'63 Impala....making the best...

[customline]

...of a P. O. S. Kit ?.  I have never done "curbside".  I always like to detail the engines a bit and build a chassis that is half-way authentic looking. The AMT '63 Impala kit is a really old screw-bottom annual, an old promo gone retail. I would do a full build if it had a dam firewall. I will admit there are some nice parts to play with and I will definitely find a home for the big 409. I just can't get excited over this one but I do enjoy making a silk purse. A perfect opportunity!  Here's a mock-up for you mock-up lovers.

 

 

The chassis is easy to do a bit of lowering on.  Just drilling new holes is all you need to do.I  had to remove a ton of flash and it was in some very inconvenient areas. I added back some trim to the rear just so I had something to foil.  Gotta get some primer on it now and then fix all the blemishes.  Comments, commiseration, and comedy always welcome !

[StevenGuthmiller]

If you want to do a much more detailed build, (at least if I were doing it) I would investigate using the interior from the Revell ‘63 Impala, and the chassis, engine and engine bay from the Revell ‘64 Impala.

 

 

Steve

[JollySipper]

Would the firewall from the '61 Impala be the same? I also have some '61 taillights if you were wanting to drill those out..... You're doing a custom, the '61 taillights would look like 'bullet' lenses!

[H.A.K]

I saw that kit and looked on the back of the box thinking the same thing.  So I left it on the shelf.

[H.A.K]

6 hours ago, JollySipper said:

Would the firewall from the '61 Impala be the same? I also have some '61 taillights if you were wanting to drill those out..... You're doing a custom, the '61 taillights would look like 'bullet' lenses!

No. Itt wouldnt. The 61 is skinnier then the 63.

[rickcaps55]

12 hours ago, customline said:

...of a P. O. S. Kit ?.  I have never done "curbside".  I always like to detail the engines a bit and build a chassis that is half-way authentic looking. The AMT '63 Impala kit is a really old screw-bottom annual, an old promo gone retail. I would do a full build if it had a dam firewall. I will admit there are some nice parts to play with and I will definitely find a home for the big 409. I just can't get excited over this one but I do enjoy making a silk purse. A perfect opportunity!  Here's a mock-up for you mock-up lovers.

 

 

The chassis is easy to do a bit of lowering on.  Just drilling new holes is all you need to do.I  had to remove a ton of flash and it was in some very inconvenient areas. I added back some trim to the rear just so I had something to foil.  Gotta get some primer on it now and then fix all the blemishes.  Comments, commiseration, and comedy always welcome !

Nice I like the way you have built up the chrome trim around the back that looks much better. you may also want to try the taillights from the AMT 64 to replace the molded in ones. I wish AMT would have just left the lights like they were.

[Ace-Garageguy]

Looking forward to seeing this progress.

I recall being similarly disappointed with the kit, and pretty much stripping it of parts for other projects.

[customline]

1 hour ago, rickcaps55 said:

Nice I like the way you have built up the chrome trim around the back that looks much better. you may also want to try the taillights from the AMT 64 to replace the molded in ones. I wish AMT would have just left the lights like they were.

Thanks for your input, Richard, I'm not sure what to do with those pesky tail lights. Maybe drilling them out and frenching or some other custom treatment. I've got to explore my options yet. The flash on that rear panel was horrific.  I used Plastruct triangular strip for the trim. The '63 is a cool body style but not my favorite among '60s Impalas. 

[Ace-Garageguy]

19 minutes ago, customline said:

...I'm not sure what to do with those pesky tail lights. Maybe drilling them out and frenching or some other custom treatment. I've got to explore my options yet...

Making molds of the lenses wouldn't be very difficult with the right materials, and casting them in a tinted clear epoxy or polyester would also work...with the right materials.

If you have a lathe, turning them from red tinted acrylic rod would work well.

EDIT: For that matter, you could turn some custom bullets from red sprue, using a drill motor.

Or somebody on feePay is doubtless selling something that could be easily adapted. The pair below is about 10 bucks plus shipping.

 

Edited May 8, 2023 by Ace-Garageguy

[SfanGoch]

The Revell '63 Impala tail lights would work. So would the Revell '64 Impala's. Check fleabay for both and look for parts under each.

[TransAmMike]

 

16 hours ago, customline said:

...of a P. O. S. Kit ?.  I have never done "curbside".  I always like to detail the engines a bit and build a chassis that is half-way authentic looking. The AMT '63 Impala kit is a really old screw-bottom annual, an old promo gone retail. I would do a full build if it had a dam firewall. I will admit there are some nice parts to play with and I will definitely find a home for the big 409. I just can't get excited over this one but I do enjoy making a silk purse. A perfect opportunity!  Here's a mock-up for you mock-up lovers.

 

 

The chassis is easy to do a bit of lowering on.  Just drilling new holes is all you need to do.I  had to remove a ton of flash and it was in some very inconvenient areas. I added back some trim to the rear just so I had something to foil.  Gotta get some primer on it now and then fix all the blemishes.  Comments, commiseration, and comedy always welcome !

Totally agree on the P.O.S. comment on this kit.  But, afterall, it is old and not a conventional model.  I did mine curbside, and I guess you can say I "frenched" the taillights after drilling them out. I posted pics mine a few weeks ago .

[customline]

1 hour ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

Looking forward to seeing this progress.

I recall being similarly disappointed with the kit, and pretty much stripping it of parts for other projects.

Yup. It's a natural reaction to this one,  When I see a rear axle housing molded into the floor I get turned off. So as not to waste the ten bucks I spent for this kit, I figured I would just make my first curbside and use the somewhat decent 409 to replace one I borrowed (from some long forgotten kit....oh, I'll find it eventually  ?). Besides, I really like the mags. The blue with the white top is my choice for color scheme (for now.) I may try the bullet thing for the tail lights. So many, though ?.

