Thunderbird & 32 Roadster

Here we go with my second build thread - and building a pair of cars side by side.
The Thunderbird will be influenced by the Larry Watson car, but not a reproduction,
and the '32 Roadster will be full-fendered
- although I bought it to make a Highboy, until I found it didn't have a separate chassis.
Both cars will come from the same period in time, so it's natural to build them both.

001 

  Bring 'em on !!

With the weather being cold and damp today, I carried on with the two cars.
I started preparing the T-Bird, filling in sink holes and, if it was real life,
appeared as if the wind had caught both doors and creased the front wings.
Biggest issue being the nasty twist in the body that often occurs with models of convertibles.
However, the body is now filed, filled and has a flat white primer coat,
but the twist is bothering me and I might glue in the doors to make it more rigid,
as my success in the past with opening doors has only been so, so.
I’ll sleep on that, and try and get a gloss basecoat on tomorrow







The ’32 Roadster is another story. I was hoping to paint it Gold/Bronze but it turned out to be shade of orange,
and I have quite a few orange cars - so I tinted it with a touch of red so is now a sort of ‘Burnt Orange’
but the colour will contrast nicely with the proposed white interior and whitewall tyres.



 .......ORANGE HenryJ nearing completion !

Some nice progress on both builds. I really like that 32.

Looking great!

I was planning a 'Kookie' type car, but the colour is way too dark now.
I was really annoyed that the '32 didn't feature every week on 77 Sunset Strip,
but I do remember the 'Chrome Coffin' episode.

Good start Ron. For me I'd glue the door shut, if it means a straight body and less issues down the road.

Orange is my fav colour.

Good work on both Ron.

I'm not a fan on mving parts on styrene models and you may still find that the body is twisted when you glue them in position.

However, you should be able to straighten it by using steam from a boiling kettle.

Hi Ron,

These are looking good so far Sir, I really love the Burnt Orange colour...

Skid wrote:However, you should be able to straighten it by using steam from a boiling kettle.

Hi Al,

May I ask, is there a set time or do you just go by eye, also would you have to strap it down onto a board or something or would it just slowly straighten itself out...

Sorry for the questions...

Many thanks...

Andy...

I've tried the steam thing, once, but didn't work for me.
It will probably 'glue' down straight to the chassis when it is finished, I hope.
...and rightly, I don't think cementing the doors will help - so plodding on with the open door build.

The T-Bird is now painted VW Candy White, and I have mist coated the Satin Black upholstery
with Metallic Purple ready for my brush painting of the Off-White seat inserts

001 

Okay...this is the latest :



Paint is now lacquered and engine wired.
Chequered firewall was drawn up on the computer and printed out on photopaper, then lacquered.
Gearshift is the usual long ball headed pin - bent to shape, obviously,
and the underside of the mudguards - sorry, fenders, have been painted gloss white.
More detailing to come, (white running boards, Edsel steering wheel, etc.) but the '32 is almost there,
hopefully all done by the weekend.

A bit put off by the twisty body on the T-Bird,
I have diverted my attentions for a while on finishing off another car : my 427 Fairlane,
which may also be finished for the weekend - before I get back to the other job in hand.

 

Fine looking Roadster. WTG.

Looks real sharp Ron super smooth paint. Did you mask the checkers on the fire wall?

Ron.... sorry not to get back to you on body straightening.

This is what I would do:

Glue the doors in place and let cure for a day or so.

Set your COLD tap running. With the kettle boiling, hold the body in the steam at the point of the twist. Now twist in the opposite direction a little more than the original twist and hold there for maybe 15 seconds, remove from steam, and still holding the 'anti-twist, twist, (LOL) run cold water over it for a few seconds.

Works every time for me.

You may have to repeat until you get the desired result. If you go to far, just repeat and reverse the twisting.

Thanks Al - problem is I've already painted it, and wonder whether if I use steam ,will it affect the paint?

Looking at the T-Bird again, because the doors are not fixed (yet), the twist is not 'tight',
and in this case I've decided to cement the body to the chassis - before I mask out any more paintwork.
I'll clamp it down square, and hope when the glue is cured, none of the wheels will be lifting
- like a dancing Lowrider.
Thanks for the info and it's noted if I get another twisty kit.

Paint could do with a compound to be honest Curt, - and yes I cheated by using the computer to print out the chequered firewall.
There was a time I could do it by hand !

Ah I'm sure you can still do it, you've just got wiser in your old age. Love the colour, you're right it could do with a bit of rubbing, it still looks good. Just blast on some poly clear.

001 

It's a bit of a grey day in the Village today - but a balmy 13 degrees - ideal for a long session in my meagrely heated attic cave,
so looking forward to finishing one of the models earlier than expected.

001 have at it Ron, good luck. It's -8 here.

Ditto what Curt said.001 

Nice village Ron. Which one? I'm just outside of Haydon Bridge, Northumberland.

Hi Mr D,

This looks sweat, I love the chequered firewall, it looks very effective...

Andy...