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Chrysler Turbine Car

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  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: USA
Chrysler Turbine Car
Posted by Matthew Usher on Tuesday, March 9, 2004 10:58 AM
Hey folks!

I thought I'd pass along a couple of photos of my just-finished Chrysler Turbine Car. It's a JoHan kit; essentially a disassembled version of the circa-1964 giveaway "promo" model. The kit only has 20 or so parts (it's a curbside) but it's remarkably detailed given its age. The engraving on the body is particularly nice.

The Turbine cars were painted "Turbine Bronze," which I mixed using Floquil copper. I added red and black until it matched my reference photos. The metallic paint is flat, so I clear coated the model to bring up the shine. All the trim (and there's a lot of it) is Bare-Metal Foil.

Hope you like it!

Matt Usher
Senior Editor, FineScale Modeler





  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, March 9, 2004 11:09 AM
I built this car in the 60's but it was the complet kit, had more detail in the engine that only god could see. It was by far the best car kit I've ever done. Would like to get my hands on it again. Thanks for the memories and the pics.
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Dahlonega, Georgia
Posted by lizardqing on Tuesday, March 9, 2004 12:33 PM
Looks great Matthew. Got to love how BMF really brings out a model.
Moderator
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: USA
Posted by Matthew Usher on Tuesday, March 9, 2004 12:47 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by lizardqing2

Looks great Matthew. Got to love how BMF really brings out a model.


Thanks, Chris!

Bare-Metal Foil really does make this one pop. Here's a shot of the body before the clear coat and the BMF to show how much difference it makes:





Matt
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Dahlonega, Georgia
Posted by lizardqing on Tuesday, March 9, 2004 2:12 PM
Wow what a difference it did make. Gonna have to give that stuff a real try one of these days.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, March 9, 2004 2:17 PM
Awesome job Matt!!!!

Gatta love BMF!!!
  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Reno, Nevada, USA
Posted by Silverback on Wednesday, March 10, 2004 9:04 AM
Matt:
The color on the Turbine Car was actually a solid, non-metallic color. It appeared to be overcoated with a clear glosscaot containing a gold/copper "mist". Its a difficult color to describe, and damn-near impossible to duplicate. There's a pretty good depiction of the color at:
http://www.productioncars.com/photo_gallery/classics_and_collectibles/chrysler_turbine.php

Great looking job on that on, by the way. It really captures the feel of the original.

Phil Schenfeld - who spent many hours wiping cars at the old Harrah's Auto Collection
Moderator
  • Member since
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  • From: USA
Posted by Matthew Usher on Wednesday, March 10, 2004 12:39 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Silverback

Matt:
The color on the Turbine Car was actually a solid, non-metallic color. It appeared to be overcoated with a clear glosscaot containing a gold/copper "mist". Its a difficult color to describe, and damn-near impossible to duplicate. There's a pretty good depiction of the color at:
http://www.productioncars.com/photo_gallery/classics_and_collectibles/chrysler_turbine.php

Great looking job on that on, by the way. It really captures the feel of the original.

Phil Schenfeld - who spent many hours wiping cars at the old Harrah's Auto Collection


Phil,

Thanks for the kind words about the model, and thanks for the information on the paint. Researching this project was difficult -- the color looks radically different from picture to picture. Matching the color (at least to my eye) took longer than it has on any other project!

An all-white Turbine Car appeared in the 1964 movie "The Lively Set" as a race car, and the kit includes a nice set of decals to depict the film car. I may have to build another one of these.

Matt Usher @ FSM

  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: Virginia, USA
Posted by samreichart on Wednesday, March 10, 2004 1:32 PM
Boy that photo brings back memories...

My brothers and I each had one of the original "hand-outs" from the dealership...my uncle owned it, so he give us each one of the Turbine cars. My one brother still has his. I had forgotten that was 40 years ago.[:0]

Nice work on the model...that copper color sure stands out...Smile [:)]
Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum sonatur :)
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, March 10, 2004 1:45 PM
Looks fantastic! It's hard to find anyone that has even heard of that car much built a model of it!

BTW: didn't someone build a turbine powered truck tractor (semi) once? Maybe Diamond REO?
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: East Bethel, MN
Posted by midnightprowler on Wednesday, March 10, 2004 4:52 PM
Awesome job Matt! Got a extra one ya want to get rid of?
Lee

Hi, I am Lee, I am a plastiholic.

Co. A, 682 Engineers, Ltchfield, MN, 1980-1986

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 1 Corinthians 15:51-54

Ask me about Speedway Decals

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, March 10, 2004 10:44 PM
That's a fantastic build Matt, I sure wish I could get BMF to work that well for me!!
  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: Ontario's West Coast
Posted by dpty_dawg_ca on Thursday, March 11, 2004 7:34 AM
BTW: didn't someone build a turbine powered truck tractor (semi) once? Maybe Diamond REO?

The first issue of the AMT GMC Astro cab over tractor had an optional Allison gas turbine engine. I believe that is the only truck model that was issued with a turbine.
Carl
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, March 23, 2004 7:00 AM
Nice.

I really must get around to my "complete" version of the car to build. I had been after the kit for years (the full detail one) when I heard it was available. I eventually managed to get hold of one a few years ago.

I missed out on that gas turbine Astro. Would have really liked to have built the turbine option!
  • Member since
    December 2012
Posted by FreedomEagle1953 on Tuesday, March 23, 2004 8:28 PM
Hi ya Matthew Usher ...

Very nice work ... Bow [bow] ... thanks a bunch for sharing ... Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]

I had the chance to see one of the 1/1 scale Chrysler Turbine cars at a Bloomington Gold Corvette Show in Springfield Illinois a few years ago ... as much as I love Corvettes ... getting to see the Chrysler Turbine Car was, for me the highlight of that years show. I hope to have a chance to see one again sometime. Approve [^]

In whatever scale ... one very cool car !!!

FreedomEagle1953

Chicago, IL area

"keep on building 'em ... but don't glue your fingers together"

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