[customline]

40 minutes ago, TransAmMike said:

 

Totally agree on the P.O.S. comment on this kit.  But, afterall, it is old and not a conventional model.  I did mine curbside, and I guess you can say I "frenched" the taillights after drilling them out. I posted pics mine a few weeks ago .

I just looked at yours, Mike, it really looks great in bright red. Got me thinking.

[TransAmMike]

11 minutes ago, customline said:

I just looked at yours, Mike, it really looks great in bright red. Got me thinking.

Thanks Jim.  Those cars do look good in red.

[Supernurd]

The one I just finished in the under glass section I used clear red sprew, chopped the ends flat, and drilled in about a 16th.  Then added curved fine wire from the strands of a junk electrical bus to fill in the middle trim.  I should have used clear sprew on the middle backup light, but oh well.

 

[H.A.K]

14 minutes ago, Supernurd said:

The one I just finished in the under glass section I used clear red sprew, chopped the ends flat, and drilled in about a 16th.  Then added curved fine wire from the strands of a junk electrical bus to fill in the middle trim.  I should have used clear sprew on the middle backup light, but oh well.

 

Thats a great idea. Good thinking.

[StevenGuthmiller]

I just have to wonder sometimes, either how young some of the posters are online these days, or what rock they’ve been living under.

AMT produced one 1963 Chevy Impala kit......back in 1963!

To expect anything other than what was offered back then, or what’s been re-popped a thousand times since then, is a little naive.

It is what it is, and it’s probably never gonna change.

 

 

Steve

[SfanGoch]

5 minutes ago, StevenGuthmiller said:

It is what it is, and it’s probably never gonna change.

Only the box art and price for the next reissue will.

[Rodent]

The original annual had red taillights.

 

[StevenGuthmiller]

2 minutes ago, Rodent said:

The original annual had red taillights.

 

Anybody here have the original......or one of the many re-issues?

I’ve had several of these kits since the late 70s and I’ve never had one with clear red tail lights, so the absence of them is not exactly a new phenomenon.

 

 

Steve

[Rodent]

I have never owned any of them. I believe that the red taillights and the firewall disappeared with the Prestige issue in the late 1980s, but I don't know for sure. 

[customline]

The kit engine ain't that bad, is it? It just needs a little love ?.  I was able to actually drill 9 separate holes in the distributor!  It is wired with the correct firing order (I never do that.) I added an oil filler and generator brackets. Although It does not has a separate oil pan (a big plus), you can't see the block of plastic that serves as a carburetor once the air cleaner is in place. When heater and radiator hoses are finally added it will look just fine. I dunno, ladies and gentlemen, I find it acceptable ?. Maybe I'd change out that weird fan. Looks like some horrid disease. Why would there be rivets on the fan blades? Ace?

Edited May 9, 2023 by customline
Correction

[wallyk 50]

21 hours ago, customline said:

...of a P. O. S. Kit ?.  I have never done "curbside".  I always like to detail the engines a bit and build a chassis that is half-way authentic looking. The AMT '63 Impala kit is a really old screw-bottom annual, an old promo gone retail. I would do a full build if it had a dam firewall. I will admit there are some nice parts to play with and I will definitely find a home for the big 409. I just can't get excited over this one but I do enjoy making a silk purse. A perfect opportunity!  Here's a mock-up for you mock-up lovers.

 

 

The chassis is easy to do a bit of lowering on.  Just drilling new holes is all you need to do.I  had to remove a ton of flash and it was in some very inconvenient areas. I added back some trim to the rear just so I had something to foil.  Gotta get some primer on it now and then fix all the blemishes.  Comments, commiseration, and comedy always welcome !

If it's not too late, you might try parts from AMT's 62 Bel Air kits.  Their were several versions a while back. That kit is a modern design with all separate chassis parts you could use the entire chassis with a little work and the firewall fits the 63 kit.  I did a quick mockup and it's almost a "bolt in".  

[customline]

21 hours ago, StevenGuthmiller said:

If you want to do a much more detailed build, (at least if I were doing it) I would investigate using the interior from the Revell ‘63 Impala, and the chassis, engine and engine bay from the Revell ‘64 Impala.

 

 

Steve

I was reading back and found your post that I missed earlier.  Steve, this one just ain't that exciting to me. Picked it up in a junk shop(well, Wifey did.) For $10.00. Otherwise I would never ever ever  pay retail for a kit like this AND....this particular Impala is not my favorite. 

If I had the kits you cited, this kit would be a bash. ?

[StevenGuthmiller]

13 minutes ago, customline said:

I was reading back and found your post that I missed earlier.  Steve, this one just ain't that exciting to me. Picked it up in a junk shop(well, Wifey did.) For $10.00. Otherwise I would never ever ever  pay retail for a kit like this AND....this particular Impala is not my favorite. 

If I had the kits you cited, this kit would be a bash. ?

Just ideas.

The tail lights and the lack of a firewall seem to be the biggest sticking points for most people with this kit, but they’re both pretty easy to remedy with a little kit bashing.

The tail light lenses could be drilled out pretty easily, and I have to believe that between the AMT ‘62 and ‘64, and the Revell ‘62, ‘63, ‘64 and ‘65 Impalas, one of them should work for replacement lenses.

Likewise, a firewall, and/or chassis from almost any one of them would probably work as well.

I could only wish for this many parts options with most of the old annuals that I like to update.

 

 

 

Steve

Edited May 9, 2023 by StevenGuthmiller