1/24 1955 Chevy Belair

[Deckerz]

Hi guys, new to the forum so i may as well start with a bang.

So i was at a mates house and i saw this car in a box in the corner of the room and he just said i could have it which was good for me but i have no idea what company made it.

The plan is to make it street race car style but still keep the muscle look.

This was it when i got it.

First thing was to remove that "bird" emblem when i think it looks more like a aeroplane and sand away that lip on the hood.

Holes filled and front skinned just in case i missed something while sanding.

The stock...motor? looks more like a watering can lol.

I was going to replace with a 426 hemi but iv decided to put a GM Z06 engine in it (once i get the kit).

Hood primered and poor quality bumpers and grill removed.

Just trying out a colour and decide i like this green (tamiya light) but if this cars going to be unique the paint has be be unique too.

The boot and hood took a while to sand as its enamal paint so i had enough and did not want too spend ages sanding the body so...paint stripper was the way to go.

Iv ordered some pegasus wheel sleeves to make the wheels much wider, give them offset, and a little bigger then the stock wheels with tyres on.

Basicaly you glue your model car rims into them but i cant decide....should i use the stock wheels with the sleeves or should i use some 5 pole rims?

Also got a new number plate with decals coming so im sanding the molded one down smooth for the new one to be glued or screwed on for realism and im sanding the body of all imperfections and molding lines.

Updates soon.

[Guest arni]

Could be fun to watch.

[diymirage]

diving right into this one

looking good so far (though i would have sticked with the 426 hemer)

[Eshaver]

Origionaly , it was issued by Monogram models. The kit had a variety of versions when it came out in about 1964. It was re-issued several times and was last re-issued as a Street Machine . It's been a good kit to start from . Have fun is the name of the game here ! Ed Shaver

[Duntov]

Hey there!!!

This looks very interesting. I have had some good luck with the die-cast stuff.....so keep pushing on it......will like to see how it works out!!!

Regards

Bill (Duntov)

[Deckerz]

Thanks for the replies guys.

I have to say that i find diecast eaiser to work on because i don't have to worry about the paint stripper melting the metal and there is less stuff to go wrong like snapping of pieces but plastic has its upsides too, eaiser to sand moulding lines and eaiser to find replacment parts.

I think this is just going to be a 1 off just for model car shows and stuff as i got it for free, i do prefer working with plastic though.

[Deckerz]

Update!

I have now fully smoothed the tailgate of that lip and moulded number plate, i then skinned with body filler to make sure i got smooth and i had so its all good.

Wasn't expecting these to come yet...

20" aluminium wheel sleeves, they are much wider then the stock wheels.

Should i use these rims inside them?

They are rims from a old xmods rc car so a new set of rims is pretty easy to come by.

Sorry for the glare on pics.

[whale392]

Wheels do look good on it...and I must say that you have more stones than I do to work on a die-cast!

[Deckerz]

Haha thanks.

So i tried painting the tailgate in hawian met blue from a spray can but the paint was old so it had thickend up so i stripped it again.

Iv decided to go with tamiya park green, its a acrylic paint but i never use enamels so i thought i may as well use the paint i have.

i primered first then wet sanded to get the primer smooth. Here it is with 1st coat on the original chassis.

That blue/gray bar you can see in the middle of the body is the starting point for the cotton bud rollcage lol, i do the same for all my cars, make a custom rollcage and the starting point is always the same.

Edited March 7, 2010 by Deckerz

[DanielG]

If you want a unique finish you might try some of Tamiya's clear colours over different base coats, like clear red over blue just as an example. The clear coat can really impart a different look to the finish depending on the combination.

[Deckerz]

sound like a good idea, thanks, im thinking....orange clear

[Lownslow]

nice ride

[Deckerz]

Thanks.

Got a new airbrush, its duel action and gravity feed just like my other one except as you can see this is trigger operated, im just waiting for adapters for the hose so until then im using the normal one.

Got the 4th coat of green on but i ran out of fine paper for so i had to wet sand with 1000 grit, i think 1 more coat to cover all the spots then il do the clear orange, the grill in front of the wipers and the old fuel cap are now filled in and smoothed, i am going to replace the cap with a ford mustang gtr style fuel cap but in place of the old one.

Mock up, its going to be about 2mm higher on the front and rear.

i dont like the rims in the wheel sleeves, they might be good for a lowrider but this is a race car so im thinking some glass black bbs style rims, what you guys think?

Edited March 8, 2010 by Deckerz

[Deckerz]

After i sprayed the last coat of green and let it cure i noticed alot of missed body work, so...stripped it again, it also gave me a chance to give it a all over sand with 400 grit to give a better suface for the primer. So i got the putty out and puttied over the fuel cap, the grill in front of the wipers, two tiny holes in the hood, two little splits above the headlights and also cut most of the plastic grill and started moulding the surround to the body.

Once iv got the grill moulded to the body im going to make it into a pontiac style grill.

The inside of the body will be sprayed matte black once the exterior paint and decals are done.

I noticed a small dip in the tailgate so i sorted that out.

[rustybill1960]

Welcome to the Board!

Nice start you have there too!

I am very interested in your grille modifications as well!

I was favoring your Hawaiian blue, but, I must say your choice of the green base then topping it with a clear orange have me wondering . . . .

This is the place to build, so Happy building and have "FUN!"

Thank You for sharing!

Later Dude

Russ

[jevries]

Really like what you do with customizing die cast cars. It's def something I want to get into because there range of 1/18 models is exceptional.

[Deckerz]

Thanks for the comments guys.

Iv decided on the front end....im going to buy a 1/24 diecast chevy stepside truck from jada toys and cut at halfway between the front fender the weld from the inside and bodyfiller on the outside.

The front clip of the truck will give me a lower front bumper which is also smoothed..here is link.

http://www.toywonders.com/productcart/pc/Jada-Toys-Kustom-Kings-Chevy-Stepside-Tow-Truck-1955-1-24-Asstd-90844IT-95p5957.htm

i will simply take of that front chrome bumper and fill in the tiny holes if it has them.

it seems a shame to cut up a nice looking diecast but i want this 55 belair to be unique.

i will also remove the moulded trim from the belair body once the new front clip is in place.

i think the hardest bit will be building a new hood but i may get away with just shortening the belair hood.

All for now.

[Deckerz]

ok so i was so close to just using cans for this cars paintjob because the green was too thick then it was too thin the the nozzle got clogged and spluttered on it put i wetsanded and it turned out good, also did the effect too, the whole car is going to be like this (once i get the new front end) minus the hood which will be gloss black. i put netting over and made it loose in some spots to make it not perfect, as iv said i want it unique.

there are still decals to go on and a numberplate....could anybody give me a link? iv got numberplate decals but all the plastic frames i have are too small, does any company make a metal numberplate?

sorry for slight bluryness, my stand broke and i couldn't hold the camera still.

[rustybill1960]

Really liking the Paint scheme you have in mind Dude!

Looks "FRIGGIN' AWESOME MAN!"

Thank You for sharing

Later

Russ