1956 Ford - Finished -- Class of '56 - Entry #6

[Ramfins59]

I was able to finish this car up this afternoon. It is done up as a late 50's/early 60's style mild custom (I still have to add the lake pipes) using all the "bolt-on" customizing accessories of the period. The colors are Duplicolor Arctic White and Tamiya French Blue. The car was nosed and decked with all badges and emblems removed, and the door handles were shaved. A tube grille was added, Pegasus Crossbar front hubcaps, twin spotlights, mirrors and antennas, full length cruiser skirts, Merc wagon taillights and a continental kit.

After trying my best with the horrible plastic hinges in this kit, I wound up gluing the doors shut. One door wound up falling off when I was trying to install the rest of the interior so I just gave up on the opening doors. Yes Harry, there IS an interior rear view mirror in there... it's an oval shaped one mounted between the sheet plastic visors that I made... it just doesn't show in the pics.

In the engine compartment I added a resin master cylinder and brake line, a washer fluid line, heater hoses, battery cables and a radiator overflow line.

As usual, this model is far from perfect. There were a lot of paint touch-ups to do and those crappy door hinges...!!! If anyone else is building this kit, do yourself a favor and go the extra mile by making new wire hinges for the doors. Did I mention that I HATE those crappy plastic door hinges..???

Now to decide on what to pull off the pile next. My younger brother is after me to build something from 1957, the year that he was born. So far I've only built a '57 Chevy. I've got a Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, Olds,

Pontiac and T-Bird in the pile. What should it be...???

[Porscheman]

That's beautiful Rich!!!

[Skip]

Nice one Rich, you almost made a Ford nut outa me with this one!

[charlie8575]

Very nicely done, Rich. Everything works well together.

Charlie Larkin

[cobraman]

Looks very good Rich. I like that color.

[Chris White]

Wow, and you think it was far from perfect. If that level of perfection came off my bench, I would retire.......maybe. I think it is as close to perfect as it gets.

[TooOld]

That's NICE ! Great colors and great detailing too !

It looks period correct with all the little goodies on it . . . nice job .

[PappyD340]

Extremely NICE job Rich, colors and detail look mighty fine!!

[realgone58]

Another stunner, Rich. Had a buddy that had one done up just like it years ago.

[webestang]

Monte Bella!!!!! Love that paint combo.

[Ramfins59]

Thanks very much everyone, I appreciate your kind and encouraging comments.

[Joker]

Period East Coast Kustom Cruizer !

Don't forget the spare tire art.

[Sixties Sam]

Man, that's nice, Rich! Great finish, and I like the concept. I remember seeing many "J.C. Whitney" customs years ago. I built a Lindberg 53 Ford a while back in the same vein, with a tube grille, bullet taillights, lake pipes, and spinner wheel covers. Nice work on the 56!

Sam

[slusher]

Gorgeous build Rich, love the custom touches....

[Harry P.]

Love it! And love the mirror...

A very nicely done period custom.

[Helix]

Very nice Richard!

[jeffs396]

Super nicely done Rich!

[Ramfins59]

Thanks guys, all the encouraging comments keep me going..

[Guest]

Very nice Rich!

[Green Duster]

Great job! Looks like it's ready to take the stage at Barrett-Jackson.

[bbowser]

Sweet mild kustom Rich. Did you do the headlight lids with BMF? Nice touch!

[Ramfins59]

Thanks a lot guys.

Bruce, the half moon headlight shields are photo-etched pieces from Detail Master. I polished them up a bit with a super fine sanding stick and formed them to a slight curve around a small paint brush handle to conform to the curve of the headlight lenses. They're glued on with clear enamel. The Detail Master part # is DM-2033 and they are $3.99 for a set which has enough to do several cars, with sizes to fit cars with single larger headlights, or smaller twin headlights.

DETAIL MASTER

[Tom Geiger]

^{Another looker Rich! Can't wait to see what you do next.}

^{Me? Still battling the Caravans who are fighting me all the way!}

[Ramfins59]

Thanks Tom. Sorry to hear of your Caravan troubles. I'm sure that you will eventually "win the war." They're only plastic and you're smarter...!!!

I'm trying to decide on what to pull off the pile next. As I said earlier, my younger brother has been after me to build something from 1957. I'm leaning towards a '57 Pontiac convertible promo that I picked up on EBAY a couple of months ago. It's a car that you don't see modeled, and you've seen how I like working on unusual subjects and promos.

I also just received another EBAY bargain today. It's a Classic Metal Works semi-diecast kit (the body is metal but all the parts are plastic) of a 1953 Cadillac in 1/26 scale (like the '55 Olds kit I recently built). I couldn't resist picking it up for only $10 (+ shipping). It's another unusual subject that you don't see modeled and it will be a great addition to my 1950's builds. At first glance the parts look really good and with a little extra detailing I think it will build up into a nice looking model.

[Brudda]

Totally Beautiful!!! What a Car!!