'56 Ford period street mild custom

[dino246gt]

Hey all, I'm going to try and build another model! I have rheumatoid arthritis and I had to stop building, but thanks to prescription meds, I'm feeling like I can give it another go!

I glued the doors shut on the AMT '56 Ford and bent the vent windows into position with a slice along the bottom of each.

I want to sand the body and doors to be mostly flush, but I don't want to fill the side trim with primer, so I masked them off.

Also fitted stock headlight rings and sanded them smooth (not Frenched) along with all other mold seams.

It'll be a mild custom from the late 50's early 60's I hope!

 

[falcon wagon]

looking good

[NerdmanB]

Dennis sorry to hear about the arthritis. I also have arthritis many aches and pains. Not enough to stop me from building. Since I’m a glutton for punishment I just bought a 1/1 31 Chevy coupe to hot rod. Hope it doesn’t slow you down. I always enjoy your builds. You are very talented. I will be watching this one as well . Brian 

[NOBLNG]

Glad to see you back at the bench Buddy. Looking forward to seeing how this turns out.🙂

[Spex84]

Glad you're building again! Don't overdo it!

[DJMar]

This is cool. The AMT '56 is one of my "love it/hate it" kits because of those doors, but I think you've done the sensible thing in gluing them shut!

What are you thinking about colors?

[Zippi]

That ole 56 Ford is looking good there Dennis.  You've got a Great start on this one.

[bobss396]

I'm doing a '56 as a figure 8 stock car, another BACK IN THE BOX! special ATM.

Doors are glued shut of course. That was a kit that always built up well. If I do another, the doors will open, but I'll make the hinges for it.

[Bullybeef]

Great start Dennis, happy to see you back at it again.

[TopherMcGinnis]

[dino246gt]

I want to keep this build pretty simple, but I still need to smooth out under the hood.

That IS pretty simple!

[TransAmMike]

Welcome back Dennis.  Yep, ole arthur is (pun intended) is a pain.

Anyway, keep up the good work, gonna be cool.

[espo]

Glad to see that you're back on the bench again. The '56 Ford Victoria was a good-looking body style. Like the idea of masking the side trim so that you don't lose the trim details under paint. You mentioned some custom body work, is shaving the hood and trunk lid in that? 

[Rattlecan Dan]

Coming along very nicely.

[dino246gt]

ESPO said: You mentioned some custom body work, is shaving the hood and trunk lid in that? 

Of course, shaved door handles too!

Here's the hood, before, and "during" I'll post after, well, after!

Cheers

 

[slusher]

Great project Dennis!

[customline]

Looks like you already have this well in hand, Dennis! (Mine's not RA but it may as well be.)  I like the mild custom idea for this body style. In my mind, it needs very little to improve it.  It's all about the paint after that, right?  It's a great body style.  Nice paint and some lowering, that's all. 

[Vintage AMT]

Just curious, will you be using the kits custom parts or going freelance? 

[dino246gt]

45 minutes ago, Vintage AMT said:

Just curious, will you be using the kits custom parts or going freelance? 

Freelance, as always by me! LOL

I'll keep it pretty "mild" I like the Merc wagon tail lights that are in the kit, nosed, decked, shaved, dropped, custom wheelcovers, nothing too much changed.

Stock bumpers without overriders and I'm thinking of the '54 Pontiac grille from Revell's chopped Merc kit.

I'll have to scratch build stock fender skirts.

Well, I did fill in the hood. Got it in white primer, looking pretty good already, still needs a bit of tweaking but I managed to keep the center peak.

 

On 5/16/2025 at 10:51 PM, DJMar said:

This is cool. The AMT '56 is one of my "love it/hate it" kits because of those doors, but I think you've done the sensible thing in gluing them shut!

What are you thinking about colors?

I'm thinking medium purple, white, purple. Tamiya TS-24?

Edited yesterday at 01:31 PM by dino246gt

[dino246gt]

I added the sheet metal in front of the rad, then opened up those large holes and one for the hood latch.

I removed those bumps with holes from the bumper pan because I won't use the stock grille which hides them, mine will be open.

It looks a bit smoother now and with the hood also smoothed out, I think I can have a custom without being too wild!

[dino246gt]

This is the look I'm after!

I opened up the grille from Revell's chopped '49 Merc kit.

Very subtle but important mod, I rounded the sides of the Revell grille where it wraps around the fenders.

Bumper and grille will get Revell chrome spray.

 

Edited 23 hours ago by dino246gt

[customline]

Yep. I like it, Dennis. The Poncho grille is good balance for the Merc tail lights. By any chance, will you be "crowning" this Victoria? 

[dino246gt]

I will not be "crowning" this one!

I have thought about using the crown on a Revell '57 wagon though and the glass roof!

Just a thought.

Spent most of today making skirts for this one, in putty now, so should be shown later or tomorrow.

Cheers!

Edited 15 hours ago by dino246gt

[dino246gt]

As promised, pictures of fender skirts.

I'm certainly not happy with them yet, and they didn't turn out exactly as I envisioned.

But I'll continue tweaking them and learn to like them although I was hoping they'd look more stock.

I made them too tall, so they're down lower than I hoped, but I think it'll give a bit of a tail dragger look to my vintage mild custom, street cruiser.

 

 

 

Edited 3 hours ago by dino246gt

[dino246gt]

Here's how they look installed, the gaps weren't consistant, so I'm trying to fix that, they won't be removed now though, super glued on!

I'll fill and re-scribe them.

 

Edited 3 hours ago by dino246gt