Puddingwrestler's un-named '64 Gloria custom

[puddingwrestler]

Well chaps, this is the third of the SOCC founder members. So far I don't have a name for it.

BAsically it'll be a Prince Gloria Super 6 done up as a roadster with tonneau cover, like the late 50s Thunderbirds. I'll be converting it to two-door, lowering and doing a few other body mods, but nothing really decided yet. I intend to work on it inbetween waiting for the wild wasabi to dry.

As to the name, I was thinking of trying to go with a bird theme, since I'm trying to make a sort of Japanese Thunderbird look. Possibly something to do with Pheonix or Crane as I associate those with Japan. If anyone has any ideas (or knows any righteously cool Japanese bird names) let me know.

Oh, BTW; Arii 1/32 kit, and looks like this.

[stevegt738]

Plans for this sound good.

I have this one too, also have the `63 Prince Skyline, need to get more of them.

[puddingwrestler]

Plans for this sound good.

I have this one too, also have the `63 Prince Skyline, need to get more of them.

I'm slowly accumulating them from an eBay seller in HongKong. Which explains why I often end up with the police or taxi versions since that's what he is listing at the time.

Seeing as I can't find the engine for the Wild Wasabi, this'll be moving a bit quicker. Having had a good all round look at the body, I must say it reminds me of the Corvair (mostly it's that chrome molding all the way around the top of the body)

[puddingwrestler]

I've started work on this one, but not very much yet as I'm still busy on the Wild Wasabi interior. So far all I've done is modify the grille slighlty by giving it a full height divider bar in the middle, somewhat like Pontiacs'. I've also started to fill in the oval tail light indents and built a prototype of the custom tail lights I intend to use. Got the idea from some scratch built Corvair tail lights in an old copy of Scale Auto. Basically, rings cut from three thicknesses of aluminium tube, slotted into each other, with some putty to fill the hole down the center. I need to make four, and I'm thinking about drilling holes through the body to slot them into. They are a bit time consuming, but the prototype looks pretty good. Anyway, pics when there is anything much to show.

[puddingwrestler]

FInally got a name for the Gloria Custom - Raiju. Spent a lot of time plugging things into google's Enlgish to Japanese trasnlate-o-tron and getting no where, so I went and nosed around Wikipedia for legendary creatures. Raiju is the Japanese Thunder Beast, which seems completely appropraite since this build's inspired by the Thunderbird.

[puddingwrestler]

Egad! Photos!

I've lowered the suspension a bit, more at the front than the back so it's got a rake. The tail lights still need a bit of work, their not quite in the right spots. The head rests and the tonneau still need some more work to get everything nicely blended in. I've picked up the paint for this. It's Contessa Gold aut touch up spray from the local autObarn (Australian car stuff supply chain, and the only place in town which sells it, if not a very wide range... sigh.)

It's a fairly dark metallic gold with a little flake. Dunno why I'm doing so much yellow lately, I just wanted a slightly unusual colour, and they didn't have much choice. Apart from Blue, Green and Red, it was really this or beige. Which always makes me think of obsolete computers.

Edited June 28, 2010 by puddingwrestler

[puddingwrestler]

Interior now painted and installed. There's a bit of detail work to do on the dash still. Interior is black with black carpets and body colour trim at the tops of the doors.

Should be able to start painting the body tommorow if all goes well.

[Romell R]

This is turning out really nice i have a small piece of advice to add. Usually when you have a two door coupe or convertable the door is generally longer. I think you should rescribe the back of the door to make it a bit longer. you scrafice you door size when you have four doors, but the door should be longer when you turn a four door into a two door. just my opinion. keep up the good work!

[puddingwrestler]

I did think about doing that, but I am a bit shy of major scribing work. Also, I kinda wanted it to look like they'd just welded the rear doors shut and then stuck the top on wihtout lengthening the stock doors.