Cars: Muscle Cars
60's & 70's Classics
Tri-Five Project Part 1 - 55 Series
AussieReg
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Posted: Friday, January 11, 2019 - 10:30 AM UTC
Stage 1 of body paint is on, still needs a good fine wet sand and polish. Tamiya X-1 Black thinned 50:50 with MLT with a mist coat then several coats wet on wet. It's glossy now so that I can mask and paint the chrome work, but it will get a good dose of Dullcote then some weathering. I like the idea of faded black to red-brown, just not sure if my weathering skillset is up to that just yet. I will do some testing on scrap and see how I go.


Cheers, D
AussieReg
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Posted: Saturday, January 12, 2019 - 02:56 PM UTC
I gave the body a bit of a wet sand. Didn't go too far as it's getting a Dullcote.




Sometimes you feel like you're participating in a remake of The Mummy


But when those masks come off and everything stays right where you put it





A few minor touch-ups to sort out, then mask the chrome and Dullcote away!

Cheers, D

Edit - I really gotta get me some wider tape !!
AussieReg
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Posted: Saturday, January 12, 2019 - 03:00 PM UTC
In my never-ending search for references, I came across this website - SuperChevy .

It is full of awesome images and amazing stories for anybody interested.

Cheers, D
Joel_W
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Posted: Sunday, January 13, 2019 - 07:28 AM UTC
Damian,
It's great to have you back and building. Doesn't get much better then that.

Funny, but I'm the exact opposite of you, I can only focus on one build at a time, but will do my due diligence and research for my next build, order what AM I need, and that's it.

I love your two choices for your duel build. Both iconic cars from my youth of yesteryear. while I was into British sport cars, I did have a few friends that were Chevy Nuts. One had a 55' Bel Air with a 302 ci that kicked butt.

I'll be following both builds to the finish line for sure. I'm really looking forward to how you weather your 55' El Camino.

Joel




AussieReg
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Posted: Sunday, January 13, 2019 - 01:21 PM UTC

Quoted Text

I love your two choices for your duel build. Both iconic cars from my youth of yesteryear. while I was into British sport cars, I did have a few friends that were Chevy Nuts. One had a 55' Bel Air with a 302 ci that kicked butt.



Thanks for checking in Joel, and the kind words are much appreciated. This will be a bit more than a dual-build though, there will be at least 12 by the end!

Bel Air Hardtop and Convertible, Nomad and El Camino for each of the 55-55-57 models, add in the 150 and 210 for the 57, plus perhaps some street/strip versions if I get around to them.

Masking, painting, unmasking, touch-up, masking, painting, unmasking. Strange how something so frustrating can also be relaxing and soothing

Dullcote is on, I'm really liking the look of this finish now. A couple of hours to cure and I will unmask the chrome and see how it all looks.


Cheers, D
AussieReg
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Posted: Sunday, January 13, 2019 - 03:01 PM UTC
Unmasked once again!




Very happy with where this is headed and how it is coming together. Some obvious little touch-ups to do where the chrome has crept under the masking, but nothing major.


The next step will be to have a look at the kit chrome against the painted chrome and decide whether to strip the kit chrome parts and repaint to match.

Cheers, D
Hwa-Rang
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Posted: Sunday, January 13, 2019 - 06:48 PM UTC
Looks amazing Damian. The flatt black is the right choice of color, for sure.
Szmann
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Posted: Sunday, January 13, 2019 - 11:16 PM UTC
Looking great, D.! The choice of color was inspired! You method of applying chrome inserts may work for me as well on the Chrysler. I'm still undecided if I'm going to use BMF or Alclad...


Quoted Text


The next step will be to have a look at the kit chrome against the painted chrome and decide whether to strip the kit chrome parts and repaint to match.


My experience shows that if you use Alclad II lacquers there is no need for stripping - they have enough grip over the plated chrome (Tamiya chrome at least).

Nice to see you making such decisive progress!

Cheers!
Gabriel
AussieReg
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Posted: Monday, January 14, 2019 - 01:26 AM UTC
Thanks for the kind words guys, coming from you two it means a lot!


