´59 Imperial Yard Wreck

Andy Oldenburg · September 9, 2024

I guess everyone has build this old kit. It was my first kit after I restarted model building 4 years ago. Back then a good effort to get my toes into the wet pool before my plunge into the deep end. But a while ago I just silently took it off my shelf. Compared to my current builds, it was just a bit embarrassing. But I had a plan for a big comeback!

This rebuild was a quick and dirty job (literally), since I had no engine to care for and the interior and the chassis were finished. I just had to turn it into a dignified old lady, forgotten and lost on a junkyard. First of all, the crash was produced with the help of a heat gun, pushing the body to my bench after it got soft enough. Further big dents followed. The turquoise finish was sanded off and after a rust colored primer I sprayed the body pink. Rust holes were grinded from the inside with a small power tool. Getting the rust effect onto the body was a matter of about 10 rounds of dabbing with rough sponges and old bristle paint brushes. The BMF was applied after I gave the body a rub with salt on a matte spray finish.

The front grill/bumper I had to cut into strange shapes and apply to the body with a hot glue pistol, with which I filled the remaining cracks. Another round of matte aluminum paint and rust streaks finished the front. The interior just received a good amount of smudge, same with the undercarriage.