1953 Chevrolet Bel Air Is Complete

Looking forward to seeing what you do with this kit Mike.

I had a '53 Convertable 6 cyl. as a first car. It was a great car. It was red with red & white seats, flames coming out of the front wheel wells and a little bit of pin striping on the rest. I got the car in '59 and in '60 started racing it stock at Atco. In '63 I quit racing when I discovered it was too costly to race the car you need for work. Only have 1 B/W photo of it. Will try to find it.

Jim 

Stay Safe.

That is looking so nice!  Really like the color choices.

tjs

The colors look great.  I liked those old cars. They alot of style to them.

Hi Mike;

     Oh Boy ,you seem to pick a lot of my favorite cars! Even though you didn't start it, It will be a winner I am sure!

Mike, those wheels. That thing is gonna look SICK!!

BK

Thanks, guys!

I've completed the Chevy Stovebolt Six.  I wired the engine and added the optional Corvette engine parts from the Monogram '53 Corvette.

More Bel Air to come...

Good job so far with all the conversion efforts to a Vette powertrain. Nice choice in wheels too Mike. 

Thanks Joe!  I bought the wheels and I wasn't sure where I was going to use them.  I thought of the '53 Chevy and that is where they went.

I painted the interior with Model Master Flame Red Lacquer.  Now to let this gas out and flatten a bit.

More Bel Air to come...

Flame Red Indeed!

     This is going to be another Outstanding Car!! I am waiting for the dash detailing which you are adept at!

I worked on the chassis today and during a test fit of the body and the chassis, I discovered that the Corvette induction system I was using wouldn't fit.  I pulled the induction system and the valve cover off and replaced them with the custom pieces from the kit.  I also completed the dash minus the custom reverb which I will install later.  

More Bel Air to come...

The last two days have been spent foiling and I did such a lousy job.  My foil is old and has lost a lot of its adhesive so I have been adding Metal Foil Adhesive before the foil itself.  It should be simple to add, but it looks like crap.  I suppose I should break down and by some new foil from the manufacturer, but I hear of issues with that foil as well.  I finished detailing the dash and now onto assembly!

More Bel Air to come...

Great looking model.

I have a suggestion regarding applying Bare Metal Foil. I have been applying BMF for many years. The adhesive does not stick very well unless you burnish it. Burnishing the foil removes wrinkles and the odd bumpy surface of the foil. Burnishing also heats up the adhesive which makes it stick like crazy. I use paper Stumps from Hobby Lobby to burnish the foil. The stumps are soft so that they will not tear the foil. First apply the foil to the model with your fingers. Next softly rub the foil with your fingers to flatten it out and remove large wrinkles. Then, softly rub the foil with a stump to romove any small wrinkles.  Lastly, rub hard with the stump to enhance the shine of the foil and activate the adhesive. The foil will be very difficult to remove after it is burnished.

Hi Mr.Mike!

     Listen, What I did to solve that foil problem was to get a lot of Bumper stickers when I traveled, Threw the sticker away and kept the backing paper. Using Micro Foil Adhesive, I created my own in a few different Brightnesses. That was over twelve years ago. I put them in a Flat File carrier like artists use and kept them Inside the closet hanging on a hook. I am still using out of that folder!

I wanted to repaint the seating surfaces of the interior, but to block the red from showing through, I must paint the surface black, then silver and then white like I want it.

More Bel Air to come...

While the silver spray paint is drying on the seats, I sprayed some Model Master White Lightning Lacquer into a cup and using a fine tip brush, I tried to lessen the black panel lines that Tim Rhine used on the '53 Chevy body.  Came out pretty good.

More Bel Air to come...

I Superglued the wheel backs to the Zimmermanz wheels and tires.  I finished painting and assembling the interior.

More Bel Air to come...

My '53 Bel Air is done!  

A few more...

I'm normally not a big fan of the 53, but those wheels and that paint makes this one super nice. Well done.

BK

Looks good Mike!

Looks like a modern twist on a nostalgia build I guess. It came out nice.

Thank you, Brandon, John and oldermodelguy!

I think that it looks fantastic.  Love the color combo and the mixing of the modern rims & wheels with the beautiful lines of a classic automobile.  Well done!

tjs

The mix of modern and vintage is great. You did a fantastic job. Great choice of colors. I like it. 

Thank you Tom and lurch!

I do like your Bel Air, Mike. Nicely done.

Johnny, thanks for that burnishing tip. I think I'll make a Hobby Lobby run today to get a pack of those oddly named paper-sticks. Should be great for certain masking burnishing needs too.

Thank you Greg!  I use makeup applicators to burnish my foil.  They have a soft sponge tip that follows the contours of the body.