'59 Buick Invicta: Finshed!

[froghawk]

With the '59 Ranchero done, I used some of the leftover energy to start the AMT '59 Buick I've always wanted to build. Spent more than a few hours getting the wheelbase adjusted and the stance nice and low, with the tiniest hint of a rake. Rolling stock are tires from the Revell/Monogram '59 Cadillac on '53 Buick Skylark wires from Modelhaus.

[Bernard Kron]

The stance and rolling stock already look glorious in white styrene.

I'm really looking forward to your treatment of this, my favorite of GM's radical response to Virgil Exner's Forward Look after the disaster (at least in the eye's of GM's corperate honchos) that was 1958, the One Year Models. Of course by '59 it was already too late and GM immediately toned down every one of these cars so the '59's are very special and the Invicta 2-door hardtop, to my eyes, is tops among them. I'm curious, what is it about the wheelbase that needed adjustment? It's not something I generally consider when setting things up.

[froghawk]

Aug 8, 2021 12:44:24 GMT -5 Bernard Kron said:

The stance and rolling stock already look glorious in white styrene.

I'm really looking forward to your treatment of this, my favorite of GM's radical response to Virgil Exner's Forward Look after the disaster (at least in the eye's of GM's corperate honchos) that was 1958, the One Year Models. Of course by '59 it was already too late and GM immediately toned down every one of these cars so the '59's are very special and the Invicta 2-door hardtop, to my eyes, is tops among them. I'm curious, what is it about the wheelbase that needed adjustment? It's not something I generally consider when setting things up.

Thanks, Bernard! I, too, have always loved the '59 GM lineup, with the Buick being one of my faves! I found AMT's front axle center line needed to move back somewhat more than 1/16," with a touch more on the passenger's side. The rear axle needed to move back slightly on the passenger's side, also. Sorry, I can't give exact measurements, 'cause it's something of an eyeball process.

[Bernard Kron]

Aug 8, 2021 13:07:58 GMT -5 froghawk said:

...I found AMT's front axle center line needed to move back somewhat more than 1/16," with a touch more on the passenger's side. The rear axle needed to move back slightly on the passenger's side, also. Sorry, I can't give exact measurements, 'cause it's something of an eyeball process.

Thanks. Something to remember if I can ever score one of these AMT early curbsides at a reasonable price.

[spex84]

Sweet. I've always kinda wanted to build one of these, love the '59 Invicta design. Last night I checked the 'Bay and EEP no way. Lol. $$$.
So I'll watch yours instead!!
Those wires look great. I see the part lines on the bumpers are gonna need some love.

[Dave from Pleasanton]

Love it so far. This kit was my second model and my brother helped me customize it. Cut the fins off and filled the void with plastic wood. It turned out but ugly and I never had my brother help me again. I too would like to build one for old times sake, but am unwilling to pay the amount they go for.

[Mr409]

This will be interesting, because '59 Buick is one of the best starting points for a Mild Custom (because it doesn't need much customizing!) and who would build it any better than you. The starting point is looking excellent already.

[41chevy]

Number one of the three best 1959 GM designs with followed by the Olds and Pontiac. The latter two must bet the flat top four doors. Paul

[mack2856]

Fantastic, let the fun begin. The 59-60 full size GM offerings are what dreams are made of.

[froghawk]

Well, I've made all of the usual modifications to move the Invicta further into mild custom land. Got rid of the hood emblem, along with the script on the front fender, and the grill badge using a section from a spare grill. Shaved the door handles. Eliminated the emblem on the deck lid, along with some nasty glue scars. I had to cut out and replace the rear panel between the taillights because of more glue damage using the same section from a parts car (I'll have to do some filling underneath the fins to restore that bit. I cut the stock mufflers and tailpipes off the chassis, making filler panels for the resulting holes, and notched the splash pan for a new set of tailpipe extensions.





Because I've never quite like the stock rear wheel openings on the '59 Buick and have always wondered "what if" and whether the designers had ever considered something more like the rear opening on the '54 - '57 Buicks (especially the '53 and '54 Skylarks) where the whole wheel was revealed. I decided to try something similar in Photoshop by copy and pasting and further manipulating a copy of the front wheel opening.


I liked the result so much that, after discussions with a trusted colleague, I had to try it in plastic using my battle-weary parts car. By making a pattern of the front opening I was able to open up a new wheel opening, which I then outlined with Plastruct .080 half-round styrene. So that the front opening would match, I removed the original opening lip, and created a new lip with the same half-round strip. My technique cementing the strip in place needs a little refinement, but there is another side to play with yet!  I think this treatment shows the beautiful wheels to their best advantage, so I'll almost certainly do it on the final model.

[chepp]

What a grand start!  Seeing this photo without the bumper/grille makes me wonder if minimizing the bumper or replacing it with a rolled pan set back would emphasize the grille/headlights by putting them "out front" for an aggressive look.

Sept 12, 2021 14:26:06 GMT -5 froghawk said:

[Bernard Kron]

I seem to have always had an innate prejudice towards hiding rear wheels in full customs - i.e. fender skirts. I also noticed that in the modern era this is shared by increasingly few people. On the other hand I've always liked the 2 seater T-Birds when their skirts are removed, creating, like you have done here, an echo of the front wheel opening. Your conversion potentially loses the emphasis on the curvature of the lower body that's created by the stock rear wheel opening but gains a more open, more airy look, making the whole car look lighter. Having been warned about my pro-skirt prejudice, I'll still suggest lowering the upper edge of the opening somewhat (reducing the size of the opening) to regain some of the curvature emphasis. Regardless, the car looks wonderfully "modern" with this modification.

[Deleted]

Sept 12, 2021 15:40:29 GMT -5 Bernard Kron said:

I seem to have always had an innate prejudice towards hiding rear wheels in full customs - i.e. fender skirts. I also noticed that in the modern era this is shared by increasingly few people. On the other hand I've always liked the 2 seater T-Birds when their skirts are removed, creating, like you have done here, an echo of the front wheel opening. Your conversion potentially loses the emphasis on the curvature of the lower body that's created by the stock rear wheel opening but gains a more open, more airy look, making the whole car look lighter. Having been warned about my pro-skirt prejudice, I'll still suggest lowering the upper edge of the opening somewhat (reducing the size of the opening) to regain some of the curvature emphasis. Regardless, the car looks wonderfully "modern" with this modification.

Bernard, though in some cases I like skirts on customs, sometimes I don't, & your comments about the modified fender opening nailed down what I was seeing as well. I dug John's design, but something was nagging at me that I couldn't focus on.

Not only was that it, your suggestions for taking care of it are spot on.

[froghawk]

Thanks for the input, guys! Bernard, I'll take your suggestions "under advisement.” If you look at the Photoshop version, you'll see that the top of the opening is couple smidges lower. Maybe that's where it needs to be.

[cturner]

I like it with the "copy" of the front wheel outline.
Hey John...did you go to the Super September Showdown today? Message me..ok?