'57 T-BIRD from AMT...it's historic!

[David G.]

 

Great work on this one so far Jim! I always enjoy watching you add all the little extra features.

And this just kills me!  

On 6/22/2024 at 8:06 PM, customline said:

How about a mock-up?  

 I think it makes the tires look too big. White walls would help. Gotta look in my stash.

 

A T-Bird with flotation tires! 

I love it!  

David G.

 

[customline]

6 hours ago, David G. said:

 

Great work on this one so far Jim! I always enjoy watching you add all the little extra features.

And this just kills me!  

 

A T-Bird with flotation tires! 

I love it!  

David G.

 

Oh David....yes it does look like it's ready for a day at the lake. This is the inners without the outers- they kept falling out ?. But never mind, I  cracked open one of my....wait for it.....'41 Plymouths and lo and behold....

WHITE WALL TIRES!  I remembered this from a previous endeavor( that I still haven't finished ?.)  Perfect fit!  

Now this is the sort of thing you find in a kit like the ancient AMT '57 Thunderbirď

It seems my inner wheels have contracted a case of Monkey Pox. 

Well, after some moderate fiddling I got the hood hinge to work reasonably well. I know, but I had to try.  There was no spring clip in the box so ....anyway, this project continues to provide me with a fair amount of "fun" so maybe I'll finish this one.  Note to self: replace radiator tank. 

Edited June 25, 2024 by customline

[milo1303s]

How much did you pay for the kit they were like $5.99 when they were released back in the day ? 

[customline]

2 hours ago, milo1303s said:

How much did you pay for the kit they were like $5.99 when they were released back in the day ? 

This was an open box special, Bob.  It was on Ebay for $12.50, I offered 10.00 and it was accepted. With shipping and tax it totalled $18.93. All the bags were sealed except the big chrome tree. 

[customline]

A bit more improvement on the front of the frame. I wanted the lower A-frames to attach to something so I faked a front cross member and frame horns.  It's about all I could do for it.

Anyway, here's some mock-up pix for your inspection. Here I have located the rear wheels in the stock height holes and the fronts in the "lowering" holes. A little rake - good? bad?  Thanks for looking and your comments are welcome 

[NOBLNG]

Definitely good Jim!? I would be satisfied with that stance.?

[bobss396]

My 1st one I built around 1964, I did another around 1995, I just gave it to a club member for a diorama he is doing.

The OG kit WW tires were stick-ons. I have 2 OG kits, one is the big box and the other is a smaller box version. Both are complete, one the tube of body filler is still good.

They build up nicely. My one gripe is the kit has no vent windows. But do keep on doing what you are doing. One of the key elements is getting the windshield and frame together with no glue smears.

[customline]

34 minutes ago, NOBLNG said:

Definitely good Jim!? I would be satisfied with that stance.?

I don't know, Greg, what I see now is the top of the body is level to the ground and the taper of the body to the rear makes the rake. I will need to mock it up with the skirts on and see how that strikes me. Thanks for weighing in.

26 minutes ago, bobss396 said:

My 1st one I built around 1964, I did another around 1995, I just gave it to a club member for a diorama he is doing.

The OG kit WW tires were stick-ons. I have 2 OG kits, one is the big box and the other is a smaller box version. Both are complete, one the tube of body filler is still good.

They build up nicely. My one gripe is the kit has no vent windows. But do keep on doing what you are doing. One of the key elements is getting the windshield and frame together with no glue smears.

Oh...I remember how I would smear that filler on with my fingers. I can still smell it ?. 

Yeah, the windshield....that's not going to be fun.  It's causing me some anxiety. I'm glad you mentioned the vent wings. Gotta look into that. I was noticing the curve of the A pillars and how the roof meets at the top. Very curious ?.  Thanks for your input, Bob. 

[customline]

The top picture says it all. I need to "improve" the roof. Is there a correct porthole roof out there somewhere? In resin, maybe? I can make vent wings easily enough and modify the roof but the porthole might be .....not much fun??  It's the chrome trim around the glass...hmmmm ?

[David G.]

Great work on the frame Jim!

