Zenrat's Flying Circus

[zenrat]

My favourite 'vette is the '63 (the split window).

[PR19_Kit]

My favourite 'vette is the '63 (the split window).

Oh yes! 

I had a 1/32 Revell '63 Vette slot racer in the same year. It was still MILES larger than any UK car model, and a lot easier to drive as a result.

[NARSES2]

Edsel looks better with the fins in my view, but I didn't realise how big it is/was ! You could have got my old primary school class in it 

All American cars of the period are GINORMOUS!

At least on the outside anyway, some are surprisingly cramped on the inside, as well as being totally OTT. A friend of mine in the US has a 1960 Ford Thunderbird and the driver's seat is maybe 9" thick and has more chrome around the back of it than my car has in its entirety!

Don't forget that you three to four couples in the trunk of most period cars into the drive-in...or two to three Nash Metropolitans in the footprint. 

True. Years ago in Hawaii we were coming back from Hanauma Bay and shared a Taxi with another group. It was an older vehicle, as a lot of the tourist cabs were back then and we got 7 plus the driver inside the car and me and Jonelle who was then 6 or 7 (she's 32 now) in the open boot (trunk). Even then the UK cops would have had a fit, but we passed at least one patrol car and nothing was said 

[jcf]

   on the '63 split, a friend is in the midst of a frame-up resto on a '67
ragtop.
He's doing great work. 

I still miss my '64 Riviera. 

The twin of this one:






https://silodrome.com/1964-buick-riviera-coupe/

[PR19_Kit]

I still miss my '64 Riviera. 

The twin of this one:

A very handsome car that. Did anyone ever kit the coupe version? I have a stock AMT sedan, but the coupe oozes more class.

[Later] Ah, it looks like there was only the coupe, so my kit  must look like that one! I obviously need to check on The Loft contents more often. 

[zenrat]

The Modelhaus might have done one in resin but they are now closed.
Unfortunate, but I suppose they should be allowed to retire if they want to. 

[jcf]

The old AMT kit was released as a '63/64, and later modified to produce the '65,
unfortunately the mods meant the earlier version was no longer an option.


I was able to purchase an old buildup of a '64 on ebay for a few bucks,
so the body and other '63/64 specific bits will be combined with the
'65 kit to replicate my beast. Which was originally built for the Dahl
Oil Company, a plate in the car attested to that fact, as did the company
name punched into both sets of wheel-covers.



The old vinyl tires had melted the wheels on the buildup. 

My fantasy hot rod, real world, is a '64 Riv with a V12, six-speed, IRS, discs all round, etc.
In short, mechanical underpinnings to match the looks.

[zenrat]

The 63 to 66 Rivs were very handsome, understated cars.  Stylish but not flashy.
I have the AMT '65 kit but have done nothing with it (apart from using some of the wheels) as while I don't want to build it OOB I can't think of anything to do to it that would do it justice.

[PR19_Kit]

The 63 to 66 Rivs were very handsome, understated cars.  Stylish but not flashy.
I have the AMT '65 kit but have done nothing with it (apart from using some of the wheels) as while I don't want to build it OOB I can't think of anything to do to it that would do it justice.

That's the same kit I have.

I did think about giving it sail panels at the rear, like the '68 Dodge Charger.

[jcf]

The 63 to 66 Rivs were very handsome, understated cars.  Stylish but not flashy.
I have the AMT '65 kit but have done nothing with it (apart from using some of the wheels) as while I don't want to build it OOB I can't think of anything to do to it that would do it justice.

The First Generation '63 - '65 were the same basic vehicle with a unique platform
and sheetmetal.
The Second Generation '66 + were larger and on the new E-Body platform, which
was also used for the '66 Olds Toronado and the '67 Cadillac Eldorado.

[PR19_Kit]

The Second Generation '66 + were larger and on the new E-Body platform, which
was also used for the '66 Olds Toronado and the '67 Cadillac Eldorado.

Were the 2nd Gen Rivs front wheel drive then?

[jcf]

Nope, the E-platform was used for both FWD and RWD drivetrains.

[PR19_Kit]

Nope, the E-platform was used for both FWD and RWD drivetrains.

Very forward thinking, especially for the time. Thanks JCF. 

[zenrat]

Edsel is now completed as today I polished the rest of it without knocking anymore parts off and then ran some smoke wash down the panel gaps.
I did get some polish on the alcladded continental kit and cleaned it off without thinking with a swipe of the polishing rag.
D'oh!  Right through to the gloss black undercoat.  No way to touch that up.  Oh well, from the right angle it looks like an artefact of the light and shade and reflections in the chrome.
I have found a piece of surplus pine and will cut a base for it tomorrow.

Also today I masked and painted black stripes on the wings and fuselage of El Beau and red/green stripes on the already white rudder.

[zenrat]

Cut the Edsel's plinth and stained it today.

Removed the tape from El Beau and touched up all the places where black paint ran down the engraved detail.
El Beau WIP 15-5-18 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

And I started masking the Zero.
zero WIP 15-5-18 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr