1959 Chevy Impala hardtop

[70 Sting]

Recently completed and photographed this Revell/Monogram kit. I struggled pretty hard with the paint and finish on this one, however, in the end it makes a decent 10-footer. 

Body colour is Tamiya LP-1 Black with Alclad Chrome trim. Interior is darkened Tamiya LP-21 Italian Red.

The wheels are from a LHS parts bin - also painted Alclad Chrome. The tires are from Fireball Modelworks.

 

Notes:

Basic grinding/sanding of the rims, wheel backs and axel/spindles to fit the over-sized wheels. Also had to thin the outer bead on the rims to fit more flush with the tires.

Sanded 2mm off the front tires to reduce their diameter.  Because I removed so much rubber, I painted a tread pattern on the wheels by airbrushing flat black through a strip of screen. Should probably have used a finer grid.

Thinned the fenders as the plastic is quite thick.

Added valve stems to the rims.

I'm not getting a bright chrome finish with Alclad - it looks more like black chrome. I did use their black base, which is quite glossy. Going to need more practice here.

 

Last weekend before the kids are back to school.   8^)

 

 

 

 

 

[espo]

Great looking color combination. The interior is really well done along with the engine. Like the stance. 

[Zippi]

Nice 59 Impala Harry.  Love the red & black.  I'm about to finish a 55 Ford pickup in the same color.  Love those wheels & tires as it gives it a good stance.  Great build.

[Mike Slapattack]

Very clean!

[Kah puts]

Looks deadly, it flows ?

[bondo bill]

sharp build

[Rattlecan Dan]

Excellent! Clean and mean-looking. One of the nicest '59's I've seen.

[Tim W. SoCal]

Bitchen' Impala, Harry. Your interior detailing is especially nice!

[beeRS]

Very nicely done. The ‘black chrome’ may not have been intentional, but it does look good, and with those wheels this is a ‘mean’ Impala. 

[Darbo]

Fantastic love the stance

[ChrisR]

Very nice!

[Tom99]

Nice work!

[H.A.K]

Thats not to bad looking. Nice job.

[bobss396]

Can't miss with black and red... those were the golfer Lee Trevino's colors when he was playing. 

[Kit Basher]

I like it! That stance makes it look like those fins are there for a reason. Great interior and engine detail.

[David G.]

Beautifully detailed interior, fabulous looking detail, great build.

David G.

[charger74]

It looks really good ????

[Jim B]

Cool Impala.  Very aggressive looking.

[J.B. Customs]

Love the color combo and the detailing is excellent……..WOW ?

[XYHARRY]

As mentioned previously your unintentional black chrome gives this build a very sinister look. The last photo of the wide angle interior shot is a brilliant idea, it really showcases how much detail has been achieved. Really well done Harry. 

Cheers, 

David. ??

[rickcaps55]

Wow that is beautiful the colors are spot on for that car and i really like the black chrome.

[70 Sting]

16 hours ago, espo said:

Great looking color combination. The interior is really well done along with the engine. Like the stance. 

16 hours ago, Zippi said:

Nice 59 Impala Harry.  Love the red & black.  I'm about to finish a 55 Ford pickup in the same color.  Love those wheels & tires as it gives it a good stance.  Great build.

3 hours ago, bobss396 said:

Can't miss with black and red... those were the golfer Lee Trevino's colors when he was playing. 

2 hours ago, J.B. Customs said:

Love the color combo and the detailing is excellent……..WOW ?

1 hour ago, rickcaps55 said:

Wow that is beautiful the colors are spot on for that car and i really like the black chrome.

 

Thanks very much fellas, especially coming from builders like yourselves. ?  I have to admit, I've gone to the well with this combination before.  I'm thinking I might stay away from gloss black for a while as it's very unforgiving with blemishes, scratches and mistakes. 

[70 Sting]

9 hours ago, Rattlecan Dan said:

Excellent! Clean and mean-looking. One of the nicest '59's I've seen.

Thanks for the flowers Dan.  I'm blushing.  ?

[Nacho Z]

Very impressive, Sting! I see that someone else has already used the term, but sinister came immediately to mind when I saw this.  Great photos as well.

[70 Sting]

10 hours ago, Tim W. SoCal said:

Bitchen' Impala, Harry. Your interior detailing is especially nice!

Thanks Tim.  As of late I have not been putting as much effort into interior work as much of it ends up being hidden.  However, there is plenty of open space to look through on this car that a little extra effort was warranted. :^)