Model Two - 57 Ford Hardtop

[Tom Geiger]

Since I got a nice response to my first model, the 1962 Lark convertible, here’s my second model, my first full detail kit as an adult.  I had joined Tri-State Scale Model Car Club at this point so I had some guidance about techniques and materials. Part of what had discouraged me from several previous attempts to build again was that even though I was now an adult of 30, I still carried my 15 year old skills and bag of tricks. Joining a club was the game changer for me! Note that this was pre-Internet so you have more resources and connections to accomplished modelers today!

The club had decided to do a group build. Choices were either the 57 Ford which had just been discontinued, or the then new AMT 66 Nova kit. I owned the Ford so I went with it!  

I started out with the same hardware store Antique White that I used on the Studebaker, again right onto the bright blue plastic. The pink is a Pactra RC color applied right on the white. I used Scotch tape for my masking. I say that this all worked well because I didn’t know enough to know it shouldn’t!

I had learned about Bare Metal Foil from my new mentors, and immediately took to it!  This was that first attempt.

I was happy enough with my paint job but was advised I needed to clear coat, so I used Testors spray and it gave me this nice orange peel finish. And it yellowed over time!

And it wasn’t all smooth sailing. I was using Testors glue like a 15 year old and got it on the glass. I bought a second kit for parts and redid it with canopy glue!

I did wire my engine. I did that with thread as a kid, and was better advised to use aftermarket wires. I learned about using a resistor for a fuel filter and am still working on that pack today. I made a crude attempt at a master cylinder since the kit had none.  And I hand lettered a sticker for the valve cover.  

You an see the orange peel in this photo. And I’ve kept the car intact all these years so I can document my progress as a builder. 

And this car gave me both the courage and encouragement  to continue as a modeler with my new found friends.

Back when I started I owned a box of Mopar kits I had acquired over many years. My goal then was to get good enough on practice kits to build my beloved Mopars!  Funny thing, some 32 years later I’ve yet to build a single one of them!

Edited November 10, 2020 by Tom Geiger

[Classicgas]

That's nice.

[doorsovdoon]

That looks good, Tom. It's held up very well. The wheels suit it very nicely with those moon discs. I bought this kit the other week, got it in primer a few days ago, just deciding what colour to do now before I finish other work I have going on at the moment.

[PappyD340]

Very nice Tom!

[espo]

Your build looks like it has held up well with time. I have always thought this was an amazing kit especially for the time frame of when it came to market. The new Revell '57 Ford kits are the first to come close but still doesn't have the opening doors of this kit. 

[Beamerman]

Very nice. This was one of my first Kits as a 9 year old boy...i like the color scheme...

[ChrisR]

Cool!!!

[GeeBee]

Very nice Tom, I only built the odd model kit when I was growing up,  usually during our annual 3 days of rain and a few days of sandstorms when you just couldn't leave the house, I was more into collecting die-cast models, the rest of the year the weather was so nice, i just didn't spent much time in the house.

I started building model cars when I moved to England after leaving school at 15, then I had a little extra money to spend, popped into Birmingham, back then there was a few good model shops,  now we have non, I really wish I'd still got some of my old models,  but back then Mom was a gold medalist at knocking my models off the shelf when she was doing the dusting, you can only glue them back together so many times. 

Edited November 13, 2020 by GeeBee

[Scott8950]

It looks to be holding up very well, I'd leave it exactly like it is... I would love to have some of my early builds but unfortunately i don't.

[slusher]

Looks great Tom,!