Johan 1961 Plymouth restoration

[rsmodels]

I repaired and painted the body, and painted the chassis and base color on the interior a few years ago. Then it went into a display case to cure as is often my method. I took it out a month or so ago and finished it.

I used Modelhaus bumpers and made hand painted decals for the seats. I thought about doing the top and bottom section of the steering wheel in clear like I did for my 59 Plymouth (which I'll show sometime) but decided to just paint it. I used an original set of tires rather than the more detailed ones I sometimes use. 

Most of my plastic builds are original issues of early models. I try to do restorations like this when possible instead of going into my stash. I like working with the old plastic and I'm still building pretty much like I did when I started in 1959. Of course, I'm a little better now.

I know many of you do a lot more detailing but I like to build them just as they came out of the box. Most don't have engines or a lot of chassis detail anyway. Once in a while I do major modifications but usually prefer to keep my builds simple.

Thanks for looking at this one! -Rich

          

[wrenchr]

Great save!! Turned out very nice. 

[happy grumpy]

Great restauration. How I wish I could get my hands on one of these. My father had one back in 66 he kept it 'til 71. Great color choice BTW. 

thanks for sharing

[Phildaupho]

Nice restoration. Always wonderful see a model from the early sixties when I was first introduced to the hobby.

[Claude Thibodeau]

Hi Rich!

Great restoration, bravo! And the metallic glow of your paint job is very spectacular! Do you care to share your secret recipe? Just curious... 

CT

[RAMBENNA]

fabulous build, great job, love it

[Tom99]

Beautiful!!

[Zippi]

Nice looking restoration on your 61 Plymouth.  Great color.

[David G.]

Excellent restoration!

The paint looks fantastic, the color is perfect.

David G.

[Smitty]

Your Plymouth looks fantastic! The paint is gorgeous, and you did a superb job on all the trim. You chose a beautiful and realistic colour combination for this model. I have one of these waiting to be restored as well. Now I’m inspired!

[thatz4u]

looks real, I love restoring old Johan kits when I can find them....look like the car Ward Cleaver drove.....

[espo]

Beautiful looking restoration. The JoHan kits from this era seemed to have great body fidelity.  

[rsmodels]

16 hours ago, Claude Thibodeau said:

Hi Rich!

Great restoration, bravo! And the metallic glow of your paint job is very spectacular! Do you care to share your secret recipe? Just curious... 

CT

Thank you Claude . This is painted with Duplicolor Desert Sand Mica and then cleared. I've always been fussy about my paint jobs but I think experience and patience is all I can think of,  I have no secret recipe. 

I remember back in 1962 (I was 11) when AMT came out with their lacquer spray paints ,that my older brother would have me spray his models as I was better at it. In the early 80's he wangled me into going to work with him (100 miles away) making 1/43 white metal handbuilt models. They didn't have a good painter so he wanted me. I ran a  professional spray booth until I got tired of only being home on weekends. I did continue doing the show circuits with my brother, selling models. I had customers from all over who hired me to build models for them but I finally stopped so I could work on models for myself. I did continue going to the shows though. Now I mostly build for pleasure.

                                                                                                                                                                                                       Rich

[rsmodels]

2 hours ago, thatz4u said:

looks real, I love restoring old Johan kits when I can find them....look like the car Ward Cleaver drove.....

I have a 1:1 62 Plymouth 4 door, I call it my Ward Cleaver car.

[rsmodels]

Thanks, you all are too good to me. Many of you do much nicer work. But I try to do some more  uncommon cars.

                                                                                                                                                                                                 Rich

                                                                                                                     

[Claude Thibodeau]

1 hour ago, rsmodels said:

Thank you Claude . This is painted with Duplicolor Desert Sand Mica and then cleared. I've always been fussy about my paint jobs but I think experience and patience is all I can think of,  I have no secret recipe. 

I remember back in 1962 (I was 11) when AMT came out with their lacquer spray paints ,that my older brother would have me spray his models as I was better at it. In the early 80's he wangled me into going to work with him (100 miles away) making 1/43 white metal handbuilt models. They didn't have a good painter so he wanted me. I ran a  professional spray booth until I got tired of only being home on weekends. I did continue doing the show circuits with my brother, selling models. I had customers from all over who hired me to build models for them but I finally stopped so I could work on models for myself. I did continue going to the shows though. Now I mostly build for pleasure.

                                                                                                                                                                                                       Rich

Hi Rich!

Thanks for the answer. I'm not surprised to learn that you are a painting PRO, it certainly shows in this Plymouth. And I, for one, am glad that you keep buildiing models, be it just "for yourself". You work is world class. Keep at it please!

Regards,

CT

[1959scudetto]

Excellent model, Rich - I'm with you in keeping it simple: I neither have the nerve nor the patience for wiring and plumbing engines and the like.

[Maindrian Pace]

I like unusual and orphan cars, and the early '60s Exner Mopar creations somehow combine both; mainstream orphans. Enter Johan to forever enshrine these cars in the hobby, and you have a great selection of subjects to build from. Controversial styling rules!

[rsmodels]

46 minutes ago, Maindrian Pace said:

I like unusual and orphan cars, and the early '60s Exner Mopar creations somehow combine both; mainstream orphans. Enter Johan to forever enshrine these cars in the hobby, and you have a great selection of subjects to build from. Controversial styling rules!

I totally agree, I like unusual cars and many of my builds show it as well as my 1:1 cars.

                                                                                                                                                    Rich

                                                                                               

[#1 model citizen]

Very nice. ‘61 Plymouth is one of my favorites. I’m a big Virgil Exner fan. 

[rsmodels]

1 hour ago, #1 model citizen said:

Very nice. ‘61 Plymouth is one of my favorites. I’m a big Virgil Exner fan. 

Thanks, I'm an Exner fan too.

[Kah puts]

This is just fantastic, late 50's to the mid 70's are my favorite years for the big three, and this Fury is at the top of my list, thanks for posting. 

[PappyD340]

Very nice!

[bisc63]

Great looking car and model. This body style has one of my favorite roof lines of all. Really like your interior tub colors on this one. Very nice.

[Oldcarfan27]

On 3/30/2022 at 2:57 PM, rsmodels said:

I know many of you do a lot more detailing but I like to build them just as they came out of the box. Most don't have engines or a lot of chassis detail anyway. Once in a while I do major modifications but usually prefer to keep my builds simple.

That's just making the most from what's inside the box. There's nothing wrong with that! Especially when the final result is as good as what you've done.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐!!!