Peterpools Posted July 9, 2023 Share Posted July 9, 2023 FORD 1956 THUNDERBIRD AMT/ERTL 1/25 SCALE PT 1 The Chassis I decided to break up my years of constant aircraft builds (except last year’s Meng GT40) and try keeping my mojo going with the cars I love and drool over. The kickoff build is the gorgeous 1956 Ford Thunderbird in factory correct Ford Raven Black (Gravity of Spain Lacquer) and a two-tone B&W interior. My POA as always is basically OOB, no plans to even wire up the engine, just concentrate on the finish. The instructions reflect the era and absent are any color callouts at all. I did purchase a PE set of mostly the small exterior details to replace the softly molded-on one’s. All the chrome parts have been dechromed (which took forever) and the plan is for either Alclad or AK Chrome to be the replacement. The first release of the kit dates back to around 1962 and I’m sure it was the state of the art 61 years ago, just not what I remembered. My kit is a re-release in the American Graffiti boxing of 2002 (?). Details are soft, injector pin marks are big and almost everywhere. Part fit for the era must have been great, by today’s standards, not so good. With construction underway, a lot of time was devoted to cleaning up and removing mold lines from the body shell, every part and filling in injector pin marks, with the worst offenders being the five under the hood (yup, on our side of the pond, it’s a hood and not a bonnet). The engine also required a lot of clean up and some tweaking, being a 292 V8. After all the work, fit is OK but not great. Research showed I will be using the included Connie Kit, as it was standard on the ’56 model, allowing more useable trunk room. First up the underside of the chassis, which was primed in MRP Black and the final color coat being Tamiya Semi Gloss Black Lacquer. I decided against dry brushing to bring out a lot of the details, as I wanted my T Bird to look showroom new, as delivered. Exhausts were primed, piping air brushed with Alclad Burnt Metal and the mufflers Tamiya Aluminum Lacquer. Prominently missing are the shocks and being OOB, they will remain missing. The gas tank was finished in AK Aluminum and the creases highlighted with Tamiya Dark Brown Panel Line Wash. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottsGT Posted July 9, 2023 Share Posted July 9, 2023 I’ll be watching this one! Not sure why, but I just cannot get into building car models. I spent my youth building real cars, restored my Mustang over the years, love looking at detailed car models and I even have a huge 1/18 diecast car collection. But just cannot get into building them. Peter, I’ll just live vicariously through you on this build! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocRob Posted July 9, 2023 Share Posted July 9, 2023 What a nice break from the usual planes Peter. I think, we need more cars and bikes here for a change. Your Thunderbird's underskirts look wonderful. BTW, I started a car kit myself yesterday. Cheers Rob 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HubertB Posted July 9, 2023 Share Posted July 9, 2023 Great choice ! I have found memories of the Monogram ‘57 ‘Vette I built in my youth years. I api ted it blue and cream 🙄 Hubert 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnB Posted July 9, 2023 Share Posted July 9, 2023 Sounds like a good mojo rejuvinator Peter. It'll be a beauty! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peterpools Posted July 10, 2023 Author Share Posted July 10, 2023 Scott Welcome aboard and glad you will be living vicariously through me on the build. Always loved cars as well but never had the time, space or talent to become a 'car guy'. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peterpools Posted July 10, 2023 Author Share Posted July 10, 2023 Rob Awesome and completely agree. Hoping you will be doing a build thread for all of us to enjoy and be on the build journey with you. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peterpools Posted July 10, 2023 Author Share Posted July 10, 2023 Thanks Hubert - I remember the kit and have found memories as well. Not too far down the road, I'm planning on building the Monogram '67 427 Convertible: Sunflower Yellow, Black Hood Stripe and a pleather interior. Those sure were the days. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peterpools Posted July 10, 2023 Author Share Posted July 10, 2023 Thanks John Sure hope so and should be a fun build for sure. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
denders Posted July 10, 2023 Share Posted July 10, 2023 I've got a White '56 T-bird sitting the shelf. A Dark Blue '55 Chevy and a Yellow Deuce Coupe too. They were part of a series that had metal bodies. IIRC, not a lot of assembly either. They look great and my 3-year-old grandson likes to look at them too. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlrwestSiR Posted July 10, 2023 Share Posted July 10, 2023 Peter, that chassis looks fantastic. Showroom fresh. I've got a good size collection of car kits myself including some in 1/12 scale. Best part is I have one of my '91 Beat that's in the garage. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peterpools Posted July 11, 2023 Author Share Posted July 11, 2023 Dave Sounds pretty cool. Die caste, whether kit or prebuilt are a way to start and maintain a collection. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peterpools Posted July 11, 2023 Author Share Posted July 11, 2023 Thanks Carl Just a nice way of changing the pace and type of models that hit the bench. I remember your last car build, a Tamiya Super 7 Lotus - I thoroughly enjoy following your build. Maybe the next GB might be a subject that will allow for some car entries. 