1960 Ford Starliner

[mrmike]

My new project is a '60 Ford Starliner. The kit has been in the stash for a few years and it is time to build it.

I am going for a tu-tone paint scheme on this one. I was originally planning on a white top and green body and interior, but I hve decided on a Tamiya TS-26 white top over Model Master Acapolco Blue Metallic body with a Model Master Federal Standard Blue interior.

A few mold lines to content with and then it's off to the paint booth!

More to come...

[DRG]

I have the same kit here though it was started and set aside, paint issues.

I will be watching this build.

Color choices sound good.

[oldscool]

You picked another great subject. Can't wait to see more.

gus

[WoodyRDC]

I just started a 60 Starliner to use on my 64 Galaxie body. I am tring to build the 64 to look like my first car and put air shocks on the back to raise it up. I ran into 2 small problems - I bought the Purple starliner kit and it cames with lake pipes and no stock exaust and mufflers -also it has Traction bars built into the rear shock mounts. I dont need the traction bars but I want the stock shock mounts and want stock exaust. I looked at the kit instructions and notice than these pieces came as options on the various 3 Starliner kits from AMT. Please if anyone has these pieces left-over I sure could use them. I will trade the brand new Starliner body and chrome parts with new glass for them.

Sorry to hi-jack yuor thread but I hoped any Starliner lookers may have these parts.

[mrmike]

Thanks guys!

WoodyRDC, if you are in need of parts, then I would like to suggest you make a posting for those in the Wanted section. This would prevent the hi-jacking of someone's WIP thread! Or, you can go out and purchase the new release of the AMT '60 Starliner.

I have started working on mold lines on the body to which there are plentiful. The worst is on the drivers side under the C pillar. I guess I'll be getting out the Bondo for this as it is quite deep.

And, all the way across the deck lid and fenders.

More to come...

[62rebel]

that line across the trunk needs to go, but unless you're de-trimming the car, the lines along the fender caps are there because the real car has separate chrome fins there.

i built a couple of these and IMHO you can get the body to fit better by removing the tab area at the front of the windshield, as IMHO the clear plastic is too thick there. well; it's too thick period.

the first one i built was a replica of the 1:1 i owned when i was in the Navy; white, with a black roof; light blue interior, and seventies Thunderbird polycast wheels.... i couldn't find suitable wheels for mine, so i used Torq-thrusts instead, as i'd have liked to do on the 1:1. it's a fiddly kit but it looks nice when finished and foiled.

[mrmike]

Thanks Curt!

The body got its coat of paint this afternoon.

Along with the wheels and firewall.

And the chassis pan got a coat of red oxide primer.

More to come...

[David G.]

I built one of these too. In spite of the mold lines, and the slightly warped frame that mine had, it's a great kit and I enjoyed building it.

Yours is coming along nicely. The paint job you've done looks great.

David G.

[mrmike]

Thanks David! My frame and chassis pan were also warped and I spent some time the other day carefully twisting the pan and the frame back into shape. So far, they are holding their shape.

[Kanedge]

This is good Mike. I have the new kit, but I don't know what colour to do it. I'm hoping this might give me ideas.

[charlie8575]

I like those colors, Mike!

Charlie Larkin

[mrmike]

Thanks Kane and Charlie!

I have not done a lot to the Starliner over the last couple of days. But, I have been doing some thinking about how I am going to proceed with the build. I am seriously considering entering this into the Club's Out Of Box Build for our show in September. If not, then I will use it for practice for another build. Building OOB is not as easy for someone like me who has always added a detail here or there so I have to dial back my creativity and just follow the instructions word for word. This should be fun!

The engine is partially assembled. No plug wires this time.

I started working on the wheels and tires, but I had to run my Exacto around the inner edge of the tire to get the wheels to fit. It is still a tight fit.

On the right is the wheel and backer. It seems to be a little wide for the kit supplied tires, don't you think?

More to come...

[oldscool]

I'm not liking the looks of those tires at all. They look like the old fashioned ribbed tires from the 50s. I say swap them for something better.

gus

[Casey]

It seems to be a little wide for the kit supplied tires, don't you think?

Yes, the tires are far too narrow for those wheels.

[juergen]

Hi !

Your first steps looking great. I love the body color. can you tell me what color you used?

greets juergen

[charlie8575]

I've noticed on a lot of wheel backs that the total insert assembly is a bit thicker than the tire, and it seems to be compensated when everything gets assembled somehow.

I'd suggest a dry-fit assembly to see how it looks, and if it doesn't work, try sanding the wheel back a little to knock off the excess material.

Charlie Larkin

[Matt T.]

NIIIIICE blue color! In person, would you say it's closer to the pic of the body or the close up of the wheels in the tires? I really like how it looks on the body shell.

[Rick R]

Lookin' good, Mike!

I have seen a few Starliners that have the roof trim area done in a different color, looks good sometimes. Lots of foil needed on these!

[Jim Gibbons]

Looking really good. I had a 1:1 '60 Sunliner identical to my avatar, so needless to say, I really like the '60 Fords.

[mrmike]

Thank you guys!

juergen, the color is Model Master Lacquer Acalpulco Blue with Tamiya Racing White roof.

Guys, the tires are indeed too skinny for this model. It was suggested elsewhere to sand the wheelback and hub down which I thought wouldn't work mainly due to the size of the hub thickness. And, the rim thickness makes it stand out like a sore thumb! I found a set of tires on my parts box that will serve my needs better than the kit tires which are just too skinny. They are from an unknown Revell kit.

The engine is complete.

I need to finish the chassis and then I'll start on the interior.

More to come...

[Janne Herajärvi]

Looking good. I like that color

[Dragline]

I know what a pain this is to foil, first hand.

I am anxious to see yours.

Paint looks awesome and a great combo.

Bob

[mrmike]

Thank you Hertsi and Bob!

I started assembly on the rear suspension tonight.

And the chassis is complete!

I made whitewalls using a circle template and a white Gelly Roll pen. I mounted the wheels and wheel backs after the tires were dry.

More to come...

[Matt T.]

The engine is complete.

Hi Mike,

Are these valve covers from the original factory stock release? My Custom Starliner only has smooth chrome covers and a "Thunderbird" option and, from what I've seen in the New Kit Reviews, the Round2 2n1 release appears to have the same as the Custom kit.

Thanks,

Matt

[mrmike]

Matt, yes this is the original factory stock release. I have picture of the box art on the first page of this thread. I have yet to see the contents of the new 2-In-1 kit so I cannot vouch for that kit nor the custom kit from a few years ago. It is possible that AMT changed the valve covers as part of an update to the kit. I wished this kit had an automatic trans instead of the 3-on-a-tree transmission.