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Glue Bombs from the 1960s( all original kit cars) [Unrestored to sort of Restored ]

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  • Member since
    November 2020
  • From: Land of Opportunity-Arkansas-The Natural State
Glue Bombs from the 1960s( all original kit cars) [Unrestored to sort of Restored ]
Posted by Fendermender on Tuesday, October 3, 2023 1:32 PM

 

These are all original 1960s-issued kit models that I had inherited as gifts from friends back in the early 1960s as their discarded glue bombs.

Finally got around to getting them up and running.

First up is an Aurora 1/32 scale 1962 Corvette.  It needed wheels, tires, axles, windshield, steering wheels, gear shift lever none of which are from the original kit. The interior was glued solidly to the body so it couldn't be detached for detailing thoroughly.  Wheels and rubber tires are from a discarded transformer-type car from the scrap yard.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 1/24 scale AMT 1932 Ford coupe has the originally-appied flames, but I painted the upper firewall red for continuity. Seat was painted gray and gray carpeting installed. The engine was glued in solidly as well as one header, making for painting a real chore. The 60+ years tires were soaked in glycerine to try and soften them up to mount on the rims and the spoke wheels-they were so brittle some spokes did break.  Radiator hose is elastic cord.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The AMT 1960 F-100 pickup was missing its entire engine and its fender shirts were glue in solidly along with the tonneau cover. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The original AMT 1960 Ford F-100 pickup kit contained a trailer which was painted Sage to match the Ford pickup truck.  The originally-applied decals, "The Smasher", on the sides were saved. Custom taillights and license plate ala Maisto.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 1961 Ford Ranchero had plenty of glue showered all over it. With a lot of sanding and prep work, it cleaned up quite well. By reusing its roof top custom part from the original kit to hide tremendous glue pits on its roof top, adding lakes pipes, spotlights, and a homemade reversible tonneau cover, this gave it a real vintage custom look. The wheels and tires are from a  1/24 scale Maisto lowrider model. Paint color is Cinnamon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The AMT 1965 Pontiac GTO had its engine glued in solidly, but was already somewhat painted correctly. Windshield was glued in solidly too and could not be removed. A piece of the windshiled frame was glued solidly to the top as well. All these pieces couldn't be removed without extensive damage. The whole interior was painted in an epoxy black paint and took a few months to remove in a harsh paint remover solution. I opted to not attach the hardtop so as to run the model as a convertible sometimes. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

  • Member since
    January 2010
Posted by CrashTestDummy on Wednesday, October 4, 2023 12:28 PM

Funny the 'detail' on that Vette, especially when comparing it to the Ford coupe!  I'd break out the chrome paint pen and highlight the chrome trim on that Vette.  It might make some of the uglies fade a bit.  Nice work saving the old kits!

I picked up a glue-bomb 'Boot Hill Express' at a car show once.  Actually didn't know it was a glue-bomb until I got it home.  I was mostly-successful with the disassembly using alternating sessions of freezing it and running hot water over it to 'shock' the glue seams.  I added some details and actually ended up having to cast replacement roof urns, as the kit was missing about half of them, and it turned out pretty nice.

G. Beaird,

Pearland, Texas

  • Member since
    October 2019
  • From: New Braunfels, Texas
Posted by Tanker-Builder on Wednesday, October 4, 2023 12:49 PM

Hi!

       OOH! Love reconstructed Glue Bombs.Tip! On the Vette, A wee bit of Putty at the seams on top of the fenders would've slickened it up even more. The Pontiac! Looks great. You can Patch the windshield Frame with Evergreen Strip fairly easy, Thus completing a nice amount of work, Like Them anyway!! Did You Know? Glue Bombs help further our Modeling skills? Yup! I know that from Experience. Just ask me sometime!

  • Member since
    November 2020
  • From: Land of Opportunity-Arkansas-The Natural State
Posted by Fendermender on Wednesday, October 4, 2023 4:58 PM

" I'd break out the chrome paint pen and highlight the chrome trim on that Vette. "

 CrashTestDummy, thanks for the tip. Appreciate the remarks.

This glue bomb had the black matte paint finish on it before "reconstruction" and I debated whether to strip it and repaint. BUT since I had no replacement wheels and was unsure that any wheels would work until assembled, I decided just to put the sides and chassis together as is. Actually, the wheels should have been put on the chassis prior to assembly of the sides. AFTER assembly (and this was a PIA), one  wheel had to be placed in the wheel well, then an axle measured precisely so that the other wheel inside the wheel well could be attached. It should not have been possible but it worked with an axle made of wood. LOL. All wheels roll, by the way.

I just bought a chrome paint pen the other day so will try it out on the  trim.

  • Member since
    November 2020
  • From: Land of Opportunity-Arkansas-The Natural State
Posted by Fendermender on Wednesday, October 4, 2023 5:06 PM

Tanker-Builder, thanks for your comments.  

"A wee bit of Putty at the seams on top of the fenders would've slickened it up even more."

Definitely agree. Since it was already painted though, and I had already assembled it with white glue, I realized  that would be taking the "project" in a whole different direction. Maybe in the future I will go for it.

  • Member since
    March 2015
  • From: Close to Chicago
Posted by JohnnyK on Sunday, October 8, 2023 1:44 PM

Yikes!  Those look like the models that I used to build in the 60's. 

Your comments and questions are always welcome.

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