'56 Chevy Bel Air Lead Sled

[W-409]

I bought '56 Chevy body without roof. Roof is from '55 Chevy and it's chopped and shortened. Fender skirts are made from sheet styrene and bondo. More modifications are coming soon... Engine will be small block Chevy 350''. This car will be low as possiple.

The starting point:

And how it looks right now.

Edited November 7, 2010 by W-409

[randx0]

I like what you are doiing with this one how are you going to make the new windows?

[W-409]

I like what you are doiing with this one how are you going to make the new windows?

I'll use thin plastic plate (asetat?) Hope it will work...

Edited December 19, 2009 by W-409

[charlie8575]

Interesting; you don't see too many Tri-5s like this; yours looks good. Acetate will probably be the best choice for the windows for this.

Charlie Larkin

[W-409]

I've forgotten to post this update here. So here you go!

I test fitted body interior and chassis together. Chassis was too wide from rear because there are those pieces of plastic behing fender skirts. I must sand a bit of plastic from interior, now it doesn't fit very well... Grille is from '57 Fairlane (Custom part) and I'll glue bit of styrene to side. I have sanded body, the other side isn't still ready... It's just so boring..

[W-409]

I took this out of the box to see how the project proceeds. I checked the chassis and there were very ugly pipes... So i removed them with forceps, hobbyknife (?), dremel and wide bladed graver. The next thing i'm gonna do is patch those holes and put some putty.

[rustybill1960]

How is the build coming along?

later

Russ

[W-409]

Slowly but surely... I made fillings for the muffler holes and put some bondo to them. I must only sand it.

[jedimastergary]

Looking good so far nice custom work on it

looks like ti will be cool when done

[Hornistfuller]

wow nice roof conversion. i really dont think the new bumper will look good tho..

Edited April 23, 2010 by bobman331

[W-409]

A little update to this, finally! I stretched rear wings with styrene and then put some bondo to them, they are a bit like a puzzle of 20 litlle pieces, but after glue and bondo they fit quite well... It wasn't easy, but I did it and thats good. After wings, I built visors to headlights from narrow piece of styrene. Now they are under bondo, but sandpaper will turn it out very nicely, I think... I made a windscreen visor (?) from styrene too, it's quite good too. That part was easy to do. The last thing was stretched rear bumber (tell me what that is in enghlish correctly, please!) from styrene and continental kit is from '58 Impala. Rear bumber is just put on the place, I change it when I find another one.

Tell me what you think about the body lines and tips and tricks are welcome!

[Jantrix]

I like where you're going with this. It probably would have been better to remove the paint on it before splinging the putty. Also I'm not real sure about the diving board out back. Keep on going, I'm very curious to see where this goes from here.

[W-409]

Slowly but surely... Today I tried to sand out some rude shapes to this... Usually I use sanding papers from 400 to 2000, they are quite good, but right now, I used 120 sandpaper. It's very rough, but I think, it's pretty good for this "shaping"... I sanded as much bondo as I can, then I put some MMD's "Greeen Putty" to the diving board, because that bondo (two component is so heavy stuff, it was good to use Green Putty with fingers... Then I let it dry and after that I put some more bondo to it and now it looks pretty good. It's now in that kind of situation that I can spray the first primer coat on it quite soon... Now I just must take that 400 sandpaper and make that thing smooth... Interior is quite bad, it has been upholstered sometime and there were still some heavy glue and fur all around. I removed them, some Green Putty, because I want it to bee smooth... Now, here are the pictures for you...

Now I have a new '56 Chevy Custom coming. It will be sectioned and so on.

Feel free for comments, as always, I try to continue this one soon, but let's see when next update comes...

[Scalper]

I see lots of sanding in your near future.

[W-409]

I see lots of sanding in your near future.

Mee too! But I think, that's the easiest way to do this job. I have a carpet to the floor, that's why it's so bad looking... Body work is not so funny either, I don't like sanding these parts very much... But this continues!

EDIT: I posted pictures from the starting point to my first post, because I noticed, they were not there...

Edited October 23, 2010 by W-409

[W-409]

Today I have done lots of bodywork. I'll post pictures when I got something to show you. But right now. Air cleaner is from Cadillac, it's resin part, can't remeber the manufactuer... I drilled holes, to there, like in real one. Firts I used 1mm drill bit, then 1,5mm and then 2mm drill bit... Then I just made one turn with 3,5mm drill bit, wich made it looking better. Then those 1mm, 1,5mm and 2mm drill bits again and right now it looks pretty good. I've been thinking of using Alcad to that air cleaner, but don't know is it so good either, maybe just paint it black.

Feel free for comments.

[W-409]

Here is a little update to you guys! After that last body work update I have sanded and put more bondo to this about five times... Now it looks pretty good, but still there is lots and lots of work to do. That diving board is quite good right now. Frontend of the car is not so good but I try to make it better. Those headlight visors are not good looking, I mean there is still room for more bondo and styrene. I made a little plastic piece to that firewall also, because now it looks quite smooth and that's very good when building customs. I must fill those holes, wich are for hood hinge. Underside of the body is not so good, I must put some more bondo to there too and there are very many things to do, as I said. But here are the pictures to you...

Now I would like to hear some comments and specially it would be nice to hear any ideas for the body. I mean, all ideas are welcome, and taillights, I'm not sure what kind of lights I put there so throw any ideas to me...

[crazyjim]

Lot of work going into your build, Niko. How about 3 '59 Caddie taillights stacked vertically on each side? Maybe french them in a little bit?

[W-409]

That's very good idea! Frenching is a bit hard right now... Or well, it's possible... Thank you for that idea. I can make those taillight myself...

[crazyjim]

Make '59 Caddy lenses yourself? I have some that are chrome plated and I', waiting for some Aluminite and red tint to cast some translucent red lenses.

How would you make them?

[W-409]

It's easy: Take a piece of that rail, where are the parts when you buy a kit from a shop. You know? What is the name of it...? Have no idea. But that rail, where are those parts fastened. But you must take clear red rail, where are taillights fastened or only clear is good too. Then put it to driller. Now I mean that kind of driller, which is bolted to table. Then you must take a file and it's just like lating wood... Understand? I can post pictures if you don't understand my bad enghlish but I'm trying to write as good as I can. I have a wordbook, but there is no all of the words.

But that's my way of building them, it's easy and saves money.

[crazyjim]

I understand, Niko. The little parts are attched to sprue. I would imagine after using the file you would probably need to use some finer grades of sandpaper to get a shiny finish. I'm going to try your suggestion and compare to the casting I plan to do.

I might also try casting some Evergreen rod after it's been through the drill and you suggested.

Thanks for the help.

I forget when you're planning to come to Florida. Maybe we can get some Model Car Builders of Florida together to meet with you.

[Foxer]

I like seeing your bodywork in the making. I'd have to say , though, that's more of an Intercontinental kit! Don't mind me, just having fun ... I like the extended rear fenders.

[W-409]

Thank you, for the comments guys! Yes that taillight needs a little of fine sandpaper for a shiney finish. That's very simple job, but it's quite hard to make same looking lights... I can't remember right now, when I'm coming to Orlando, Florida but I post the date later today.

This one is not very far from first primer coat, but then it needs lots and lots of more sanding so that's not the final primer coat. I modified those headlight visors a little better. Now they are fitting better to this smooth look, I think... Here is a picture to you.

Better? I think so but what you think...?

[W-409]

So we are coming to Orlando in February 10th to 19th 2011. But our flight leaves from HelsinkiVantaa airport at February 10th and we are back home at February 19th. I can't wait to get there! Only one bad thing: it's 16 hours flight with one plane change at Frankfurt...