🤞 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlrwestSiR Posted July 11, 2023 Share Posted July 11, 2023 1 hour ago, Peterpools said: Maybe the next GB might be a subject that will allow for some car entries. That's not a bad idea Peter. Lots of car companies made engines and other bits for aircraft and tanks. Some even made them outright. Ford: - jeeps, trucks, lots of tank engines, Trimotor GM: - trucks, Wildcat, more engines Chrysler: - M1 Abrams, tank engines again, Mitsubishi: - Zero, lots of postwar JASDF planes Benz: - plane engines, staff cars, Rolls Royce - Merlin, Griffon, Spey Porsche: - various tanks, Kubelwagen Definitely lots of possibilities for this. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peterpools Posted July 11, 2023 Author Share Posted July 11, 2023 Carl Never actually thought of it that way but it is a cool idea. I was thinking of car models themselves but both ideas would work. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HubertB Posted July 11, 2023 Share Posted July 11, 2023 One subject that always appealed to me was « 12-cylinders engine». That would open the field to a lot of aircrafts and, on LSM, some cars and even, I believe, some tanks Hubert. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlrwestSiR Posted July 11, 2023 Share Posted July 11, 2023 1 minute ago, HubertB said: One subject that always appealed to me was « 12-cylinders engine». That would open the field to a lot of aircrafts and, on LSM, some cars and even, I believe, some tanks Hubert. The Meteor was a detuned Merlin used in several British tanks. I think many Russian tanks had V-12 engines as well. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HubertB Posted July 11, 2023 Share Posted July 11, 2023 6 minutes ago, BlrwestSiR said: The Meteor was a detuned Merlin used in several British tanks. I think many Russian tanks had V-12 engines as well. You’re right. I just did a quick search. Many tanks had a V-12, including the German MBT of WWII, the Russian tanks from T-34 to T-72 … Plus trucks, and even boats … (the cars and aircrafts are an easy group to identify) Hubert 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Posted July 11, 2023 Share Posted July 11, 2023 On 7/9/2023 at 10:03 PM, Peterpools said: Thanks Hubert - I remember the kit and have found memories as well. Not too far down the road, I'm planning on building the Monogram '67 427 Convertible: Sunflower Yellow, Black Hood Stripe and a pleather interior. Those sure were the days. Hi Peter.... when it comes time for your Corvette, I'm not sure how accurate you want to go with it, and if it is going to be like your other builds, I am assuming that you would be as accurate as possible...... the body paint color caught my eye, IF you are striving for complete accuracy Sunflower yellow , is not the yellow to use for 1967. Actually at that time, I believe that yellow was a Pontiac color, and wasn't used on Corvettes until 1971 color code 912, and there were 1977 Corvettes sold in that color in '71. The actual color you may be looking for is "Sunfire Yellow" code 984. 2325 units were sold in '67 in Sunfire Yellow. Also Sunfire Yellow was only available in 1966 and 1967, 1968 was Safari Yellow code 984, 1969 & 1970 was Daytona Yellow code 984 ( same as Safari Yellow ) , 1971 was Sunflower Yellow code 912 Sunfire yellow, ( to me ) is a rather light washed out yellow and not a bright yellow. Interior colors available with Sunfire yellow were , black, white and teal blue, AND the stinger was the same color as the interior ( the Stinger, is the hood decal that goes on the scoop) so black interior , black stinger, white interior white stinger.. etc.... I am ABSOLUTELY NOT telling you what to do or how to paint the up coming Corvette kit, but I thought as you are a gent who strives for accuracy, and I am a Corvette guy, I thought I would throw in my 2 cents worth.... ignore this info if I have over stepped.... I have lots of info on Corvettes and am a Corvette owner for over 30 years and have judged Concours Corvettes at special Corvette shows for the 'Quad C' here in Canada. Jeff 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottsGT Posted July 12, 2023 Share Posted July 12, 2023 Speaking of Corvette models…..my sons building this 1:1 ‘67 right now. Dropping in an LT4. This is it stripped down and he’s painting it to match the car. New custom chassis is on the way too. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Clunkmeister Posted July 12, 2023 Administrators Share Posted July 12, 2023 Mighty cool. A buddy had his 57 out tonight. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bomber_County Posted July 12, 2023 Share Posted July 12, 2023 Peter, you are spot on about mixing up our build subjects. The PT boat for me was a complete departure and was a lot of fun, with your and Rob’s car builds, I maybe tempted into an automotive build….. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottsGT Posted July 12, 2023 Share Posted July 12, 2023 Uh oh. LSM car group build in 3…..2….. But since it’s LSM, cannot be the usual 1/24. Gotta go big! 1/12 or 1/16 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peterpools Posted July 12, 2023 Author Share Posted July 12, 2023 HI Jeff Thank you for the offer down the road when I build the Vette. The Sunfire yellow I purchased from Gravity Paints (Spain) does show the correct body style Vette on the label and is listed for the "67 model. I doubled checked my references and yes the correct code for the "67 model is: Sunfire yellow 984. I should be good to go down the road. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peterpools Posted July 12, 2023 Author Share Posted July 12, 2023 Scott WOW! How sweet it is. Please keep us up to date as he progresses through the restoration. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now