'55 Chevy Bel Air A/GS -Finished!-

[Speedfreak]

Hey Niko, why did you choose Bondo over regular model putty?

[gasser59]

Bondo also makes a body filler that comes in a small tube and doesn't need to be mixed. I found it at my local auto parts store. It comes in a small tube and sands just like the mixed bondo. If anyone is interested, I'll take a picture of the tube tonight and post it here.

[Speedfreak]

I'm interested Brad.

[W-409]

Thanks Guys!

James: I want to say thanks for pointing out my error. This is what happens when you just translate the word in your head without knowing if it is just that for sure.

Gene: Model putty is much easier to sand which is a good thing. But I prefer Bondo because it doesn't shrink like some of the model putties do (For example Green Putty does shrink) so it will hide the seams etc much better. I think that's the main reason, otherwise it's just as easy to use even though the Bondo I'm using needs to be mixed up. That's really easy though and doesn't take much time either.

Brad: Yep I'd like to see it too. That would be an interesting item to try, so a picture would help locating one tube of those from somewhere.

[gasser59]

Well, here's the pic. This stuff works great. I let it dry overnight before sanding and I'm happy with the results. I'll not be mixing up any Bondo again. :-)

[W-409]

Thanks for the picture Brad! I will try to locate one of those from somewhere, it sounds like a good stuff.

Meanwhile I was sanding the hood and then mixing up some more Bondo . Now I think after I have sanded the new coat of Bondo smooth it might be the time for the "spray filler".

My order from Ted's Modeling Marketplace arrived today as well. Great Thank You to you, Ted, it's a pleasure to do business with you. The package came fast and it was even delivered straight to me on my front door. Usually I have to go to the Post Office to get the package, but this one came directly to home. The parts were super nice, too!

My main item was the Blower Belt & Pulley set by Pro Tech for this build and another set for my '69 Dodge Charger Daytona in Cannonball Run CBP. For this one I can't install them until the engine and body are both glued on place. Otherwise I can't fit the engine on place as it is relatively tight fit.

Edited November 5, 2014 by W-409

[DynoMight]

New parts are the best!

[Speedfreak]

The hood is coming along nicely Niko, a lot of people just don't understand the amount of work we put into these cars! Thanks for your thoughts on Bondo.

Thanks for the photo Brad, will be checking that out soon.

[Belair2k]

Really nice work and result on this old dog of a kit.

I'm also anxiously awaiting parts from Ted's.

[W-409]

Thanks Guys!

Glenn: Yep it's true, every time I get new parts it's like an early Christmas.

Gene: That's true, most people don't understand it. Luckily some people do, though. No problem with the thoughts, it's always nice when I can help someone.

Jay: It's a pleasure to do business with Ted. He has some good stuff in stock, ordering is really painless and shipping is fast too.

Here's a minor update to keep you guys interested. The hood was sanded smooth and then it was time to shoot some Filler Spray on it (That's what it said in the can). Now it looks like it will be ready for Primer after a light sanding. Tomorrow I need to spray some filler on the top side too.

[Speedfreak]

Looks 'really' good Niko, nice work. Why are you leaving that one hole?

[W-409]

Thanks Gene!

That one hole is for the hood ornament. I need to drill it out, though.

I think these cars look very good with the hood ornament on place...

[W-409]

Finally this '55 Chevy is back on the bench! I sprayed the dashboard with body color and it turned out decent. It will need to be clear coated, though before I can continue working on it. Then I sprayed some Primer on the scoop and actually I painted it with Chrome Silver, too. I gotta take a picture of it in paint though. Some more Bondo was applied to the hood as well. Hopefully it will be smooth after this. The main thing was to mask those blue areas from body away and then I sprayed Tamiya's TS-7 Racing White on. So far so good, I will see how it looks next year when the paint is dry.

Happy New Year Everyone! Three and half hours and it's 2015!

[Speedfreak]

Happy New Year Niko! Your work is looking great man. That '55 should be a stunner when it's finished! That scoop is really cool. And the dash looks greast in body color blue.

[Mister Twister]

Glad to see you back on this one.....Keep at it!

[W-409]

Thanks Gene and Darryl, Much Appreciated!

Here are two pics of the body with the tapes removed. That white paint job turned out decent: Not the smoothest ever as there is a bit of orange peel but I believe it can be saved easily with a good clear coat and polishing. Luckily my masking tapes workedand white paint didn't go into blue areas. Now I will let it dry properly before clear coating it.

[Speedfreak]

Those lines look pretty good Niko, did you spray dull coat, or , anything on the tape before painting to keep it from bleeding through?

[1 bad55 stan]

Looking good Niko...

[slusher]

Paint and lines look great Niko...

[W-409]

Gene: Thanks! I didn't spray a clear coat this time before that actual color. When the chrome trim will be covered by BMF, masking is not so critical than if I was painting an area with different color in the middle of the roof, for example. Then I would have used clear coat, I guess.

Stan... Thank You! Your models are great inspiration sources so I hope we'll see your posts in the future as well.

Carl: Thanks! I highly appreciate the way you take time to look these updates each time and post often as well.

This is a really small update, but I'm so happy that I finally got the hood almost done for final Primer coat and then paint. Only minor smoothing is needed. I sanded the Bondos smooth and sprayed a coat of grey Primer on. Next I will have to spray light coat of white Primer so then the blue will be same shade than on the body.

[Speedfreak]

Looks good man, you're coming into the home stretch on this model!

[W-409]

I'm a little late, but thanks Gene! There's still a lot to do but you're right, it's starting to look like a car already!

So this thing has been sitting for a long time on my bench. I kind of lost interest in it because I didn't have good decals for it. I wanted to put a name for this car just like they often did back in the day, but I couldn't find any suitable decals from my parts boxes. Finally today I opened the box of Revell '50 Austin and found those Gas Hopper decals from there. I'm not quite sure if that's exactly the name I was looking for, but it looks pretty good so I thought I'll go with that one.

From that Austin kit I took also that "427 Powered" text and A/GS class markings. Driver numbers are taken from AMT '57 Ford's decal sheet and pinstripes on trunk lid are from Revell's old '56 Chevy I guess, but I'm not completely sure on that.

And here's one picture with everything mocked up. Still lots of work to do but hopefully it'll be finished this year.

[Dragfreak]

Great work Niko!

[Speedfreak]

I'm a little late, but thanks Gene! There's still a lot to do but you're right, it's starting to look like a car already!

That is Awesome Niko! Outta sight man! Those decals work 'perfectly! I'm glad you waited until you got something you liked. It even looks good with the gray primer hood. And the pinstriping on the trunk is a very nice touch that fits as well. I think this is my favorite build of yours that I've seen so far. Terrific work Niko.  

 

Edited March 21, 2016 by Speedfreak

[Davewilly]

Pretty cool  looking 55!