I started the project with pictures like this....
...and ended up with this. It's been a couple of months in the making but the old Skool Texas hot rod is finally done....
I didn't get all the details right--the windshield isn't high enough for instance, and the front lights (mostly scratchbuilt) aren't quite the right shape. But the stance is pretty close, and the overall "feel" of the build matches the spirit of the 1:1 car, I think.
There are lots more little details I could do, but it's time to move on--I find myself rushing on the old skool rod build since I want to move onto other things, so it's a good time to stop.
The license plates were scratch built (like many other things on this model). I used photoshop, since I couldn't find the "State O' Texas": 50's era 1:25 scale license plates anywhere.) I used the "reduce image" feature in Photoshop, which took the 3" original artwork to .375", and worked great. Another important thing I came away with from this project: enamel paints are really good for certain things, like painting metal scratchbuilt parts. I had gotten rid of almost all enamel paints, since they take a long time to dry and have other issues, but a few of them are back now.
When I think of all the work that went into this--the resin body prep, the Z'd stock frame, the kitbashed motor, the scratchbuilt seat, the plaid decal upholstry, and so on--I'm a bit surprised that I finished at all, but here it is.
This project was a challenge to my modest skills, but it taught me a lot about the early history of hot rodding and was a fun project to work on with my dad. And it got me away from work for a few hours every now and then. Overall, time well spent.
3 comments:
Oh, Charlie - it's wonderful. I had to chuckle with glee when I saw it finished, and I'm still smiling from ear to ear.
You've gladdened my heart. Thank you very, very much.
Love,
-Dad
Hey: I was looking on the internet for som ideas on a gasser model I am about to build of a '55 Chevy when I ran upon your build. I thought to myself cool, let's see how this guy did his. I read about how you describe the differences between the Revell and the AMT versions. That is why I am writing you. First of all the Revell version has been around since the early sixties. Originally relased through Monogram, and been modafied only minimaly since the original release. It has been a hard top, a convertable and now back to a hardtop. It has been everything from a stock sedan to a pace car convertable then a street rod and now back. I personally never liked it because the top of the rear quarter pannel just doesn't look like the real car, and the roof looks like an after thought. I have been building models since the early sixties. and have worked on or around cars all my life. The AMT version only came out back in the 80's and while I have never built that particular kit I would have to say it looks like a much better, or more acurately scaled version of the '55 Belair to me. Besides it is a two door post car, or if you prefer a two door sedan. The roof is supposed to look different than the hardtop, but I think it is scaled better than the Revell version, and it is the newer tooling of the two kits. The really bad version was the original Revelle kit, that came with oprning doors hood and trunk. While fun to build it was a horrible kit. When I finish my version of the revell kit as a Gasser I will send you a photo of it if you like. Keep enjoying the hobbie! From a fellow model builder.
Thanks for the info on the Revell Chevy--I had no idea of its history. I picked the Revell body only because I thought it looked "faster" than the AMT body--the AMT body looks more "Saloon" like, but, the whole idea of what we're doing I think is to mess around at scale to see what we like--much cheaper than swapping different bodies on at 1:1!!!
Yes please send me a photo of the gasser, if you'd like I would be glad to post it here. Thanks.
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