'56 Pontiac promo questions

[hedotwo]

I recently picked up this nice '56 Pontiac Star Chief and was amazed at how straight it is.  It's a Johan interior-less example and it's one of the non-styrene promos.  Is not being warped after all these years a good sign that it won't in the future?  My other question is in regards the lack of interior.  Knowing it wouldn't be easy, would there be an interior from another kit that might get me close to fitting?  I obviously don't expect it to be a replica of the Pontiac but at least something to fill the interior.

Thanks

Edited March 13, 2020 by hedotwo
Topic name

[Mark]

IF it is an original, then I'd leave it alone.  That said, are you sure it's original?  The X-EL reproductions have plastic pins holding the chassis in.

[hedotwo]

7 minutes ago, Mark said:

IF it is an original, then I'd leave it alone.  That said, are you sure it's original?  The X-EL reproductions have plastic pins holding the chassis in.

Didn't know about the repros.  It's definitely that I guess.  The plastic pins are mushroomed to hold the chassis.  Still a nice piece, but I'd wanted to take it apart to repaint and detail.

[Mark]

The originals aren't as nice as that.  The clear glass usually isn't clear, as it reacts with the acetate body.  Some X-EL repros are styrene, later ones can be ABS.

Since it's a repro, go ahead and detail it to your liking.  The "new" Johan and/or Best Models may have made a resin interior but I'm not certain.

Edited March 14, 2020 by Mark
ABS plastic, not PVC

[hedotwo]

Thanks Mark.

[bisc63]

Robbing the seats and whatnot from an AMT 55 Chevy might be a good place to begin an interior, or any of the available 1/25 55-6-7  Chevy kits since they are Pontiac's cousins.

[hedotwo]

9 hours ago, bisc63 said:

Robbing the seats and whatnot from an AMT 55 Chevy might be a good place to begin an interior, or any of the available 1/25 55-6-7  Chevy kits since they are Pontiac's cousins.

Great idea! Good place to start.  Thanks

[John1955]

Years ago, I bought a repro 1956 Pontiac promo without an interior, made by X-EL and I will never understand why they made them that way since the original Jo-Hans usually had interiors. Completely by accident a few years later, I saw a '56 Pontiac original promo on E Bay that was in awful condition. 

Warped, cracked body, no front bumper or grille, and no wheels either. I'm surprised it hadn't been tossed in the trash. Ah, but it had a good interior! I quickly bid and I got it for less than ten bucks. I had to clean the interior up, and paint it a matching color, but if fit perfectly into the repro. 

I realize this might not help, but keep watching E Bay, you never know. 

[hedotwo]

8 hours ago, John1955 said:

Years ago, I bought a repro 1956 Pontiac promo without an interior, made by X-EL and I will never understand why they made them that way since the original Jo-Hans usually had interiors. Completely by accident a few years later, I saw a '56 Pontiac original promo on E Bay that was in awful condition. 

Warped, cracked body, no front bumper or grille, and no wheels either. I'm surprised it hadn't been tossed in the trash. Ah, but it had a good interior! I quickly bid and I got it for less than ten bucks. I had to clean the interior up, and paint it a matching color, but if fit perfectly into the repro. 

I realize this might not help, but keep watching E Bay, you never know. 

Great idea.  I regularly check ebay anyway and will keep an eye out.  I have other projects to do ahead of this '56 so that will give me some time.

[hedotwo]

I've begun a project of painting and detailing on this '56 Pontiac X-EL by dremel-ing away the hold down mushrooms and removing the headlights and glass.  I'm now wondering if this is ABS or styrene.  It seems softer than styrene  and if it is ABS how will it hold up to any sanding I'll need to do?  I might use a '56 Chevy Del Ray donor for the interior as it seems to fit decent, or cobble together something from my spares.  Hate to steal the interior from an unbuilt Del Ray ?

[SfanGoch]

There are no issues or problems sanding ABS. Medium-fine grit wet/dry paper is sufficient. As with polystyrene, exercise care not to overdo it.

[hedotwo]

38 minutes ago, SfanGoch said:

There are no issues or problems sanding ABS. Medium-fine grit wet/dry paper is sufficient. As with polystyrene, exercise care not to overdo it.

I'm finding that out now.  This stuff is really soft and cleaning up mold lines takes patience ?

[SfanGoch]

If you have a combination scribing tool/scraper, lightly scrape along and perpendicular to/on the mold lines to remove them: and, if you have multi-grit sanding sticks,  use the medium, fine and extra fine sticks to lightly polish the areas out. Bada-bing, bada-boom, mold lines in ABS gone.

[hedotwo]

One thing I don't have a shortage of is tools ?. I'm good with removing mold lines, it's just the softness of whatever material this is.  Around the headlight buckets is really tight and just need to go a little at a time. Thanks!