Quoted Text

My experience shows that if you use Alclad II lacquers there is no need for stripping - they have enough grip over the plated chrome (Tamiya chrome at least).



Now there is a damn fine idea! I have plenty of spare chromed parts from the Drag option so I will squirt a couple with the Alclad Chrome and see how it looks. There may still be a variation due to the difference in the base (Chrome vs Gloss Black), but as you said in the GQ19 thread, the Alclad will take the weathering better than the kit chrome.

Cheers, D
Joel_W
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Posted: Monday, January 14, 2019 - 03:19 AM UTC
Damian,
Now that's one impressive weather worn finish. Looks outstanding, and it looks realistic.

As for 12 models to complete your collection, I'll be along for the ride for each one.

I must confess, that growing up I was a Ford man. My Dad only bought Fords, and when Ford went head to head with Ferrari in the 1960s, that sealed it for me.

Joel
AussieReg
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Posted: Tuesday, January 15, 2019 - 03:54 PM UTC
With all the progress on the El Camino, the Convertible was feeling quite neglected. While I take stock and ponder my next move on the El Camino, I put together the underside of the Convertible.


I tried a different strategy on the tank on this one and hand-painted it with Citadel Runefang Steel. It brushes very nicely with just a brush dipped in tap water to control the thinning. After a couple of coats and curing I gave it a wash of thinned black enamel, along with the diff, rear axle and mufflers.

As always the photo shows a few touch-ups required, some CA glue spots to dull down and some accidental brush touches with the steel. Overall I'm quite happy, and this will get a very light dirt wash to show a regularly driven vehicle not a locked up show-car.

I have also stripped the engine down, I wasn't happy with the paint job so I will primer it and have another go. I might add another drop of red into the orange and darken it down a bit more.

Cheers, D
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Posted: Tuesday, January 15, 2019 - 04:09 PM UTC
Although I am a Volkswagen man at heart and wish Hasegawa had continued their bus line with a double cab truck and some of the other variations, I have always preferred early American car design aesthetics (50's through 60's) and having to drive past a Tri-Five vintage dealership outside of Orlando on my way to work everyday made me appreciate that line of autos. My dad was a surfer so I also saw a lot of Nomads and El Caminos growing up and I just have a little soft spot for them. So, I'm following your project for nostalgia's sake and to see you pull off a 12 kit project.

Who knows, maybe it will convince me to take a stab at one myself?
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Posted: Tuesday, January 15, 2019 - 04:17 PM UTC
Nicely done on the convertible, D.. I like you change strategies in accordance with the kit's offering!

Haha! I bet you cannot recall the name of that paint without watching the bottle! Citadel and their stupid names, worst than nail polish names! I hear only nice things about these paints though, and probably the best brushable metallic acrylics on the market. My supplier doesn't carry them, so maybe I'll ad a set of metallics on my next Amazon order.

You're cruising here! Nice job!
Gabriel
AussieReg
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Posted: Tuesday, January 15, 2019 - 04:39 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Haha! I bet you cannot recall the name of that paint without watching the bottle! Citadel and their stupid names, worst than nail polish names!



Yes Gabriel, some unique names. I see them mostly used in painting figures for fantasy and wargaming, Orcs and Ogres and Skeletons and Dragons, so the names don't surprise me at all.

Shell, many thanks for checking in, much appreciated. Don't expect a display of 12 or more kits to magically appear in the next few months though

Cheers, D
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Posted: Tuesday, January 15, 2019 - 06:24 PM UTC
Looks great Damian.

Monogram made a nice detailed undercarriage.

Citadel seems to be the paint to try next time I need to stock up, on metalic acryllics.
AussieReg
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Posted: Tuesday, January 15, 2019 - 07:00 PM UTC
Thanks Jesper. I can't wait to see you move forward with your Nomad.

On that subject, these are the other two kits I have for the 1955 set so far. Still looking for a Bel Air Hardtop.



