Post by trux on May 19, 2018 22:49:05 GMT -5
Back in 1983, my brother, Cliff, and I purchased a full-size1961 Chevrolet Biscayne 2 door sedan and began a 2 year total 'body off ' restoration. This car has a radio and heater delete option, is equipped with a 'tri-power' 348 'W' block engine, an aluminum cased Borg Warner T10 4 speed transmission, a 'posi' rear axle, and a factory tachometer (mounted at the 10:00 oclock position on the steering column) .
As a passionate model builder, a 1/25 model of our car has always been on my back burner and has finally come to fruition over this past winter and late spring...my model building season of choice.
Although there may be simple resin versions available, no kit or toy manufacturer produces a 1/25 or 1/24 '61 Biscayne so I began with a TESTORS 1/25 kit of an Impala hardtop, a bit basic but appropriate starting material. Including the obvious absence of most exterior trim, a Biscayne is remarkably different from an Impala hardtop in roof, door, and trunk structure, front, side, and rear glass form, as well as incorporating an entirely different interior...headliner, door panels, seats, dash trim, etc.
Since I always like to fabricate operating features into my models, for durability, the entire roof, door and window frames and their hinges, hood and trunk hinge detail, opening gas filler door, and much of the steering, all coil suspension springs, etc have been fabricated in soldered brass.
The entire array of interior side and interior upper roof panels, visors, armrests, seats (hinged backrests on front assemblies), and dashboard modifications (including opening glove box) have been fabricated in styrene, and the added windshield trim, door release handles and window cranks, brake lines, engine wiring and plumbing, etc.were all done using varying gauges of plated and black jewelry wire.
In April, I traveled to my brother's home to use his all season paint booth where I applied base coat/clearcoat 'factory' Seafoam Green to the various body assemblies, with Humbrol, Testors and Tamyia paints being used for assorted additional details.
Though this model was really time consuming, it is a major delight to finally have the planned model completed....one that has certainly been on my mind for close to 35 years.
The original basic cheap kit of an Impala Sport Coupe
Our restored full size Biscayne
Larry Read
It's an interweb thing.....