 30, 2024 Yellow and white always looks great on 55-57 t-birds, a personal favorite of my mom's and mine ?.
espo Posted June 30, 2024 Posted June 30, 2024 Many of the T-Birds from this era would have the hard top painted the body color, just an idea.
customline Posted June 30, 2024 Author Posted June 30, 2024 1 hour ago, FoMoCo66 said: Yellow and white always looks great on 55-57 t-birds, a personal favorite of my mom's and mine ?. Your Mom has the good taste of a typical American woman of the 20th century and I cannot argue with it. I have considered a light yellow / white motif and it would be a very nice combination on the very feminine early 'Bird. These cars were suitable, in my demented mind, for late thirties women looking to attract men and 60+ men with fat bank accounts looking to attract younger women. Who really needs a two place vehicle? ? Oh... but there was a kid in my neighborhood that dropped a 390 in one of these. It was in gray primer and was the talk of the gear-heads in the area. He was a real rebel. Probably died in prison. ? I'm sorry.... 2
customline Posted June 30, 2024 Author Posted June 30, 2024 21 minutes ago, espo said: Many of the T-Birds from this era would have the hard top painted the body color, just an idea. Yeah, I know, Dave. I want to make it a little bit special considering the ridiculous work I've had to endure just to get it in primer. You're probably right, though. Gotta look at factory colors yet. Then decide. I will put my choices up and put it to a vote. As far as I know, we still live in a "Democracy". ? 1 1
LennyB Posted June 30, 2024 Posted June 30, 2024 20 hours ago, customline said: Well, Len, I suppose doing that will occupy a lot of your time. Got pix? Haven't taken any recently and it's been raining all day so these are a bit soggy. I've always had a penchant for putting things together from random parts and this car is no exception. Got the car for free as it was used as a donor for a buddy's project that needed a drive-train. Was solid, complete otherwise and only had 53K miles on it so I couldn't trash it. I think three T-Birds, several Fox Mustangs and a Lincoln Mark VII all donated parts to the cause. 5.0 HO from '92 Lincoln, T-5 tranny from '89 Mustang. T-Bird Turbo coupe suspension. Updated Mustang brakes. Nose from '86 T-Bird as original one was damaged. Spoiler front and rear from Turbo Coupe. Interior updates from Turbo coupe as well. And shaker scoop from '94 Mustang. And a lot of random parts. Paint is original except for the bits I added and has the patina to show it. Thought about a repaint but have yet to bring myself to do so. 1
espo Posted June 30, 2024 Posted June 30, 2024 18 minutes ago, customline said: Yeah, I know, Dave. I want to make it a little bit special considering the ridiculous work I've had to endure just to get it in primer. You're probably right, though. Gotta look at factory colors yet. Then decide. I will put my choices up and put it to a vote. As far as I know, we still live in a "Democracy". ? You could always paint the roof some wild metal flake with a tablecloth pattern in it. At one time that was a thing.
customline Posted June 30, 2024 Author Posted June 30, 2024 7 minutes ago, LennyB said: Haven't taken any recently and it's been raining all day so these are a bit soggy. I've always had a penchant for putting things together from random parts and this car is no exception. Got the car for free as it was used as a donor for a buddy's project that needed a drive-train. Was solid, complete otherwise and only had 53K miles on it so I couldn't trash it. I think three T-Birds, several Fox Mustangs and a Lincoln Mark VII all donated parts to the cause. 5.0 HO from '92 Lincoln, T-5 tranny from '89 Mustang. T-Bird Turbo coupe suspension. Updated Mustang brakes. Nose from '86 T-Bird as original one was damaged. Spoiler front and rear from Turbo Coupe. Interior updates from Turbo coupe as well. And shaker scoop from '94 Mustang. And a lot of random parts. Paint is original except for the bits I added and has the patina to show it. Thought about a repaint but have yet to bring myself to do so. Lenny, that's awesome. Frankenbird! My God, man, you have been busy! I love the body style of this era 'Bird. Originally, I wanted an LTD ll in a two door and the salesman couldn't find one in his inventory. ? I didn't know but he didn't ether. They only came in 4-doors ?. But the T-Bird was only 10 k so I figured "well, it's a two door and I love it. So I traded my '81 Mazda GLC Sport and bought it and then I surprised the old lady. She wasn't real happy. ? It's soggy here too, Lenny, I appreciate the pix. Where are you?
LennyB Posted June 30, 2024 Posted June 30, 2024 5 minutes ago, customline said: Lenny, that's awesome. Frankenbird! My God, man, you have been busy! I love the body style of this era 'Bird. Originally, I wanted an LTD ll in a two door and the salesman couldn't find one in his inventory. ? I didn't know but he didn't ether. They only came in 4-doors ?. But the T-Bird was only 10 k so I figured "well, it's a two door and I love it. So I traded my '81 Mazda GLC Sport and bought it and then I surprised the old lady. She wasn't real happy. ? It's soggy here too, Lenny, I appreciate the pix. Where are you? New York.
customline Posted June 30, 2024 Author Posted June 30, 2024 1 minute ago, LennyB said: New York. Yup. Same weather pattern. Lots of thunder here. At 2:30 it looked like 8:30.
