Chuck Most Posted February 22, 2015 Posted February 22, 2015 I've been working on a couple of Blue Geese lately. First off, here's a '57 Ford Custom, which is of course based on the Revell/Model King Police Car kit. So far, the basic kit is out of box, aside from the flasher. The one supplied in the Model King kit is nice, but I wanted to use the one from the Johan '59 Rambler. I have no idea who made the decals but the way they were laid out on the sheet makes me lean toward (possibly) Fred Cady. I still need to make the hailer (hood-mounted stop sign) and put on a pair of spotlights. I did not use the correct MSP blue but rather Ford Blue engine paint- it is several shades lighter. I was going more for a "faded old photograph" kind of look for the finished model... if that makes any sense. This '91 Caprice is the first Revell Caprice I've worked on since the kit came out over two decades ago. This one's being done as a Motor Carrier cruiser. Today, Motor Carrier/Commercial Enforcement cars share the same Royal Blue as the regular MSP vehicles, but in the '90's they wore a pale metallic blue. I used Pontiac Engine Blue for this. The base Revell kit has had rub strips added to the rear quarters, doors, and rear edge of the front fenders. The mounting holes for the single spotlight and light bar have been filled in. All MSP vehicles use two spotlights, so I'll rob a pair from a Lindberg Crown Vic. The rear seat partition was omitted, as the MSP does not use them. Again, I need to make a hailer for the hood, and also detail the headlight lenses. For some reason the front end of the model reminds me more of a Plymouth Acclaim than a Caprice with the headlights looking like they do in their present state! The decals are from the long-defunct E&K Graphics, the sheet included standard markings (which I used on a '97 Crown Vic previously) and the motor carrier markings. Some unused Delco battery and gauge panel decals from a Scale Squads NYPD sheet will also be used. Note the blacked-out B and C pillars- this would date the Caprice to '91. 1992 models had body color pillars. I still need to paint the door handles, as well.
Danno Posted February 22, 2015 Posted February 22, 2015 I usually don't comment on unfinished models. But that's just me. I'll check back later.
MyBradKeselowski Posted February 23, 2015 Posted February 23, 2015 Great job on both. I love the Caprice ! !
Chuck Most Posted March 8, 2016 Author Posted March 8, 2016 Just wrapped up the '57, and the Caprice has been inching very slowly along. The side trim and door handle foiling/painting were completed after this photo was taken. I also touched up some of the "gasket" around the side windows.
Crusader101 Posted March 8, 2016 Posted March 8, 2016 Very impressive....you nailed the authentic MSP look.
tomsheehy Posted March 8, 2016 Posted March 8, 2016 Looking good on both cruisers...Chuck, just a suggestion for you and anyone else who likes the cruisers: I see you're using the JoHan Fury beacon light on your 57. The light that comes with that kit is the "high skirt" version of the Federal Signal beacon that NYPD used for many years. These were made special for NYPD so the light would clear the siren that they had on the roof in front of it. The standard Federal Signal beacon base should be a scale 5 inches, not the real high one. So to be truly accurate when not doing NYPD, the base needs to be trimmed down a bit.
redneckrigger Posted March 9, 2016 Posted March 9, 2016 Looking good on both cruisers...Chuck, just a suggestion for you and anyone else who likes the cruisers: I see you're using the JoHan Fury beacon light on your 57. The light that comes with that kit is the "high skirt" version of the Federal Signal beacon that NYPD used for many years. These were made special for NYPD so the light would clear the siren that they had on the roof in front of it. The standard Federal Signal beacon base should be a scale 5 inches, not the real high one. So to be truly accurate when not doing NYPD, the base needs to be trimmed down a bit.It never ceases to amaze me that there is such a superb wealth of knowledge on this forum. Not only do we get to see super builds like these cruisers, but we are blessed with the accrued knowledge of the wide array of members out there. I thought that the base looked a bit high, and different from similar lights I have seen, but NEVER in a million years would have known why THANKS!
Danno Posted March 9, 2016 Posted March 9, 2016 Nicely put, Tom. I've been struggling with how to say it nicely enough to not be deemed snarky. But, yes. The proliferation of that beacon - unmodified - has been nails on my chalkboard for years.
Chuck Most Posted March 9, 2016 Author Posted March 9, 2016 Nicely put, Tom. I've been struggling with how to say it nicely enough to not be deemed snarky. But, yes. The proliferation of that beacon - unmodified - has been nails on my chalkboard for years. Just for future reference- if you see me doing it in the future, don't be afraid to point it out. Not saying I'll change it unless I know it's something that'll bother me, but rest assured it will be noted and I won't take offense. And thanks for the bit of info, Tom! I'll admit to not paying more than cursory attention to such thins until just recently. The '57 is more of a shelf filler anyway- I'm trying to get the Caprice a bit closer to correct looking. I may already be behind the curve on that though, because after going through the pics I have of Motor Carrier Caprices I think the door seal type might be a little too old for a '91. I'll tell you what we really need- a good Unity Spitfire in 1:25. There are quite a few coffee-drum shaped gumballs similar in scale, but nothing close. Seems like anything that looks close is either just a tad too big or just a tad too small.
gator52 Posted March 11, 2016 Posted March 11, 2016 Note the blacked-out B and C pillars- this would date the Caprice to '91. 1992 models had body color pillars. I still need to paint the door handles, as well.That's good to know....is there a similar distinction between a '93 & '94? I haven't picked up on any exterior differences between the two.Good looking models, thanks for sharing.Jonah
Chuck Most Posted March 11, 2016 Author Posted March 11, 2016 That's good to know....is there a similar distinction between a '93 & '94? I haven't picked up on any exterior differences between the two.Good looking models, thanks for sharing.Jonah'93 and later models had full rear wheel openings. Roof pillars remained body color.
gator52 Posted March 14, 2016 Posted March 14, 2016 '93 and later models had full rear wheel openings. Roof pillars remained body color.I should have been more clear Chuck...do you know of any exterior differences to distinguish a 93 apart from a 94?ThanksJonah
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