The Classic 1950's Automobile Group Build Starts 4-16-07

You got that right. I'm a double Dewars on the rocks man myself. I hope I spelled that right. I haven't had any for about 20 years. I forget what it tastes like.

Jim

LOL, I just drink the whiskey (single malt scotch) without the tea. Doesn't seem to help with the cold, but who cares?

Bgrigg, Mine is probably a  LOT older than yours. When you reach my age, the first thing that goes is.....is.....is Oh well I think I've had it since ...................were dinosaurs still around in the 60's? Forget what the first two numbers are. Anyhow, I think it was somewhere in the 60's because in the 70's I switched totally to racing R/C sailboats till in the late 80's and I've only bought 2 or 3 kits since the late 80's and that is not one of them. My stash is made up of all old kits I bought back when I was building and doing some local competeing in the 60's.

My dad had a good cure for the common cold. Make a HOT cup of tea and put a double shot of your favorite whiskey in it and drink it while it is still as hot as you can drink. Then you go to bed with a good heavy quilt covering you. You will sweat like crazy and it will sweat the cold out of you. Don't get out of bed during the night or you might catch pneumonia. He did it during the 50 years he worked for the same refinery anytime he felt a cold coming on. He was never out a day sick in 50 years.

Jim

Jim,

It's the same kit. I'm building mine stock, but it comes with that hood and the twin blown race engine. Yours looks older than mine. The one I have, the details are very soft and the mold has shifted on the bucket seats, messing up the pattern.

I've managed to put much of the engine together, but haven't yet painted the block. With my cold I can't handle the smell of the glues and paints. So no more pics until I finish the paint and detailing.

Bill

Bgrigg, Here's a pic of the '53 Studebaker kit that I have.

I also have a pic of my build so far. Aaronw, I don't know how you got that frame that far so fast and looking great. Do you give lessons?

Jim

Bgrigg, I have an old AMT '53 Studebaker kit 3 in 1. It has a white Mr Speed Bonneville racer version on the top. I'll put a pic of it on tomorrow. I started the racer version many years ago but set it aside for some reason. If I haven't cannablized it too bad, maybe I'll build it after the GB is done.

Jim

fox wrote:

Bgrigg, sorry to hear about the cold. Would the blurred vision be a help?  Jim

LOL, with this old AMT kit, it's might be. When I looked at it the other night it the midst of the worst vision it looked pretty good. But now I can see all the problems! Lots of places where the styrene slumped in the molds, or perhaps it's sat in the hot LHS too long. 

Aaronw, the chassis looks great. Can't tell where you added the 1". The body looks good too. I started on my '53 tuesday night. Been busy filling dents in the frame and getting it ready for a front clip from a vette and also a rear one. They are both independent suspension set ups that have real springs and hopefully they will work. Sanding all the chrome off the body and making some modifications to it. Hopefully I can post some pics tomorrow night.

Bgrigg, sorry to hear about the cold. Would the blurred vision be a help? 

Jim

Wow, that body is off on a great start!

I went and caught a cold, and it's kept me away from the build table. I'm going to give it a whirl tonight, but my vision is still blurry. Not the best time to build!

I'm using the AMT/Ertl 1950 Chevrolet 3100 kit to build a Fire Department salvage wagon. The primary job of these trucks was to protect the property inside a fire building from water and smoke damage as well as securing the building after the fire. These vehicles are not very common anymore as most of the Insurance company funded Salvage Corps or Fire Patrols were disbanded by the 50's / 60's. This truck will be for my fictional 60's era fire department.

I started by extending the chassis frame about 1" since the kit represents a short bed and I'm putting a 9' body on the truck.

Here is the body, I'm doing better than most builds because this is actually the second body, the first looked to much like a rescue body so I set that one aside for another project and started this one last night.

I'll be starting on schedule (I hope). I like Bgriggs idea. Soon as I figure out exactly what parts I'm using from what kits I'll post a pic. Using the '53 as the basic car but using parts from 5 other kits plus some out of my parts boxes. When I thought this up it was a great idea. All I have to do now is.....is.....is oh yea remember what those plans were.

Hope everyone has as great a time as I know I will.

Jim

Ok, I spent a little time searching for 1950's salvage vehicles. This is a rough draft I did with MS paint to give some idea of what my concept is. Hopefully the model will look a little better than this.

I'm not starting, but I thought I would start with a pic of the kit box and sprues. I'm working tomorrow, and have obligations I must fulfill tomorrow night, so it might be a day or two before I actually glue anything together.

I'll add the group badge in as well, now that it's close to starting! 

Jim, everything is still a go! Aaron, go ahead and start if you like, I won't throw a penalty flag.

Guys, I will be out of town Tuesday thru Monday this week, an unexpected trip came up.  I will be out mining for gold for the week (one of my other hobbies).  So just jump in and get going on the build.  If anyone new joins the build I will get you added to the list as soon as I get back.

Everyone have fun and post along the way.

I'm ready, the past two weeks have been very busy so I'm trying to get caught up on some other GB's I'm in but I'm looking forward to this one, the hardest part will not be starting today since I'm actually off and have plenty of time.

I'm really thinking about doing the 50 chevy truck as a Salvage Corps truck, like the Insurance companies used to run along side the fire department in some cities.

Hi there,

Got my workbench cleared off and ready to start the build.  Hope we're still a go for the group build.

Jim

Bill, I'll change ot for you right now.  Looking forward to it.  This will also be my first attempt at flocking.

Still time to pick up a kit and join this build.

Yeah, that's the kit! Now it's called Classics. Picked up the AMT 1953 Studebaker Starliner Coupe today. I'll build it most OOB with some BMF and my first attempt at flocking, maybe some better tires.

Model Granpa, can you switch my entry for me? Thanks!

Bill 

Hi,

Have an OLD AMT 1/25 '53 Studebaker 3 in 1 in my stash. Checked out the box weeks ago when you wanted to see one in the build. Started to build it about 20-25 years ago and made a real mess out of it. Nothing left in the box but the messed up body(tried to build the Bonneville version with tons and tons of some kind of putty) and the custom parts. No frame, engine, or other goodies. Shoved it back in the box and put it in the closet with the rest of the stash figuring I'd work on it later when I had a LOT of time to spare. Thats why I went with the Chevy.

Looking forward to the start of the build.

Jim 

Seventeen more days to go!

I saw a Studebaker at the LHS. I might just switch from the Nomad to that...

I think I'm going to do a '56 Ford Victoria. I built one about 15 years ago and really enjoyed it. Good thing about AMT is I know the kit hasn't changed so I'll enjoy it again. Anyway, it'll be done as a mild custom.

Ron.

I'd like to join in on this build, I'm signed up with another build but the start date is a little down the road on this one and it's going to take me a while to choose a victim anyway.

 Ron.

Quick update on the build.

I've gotten my taxes back from my CPA, can you say "refund!"  However the wife already said I can't buy models with it.  Have to save it for our vacation.  Wonder how many hobby shops I can find on our vacation?

Still plenty of time to find a 1950's car kit and join this build.

Cool Kenny...OOB will be just fine.

Jim, looks like you did great, glad I could help.

Hi Dan,

Followed your instructions and everything worked like a fine Swiss watch. Thank you very much.

Jim