And the tires look much better too. Though the still seem a little big compared to the 1:1 photos, sort of like 15's on a car that normally wears 14's.

The ride height looks spot-on.

David G.

[customline]

9 hours ago, David G. said:

Great work on the frame Jim!

And the tires look much better too. Though the still seem a little big compared to the 1:1 photos, sort of like 15's on a car that normally wears 14's.

The ride height looks spot-on.

David G.

Yeah, they do look too big, Dave. They are the same exact size as the ones in the kit.  I dunno, Dave, they had a 6 volt battery in it too so all they had in the boxing department that day was black wall 15s from the '41 Plymouth. But it's a pretty small car so...they're staying, dam it! ?.  I'm out of options without busting another kit.  Now.....I've been busy.....

Now with the skirts on its a bit easier to accept the " big feet" attitude. The bumper fell off for the side view. It may improve the look with it on.  I'm going to go back down in the rear. See how that looks with skirts. And then up on all fours...just to see ?.

I started on the roof "improvements" . There is a roof by Drag City but it looks like a clone of the kit's. I had to take matters into my own hands. I shaved off the trim (to be replaced later.) I added some Evergreen to the roof, reinforced with CA.  Bondo followed. Still need to add more to match the windshield curve.  Then I will need to add vent wings. This was supposed to be a quick, easy one....?

a couple of small issues to keep me busy; the right tail light area had mold defect as did the rear lower trunk. Thanks for hangin' out!

 

Edited June 27, 2024 by customline

[bobss396]

Imagine some 9 year old kid building one... which was my age when I did my first one. I didn't know what I didn't know back then and had fun with it.

[customline]

2 hours ago, bobss396 said:

Imagine some 9 year old kid building one... which was my age when I did my first one. I didn't know what I didn't know back then and had fun with it.

Yes, Bob, ignorance is quite blissful ?. It's amazing how much fun it was when we didn't know any better. ?

[Sledsel]

It is looking good! Great improvements. I have several of these but have yet to finish.

Now, just some info if anyone wants a more accurate build.

1) The 56 Ford Victoria has the correct frame/suspension just needs the X member and shortened.  The AMT 56 Thunderbird is correct also.

2) The front fenders extend behind the bumper, some trimming on the bumper and extending the fenders help it out.

3) you can cut out the grill and surround and use a 56 Thunderbird grill. Grill is the same 55-57, just bumper differences.

4. Personally I am still trying to figure a tail light fix. The bezel and tail light from a 57 Fairlane is the same on 1:1 cars, The Thunderbird kit lights are undersized.

As an FYI, your air cleaner is backwards.

 

 

[Justin Porter]

Good grief. A really good case is being made for fresh tooling on this subject since it's not as if it's an obscure car or anything. Very fascinated watching your improvements since they seem very straightforward and sensible.

[customline]

2 hours ago, Sledsel said:

It is looking good! Great improvements. I have several of these but have yet to finish.

Now, just some info if anyone wants a more accurate build.

1) The 56 Ford Victoria has the correct frame/suspension just needs the X member and shortened.  The AMT 56 Thunderbird is correct also.

2) The front fenders extend behind the bumper, some trimming on the bumper and extending the fenders help it out.

3) you can cut out the grill and surround and use a 56 Thunderbird grill. Grill is the same 55-57, just bumper differences.

4. Personally I am still trying to figure a tail light fix. The bezel and tail light from a 57 Fairlane is the same on 1:1 cars, The Thunderbird kit lights are undersized.

As an FYI, your air cleaner is backwards.

 

 

Thanks, Andy.   Yeah, man, I know about the air cleaner. The "D" pin on the part locates it backward.  Lots of stuff like that in this kit.  I have resigned myself to making some corrections and a few repairs of crappy molds. It-is-what-it-is. I bought this kit off of ebay in my ignorance and now I am dealing with its shortcomings. It's kinda fun, though, like resurrecting a gloo bomb.  I appreciate your heads-ups on these issues. I'm not sure I get the grille fix, maybe you could expound a bit on that. 

