Bills72sj Posted March 13 Posted March 13 14 hours ago, niteowl7710 said: I got the Revell Hot Rod 3 Pack of Tri-5s for Christmas when I was like 8 (1985). I refused to build another Revell kit until well into the 90s. Which is probably why I still have an affinity for AMT/Ertl and Monogram. I have that 54,55,57 Chevy kit. Every once in a while I open the box, look at the parts, dread the complexity and close up the box. Been going on 20 years now. 2
Can-Con Posted March 13 Posted March 13 On 3/12/2025 at 11:16 AM, Brutalform said: I just couldn’t believe the way the rear bumper is no where near the tail lights on the passenger side. The outer side of each tail light is slightly longer on the outside then it is on the inside towards the tail gate. Maybe he got them mixed up side to side, didn't know the difference and tried to get them to line up, which they never would being reversed.
Can-Con Posted March 13 Posted March 13 On 3/12/2025 at 12:57 PM, Dave Darby said: I had one when I was younger that was built by a teen. It came out just fine. Having watched that build video, and and knowing the craftsmanship level of the builder, I'm calling builder error. There is a thing called test fitting parts and assemblies. Putting things together in the proper order. (Like fitting the doors and hinges to the body when you install the retainers.) I've seen other builds by him that were similarly messed up (25 T chopped coupe [REALLY BAD job], and Streaker Vette as examples). He's a nice guy, and I hate to denigrate other builders, but it is what it is. Is this kit a walk in the park, shake the box and you have a masterpiece? No. But it isn't unbuildable either. I'm going to pick one up first opportunity I get, and build one for myself. I'll keep you posted. On 3/12/2025 at 2:06 PM, Mark C. said: I had one as a kid in the 1970s and recall that I became a little frustrated with its fiddly nature at the time and don’t believe I ever finished it. I probably have it somewhere in storage and will dig it out one day to have a look at it with older eyes. It will be neat to see it again as I recall painting it candy apple red and gluing red velour to the seating surfaces - I thought that it was quite beautiful at the time! In the meantime, I’m very tempted to get one and challenge myself to do a decent job with it at my current skill level. Might be fun to give it a go again after all these decades! Maybe we should do a build-off with this kit. , , , But it should be open for more then 2 days. 😉 This was one of the first "adult" car kits I "built" when I was 7 or 8. , , some others were ,, IMC Mustang Mach II loads of early '70s MPC annuals some Monogram show rods and MPC Zingers, A little bit of everything , you get the idea. I bet a lot of you [most?]could put up a very similar list. Not many of them ever actually got finished and a lot not even painted. But you know what? I never even cared. I was happy, it kept me entertained and I never gave up with the hobby. None of us would be here on this board if it wasn't for those old "unbuildable" kits of our youth that never got finished and/or ended up in the trash of against the wall. 3
stitchdup Posted March 14 Posted March 14 I've got a skips drive in version. Its an interesting kit, especially the 6 3/4 cylinder engine and single chopped screen pillar. I think the only good parts in my entire kit are the chassis and interior. The rest is a distorted mess, though the wagon part of the roof might be good and i have a damaged 58 caddy.... hmmn, thinking now 2
Motor City Posted March 14 Posted March 14 46 minutes ago, stitchdup said: I have a damaged 58 caddy.... hmmn, thinking now The Ridler award winner at the 2019 Detroit Autorama. It combined a '59 Cadillac with a Nomad wagon. 1
Ragtop Man Posted March 14 Posted March 14 That dude's family went to the cleaners... spent deep into six figures to build, sold for about $75K at one of the 'big' auctions. Far be it from me to suggest the bidding was rigged...but...
stavanzer Posted March 14 Posted March 14 22 hours ago, Bills72sj said: I have that 54,55,57 Chevy kit. Every once in a while I open the box, look at the parts, dread the complexity and close up the box. Been going on 20 years now. I love that old Revell '54 kit! One of the first Models I ever build (and Finished)! If you ever want to part with the '54, LMK! 1
Stef Posted March 14 Posted March 14 3 hours ago, stitchdup said: ...the wagon part of the roof might be good and i have a damaged 58 caddy.... Great minds think alike. I have an IMEX 58 Caddy, and I'm using TWO Monogram 57 Nomad roofs to extend allllllll the way to the back of the car, while giving it a mild chop. Will post pic(s) if there is interest. 4
stitchdup Posted March 14 Posted March 14 4 hours ago, Stef said: Great minds think alike. I have an IMEX 58 Caddy, and I'm using TWO Monogram 57 Nomad roofs to extend allllllll the way to the back of the car, while giving it a mild chop. Will post pic(s) if there is interest. pics please, I'm thinking one roof for length but i didn't think about width as the imai are pretty fat in the body 1
Stef Posted March 14 Posted March 14 6 hours ago, stitchdup said: pics please, I'm thinking one roof for length but i didn't think about width as the imai are pretty fat in the body Excellent; will take pics ASAP, thanks!
