Richard Bartrop Posted March 3, 2019 Posted March 3, 2019 I think those tailfins need something on them. Maybe shaving off that fake spare tire, or going the other way, and making it an actual spare tire like on some of the Exner era concept cars?
'70 Grande Posted March 3, 2019 Posted March 3, 2019 Anyone have a good idea about a good choice of donor chassis to go underneath this Imperial to get a more detailed chassis with separate suspension pieces? I was wondering about the '59 Plymouth, (Christine), kit, but I'm almost certain the wheelbase would be too short. Any thoughts out there would be appreciated.
unclescott58 Posted March 3, 2019 Posted March 3, 2019 10 minutes ago, '70 Grande said: Anyone have a good idea about a good choice of donor chassis to go underneath this Imperial to get a more detailed chassis with separate suspension pieces? I was wondering about the '59 Plymouth, (Christine), kit, but I'm almost certain the wheelbase would be too short. Any thoughts out there would be appreciated. AMT's '57 Chrysler 300 from the 1990's maybe your best bet. Wheelbase is different by 3" on the real cars. But, engine and chassis will be much closer than what you would get AMT's Christine Plymouth kit.
unclescott58 Posted March 3, 2019 Posted March 3, 2019 11 hours ago, Richard Bartrop said: I think those tailfins need something on them. Maybe shaving off that fake spare tire, or going the other way, and making it an actual spare tire like on some of the Exner era concept cars? No need to shave off the fake spare, a.k.a. the toilet seat, on these kits. It's a separate piece, and an option on the Imperial Crown models in '59.
twotonegmc Posted March 3, 2019 Posted March 3, 2019 Any sources for the Kelsey Hayes wire wheels that are sometimes seen on these?
SteveG Posted March 3, 2019 Posted March 3, 2019 21 minutes ago, twotonegmc said: Any sources for the Kelsey Hayes wire wheels that are sometimes seen on these? Missing Link Resin has a beautiful set ! -Steve
Junkman Posted March 4, 2019 Posted March 4, 2019 Sorry to be such an anorak, but contrary to popular folklore, Kelsey Hayes was never a supplier to Chrysler Corporation. The wire wheels used from the late 40s to 1966 on various Mopars were made by a company called Motor Wheel. The 'lesser' divisions shared the wheels used, but the ones for the Imperials were always bespoke (pun intended).
StevenGuthmiller Posted March 4, 2019 Posted March 4, 2019 6 hours ago, twotonegmc said: Any sources for the Kelsey Hayes wire wheels that are sometimes seen on these? The Moebius '55/'56 Chryslers have nice ones, provided that you use some better tires than what are supplied in the kits. I used a set of the Moebius wheels with some AMT Firestone Deluxe tires on my '60 Imperial. Steve
Junkman Posted March 5, 2019 Posted March 5, 2019 (edited) On 3.3.2019 at 6:39 PM, unclescott58 said: AMT's '57 Chrysler 300 from the 1990's maybe your best bet. Wheelbase is different by 3" on the real cars. But, engine and chassis will be much closer than what you would get AMT's Christine Plymouth kit. The chassis and gearbox could work, although the Imperials had their own chassis, not a stretched version of Chrysler's. However, '59 Imperials didn't have Hemis. Edited March 5, 2019 by Junkman
Junkman Posted March 5, 2019 Posted March 5, 2019 On 4.3.2019 at 4:46 AM, StevenGuthmiller said: PHWOAR!
MrObsessive Posted March 5, 2019 Posted March 5, 2019 Christian, your pics aren't showing (at least on my end) but the Imperials did have basically the same frame rail setup as the shorter Chryslers. One difference for 1957-'58 is that there was an X member in the chassis for all models. '59's they eliminated this no matter if it was a hardtop or sedan. If you're showing shop manual pics, those can be deceiving. A lot of the time car makers may use the same pics to carryover from one year to the next.
Stef Posted March 5, 2019 Posted March 5, 2019 On 2019-03-03 at 2:24 AM, Richard Bartrop said: I think those tailfins need something on them. Maybe shaving off that fake spare tire, or going the other way, and making it an actual spare tire like on some of the Exner era concept cars? Nice suggestions, Richard. Lights have been added to the fins, and the toilet seat has been flushed away. Anyone want me to take a crack at adding a full spare?
MrObsessive Posted March 5, 2019 Posted March 5, 2019 I'm not good at photoshop, but I'd extend the taillights all the way to the tops of the fins. Actually, this would make a VERY neat model project!
Richard Bartrop Posted March 5, 2019 Posted March 5, 2019 My inclination would be to lean the original lights, and maybe get rid of the chrome rings if you want to clean things up.
StevenGuthmiller Posted March 5, 2019 Posted March 5, 2019 Sorry guys. You can't improve on the original! Steve
ChrisBcritter Posted March 6, 2019 Posted March 6, 2019 I have a gluebomb '59 in the pipeline to customize; looks like the PO was thinking along those lines: I was thinking of frenching in a set of the custom taillight lenses from the old AMT '57 Chevy.
Stef Posted March 8, 2019 Posted March 8, 2019 On 2019-03-05 at 11:31 AM, MrObsessive said: ...I'd extend the taillights all the way to the tops of the fins... On 2019-03-06 at 2:43 AM, ChrisBcritter said: I was thinking of frenching in a set of the custom taillight lenses from the old AMT '57 Chevy. Two nice ideas; here's a hybrid of both:
Casey Posted March 8, 2019 Posted March 8, 2019 3 minutes ago, Stef said: Two nice ideas; here's a hybrid of both:
Stef Posted March 8, 2019 Posted March 8, 2019 On 2019-03-05 at 11:59 AM, Richard Bartrop said: My inclination would be to lean the original lights, and maybe get rid of the chrome rings if you want to clean things up. Very nice suggestion, Richard:
Stef Posted March 8, 2019 Posted March 8, 2019 On 2019-03-05 at 12:36 PM, StevenGuthmiller said: Sorry guys. You can't improve on the original! Ha ha, you may be right, though I think we can give it a really good shot:
twotonegmc Posted March 10, 2019 Posted March 10, 2019 On 3/3/2019 at 11:46 PM, StevenGuthmiller said: The Moebius '55/'56 Chryslers have nice ones, provided that you use some better tires than what are supplied in the kits. I used a set of the Moebius wheels with some AMT Firestone Deluxe tires on my '60 Imperial. Steve Those look great...added bonus is that I want one of those Moebius Chrsylers anyways! Thanks!
stavanzer Posted March 12, 2019 Posted March 12, 2019 Just found this on Casey's Model kit instruction site. http://modelkitreviews.proboards.com/thread/984/smp-1959-imperial-convertible?page=1&scrollTo=1009 How many of the optional parts listed for the SMP kit, have survived to the Model King (and now Round2) Imperial? Does it still offer both the Rear Deck and Continental Spares?
Mike999 Posted March 12, 2019 Posted March 12, 2019 (edited) I just opened a Model King '59 Imp and looked thru it a few days ago, thinking about starting Incomplete Project Number 5,215. All the original parts were still in the MK version, including the rear deck "toilet seat" and the full Continental Kit. The instructions are even a direct copy/re-print of the original from 1959. With customizing tips and the part about using blocks of wood to support the tires while you hammer in the wheels. That was a real trip down Memory Lane... Can't speak to the latest Round 2 re-issue, I don't have it. I stocked up on the MK re-issue and don't need any more. I did recently get the Time Machine Resins convertible up-top for this kit, with plans of building a junker or barn find. Edited March 12, 2019 by Mike999 omit
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