[Ace-Garageguy]

3 hours ago, Sledsel said:

Now, just some info if anyone wants a more accurate build.

1) The 56 Ford Victoria has the correct frame/suspension just needs the X member and shortened.  The AMT 56 Thunderbird is correct also.

2) The front fenders extend behind the bumper, some trimming on the bumper and extending the fenders help it out.

3) you can cut out the grill and surround and use a 56 Thunderbird grill. Grill is the same 55-57, just bumper differences.

4. Personally I am still trying to figure a tail light fix. The bezel and tail light from a 57 Fairlane is the same on 1:1 cars, The Thunderbird kit lights are undersized.

THANKS!!! 

I've been putting off starting a "nice" '57 Bird for lack of a non-blobular frame, etc., and was looking at the 1/24 Monogram units.

Lots easier to start with a semi-correct frame in 1/25, and the other refs are a big help too.

[customline]

33 minutes ago, Justin Porter said:

Good grief. A really good case is being made for fresh tooling on this subject since it's not as if it's an obscure car or anything. Very fascinated watching your improvements since they seem very straightforward and sensible.

Thanks, Justin, I agree totally that this subject rendered in new tooling would be a sure-fire hit with all levels of model car geeks. It's iconic and historic and a true classic. My hope is that a manufacturer like Revell Germany or Galaxy or Moebius would produce a kit of this car with a high level of detail.  Just a stock version, in true scale.  I won't hold my breath.

[customline]

2 minutes ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

THANKS!!! 

I've been putting off starting a "nice" '57 Bird for lack of a non-blobular frame, etc., and was looking at the 1/24 Monogram units.

Lots easier to start with a semi-correct frame in 1/25, and the other refs are a big help too.

I look forward to seeing what you can do with this kit, Bill, armed with this good Information. I would not have thought of the '56 but I did think about the '53, since I have two of those somewhere. I gotta look at that....hmmmm

[Ace-Garageguy]

50 minutes ago, customline said:

 I would not have thought of the '56 but I did think about the '53, since I have two of those somewhere. I gotta look at that....hmmmm

Unfortunately, the '53 frame is considerably different from the '55-'56 big car (front suspension change in '54)....and '57 is an entirely different design.

The '53 might make an OK donor if you don't care about accuracy but just want a "more detailed" frame and running gear.

EDIT: Now I'm curious, and will see if I still have a '53 and a '56 here for a visual comparison...
 

Edited June 27, 2024 by Ace-Garageguy

[customline]

2 hours ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

Unfortunately, the '53 frame is considerably different from the '55-'56 big car (front suspension change in '54)....and '57 is an entirely different design.

The '53 might make an OK donor if you don't care about accuracy but just want a "more detailed" frame and running gear.

EDIT: Now I'm curious, and will see if I still have a '53 and a '56 here for a visual comparison...
 

Yup, you are right. I had a 1:1 '54 and it had the modernized ball joint set-up and an X member. The '53 is not going to work. Oh well ?.

[customline]

Today's update:

Continued reworking the "stock" hardtop to get it looking like the stock hardtop. I did more Bondo work last night and its close enough so I added some .040 half round Evergreen to form the chrome trim. This was sanded to a flatter contour. Then I needed to find a pair of round items to approximate the porthole trim. I settled on what looks like headlight bezels from my chrome junk stash. Size matters in this situation and these bezels looked pretty close.  I drilled holes and set them in with solvent.  When I attempted to center punch one to facilitate drilling out the inside, the punch fell right through. Yay. Gotta let them stiffen up though, before I use a drill bit on them. Again, it won't be super accurate but it will be good enough for an old screw-bottom.  ? Thanks for checking in!

 

[LennyB]

I know I'm a little late to the party but here is a side by side comparison of the original promo and the kit. You can clearly see the promo origins as the size is the same and the screw posts all live in the same spots.

 

 

[bobss396]

The top added material looks quite good. Me personally, I would consider the AMT '56 Ford chassis. Maybe on your next one? You have a lot of work in this one.

[David G.]

Nice work on the top Daniel! Great idea using those headlight bezels.

David G.