Dave Van Posted March 14 Posted March 14 The Revell tri fives were a BEAR to build from day one.......why the surprise??? 2
bbowser Posted March 14 Posted March 14 16 hours ago, Stef said: Great minds think alike. I have an IMEX 58 Caddy, and I'm using TWO Monogram 57 Nomad roofs to extend allllllll the way to the back of the car, while giving it a mild chop. Will post pic(s) if there is interest. I've been fiddling off and on for years with an Ecto-1, Monogram '59 and a roof from one of the '60 Chevy drag cars. 7 1
M W Elky Posted March 15 Posted March 15 3 hours ago, bbowser said: I've been fiddling off and on for years with an Ecto-1, Monogram '59 and a roof from one of the '60 Chevy drag cars. That’s really neat who would’a thought
Stef Posted March 20 Posted March 20 On 3/14/2025 at 4:16 AM, stitchdup said: pics please, I'm thinking one roof for length but i didn't think about width as the imai are pretty fat in the body Hello Les, thanks for your patience while I took these photos. So these are two Monogram 57 Nomad roofs, spliced in such a way that there are TWO extra roof segments, front-to-rear, versus one single roof alone. This work was done a couple years ago, the project stalled, and the roof is not yet glued in place. Aiming for a very subtle chop, with the roof parallel to the ground. It sags at the rear a bit in these quick mockups. You are correct, these 58 Cads are a bit wide. I don't mind that, though yes, there will be LOTS of extra work now for me to fill in the upper body to meet the roof, scratchbuild a rear interior compartment, and narrow the dash and seats so everything fits nicely. Having said all that, I suppose it would be easier to simply split the roof longitudinally, widen it out a bit, then maybe I can use the 58 windshield. Things that make you go hmmm. I've not investigated how feasible this all would be, just talking off the top of my head. Hope this helps, thanks! 9 1
Dave Darby Posted March 20 Posted March 20 2 hours ago, Stef said: Hello Les, thanks for your patience while I took these photos. So these are two Monogram 57 Nomad roofs, spliced in such a way that there are TWO extra roof segments, front-to-rear, versus one single roof alone. This work was done a couple years ago, the project stalled, and the roof is not yet glued in place. Aiming for a very subtle chop, with the roof parallel to the ground. It sags at the rear a bit in these quick mockups. You are correct, these 58 Cads are a bit wide. I don't mind that, though yes, there will be LOTS of extra work now for me to fill in the upper body to meet the roof, scratchbuild a rear interior compartment, and narrow the dash and seats so everything fits nicely. Having said all that, I suppose it would be easier to simply split the roof longitudinally, widen it out a bit, then maybe I can use the 58 windshield. Things that make you go hmmm. I've not investigated how feasible this all would be, just talking off the top of my head. Hope this helps, thanks! That's a really cool conversion. The only issue with the Monogram roof is they are too tall, scalewise, although it doesn't look to bad on the longer Cadillac body. Cool idea! 2
tim boyd Posted March 20 Posted March 20 3 hours ago, Stef said: Hello Les, thanks for your patience while I took these photos. So these are two Monogram 57 Nomad roofs, spliced in such a way that there are TWO extra roof segments, front-to-rear, versus one single roof alone. This work was done a couple years ago, the project stalled, and the roof is not yet glued in place. Aiming for a very subtle chop, with the roof parallel to the ground. It sags at the rear a bit in these quick mockups. You are correct, these 58 Cads are a bit wide. I don't mind that, though yes, there will be LOTS of extra work now for me to fill in the upper body to meet the roof, scratchbuild a rear interior compartment, and narrow the dash and seats so everything fits nicely. Having said all that, I suppose it would be easier to simply split the roof longitudinally, widen it out a bit, then maybe I can use the 58 windshield. Things that make you go hmmm. I've not investigated how feasible this all would be, just talking off the top of my head. Hope this helps, thanks! Oooooouuuuu that is some really innovative work and thinking there. Lotsa work ahead, but boy wouldn't the finished result be spectacular? Best of luck, Steff, if you move ahead with this....TIM 1
Stef Posted March 21 Posted March 21 20 hours ago, Dave Darby said: That's a really cool conversion. The only issue with the Monogram roof is they are too tall, scalewise, although it doesn't look to bad on the longer Cadillac body. Cool idea! Hello Dave, you are so right! I never noticed that before, but now I can't unsee it! Good to know, moving forward! 20 hours ago, tim boyd said: Oooooouuuuu that is some really innovative work and thinking there. Lotsa work ahead, but boy wouldn't the finished result be spectacular? Best of luck, Steff, if you move ahead with this....TIM Oh me oh my wow wow wow I am (almost) speechless, Tim! I'm honoured, thank you! Will have to bring this one out of hibernation and put it back on the bench to properly honour you, Dave, and everyone else, thank you! And then I'll have to tackle the Atlantis 57 Nomad as a chaser, ha ha!
