THE FABULOUS EDSEL PACER

[customline]

As promised, I have a glass-in mock-up for your inspection. I gotta tell ya, this thing builds up nice and tight. I attached the rear "sheet metal" to see if I could assemble it with the panel in place. I was able to do it but it's a bit risky; I was anticipating something breaking but it didn't. Taking it apart now may be how I accomplish said breakage. Wish me luck ?

I'm encouraged by the fit-up of the interior to the body. Everything seems good at this point. Thanks for coming by! Your over-the-top praise and ill-considered comments are always welcome.?

BTW, look at the close-up of the windshield.  It looks odd....maybe convex top to bottom?(bubble-like). The fit is quite good though, the glass is precisely located with tight-fitting pins.

[slusher]

Looking good Jim!   The 58 Pacer was the best looking one other than the horse collar.  Sure looked better than many.  They have an Edsel club that meets once a year in Louisville big deal they have and tour the ford plant. That’s where they have their show..

[customline]

41 minutes ago, slusher said:

Looking good Jim!   The 58 Pacer was the best looking one other than the horse collar.  Sure looked better than many.  They have an Edsel club that meets once a year in Louisville big deal they have and tour the ford plant. That’s where they have their show..

I like the '59. The basic idea of the front end treatment was retained but was, in my mind, simplified and not as shocking. When you consider the Mercury's of that time, the Edsel wasn't all that crazy after all. It was a strange time for automotive design. The people at Pontiac thought it wasn't such a bad idea...Thanks for your interest, Carl.

[David G.]

The Edsel is looking good Jim! 

The paint issue on the hood looks like some light crazing. I just had that happen when I put the first color coat on the London Black Cab I'm currently working on. 

I've had it happen a few times before and the texture always seems to follow casting flaws; those areas in which you can see where the plastic meets in the mold when its injected.

When I get this result, I usually let the paint rest for a day then I hit it again with what I call a "drench coat" of paint. That usually fills in enough of the texture that it will sand out easily. It sounds like we both used the same technique but in a different sequence.

David G.

[customline]

57 minutes ago, David G. said:

The Edsel is looking good Jim! 

The paint issue on the hood looks like some light crazing. I just had that happen when I put the first color coat on the London Black Cab I'm currently working on. 

I've had it happen a few times before and the texture always seems to follow casting flaws; those areas in which you can see where the plastic meets in the mold when its injected.

When I get this result, I usually let the paint rest for a day then I hit it again with what I call a "drench coat" of paint. That usually fills in enough of the texture that it will sand out easily. It sounds like we both used the same technique but in a different sequence.

David G.

I did put more paint on it after a wet-sand and most of the crazing is gone but there is still a bit to deal with. I hope I don't run into it when I paint the rest.  I worry about the roof because of the molded pattern inside. The crazing follows the pattern on the flip side of the hood.  I primed with Tamiya light white primer. Too thin? I dunno. The crazing isn't the really bad crazing you get with hot lacquer on bare styrene. It's more like "frost"  but it seemed to go deep when I was trying to smooth it out. 

[LennyB]

I might be mistaken but I think I read somewhere that there is a connection between Edsel and Pontiac. Like a designer for one left to go work for the other.  Tried to find it but so far have come up empty.  

[ewetwo]

I'm going to love this as I love Edsels. 

[espo]

The interior looks like it fits perfectly looking at the tops of the interior door panels and how they meet the tops of the doors. Windshield, maybe not seated completely at the top? 

[customline]

41 minutes ago, espo said:

The interior looks like it fits perfectly looking at the tops of the interior door panels and how they meet the tops of the doors. Windshield, maybe not seated completely at the top? 

 That's why I took those shots, Dave.  It's important that it ends up flush with the door tops. Box checked. The glass is taped top and bottom and the windshield dropped a bit but the fit is as good as it gets. Does that windshield look a bit off though? Look at the way the far end looks in the close-up. I see a slight outward curve. The glass should be flat, top to bottom.

I don't have any idea what the designer of the "horse collar" had in mind but the '58, to me, looks like it was emulating a jet aircraft intake of some sort. It's a bit unclear. But those wings on the back sure do make a case for that idea. The Pontiac version of the vertical element may have been totally different thinking because of the styling of the other Pontiacs around that time. But it could be the same guy, I suppose. All that info should be out there. 

 

[espo]

27 minutes ago, customline said:

 That's why I took those shots, Dave.  It's important that it ends up flush with the door tops. Box checked. The glass is taped top and bottom and the windshield dropped a bit but the fit is as good as it gets. Does that windshield look a bit off though? Look at the way the far end looks in the close-up. I see a slight outward curve. The glass should be flat, top to bottom.

I don't have any idea what the designer of the "horse collar" had in mind but the '58, to me, looks like it was emulating a jet aircraft intake of some sort. It's a bit unclear. But those wings on the back sure do make a case for that idea. The Pontiac version of the vertical element may have been totally different thinking because of the styling of the other Pontiacs around that time. But it could be the same guy, I suppose. All that info should be out there. 

