traditional Posted December 26, 2012 Share Posted December 26, 2012 Ok, I realize that these 1955 Buicks are 1/26 scale and some of you may not handle that too well, but since I tend to collect and build in all scales, I enjoyed modifying and painting a civilian version from a $10 Maisto police car (a quick and relatively simple project). I also painted the wheels of the police car black ( instead of the chrome versions as modeled by Maisto). These models will never be confused with super detailed models or 'precision diecast', but to me they're quite reasonably proportioned and interesting enough to include in my collection. On the civilian Buick, various holes were filled and the paint is automotive basecoat/clearcoat with foil and fine wire trim and tiny paint details picked out with Humbrol and Tamiya . I hope some of you may enjoy seeing both these diecasts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TooOld Posted December 26, 2012 Share Posted December 26, 2012 Very , very nice ! I really like the blue and white version . I guess being diecast the scale isn't real important and I wouldn't mind having them on my shelf ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AzTom Posted December 26, 2012 Share Posted December 26, 2012 Great colors on the blue and white one. The Police car looks much nicer with the rims painted black. Although we appreciate telling us what scale they are, it does not matter here. All scales are welcome! I have from 1/256 to 1/6 scale AzTom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrObsessive Posted December 26, 2012 Share Posted December 26, 2012 Excellent Conversion! The civilian one brings back some memories..........My great-grandmother had one with that roofline although I believe hers was a '54. I like whatever looks correct no matter what scale it is! A lot of neat subjects can be missed due to scale "bigotry". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
win22 Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 Excellent job. I am currently working on 1:26 1955 Buick Century. It was my father's 1st car. I am looking for colors; majestic blue, Dover white, and another white that is slightly darker. I need help in finding the correct paints. Your work is exactly what I'm shooting for. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks Walt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramfins59 Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 Excellent job Clifford. Ā I also redid one of these Maisto Buicks to include it in my 1955 car collection. Ā I don't mind the slight scale difference or that it is a diecast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace-Garageguy Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 Very nice. There are a lot of really interesting subjects in relatively inexpensive die-cast that make great starting points for fine models.I've been working on and off on a 1/25 '55 Oldsmobile convertible, based on an odd scale Welly die-cast. Copying the panels in fiberglass and stretching them on to a modified '55 Chevy frame is a time consuming task, but it's a whole lot easier than starting from scratch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yenkocamaro Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 Always a pleasure to see your work Cliff, no matter what scale it is.Ā Cheers,Lance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
promoman Posted August 19, 2016 Share Posted August 19, 2016 Very nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom99 Posted August 20, 2016 Share Posted August 20, 2016 That looks great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kilrathy10 Posted December 18, 2016 Share Posted December 18, 2016 Very nice work, Man....This is one of my favorite new hobbies.....Redoing Maisto die casts, that is.....Anyway....You've done an excellent job on this one......Very nice.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Most Posted December 18, 2016 Share Posted December 18, 2016 Fantastic job on the conversion! I have one of these I started about 10 years ago- so far all I've done is strip the paint and used some scrap strip to make the door spears. Its been kicking around in a box ever since.Ā Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chriscarroll.ogre Posted December 19, 2016 Share Posted December 19, 2016 Beautiful Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chepp Posted December 20, 2016 Share Posted December 20, 2016 traditional, your improved models look really good. The wheels on the highway patrol version are supposed to be black.One thing to consider when making civilian versions of this die-cast is that body was only available to, as far as I know, the California Highway Patrol. It is a Special 2-door sedan body with a Century engine and front clip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snake45 Posted December 23, 2016 Share Posted December 23, 2016 Very nice! I too enjoy pimping up these cheap diecasts a little and getting a model you can't get anywhere else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robberbaron Posted December 26, 2016 Share Posted December 26, 2016 (edited) traditional, your improved models look really good. The wheels on the highway patrol version are supposed to be black.One thing to consider when making civilian versions of this die-cast is that body was only available to, as far as I know, the California Highway Patrol. It is a Special 2-door sedan body with a Century engine and front clip.I agree, beautiful job on the civilian conversion, and also detailing the police version. Ā I also have a couple of these that I have similar plans for.Chepp is correct regarding the 2-door sedan Century body style. Ā As far as I can tell the main visual differences between the Century and Ā Special 2-door sedans were 4 portholes vs. 3 on the front fenders, and the badges on the quarter panels. Ā Just eyeballing Google images, it looks like the porthole spacing for both models is the same, the Century just has one additional above each front wheel well.I think filing off the front porthole on each of the fenders would result in the correct Special appearance. Ā That's my eventual plan for at least one of mine, along with creating the door trim like you did.As far as I can tell, I don't think there was a wheelbase difference between the 2 models, not positive though. Ā If that's the case, it would be easy enough to bolt a set of Century fenders onto a Special sedan in 1:1, so in my book your blue/white version is easily possible in full scale. Ā (Or just consider that the CHP versions would have been repainted after they were auctioned off for civilian use.) Edited December 27, 2016 by Robberbaron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hooknladderno1 Posted January 15, 2017 Share Posted January 15, 2017 Very cool! Ā Didn't know about this particular diecast. Ā Makes me think of doing something like this: Ā David Ā Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Art Anderson Posted February 5, 2017 Share Posted February 5, 2017 Of course, bear in mind that for 1955, when Buick reintroduced the Century, it was available to civilians in just three body styles: Ā Convertible, Hardtop, and a Station Wagon. Ā However, the California Highway Patrol ordered 201 Special 2dr sedans, with the Century's engine, and trimmed out as a Century--none were sold to the general public when new, and I believe just one of of the CHP sedans exists today. Ā But, it sure does make for a neat conversion, just the same!Art Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOBLNG Posted March 2, 2021 Share Posted March 2, 2021 Saw this today at Giant Tiger. I passed on it since Iām not really into die casts...but after finding this thread, I might go back and get it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geno Posted March 2, 2021 Share Posted March 2, 2021 Cliff, amazing as always, I love seeing your work.š Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bisc63 Posted March 10, 2021 Share Posted March 10, 2021 Cool stuff; I'll look at any thread that says '55 Buick, no matter the scale! Nice work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dominik Posted July 7, 2021 Share Posted July 7, 2021 very nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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