|
|
Post by froghawk on Feb 17, 2023 21:50:18 GMT -5
I was very fortunate to luck on to this clean '58 Buick coupe recently, and quickly set about trying make it look like something. As with many early AMT and SMP kits adjustments are needed to correct the wheelbase and track width when using the original kit chassis, as I did here, since no logical substitute chassis could be found. The wheelbase problem with the '58 Buick kits is in the rear, where the rear axle is too far back, which is immediately apparent when the car is viewed from the side. I first attempted to remedy this by modifying the lowering blocks and grinding the inside of the axle housing for clearance so the rear axle could be moved forward 1/16th." This turned out to not be quite enough, despite being an improvement. Since the rear axle couldn't be shifted forward anymore, the next step was to section the chassis. You can see where my cut was made in the photos. Another 1/16" was removed here, for a total 1/8" modification. I also lengthened the screw holes so the whole chassis could be shifted forward slightly to get the wheels nicely placed in their openings.
An added problem with this kit is that the chassis is off-center by 1/16" or so. This was remedied by placing a 1/16" spacer behind the wheel backs on the driver's side. The tires are from the Monogram (Revell) '59 Caddy, wheels are those gorgeous wires from AMT's recent '62 T-bird, and the caps are from the Möbius '56 Chrysler 300B kit. To get the desired forward rake the front axle is in the lowered position and the rear is at stock height.
 
|
|
|
|
Post by froghawk on Feb 17, 2023 22:08:15 GMT -5
As with many of my builds, inspiration comes from Larry Watson, in this case the beautiful flame job on Jack James '57 Buick Special. I've gotten as far as creating a pattern, based closely on Larry's design, tweaked a bit to fit the '58. To create the art I laid masking tape on the kit body and drew the design in pencil, after which the tape was placed on a sheet of paper for scanning, The scanned image was opened in Adobe Illustrator and traced with vector curves. Then the completed pattern was copied and flipped for the opposite side.
Wish me luck with this one! Final colors will be Tamiya Pearl Blue with Gold flames. And lots of BMF!  
|
|
|
|
Post by froghawk on Feb 17, 2023 22:15:08 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by RodBurNeR on Feb 18, 2023 0:31:47 GMT -5
omg literally one of my grails! I have been looking for one pretty hard lately, congrats on yours!
I have this bookmarked, I am so stoked to see this and you building it! The work to make the stance is amazing, I am too lazy for that but now I think I will have to do the same. You put "weight" in the stance, I can literally envision by sight, the car is "heavy".
I can't wait to see this all come together John!
|
|
|
|
Post by ChrisV on Feb 18, 2023 10:41:54 GMT -5
Oooooohh... This is gonna be great!!!
Those seaweed-flames look absolutely awesome!
|
|
|
|
Post by 41chevy on Feb 18, 2023 12:20:12 GMT -5
Wicked! Can't wait to see more! Paul
|
|
|
|
Post by dodgefever on Feb 19, 2023 7:42:41 GMT -5
Thanks for detailing all the corrections. Looking forward to seeing this progress.
|
|
|
|
Post by froghawk on Feb 19, 2023 14:04:01 GMT -5
omg literally one of my grails! I have been looking for one pretty hard lately, congrats on yours! I have this bookmarked, I am so stoked to see this and you building it! The work to make the stance is amazing, I am too lazy for that but now I think I will have to do the same. You put "weight" in the stance, I can literally envision by sight, the car is "heavy". I can't wait to see this all come together John! Thanks, Bob! I hope you're able to get a hold of one of these! But there's no need to jump thru all the hoops I did to fix the wheelbase. Skip the lowering block mods and simply section the chassis no more than I/8" in the same spot I did and modify the screw holes so the chassis can slide forward a couple hairs. You'll definitely want to widen the track some, though, and compensate for the off-center chassis. |
|
|
|
Post by RodBurNeR on Feb 19, 2023 14:41:57 GMT -5
omg literally one of my grails! I have been looking for one pretty hard lately, congrats on yours! I have this bookmarked, I am so stoked to see this and you building it! The work to make the stance is amazing, I am too lazy for that but now I think I will have to do the same. You put "weight" in the stance, I can literally envision by sight, the car is "heavy". I can't wait to see this all come together John! Thanks, Bob! I hope you're able to get a hold of one of these! But there's no need to jump thru all the hoops I did to fix the wheelbase. Skip the lowering block mods and simply section the chassis no more than I/8" in the same spot I did and modify the screw holes so the chassis can slide forward a couple hairs. You'll definitely want to widen the track some, though, and compensate for the off-center chassis. definitely, wouldn't have thought about the wheelbase honestly , but the width I would have been like wtf? lol |
|
|
|
Post by skip on Feb 19, 2023 22:17:24 GMT -5
Iv'e always loved this one, Larry Watson could take a turd and make it look great, he just had that finesse about him! |
|
|
|
Post by Dave from Pleasanton on Feb 22, 2023 17:17:03 GMT -5
Really exciting John. Is all that massive chrome area going to stay chromed? Normally I'm all about deleting chrome trim, but for this Buick I think all that heavy side chrome makes the car. No matter what I'll be along for the ride.
|
|
|
|
Post by froghawk on Feb 22, 2023 22:51:52 GMT -5
Really exciting John. Is all that massive chrome area going to stay chromed? Normally I'm all about deleting chrome trim, but for this Buick I think all that heavy side chrome makes the car. No matter what I'll be along for the ride. Except for hood and trunk emblems/lettering, all the stock trim will stay. You're right, as crazy as it is, it's all that side gingerbread that makes the '58 Buick! |
|
|
|
Post by modelcrazed on Feb 23, 2023 12:00:13 GMT -5
Will be keeping an eye on this, i have an old R&R resin but it came without a chassis. somewhere i have a chassis for a SMP58 Chevy, would you happen to know if the AMT/SMP chassis are the same between the two?
|
|
|
|
Post by froghawk on Feb 23, 2023 15:40:00 GMT -5
Will be keeping an eye on this, i have an old R&R resin but it came without a chassis. somewhere i have a chassis for a SMP58 Chevy, would you happen to know if the AMT/SMP chassis are the same between the two? Thanks. The SMP 58 Impala chassis is not the the same piece as the Buick and it's about 1/2" short in wheelbase to work. If you need a Buick chassis , I think I've got an extra I can send you. Just PM me your address. |
|
|
|
Post by lo51merc on Feb 23, 2023 17:33:51 GMT -5
I've got a Modelhaus (?) 57 Buick in progress on my bench now and I'm having to stretch the chassis on this one too. Was the body this was cast from a promo? 1957? AMT? Whatever, it's a nice 57 Roadmaster. BTW, the underside of the chassis is stamped, "57 Buick & 58 Pontiac.
Gary
|
|