 

I also noticed what you had pointed out about the appearance of the windshield. The reason I mentioned the positioning issue is that is something I have run into in the past on some builds. The top edge of the windshield might not have the same exact shape as the roof maybe. As for the "horse collar" grill, the story I heard years ago was the Edsel was designed by Henry Sr.'s son Edsel Ford who also was also involved in the design of the original Lincoln Continental. How true this is I really don't know. Edsel was sort of an automotive design type more than anything else from what I understand. Poor health has been blamed for his short life. 

[Bullybeef]

Interior looks great Jim. Excited to see this in colour. 

[customline]

5 hours ago, espo said:

I also noticed what you had pointed out about the appearance of the windshield. The reason I mentioned the positioning issue is that is something I have run into in the past on some builds. The top edge of the windshield might not have the same exact shape as the roof maybe. As for the "horse collar" grill, the story I heard years ago was the Edsel was designed by Henry Sr.'s son Edsel Ford who also was also involved in the design of the original Lincoln Continental. How true this is I really don't know. Edsel was sort of an automotive design type more than anything else from what I understand. Poor health has been blamed for his short life. 

Yeah, David, that's always something that can cause all sorts of trouble. I don't think that's the case here but I will see if maybe it is. Thanks for the heads-up.

Edsel must have wanted to push the envelope with his design but the timing wasn't good. The Edsel should probably be allowed to rest in peace. On my shelf ?.

[customline]

19 hours ago, Bullybeef said:

Interior looks great Jim. Excited to see this in colour. 

I just looked at the weather conditions here for today. 76 F and 26%RH. Maybe I should paint today, huh?  But no, not quite ready yet. Plus my better half has an agenda. Maybe tomorrow, Bil. ?.

[LennyB]

They always have an agenda?

[slusher]

On 10/13/2024 at 12:31 AM, customline said:

I like the '59. The basic idea of the front end treatment was retained but was, in my mind, simplified and not as shocking. When you consider the Mercury's of that time, the Edsel wasn't all that crazy after all. It was a strange time for automotive design. The people at Pontiac thought it wasn't such a bad idea...Thanks for your interest, Carl.

 

Thanks Jim for your insite on Edsels. I looking forward to paint..

[customline]

2 minutes ago, slusher said:

 

Thanks Jim for your insite on Edsels. I ...

There's more if you want it, Carl! Just say stop when you've had enough ?

[customline]

I'll tell you what I'm afraid of.....I'm afraid of disappointing anyone. But if the voices tell me they want another color on this thing....well....I just don't know what I will do.

 

 ?

(I learned this from a guy...)

Holding out on paint jobs is a class 3 misdemeanor. ?

[Bullybeef]

1 hour ago, customline said:

I'll tell you what I'm afraid of.....I'm afraid of disappointing anyone. But if the voices tell me they want another color on this thing....well....I just don't know what I will do.

 

 ?

(I learned this from a guy...)

Holding out on paint jobs is a class 3 misdemeanor. ?

Do it in your own time Jim, tell the voices in your head to shut the heck up?

[customline]

9 minutes ago, Bullybeef said:

Do it in your own time Jim, tell the voices in your head to shut the heck up?

?

[customline]

Yesterday was a pretty good day to paint but it took me all afternoon to get the tape on it and, when I was finally ready, it was dinner time. It was a bit cool anyway but I think Saturrday might work. 

For those still following this, I want some opinions on masking this sort of a job. Since the white will go on first, I have included the trim to be painted and I'm not sure if this is the best policy. If you get where I'm headed with this question, please don't hesitate. The trim must get gloss on it at some point. I could use some pointers on a good strategy for a job like this. 

BTW, it looks nice in yellow, doesn't it? ?

[Bullybeef]

To be honest Jim, yellow would not be too bad a colour for this body style. I had to do a double take. IMO I think you are on a correct path to get the white and trim out of the way first. 

Edited October 17, 2024 by Bullybeef

[espo]

There is as many ways to go about your masking dilemma as there are members on the forum. I can only suggest the way I tend to do it, but I also look forward to hearing what other suggest since that is how we all learn. I try to outline any body trim at the same time as defining the body panel lines. I often even tape off the chrome trim to help keep any designs on the trim and save any distinct character lines. When masking for a two-tone paint schema I'll also mask over the chrome trim masking to help prevent any bleed through under the tape. As for color painting sequence like you're doing I might paint the entire body white if the second color was not a real dark shade. This may give the second color a brighter base and make it brighter to the eye than a gray or black primer and also save some on the second color that way. When masking the second color before spraying the color coat give a light dusting of a gloss clear around the edges and allow to dry. This will also help prevent any paint color bleeding. All of this requires a lot of good masking tape and careful planning, but the extra effort is worth while in the end. 

[peteski]

Another hint is not to use what looks like (pricey) Tamiya tape for all the masking.  I use it just for masking the areas close to the paint edges, then the remaining areas can be covered by less expensive Scotch blue painters tape or something similar.

[slusher]

I always cut my tape stick it on my shirt and put it on the body, just helps it not remove paint. I have seen blue and frog pull paint but who know all the factors.

[slusher]

On 10/14/2024 at 6:19 PM, customline said:

There's more if you want it, Carl! Just say stop when you've had enough ?

I will be glad to learn about Edsel history..