1956 Oldsmobile - - WIP

[Ramfins59]

This is the last 1956 Promo that I have, to be on the bench. After this I start work on some full kits. I figured I'd get all the "quick and easy" ones out of the way first (no engine or chassis details to deal with). When I Googled reference pictures I saw a car that I really liked the mildly aggressive look of, and that was my inspiration for this particular build.

I picked up a '56 Olds promo many years ago at a show and am finally doing something with it. Over time I somehow lost the promo's chassis and wound up digging through my parts stash to find a chassis that fit the Olds Olds body but I wound up having to lengthen it by almost a half inch with some scrap plastic to get the wheelbase right. I found some Halibrand wheels which I mounted in some big 'n little tires and made axles from plastic tubing. The body was horribly painted in a raspberry color which I stripped in Scalecoat. Whoever painted the body had also sanded off the hood and trunk emblems and lettering. Here's how it looks mocked up...

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I got a resin interior from The Modelhaus and finished that up today. The carpet is flocked in black and the seats and side panels are painted in shades of gray and black. I added a chrome trim strip to the side panels and also drilled holes where the barely there molded cranks and handles were and glued in resin cranks and handles from ReplMinCoMD which I painted chrome silver. The dash is painted black and detailed with BMF, chrome silver paint and a super fine point black artists pen. It is just mocked up for the pictures right now.

I'll be painting this car 2-Tone with Black Gold's SilverWhite Pearl and Duplicolor Storm Gray Metallic, as soon as we get rid of the humid, rainy, crappy weather here.

Thanks for looking in on this latest "Class of '56" build. All comments, good or bad, are welcomed..

[Ford guy]

Richard, great job on that interior! Sounds like you've got some cool plans, can't wait to see more!

The inspirational picture is really cool.

[slusher]

Glad to see you back in action Rich. Very nice start...

[codie27]

Oh man...I wish I had one of these to build! Looking real nice so far.

[PappyD340]

Looking good Rich!!

[Ace-Garageguy]

The '55-'57 Oldsmobubbles are my favorite GM cars of the period, probably because we had a '55 Dynamic 88 convertible when I was a kid. I LOVED that car and actually cried when the old man traded it...on a new '60 Falcon. Geez.

Enjoying seeing your build of this one, and really looking forward to following your progress.

[ScrappyJ]

Very cool!

[Joker]

WhoooooDooogiiee!

That there is the Valedictorian of the Class of '56.

The '56 Olds grill/bumper is one of my favorite front end designs,

including the head light rings. Thanks Rich...

[Ramfins59]

Thank you very much everyone for all of your encouragement.

[cobraman]

Very nice Rich. My folks had one back in the day. As I remember it was coral and white.

[Eshaver]

Richard, it already looks like a winner !

[Ramfins59]

Thanks Ray and Ed, all the kind words keep me motivated. I reprimed the body today and will hopefully get some paint on it by this weekend.

[Chris White]

if there was a "Richard Manson" Channel on tv, I'd watch. Love your work!!!!

[Ramfins59]

Wow, thank you so much Chris, although you'd better stop or I might start to get a "big head". I just try to do a neat, clean job on my builds.

[jbwelda]

that's gonna look really really sharp. great interior too, some excellent detailing. kool breeze!

[forthlin]

The '55-'57 Oldsmobubbles are my favorite GM cars of the period, probably because we had a '55 Dynamic 88 convertible when I was a kid. I LOVED that car and actually cried when the old man traded it...on a new '60 Falcon. Geez.

Enjoying seeing your build of this one, and really looking forward to following your progress.

My Mom had a '55 Olds 98 Starfire convertible back in the late 50's - early 60's. I was a little kid when She traded it in 1961. Now it would be worth a small fortune. What I'd give to have that car now.

[1930fordpickup]

Another good one coming our way.

[Cesar Bossolani]

Great job mate!

I have one of this in my bench also and I shortned body to make a 88 version. But I have no idea to where I can get a interior.

Do you got a Olds interior from Modelhaus? Can you put a link?

[Bobdude]

All you need is www.modelhaus.com

[Brizio]

Beautiful car! I had a 1956 Super 88 Holiday all stock, and I will look forward to see more of you.

[Ramfins59]

Thank you very much everyone. I sprayed the SilverWhite Pearl on today. Hopefully I can mask that off and then spray the Storm Gray Metallic tomorrow. I'll let that dry and then clearcoat it all. Further updates as they happen.

[Ramfins59]

I was finally able to finish painting the second color (Duplicolor Storm Gray Metallic), gave that a couple of days to dry, then unmasked it and gave the body 3 or 4 coats of Duplicolor acrylic clear. It looks pretty good so far.

A day or so for the clearcoat to dry and then comes polishing and then the BMF work. Ipolished out the green promo glass which doesn't look too bad. I'd prefer clear glass but I don't have anything in my clear parts stash that will fit, and I don't feel like making my own glass from clear acetate for this car.

[Geno]

Rich, this is looking sweet. Can't wait to see this one finished.

[Ramfins59]

Thanks Gene. I'm hoping this comes out looking as cool as the picture of the car that was the inspiration for this build.

[Cesar Bossolani]

Looks great!