So Exactly What do You See When You Buy an Old Built up or Glue Bomb?

[FordRodnKustom]

It just didn't look finished to me so...I dug up some vintage period perfect parts and decals from my stash

And some vintage glue to go along with it! Where on Earth did you find that? And is it still good??

Charlie Larkin

It was in the box of a vintage partial built up and some parts a picked up not long ago. As far as it still being good the tube is still soft but it's not open so I really don't know. Just a cool display piece.

[ChrisBcritter]

I'm sure the original builder had a few choice words after he smeared glue on the rear window. I'll eventually take this apart and see if i can either repair it or replace it with Modelhaus glass.

There's another tonneau cover you could use to mold tuck 'n' roll - and the pattern runs sideways unlike the '59 El Camino. Nice custom grille on this truck too - would look sharp on a real one.

[Austin T]

Every now and then I pick one up just because I see it's savable and cool,for example this Mazda Rx-3 Racer I got at a show a few weeks back.

Or I find one that I like to consider "Modeling Folk Art". Here's my only one I own right now. An AMT 1953 Ford Pupster

[Tom Geiger]

With the Nova pix, here's one I own. I got it at a show years ago. I guess I need to get some better pictures taken soon...

Edited April 3, 2014 by Tom Geiger

[Draggon]

That Nova is pretty cool Tom. It would look real great next to one of those loony styline Rancheros.

[Tom Geiger]

That Nova is pretty cool Tom. It would look real great next to one of those loony styline Rancheros.

Oh them's fightin' words !

Just happen to have a few...

[pharoah]

Great thread! It's nice to see some of these old kits I used to have.

I got rid of all of my old models when I was in my early 20's and moving on (and out).

[PARTSMARTY]

I have somewhat of a different look at it.I have a ton of gluebombs-wrecks and bag kits of cool cars.i look at everything as how I'm gonna do it.i won't display anything that somebody built or painted.it has to be my paint job and my build.sure it's cool to think of nostalgia but it's more importrant to me to get what I want and build it my way.i'm always into gluebombs and damaged goods cause I love rebuilding them and always looking for more.

thanks for listening

Edited April 7, 2014 by PARTSMARTY

[Deano]

Sometimes I see History. Sometimes I see Potential. Sometimes I see nothing but Parts.

[Draggon]

Tom, I thought I had the corner on those Rancheros with 4 of them. Seems I'm just an amateur.

[pharoah]

Wow,that 60's styling sure was....different.

I can't figure out why so many people painted the chassis silver. I've bought a few 'projects' and they were painted like that.

Trying to look like chrome?

[Tom Geiger]

Tom, I thought I had the corner on those Rancheros with 4 of them. Seems I'm just an amateur.

Sorry Glen, they just keep following me home! I have stopped buying unless I find one that has truly unique features.

[Tom Geiger]

Wow,that 60's styling sure was....different.

I can't figure out why so many people painted the chassis silver. I've bought a few 'projects' and they were painted like that.

Trying to look like chrome?

Probably so. I have one that the kid painted the entire engine bay silver. It as rare to have a detailed chassis on these old customs. Mine run between black and bare plastic. I've got some that are absolutely brilliant on the top side, but bare plastic under??

Another thing I've noticed. Some builders left out the glass back then. I mean on kits that certainly did come with glass. I don't know why they'd do that,.

[Tom Geiger]

i won't display anything that somebody built or painted.it has to be my paint job and my build.

I once thought that way too. It gradually changed over the years. First when I got involved with the museum, I got interested in old building style and the history. So I started to collect them. Then I came into a few collections of built ups and realized I'd never get to redoing all of them my way, so I started to display them. I have a complete run of full size Chevys from the early 1950s through the 1970s in one case. I didn't build any of them, nor are they super builds. Still, they tell a story and it's better than keeping them all in boxes. So I could display them now the way they are, or wait 20 years until I get to them.

All my own builds are in one showcase, downstairs in my office. I have two more cases up in the model room that have a variety of things in them. One case is purely the Old Kustom Kollection, while the other is a lot of misc stuff I acquired. I have one special shelf of models built by friends of mine, both those who have passed and those who are alive. I like that shelf.

Edited April 8, 2014 by Tom Geiger

[Modelbuilder Mark]

Another thing I've noticed. Some builders left out the glass back then. I mean on kits that certainly did come with glass. I don't know why they'd do that,.

Afraid of glue goobers maybe.

[Chuck Most]

So far, I haven't bought one with the intent of leaving it as is, but I have nabbed a few old built ups for good prices, when I find them and if it's a subject I want, and one that isn't readily available in styrene or resin form.

[Ron Hamilton]

I buy glue bombs exclusively for the purpose of a re-build. The model has to be a kit you cannot buy for less than an arm or a leg as an un-built kit, and not cut, chopped, or shaved, as I am primarily a Replica Stock/Mild Custom builder.I take great enjoyment in resurrecting something that has bee disguarded, and raggedy into a decent looking build.

These are ex-glue-bombs:

An so many more of them are awaiting their turn. At the present time, I am restoring an original AMT 1971 Chevelle SS454. Sorry that I did not take any photos, but it was terrible, as there was glue buen on the roof, and a poorly applied brush paint job in red and black. I plan to combine it with an AMT 1969 442 for a better detailed chassis and underhood area, a nice 350/4-speed engine, and wheels from the parts box, and build it as the "Heavy Chevy" concept as I would have done it back in 1971, using a set of Fred Cady decals I have.

[carrucha]

I was looking at buying a Trumpter '63 Chevy Nova on ebay but I did not want to pay the average price of $75.00 for that kit so I settled for an AMT '62 Chevy Nova glue bomb intending to rebuild it. When I finally received it I was surprised by how charming it was considering it was crudely built and painted. I am debating on whether to leave it as is or rebuild it. Considering the high price these kits go for I am probably going to rebuild it.

[Ramfins59]

So far I've only bought 2 cars as builtups...

One from EBAY which was a "paintbomb" - a '59 Lincoln convertible that looked like it was painted with Black driveway sealer using a roller. It went into the paint stripper and will be redone for my "Class of '59".

The second is a '58 Imperial I got at a show that was unpainted, but had all the scoops, louvers, skirts, mirrors, spots and antenna's glued on it. I removed all that stuff and sanded off the glue globs and filled in all the holes and divots. It will be redone for my "Class of '58".

I can appreciate those who want to preserve the "history" but at the moment I'm not into that.

Edited May 5, 2014 by Ramfins59