I will find the other kits I have collected to this point and post them shortly. The danger there is that I won't be able to resist and start ALL of them

Cheers, D
AussieReg
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Posted: Tuesday, January 15, 2019 - 07:43 PM UTC
Kits on hand so far for the 1956 series:

Hardtop


One Nomad and One El Camino, undecided which is which yet



I don't believe that a '56 Convertible has ever been produced in kit form, so I will be sourcing another hardtop and carving it up to make this


And I am always on the lookout for one of these kits


Cheers, D
AussieReg
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Posted: Tuesday, January 15, 2019 - 08:03 PM UTC
And the 1957 collection so far:

Convertible


Hardtop


Hardtop 150


And El Camino. I picked this one up as a started kit from a small hobby shop. It was from a collection of a builder who unfortunately passed away before he got it finished. Hopefully I can finish it to his satisfaction!




Still keeping an eye out for a Nomad, and I would also like to do a 210. I have heard rumours that there are some odd boxings of the "Black Widow" kit which have had a 210 body inserted rather than a 150, but I'm yet to see proof. I think the safest option will be to get another Bel Air kit and do the required modifications.

Cheers, D
AussieReg
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Posted: Tuesday, January 15, 2019 - 08:57 PM UTC
Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to prime we go . . . . . . .



Parts for the 55 Convertible, and now once again the choice of interior colour needs to be made. I have selected a main exterior colour (a nice deep rich red colour, to be revealed) which will carry through to the interior, just need to decide on a trim to match

Cheers, D
AussieReg
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Posted: Tuesday, January 15, 2019 - 09:21 PM UTC

Quoted Text

just need to decide on a trim to match



and Google is my friend!

I am thinking I will stay on the two-tone grey theme, but darker this time. Something like this


Looking through my paint stash I have come up with these two


Metallic Grey for the carpet and bottom door trim, RLM grey for the middle door trim and seat insert panels, exterior colour for top door panel, seat bodies and dash.

Thoughts?

Cheers, D
Szmann
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Posted: Wednesday, January 16, 2019 - 12:54 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Metallic Grey for the carpet and bottom door trim, RLM grey for the middle door trim and seat insert panels, exterior colour for top door panel, seat bodies and dash.

Thoughts?



You know, I was very reticent myself about using metallic colors for interior, until I've did the interior for my aborted Porsche. After a satin coat they look pretty much convincing actually. I also used Tru-Color Radar Display grey on my New Beetle interior - again with very pleasant results. I will say go for it!

Gabriel
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Posted: Wednesday, January 16, 2019 - 01:48 AM UTC
Wow, D, that's quite the project... Somewhere in the que, I've got a '57 Belair that I want to do in Turquoise and Ivory. Looks like a metallic gray is the way to go for the interior..
AussieReg
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Posted: Wednesday, January 16, 2019 - 01:55 AM UTC
Thanks for the feedback guys, much appreciated.

I just couldn't help myself tonight, I wanted to see what my choice of exterior looked like. I wet polished the hood with an 8000 grit sanding sponge and gave it a couple of coats of a new locally made lacquer paint called Scale Modellers Supply. It sprays beautifully. It's quite hot here at the moment (almost 40c) so I think this contributed to the slight grainy finish. I will give it a fine wet sand tomorrow night and another top coat.




Appropriate, coz I love my red wine

Cheers, D
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Posted: Wednesday, January 16, 2019 - 02:33 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Nicely done on the convertible, D.. I like you change strategies in accordance with the kit's offering!

Haha! I bet you cannot recall the name of that paint without watching the bottle! Citadel and their stupid names, worst than nail polish names! I hear only nice things about these paints though, and probably the best brushable metallic acrylics on the market. My supplier doesn't carry them, so maybe I'll ad a set of metallics on my next Amazon order.

You're cruising here! Nice job!
Gabriel



Gabriel.
I'll 2nd that about those weird names. I guess you have to a figure guy to understand them. As for today's nail polishes, OMG!! the color ranges are amazing, and they air brush fantastically. But they're certainly not cheap by any means.

Joel
Joel_W
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Posted: Wednesday, January 16, 2019 - 02:39 AM UTC
D,
A little rubbing out, and that hood with look smooth as silk. I do really like that color.

That's some collection of Chevy's. I'm really quite impressed.

Joel