1975 Ford Custom 500 2-Door Pillared Hardtop Resin Master

Mike Slapattack · September 10, 2024

My 1970 Chevrolet Impala Custom Coupe project has reached that stage in building where there are fewer assemblies to complete and a-lot of time is spent waiting for glue and putty to dry, so I've decided to start a new project that I've been wanting to do for some time. It's quite an ambitious one as I'm diving headfirst into a form of building that I've never done before, but I'm willing to give it a try! My scratch-building skills are very rough, and I just need experience and practice, so I'm hoping that this whole project will be an opportunity to learn by doing!

This project is a resin master for a 1975 Ford Custom 500 2-Door Pillared Hardtop based on the 2004 release of the AMT/Ertl 1969 Ford Galaxie Hard Top. I bought this kit at a Group 25 show in 2022 and I've always had the idea to try to make it into a later full-size Ford car, as I'm a fan of big '70s land yachts. This is the perfect candidate for such a conversion because the full-size Ford car line was essentially the same underneath from 1969 to 1978, so the chassis and basic body proportions are already there, I just need to reshape body lines and update the interior, powertrain, and running gear.

I eventually want to make an LTD as well, but I've chosen to start with a Custom 500 because it's the lower spec car and adding trim is easier than removing it. It is worth noting that the Custom 500, while not available to consumers in the United States after 1974, was available to consumers in Canada until 1978, and even remained as the base trim level on the Panther body LTD until 1981. I have chosen to make a 2-door because it would require the least work out of all the body styles, but I MAY make a 4-door and wagon later on.

Now, let's begin...

The kit's name is a bit misleading, as the actual car it represents is a Ford XL, not a Galaxie. From 1967 to 1970, the XL was spun off from the Galaxie as its own model, and was the only full-size Ford available in 1969 with both the LTD fascia and Sportsroof body style. So I will refer to this kit as an XL. Of course, this Sportsroof will need to go. I decided that's a good place to start.

Mike Slapattack · September 10, 2024

I have a bit of a backlog of photos because I started this project a couple days ago, so I will post updates to get everyone up to speed whenever I get the chance as I can only transfer so many photos from my phone to my PC at once and I like posting from my PC more.

After cutting out the sail panels I filled in the holes with a structural piece of sheet styrene to maintain structural rigidity and give a platform to build a new decklid off of.

While that set, I turned my attention to lowering the front fender lines of the car, as this was shaved down by Ford in 1973. I cut the original top end of the fender off and put in a styrene platform to work off of.

After that it started to resemble my goal a little bit more.

Edited September 10, 2024 by Mike Slapattack
I forgot something.

Mike Slapattack · September 11, 2024

Here's what I got done on Sunday the 8th.

The first thing was widening the hood opening.

After that, I cut out the section of the rear quarter panel kick-up between the doors and backlight.

After cutting out the kick-up, I realized that the C-pillar was no longer fastened to the body at the rear. This presented a structural rigidity problem which I rectified yesterday by adding in some styrene behind the quarter panel.

ybsluos · September 11, 2024

Mike this is some very nice customizing! It looks like you have thought out each cut before making the cuts. This is much better than my usual shoot from the hip approach of thinking let’s saw away!….and if I take too much I can put it back with styrene and putty.
The measure twice and cut once method is quicker in the long run and the finished product is so much nicer. I need to slow down!

Anyhow again nice work and resin copies of it would fill a niche in the hobby. We need more of the larger 70s cars.- Mark

Mike Slapattack · September 11, 2024

8 hours ago, ybsluos said:

Mike this is some very nice customizing! It looks like you have thought out each cut before making the cuts. This is much better than my usual shoot from the hip approach of thinking let’s saw away!….and if I take too much I can put it back with styrene and putty.
The measure twice and cut once method is quicker in the long run and the finished product is so much nicer. I need to slow down!

Anyhow again nice work and resin copies of it would fill a niche in the hobby. We need more of the larger 70s cars.- Mark

Thanks Mark! I'm trying my best to be methodical. It will save me a lot of time. There are a couple areas where I've had to guess a little which may need material added back in, but overall it's going in the intended direction.

I agree as well, not enough big '70s fuel crisis era cars in the kit world apart from the MPC '76 Caprice, and that's why I'm doing this!

RomanII · September 11, 2024

If you enjoy the work, that's fine. But the full size two door 1975 Ford is already available as a 3D print. Robert Burns of Too Many Projects on Facebook offers it. Another seller offers a 1978 two door on ebay. It would be discouraging to go through all of the work you are doing and not know of others available.

Mike Slapattack · September 12, 2024

10 hours ago, RomanII said:

If you enjoy the work, that's fine. But the full size two door 1975 Ford is already available as a 3D print. Robert Burns of Too Many Projects on Facebook offers it. Another seller offers a 1978 two door on ebay. It would be discouraging to go through all of the work you are doing and not know of others available.

I was not aware of this, but personally I enjoy the work, plus casted resin requires less prep work than 3D prints.

Mike Slapattack · September 13, 2024

Here's some of what I got done on September 9th. This was reshaping the tops of the rear quarter panels of the car. I added structural material beneath the decklid to avoid burning through.

Learning as I go!

Mike Slapattack · September 20, 2024

Here's some progress from September 10th. A Small thing, making some reference marks for cutting on the decklid and trimming back the rear pillars.

Mike Slapattack · September 20, 2024

More progress from September 10th. This was the process of cutting back the decklid and creating a new rear roofline.

Mike Slapattack · September 23, 2024

Here is the final group of photos from September 10th, just some trimming and cleaning up of the previous work.

Stef · September 24, 2024

Wow, Mike, this is even more hardcore than I'd realized! Such precision and meticulous attention to detail. Can't wait to see this make progress, and I might even be first in line to snatch up one of your resin copies. I too love 70s land yachts. Ahoy, mateys!

Mike Slapattack · September 24, 2024

11 hours ago, Stef said:

Wow, Mike, this is even more hardcore than I'd realized! Such precision and meticulous attention to detail. Can't wait to see this make progress, and I might even be first in line to snatch up one of your resin copies. I too love 70s land yachts. Ahoy, mateys!

Thanks Stef! It's super satisfying to get to break out the razor saw so much ?

Stef · September 24, 2024

1 hour ago, Mike Slapattack said:

It's super satisfying to get to break out the razor saw...

Agreed 128%; you're inspiring me to try something similar. Now I just gotta look through the stash and find a couple fresh victims, heh.

Mike Slapattack · September 26, 2024

Here's some work from September 11th. That day consisted of extending the rear side windows back, building a new B-pillar, and adding more material to the bottom of the decklid in preparation for carving out the new shape. I also made an attempt at expanding the front wheel arches with a Dremel tool.