1950's diner theme

[wgflatliner]

Alright, so my club Centennial IPMS is doing a group build with a 50's diner diorama to include all cars from 1959 and older. This will be my online diary/build for this club build. We will be showing it at the national model show later on this year.

On my table:

49 mercury chop top

57 chevy

56 pontiac club de mer

58 impala

59 impala convertible

I have been watching the donn yost dvd's and am learning some reeeeeeeally nice tricks.

First thing on the table is the 49 merc. I chose Testor's One Coat Lime Ice (green with gold flake) with enamel ultra high gloss coat. After the clear coat dried for a week in a case, i noticed there were some small little imperfections in the paint. I didn't know how to fix it until i watched the DVD. So I got the roof and hood completed with wet sanding and the complete novus set (1, 2, and 3) along with some turtle wax buffing compound. MIRROR FINISH!!!!! I still need to finish the trunk and sides, and the polishing will be done. Once i get done with the polishing, i will then move on to taking pictures of the work. Interior plans consist of a white and light green two-tone with a mint green carpet and headliner, and rear window landing. i'm not exactly sure how it is going to turn out.

Once i get done with the Merc, i'll be moving to the pontiac club de mer. It's a rare car that i know nobody else in my club will have done. It's going to be black (in fact it's drying right now) with the chrome trim pieces. It's not much of a model to look at as far as detail is concerned, but it is a neat looking car.

With the other cars, i am not exactly sure how i am going to do them - other than the paint for the 57 chevy. That's going to be candy apple red with racing white in 2-tone flavor.

pics coming soon!

p.s. does anybody know of any other really nice kits from 1959 and older? i want to make sure i get a kit that has good quality and would be a fun build.

thanks!

[diymirage]

thats an interesting question you posed at the end there

i can think of a dozen kits that are complete junk and should be avoided at all times

but

for some reason i cant think of all but one kit to suggest....the modified stockers hauler and trailer kit

it is a 1953 ford F100 pickup truck with a dual axle race trailer

i build one last year and there muse be at least 30 different variations to build this truck as

some of the biggest visual options are the engine, (two included) the rear fenders, (two different styles included) and the front grille (3 included)

i would definatly recomend that kit, to get the juices flowing and to ad a nice pile to the partsbin

[wgflatliner]

alright then, let me pose this question:

which kits are good, and which are bad?

i KNOW the 49 merc is good.. any other input?

[diymirage]

one kit that is a real challenge that fits your era is the AMT 56 ford victoria

tons of fitment issues with that one

but it does have opening doors and several ways to build it so i guess its not a total loss

[lowriderphil]

I have been watching the donn yost dvd's

what are these dvd's you speak of and where can I find them?

phil

[Nick Winter]

Well for some nice kits I've built some for myself other for other folks;these are just 50's cars/ trucks

'58 Edsel

'50 Ford Convertible

'51 Chevy Fleetline

'51 Chevy Bel Air Convertible

My personal favorite- '53 Ford P/U

'53 Ford Convertible Indy Pace Car

'53 Ford Crown Victoria Convertible

'53 Ford Crown Victoria

'53 Corvette Convertible

'55 Chevy Bel Air Sedan

'55 Chevy Cameo P/U

'55 Chevy Nomad

'56 Thunderbird

'56 Chevy Hardtop

'50 Ford Pickup

'56 Chevy Nomad

'57 Chrysler 300C

'57 Chevy Cameo P/U

'57 Chevy Stepside P/U

'57 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham

'57 Ford Fairlane 500 Hardtop

'58 Chevy Impala Coupe

'59 Chevy El Camino

maybe this helps, maybe not

[LoneWolf15]

what are these dvd's you speak of and where can I find them?

phil

oldmansmodels.com

[Junkman]

No pics, no happened.

[Guest Gramps-xrds]

one kit that is a real challenge that fits your era is the AMT 56 ford victoria

tons of fitment issues with that one

but it does have opening doors and several ways to build it so i guess its not a total loss

Hmm, I've built several of the 56's and had little or no fit problems.

[wgflatliner]

No pics, no happened.

here you go.

old: (look at the bumps in the paint)

new: (first time EVER attempting wet sanding)

no more bumps! i did get a little too far in parts of the top coat, but i'll fix it.

personally i feel that i went from average to above average simply with the wet sanding session.

Edited February 23, 2010 by wgflatliner

[LoneWolf15]

Glad you're reeaaally enjoying the new tricks !

The Revell ' 56 Delray and Nomad are both nice kits that go together well with a minimum of prep work. Being that you are on a dead line , you might want to stay away from some of the older kits due to the amount of time involved in prepping them , bodywise . The Amt ' 49 Ford is another good one ! Keep up the good work !