'51 Chev custom

This is one I started last winter but never got around to finishing off. I was looking for bits for my gasser today, so pulled it out of the box and thought it may be worth getting back to. It's based on the AMT fleetline kit, with lots of AMT '57 Chevy custom bits grafted on. This may or may not go somewhere this year...

I love the look of that, i hope you do continue with working on it...very cool looking car.

Bryce, that one deserves to be finished.

That looks Kool ! Go on finish it I'm sure you have nothing else to build!!!

very cool, hope to see it completed.
got any tips for a beginner when it comes to work like this???

it's awsome bryce !! finish it finish it !!

Thanks for the positive feedback guys - you've inspired me to keep going with this.

In terms of tips TJ, it's a bit difficult as it's years of failure that has got me to this point. A couple of things that I think are vital:

1. Dremel cut off discs for roof chops - you can layer them up and it makes it quick, easy and accurate.

2. Super glue for all custom work - plastic solvent melts the plastic and stays soft forever and will cause ghost lines after you putty, prime and paint.

3. Fill gaps and custom work with scrap plastic and super glue as much as possible - it will be stronger and means less work later on.

That's about all I can think of off the top of my head - feel free to ask if you need anything more specific.

thanks bryce, il save this info for my chevy build and pm you if i get stuck.
much apreciated mate...

Sensational custom car Bryce. It's looking cool already at this early stage. Was the rear fin area inspired by Barris's "Grease" Ford convertible, or is it a representation of car styling that was soon to come?

Thats lookin sweeeeeeeet. I was gonna do something simialar with my fleetline...

tjjr07 wrote:thanks bryce, il save this info for my chevy build and pm you if i get stuck.
much apreciated mate...

No probs TJ. FYI - lately I have been using Tamiya two part putty with great success as well as their rattle can primer. It's about the best combo I've found. I used to use car bog, but too many pin holes to fill later.

tezza43 wrote:Sensational custom car Bryce. It's looking cool already at this early stage. Was the rear fin area inspired by Barris's "Grease" Ford convertible, or is it a representation of car styling that was soon to come?

Thanks Terry - this one is all just coming out of my head...no particular inspiration. I put it back in the box last year because I felt that the roof was still too high and I realised I was trying to make it look like some kind of cross between an oldsmobile, buick and cadillac. I thought that was a bit of a waste of time and I should just go get an oldsmobile, buick or cadillac kit. However I've come to realise that they just don't exist, so I'll continue trying to make this old chevy more aesthetically pleasing to my eye. Particularly seeing as the peeps seem to like it!

Andy wrote:Thats lookin sweeeeeeeet. I was gonna do something simialar with my fleetline...

Maybe we should have a fleetline custom group build!

Bryce wrote:

Maybe we should have a fleetline custom group build!

Hell Yeah! Sounds like a plan!

WOW thats going to be a very cool kustom,hope u finish it.

another masterpiece in the making!! Looking good mate keep it going!!

Spent a cold and wet Sunday afternoon working on this one (don't feel like I achieved very much although I spent pretty much all day on it, as I'm sure my wife will attest!). A bit of time went into cleaning up the body, removing door handles and emblems, etc. Decided to put the door posts back in as the roof is just too long to to be a hardtop. Added some custom side trim using styrene rod to give me a nice scallop - finished car will be metallic blue with white pearl cut-out.





After supergluing the bonnet shut cut it out to make a nice round opening. This will be piano hinged later to show off the Stovebolt six.



Spent most of the day trying to pump out the rear guards. I reckon they look too flat and slab sided out of the box and I wanted them to be more bulbous like a Cadillac or Buick from the era, so using a bit of styrene rod as a guide, I filled em up with bog and re-shaped - not sure how well this comes across in photos, but I have included a comparison with a stock Bel Air for reference:



Only problem is now they're so nice and bulbous that my flat side skirts won't fit very well...oh well, that's customising I guess!

hectic bryce, you wanna start 1 for me. thats some great custom work bud...

tjjr07 wrote:hectic bryce, you wanna start 1 for me. thats some great custom work bud...

Thanks Todd - I've got so many models on the go at the moment that I could do one for every member of your family!

Nice work so far and I agree that it needed the centre post replaced.

I say turf those big flat skirts and go with a neat flush fitted deal in the wheel opening. It'll look much smoother and a lot classier.

Carps wrote:
I say turf those big flat skirts and go with a neat flush fitted deal in the wheel opening.

Yeah that would definitely be easier Carps, but I like the big skirts and want them to emulate and reinforce the new roof line by following the same angle. This car was always meant to be a little bit 'overdone', incorporating as many custom techniques as possible. I think if I make them smaller they should work ok - will have a crack tonight...

Looking good Bryce - you might find this website interesting for some different thoughts on the '51 Chev?
http://public.fotki.com/Rikster/model_cars/model_cars_from_others/models_by_steve_boutte/51_chevy_coupe/

Yours looks sweeter than an original 51.
I have one of those kits put it off building it as it is unispiring but your build has made it worth a look at.
Waiting to see this one finished a really great job so far.

Thanks for all the positive comments - they really inspire me to keep at this one!

Have made a bit more progress today. Got most things smoothed out and the side trim shaped up, so thought it was time to see what things looked like with a coat of primer. Still a lot to do yet, but am pretty happy with progress so far and am feeling confident about making the deadline!

That's got the look of a winner Bryce - I like where this is going. Looking forward to more progress pics.