LennyB Posted June 30, 2024 Posted June 30, 2024 3 minutes ago, customline said: Yup. Same weather pattern. Lots of thunder here. At 2:30 it looked like 8:30. Yes, plenty or thunder I have one dog hiding in the upstairs bathroom and one in the downstairs bathroom. And the deaf one is sound asleep behind me. ?
customline Posted June 30, 2024 Author Posted June 30, 2024 (edited) 17 minutes ago, LennyB said: Yes, plenty or thunder I have one dog hiding in the upstairs bathroom and one in the downstairs bathroom. And the deaf one is sound asleep behind me. ? Oh no....two of 'em gun shy and one oblivious. That's an amazing color chart, Len. I'm kinda partial to "coral sand" . It's soooooo '50s. Add that to my list. I like the "willow green" too. With a white roof. On both. Gotta check MCW. Edit: that chart is a keeper, Len. I saved it. ? thank you! Edited June 30, 2024 by customline
LennyB Posted June 30, 2024 Posted June 30, 2024 (edited) 57 minutes ago, customline said: Oh no....two of 'em gun shy and one oblivious. That's an amazing color chart, Len. I'm kinda partial to "coral sand" . It's soooooo '50s. Add that to my list. I like the "willow green" too. With a white roof. On both. Gotta check MCW. Edit: that chart is a keeper, Len. I saved it. ? thank you! One was actually brought up from South Carolina and he had buck shot in his hind quarters when we got him. So he has a right to be gun shy. I actually like the coral sand with the gunmetal gray top. I was looking through some car show photos and almost every T-Bird has a white top. Edited June 30, 2024 by LennyB
customline Posted June 30, 2024 Author Posted June 30, 2024 17 minutes ago, LennyB said: One was actually brought up from South Carolina and he had buck shot in his hind quarters when we got him. So he has a right to be gun shy. I actually like the coral sand with the gunmetal gray top. I was looking through some car show photos and almost every T-Bird has a white top. Yeah, "Gunmetal Gray". A bit unusual but tasteful. I have something here that could approximate that color. I wonder if there's a Tamiya rattle can close to the coral. Also, Len, the white roof is (was) an intelligent choice if your ride back in '57 had no a/c, and down south white cars were pretty ubiquitous, for good reason. White goes with everything. It's like O-positive. But for something less common, the gunmetal gray will go extremely well with coral. "Thunderbird Bronze" is nice, too. With a black roof. There's too many choices, it's gonna drive me crazy. ?
LennyB Posted June 30, 2024 Posted June 30, 2024 2 hours ago, customline said: Yeah, "Gunmetal Gray". A bit unusual but tasteful. I have something here that could approximate that color. I wonder if there's a Tamiya rattle can close to the coral. Also, Len, the white roof is (was) an intelligent choice if your ride back in '57 had no a/c, and down south white cars were pretty ubiquitous, for good reason. White goes with everything. It's like O-positive. But for something less common, the gunmetal gray will go extremely well with coral. "Thunderbird Bronze" is nice, too. With a black roof. There's too many choices, it's gonna drive me crazy. ? You'll just have to make one of each.?
NOBLNG Posted July 1, 2024 Posted July 1, 2024 (edited) 4 hours ago, customline said: Oh no....two of 'em gun shy and one oblivious. That's an amazing color chart, Len. I'm kinda partial to "coral sand" . It's soooooo '50s. Add that to my list. I like the "willow green" too. With a white roof. On both. Gotta check MCW. Edit: that chart is a keeper, Len. I saved it. ? thank you! You probably have the color chart for ‘57 already Jim….but here it is anyways. Edit: I still have to finish my stock ‘56 T-Bird so I’ve been searching and found this great site with info on color availability: https://www.portholeauthority.com/thunderbirdETC/tbird/colors57.html Edited July 1, 2024 by NOBLNG
stavanzer Posted July 1, 2024 Posted July 1, 2024 I really Like that "Springmist Green"! Too bad That's not available in a Rattlecan. Jim, The Gunmetal Gray body/Raven Black top, has a serious, no-nonsense look, that I really like. Even if it was hotter, it makes the car look 'hotter', too. That's my vote.
customline Posted July 1, 2024 Author Posted July 1, 2024 2 hours ago, stavanzer said: I really Like that "Springmist Green"! Too bad That's not available in a Rattlecan. Jim, The Gunmetal Gray body/Raven Black top, has a serious, no-nonsense look, that I really like. Even if it was hotter, it makes the car look 'hotter', too. That's my vote. Duly noted, Alan. "gunmetal" is gathering support. And I too am liking the "springmist green" 1
customline Posted July 1, 2024 Author Posted July 1, 2024 3 hours ago, NOBLNG said: You probably have the color chart for ‘57 already Jim….but here it is anyways. Edit: I still have to finish my stock ‘56 T-Bird so I’ve been searching and found this great site with info on color availability: https://www.portholeauthority.com/thunderbirdETC/tbird/colors57.html Wow, great info, Greg. Merci!
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