Post by Bernard Kron on Dec 13, 2018 19:07:42 GMT -5
This is a slightly odd kickoff for this project because there are no images of the whole body, just detail stuff. This is my entry for the TRaK Autorama in the Custom category. The deadline for completion is December 31st so time is super tight. For this reason I decided to tackle the most technical stuff first to make sure I could get that done properly before continuing on with the rest pf the build. So what you see below are the hardtop and the grill and bumper set.
Several years ago I had the idea that you could “customize a first series (2-seater) T-bird simply by painting the lower valance portions of the chrome bumpers in body color. The grill shape and the bumpers are particularly handsome on this car and by doing this is would create the appearance of a kind of rolled-pan effect. I had some spare grills and bumpers so I masked them off and sanded out the chrome on the exposed areas. On the rear bumper I cut out the “1957” license plate (as holdover I suspect from the AMT Annual version of this model) to make room for the installation of an inset license plate later. Then, for some reason, I put it away before any smoothing or painting got done. Now finally I am going to see this concept through. Below is a step by step composite of the process I did. First the stock kit grill and bumper (A), then the masked and primed portion (B), and finally the painted result, painted in what will be the final body color of the car, Testors Lime Ice lacquer (C). The stock grill was removed and a classic late 50’s drawer pull grill from a vintage Aurora #592 1/25 Scale Customizing Parts Custom Grills & Trim set was substituted.
This will be essentially a mild custom, the customizing mainly done with paint and detail bodywork. Besides the faux-rolled pan effect and the drawer pull grill I decided to do a padded stop inspired by the Barris Xtura T-Bird they did for Mitch Nagao:
I actually ordered one of Ed Fluck’s (Drag City Castings) finely cast resin T-Bird hardtops for this project and then discovered I had a styrene copy in my stash and used it instead to steal a few precious days on getting started. There are several influences for this project and one of them is the twin ’57 T-Birds owned by Jack Hershey and Shorty Ewing which featured a ’58 Chevy Impala scoop above the rear window. For my version I used a hood scoop from the AMT ’49 Ford Coupe kit. It logically followed of course to cut one into the T-Bird hood as well. The “padding” was done using styrene sheet and rod. Final colors will be Wimbledon White for the “padding” and Lime Ice for the rest.
The Ewing and Hershey twin ‘57s:
The other two influences I’ll note are the Don Tognotti ’56 and the private eye Jackson ’57. The bodywork on my car will be essentially stock like the Jackson car, just lowered in stance. Despite the elaborate front end work on the Tognotti car he conserved the signature louvers on the front fenders, highlighting them with a tasteful accent scallop. I plan to do the same and obviously I’m taking my color cue from this car as well. I’ll focus on paint and decals primarily, time permitting. Like so many of these cars, too, I plan on using full length lakes pipes, chrome wheels and Appleton spots.
The Jackson ’57:
The Don Tognotti ’56:
for lookin’,
B.
Several years ago I had the idea that you could “customize a first series (2-seater) T-bird simply by painting the lower valance portions of the chrome bumpers in body color. The grill shape and the bumpers are particularly handsome on this car and by doing this is would create the appearance of a kind of rolled-pan effect. I had some spare grills and bumpers so I masked them off and sanded out the chrome on the exposed areas. On the rear bumper I cut out the “1957” license plate (as holdover I suspect from the AMT Annual version of this model) to make room for the installation of an inset license plate later. Then, for some reason, I put it away before any smoothing or painting got done. Now finally I am going to see this concept through. Below is a step by step composite of the process I did. First the stock kit grill and bumper (A), then the masked and primed portion (B), and finally the painted result, painted in what will be the final body color of the car, Testors Lime Ice lacquer (C). The stock grill was removed and a classic late 50’s drawer pull grill from a vintage Aurora #592 1/25 Scale Customizing Parts Custom Grills & Trim set was substituted.
This will be essentially a mild custom, the customizing mainly done with paint and detail bodywork. Besides the faux-rolled pan effect and the drawer pull grill I decided to do a padded stop inspired by the Barris Xtura T-Bird they did for Mitch Nagao:
I actually ordered one of Ed Fluck’s (Drag City Castings) finely cast resin T-Bird hardtops for this project and then discovered I had a styrene copy in my stash and used it instead to steal a few precious days on getting started. There are several influences for this project and one of them is the twin ’57 T-Birds owned by Jack Hershey and Shorty Ewing which featured a ’58 Chevy Impala scoop above the rear window. For my version I used a hood scoop from the AMT ’49 Ford Coupe kit. It logically followed of course to cut one into the T-Bird hood as well. The “padding” was done using styrene sheet and rod. Final colors will be Wimbledon White for the “padding” and Lime Ice for the rest.
The Ewing and Hershey twin ‘57s:
The other two influences I’ll note are the Don Tognotti ’56 and the private eye Jackson ’57. The bodywork on my car will be essentially stock like the Jackson car, just lowered in stance. Despite the elaborate front end work on the Tognotti car he conserved the signature louvers on the front fenders, highlighting them with a tasteful accent scallop. I plan to do the same and obviously I’m taking my color cue from this car as well. I’ll focus on paint and decals primarily, time permitting. Like so many of these cars, too, I plan on using full length lakes pipes, chrome wheels and Appleton spots.
The Jackson ’57:
The Don Tognotti ’56:
for lookin’,B.
This is gonna be great! I'll be watching this for sure. Good luck!
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