AMT 1937 Chevy Coupe

[Mattblack]

Right, I'm finally calling this hot mess done... if this car had a name it would be 'Chain reaction', or maybe 'Disaster Area'.

Let's start with the things I changed by choice. I added rear inner fender walls and stripped the chrome from the engine parts. the front wheels and tyres are from the AMT '49 Ford, rear wheels are MPC Dodge Monaco with the slicks from the Revell '53 Chevy gasser. These bigger tyres meant some radical radiusing of the rear fenders. I added brackets for the rear radius arms as they didn't seem to have any mounting points. This boxing of the kit didn't include the stock tail lights so I used some craft jewels. I also added a craft bead gear knob. The paint is a generic 'metallic purple' rattle can. Wheels, engine and rear axle are Ford Aztec Gold.

OK, onto the problems. First off, the frame was twisted. I got it 99% good with some 'clamp it to a board and hairdryer' action. Next I decided to re-do the vague engine mounts. This may have been the cause of the next issue, when trial fitted the frame, interior and body together I found the trans fouled the tunnel. So I chopped it out and made a new inner floor/tunnel to fit inside the interior. This meant I had to modify the seats, roll bar and steering column to fit. (see what I mean about chain reaction?). Then when I retried it the R/H header fouled the fender, so I had to take a section out of that. Oh, and flexing the body multiple times to get it to fit the frame broke the vent window frames, hence the strips of BMF. Next up was paint, this was going great until I stupidly sprayed a coat of clear on a damp day with the garage door partly open and it 'bloomed'. With nothing to loose I gave it another coat which kind of cured it... I'm calling any milky effect you can see pearl... So after that it all went well, right? Wrong. When I tried to get it all together after fitting the glass I found there was a gap between the body and frame on the L/H side, I think the roll bar touches the thick one piece glazing. So I added a piece of plastic sheet to the top of the frame that side and filed it to shape, which meant I had to repaint that side of the frame. Given the previous issues I didn't want to risk masking everything up so I brush painted it... it turned out OK-ish. I'm sure there were other issues that I've forgotten, but here's the finished heap. I tried to take some better photos than my usual efforts, as the weather is good I tried some outdoor shots for the first time:

 

 

 

[Zippi]

Even though you had issues with this build it turned out pretty nice.  Love the ole fat fender Gassers.  Pretty kewl looking Barry.

[Quiet Eric]

Turned out really well, and I love the style. Nice build!

['70 Grande]

Despite the issues it gave you, the finished build looks great!

I have this same kit with all major sub-assemblies finished and ready to all get put together with a body that's painted quite well for me. Dry-fit everything and I can see that I'll have the same type of issues you dealt with regarding the frame not wanting to mate completely with the body.  So I decided to postpone the frustration-game and back into the box it went!

Your build might inspire me to pull it outta the box and get it finished. Hopefully mine will turn out as well as your's did! 

[rrb124@sbcglobal.net]

What a battle field. What are the kit makers doing? NO quality control. I have the same kit still in the box. They are great looking cars and I will  build mine hopefully late summer. Your model is good looking and the stance is mean. Thanks for your story and pics. I will now know what kind of voodoo is waiting!

[Rattlecan Dan]

Pretty trippy little Hot Rod. Looks great. Nice win over the frustration.

[Mattblack]

Thanks for the positive replies, I'm glad I worked through all the issues and I'm happy with the end result.

To be fair it's an old kit, I don't when this particular boxing was issued, or whether it's still a 'current' kit.  I bought it from a collectors fair, in the UK we just don't have the model/hobby stores that you have in the US.

 

[XYHARRY]

Your kit is a 1983 release and well done Barry on your perseverance in completing it.

[PappyD340]

Looks great!

[ChrisR]

Nice.

[espo]

Like the Gasser style and the paint color and finish look great. Once you start modifying a basic model everything seems to snowball from there.  

[Dragline]

Looks ready to pounce. 

[slusher]

Beutiful Gasser!

[rchaffee]

On 7/12/2025 at 9:29 AM, Mattblack said:

Right, I'm finally calling this hot mess done... if this car had a name it would be 'Chain reaction', or maybe 'Disaster Area'.

Let's start with the things I changed by choice. I added rear inner fender walls and stripped the chrome from the engine parts. the front wheels and tyres are from the AMT '49 Ford, rear wheels are MPC Dodge Monaco with the slicks from the Revell '53 Chevy gasser. These bigger tyres meant some radical radiusing of the rear fenders. I added brackets for the rear radius arms as they didn't seem to have any mounting points. This boxing of the kit didn't include the stock tail lights so I used some craft jewels. I also added a craft bead gear knob. The paint is a generic 'metallic purple' rattle can. Wheels, engine and rear axle are Ford Aztec Gold.

OK, onto the problems. First off, the frame was twisted. I got it 99% good with some 'clamp it to a board and hairdryer' action. Next I decided to re-do the vague engine mounts. This may have been the cause of the next issue, when trial fitted the frame, interior and body together I found the trans fouled the tunnel. So I chopped it out and made a new inner floor/tunnel to fit inside the interior. This meant I had to modify the seats, roll bar and steering column to fit. (see what I mean about chain reaction?). Then when I retried it the R/H header fouled the fender, so I had to take a section out of that. Oh, and flexing the body multiple times to get it to fit the frame broke the vent window frames, hence the strips of BMF. Next up was paint, this was going great until I stupidly sprayed a coat of clear on a damp day with the garage door partly open and it 'bloomed'. With nothing to loose I gave it another coat which kind of cured it... I'm calling any milky effect you can see pearl... So after that it all went well, right? Wrong. When I tried to get it all together after fitting the glass I found there was a gap between the body and frame on the L/H side, I think the roll bar touches the thick one piece glazing. So I added a piece of plastic sheet to the top of the frame that side and filed it to shape, which meant I had to repaint that side of the frame. Given the previous issues I didn't want to risk masking everything up so I brush painted it... it turned out OK-ish. I'm sure there were other issues that I've forgotten, but here's the finished heap. I tried to take some better photos than my usual efforts, as the weather is good I tried some outdoor shots for the first time:

 

 

 

They really try our patience sometimes! Cool build!

[TransAmMike]

Well Barry, in spite of the issues it looks just fine.  I completed that kit not too long ago and tho I can't remember too many issues I know I had some.

Great job!! 👍