stitchdup Posted March 21 Posted March 21 On 3/20/2025 at 8:28 PM, Stef said: Hello Les, thanks for your patience while I took these photos. So these are two Monogram 57 Nomad roofs, spliced in such a way that there are TWO extra roof segments, front-to-rear, versus one single roof alone. This work was done a couple years ago, the project stalled, and the roof is not yet glued in place. Aiming for a very subtle chop, with the roof parallel to the ground. It sags at the rear a bit in these quick mockups. You are correct, these 58 Cads are a bit wide. I don't mind that, though yes, there will be LOTS of extra work now for me to fill in the upper body to meet the roof, scratchbuild a rear interior compartment, and narrow the dash and seats so everything fits nicely. Having said all that, I suppose it would be easier to simply split the roof longitudinally, widen it out a bit, then maybe I can use the 58 windshield. Things that make you go hmmm. I've not investigated how feasible this all would be, just talking off the top of my head. Hope this helps, thanks! I did a quick and dirty photoshop to make small change at the rear (and chopped it a little to make the top fit my idea) but if you chop it a couple mm, the roof would be lined up for the caddy trunk shape to work with the chevy top. 3
Stef Posted March 24 Posted March 24 On 3/21/2025 at 5:35 PM, stitchdup said: I did a quick and dirty photoshop to make small change at the rear (and chopped it a little to make the top fit my idea) but if you chop it a couple mm, the roof would be lined up for the caddy trunk shape to work with the chevy top. Hello Les, that is a very subtle chop, and looks about dead-on to me; nice work. While it would be only proper to have a single bar down the side window, the double bars have kinda grown on me. Will see how things go. Will throw this sucker back on the bench ASAP, and report back with developments. Thanks again, all!
stitchdup Posted March 24 Posted March 24 58 minutes ago, Stef said: Hello Les, that is a very subtle chop, and looks about dead-on to me; nice work. While it would be only proper to have a single bar down the side window, the double bars have kinda grown on me. Will see how things go. Will throw this sucker back on the bench ASAP, and report back with developments. Thanks again, all! the chop was only to get the rear edge of the roof to line up with the body under the spears. if i'm right the nomad lower trunk has the same curve as the caddy body and should make blending the rear a easier job yo do
Mark Posted March 24 Posted March 24 Man, I wish that that Imex Biarritz was 1/25 scale. I'd love to piece the back end of that onto the Revell/Atlantis Eldo Brougham...
Stef Posted March 24 Posted March 24 4 hours ago, stitchdup said: the chop was only to get the rear edge of the roof to line up with the body under the spears. if i'm right the nomad lower trunk has the same curve as the caddy body and should make blending the rear a easier job yo do Oh me oh my, Les, I just did what I should have done initially; superimpose our two pics to see exactly where you made your changes. I missed your crucial improvement at the rear. Phenom design cue. You're right that the curve of the 58 and Nomad trunk are similar, though the Nomad is a bit more vertical. Will aim to position/reshape the Nomad roof/trunk interface as needed to align with the 58's rear bodywork so it all blends in nicely. Once I finish a couple projects, this one becomes priority #1, thanks! 1
stitchdup Posted March 24 Posted March 24 5 hours ago, Mark said: Man, I wish that that Imex Biarritz was 1/25 scale. I'd love to piece the back end of that onto the Revell/Atlantis Eldo Brougham... are they not both 1/24?
Mark Posted March 24 Posted March 24 Nope, the Biarritz is 1/24 (and maybe on the large side of that) with the Brougham being 1/25.
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