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Posted

Doing this for my cousin, his first and favorite car.  Not one company made a Sedan DeVille kit, so I had to take this promo car and modify it.  Initial cuts and sanding pics here. 

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Posted

Thanks!  Will be light green with black vinyl top.  Anybody have any suggestions on a simulated vinyl top instead of just painting?

Posted

I used 3M Blue painter's tape when I did my vinyl top, and it came out nicely. Put the tape down after adding the seams, trim it up, and paint it whatever color you want!

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Posted

The Model Car Garage offers a true 1/25 scale black vinyl top material that works and looks really good.  Vinyl Top Kit from the Model Car Garage I have used it on a few of my builds including my last one, a 68 dodge dart build. You can find it in the under glass area here 68 dodge dart custom with vinyl top Its a peel and stick material that trims up easy with a xacto knife. It does take a little patience to get it loose from the wax backing paper, but with a little patience and work it looks good and to the right scale and is a true vinyl material.

Posted

Perfect!  Looks great!  I did wonder if that would work. How did you make your seams?

Chris, I used styrene strips then sanded them until they looked good to my eyes. Some 4 inch wide masking tape, trimming, and paint and it was done.

Posted (edited)

Chris, very nice conversion to this four door!

If there's one little teeny-tiny nit I could pick--------it's the shape of the C pillar itself. If you take a look at the pic below, you'll get a peek at what I'd like to point out.................

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The leading edge of your C pillar should extend just beyond the shut line of the door, not be in line with it as you have on your model now. On the 1:1's manufacturers did it this way to enable the rear glass to have enough room to go down fully in the door, particularly with the hardtop styling of this type of  car. You won't have opening doors, but on the 1:1 the door would shut against the structure of the body (body door jamb), which would support that part of the roof. 

This is just a guess, but maybe broaden the C pillar three or four scale inches? 

Excellent car you're doing and something you hardly see on the roads anymore!

Edited by MrObsessive
Posted

Thanks all, and yes MrO, you are absolutely right!  I did not pay enough attention to that detail.  My first Conversion to four door, so I've definitely learned from this one.   Luckily it's not a contest build, so my cousin won't mind ha!  I really appreciate all the comments, tips and advice from all of you!  Unfortunately I had to dump the whole thing in the strip bath (looks like pee but it's Totally Awesome Cleaner from the dollar store).  I chose the wrong paint and have since ordered the correct factory paint.  More to come. 

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Posted (edited)

Stripped and re-primered.  Waiting on factory paint and model "vinyl" top material. 

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Edited by cpspoogie
Posted

Thanks Curt.  I'm not real happy with the new door lines, but it was the best I could do.  I've seen some really fantastic four to two door conversions, but I couldn't make it flawless.  Oh well...I certainly don't claim to be a pro and I learn from every mistake.  And all of you guys. Thanks! Chris

Posted

Something else you should consider is the doors on a 4dr were shorter than a 2dr. That's giving you some proportion problems. 

Posted

Interesting conversion. I bought a '68 caddy Coupe De Ville promo that had the A-Pillars broken. I can fabricate new pillars, so that will not be a problem.After seeing yours, I may try my hand at either a Sedan Deville, or a Fleetwood brougham, as I have a derelict '68 convertible body and another promo chassis.

Keep up the good work.

Posted

That will be cool, Ron.  It's not easy to do, and in retrospect I should have used a scoring tool for the new doors.  An XActo is just too fine a line.   For Can-Con thanks, I know these doors are shorter of course.  I just eye balled them.  

Posted

98% complete.  Put vinyl top and drivers side BMF on.  Definitely not contest level, but it's a gift for my cousin and I know he'll love it. 

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