1972 Ford Custom 500

[FordWagonNut]

Well its 99.9% done. I still want to add a radio antenna but other than that, the '72 is done. If anyone buys one of these, its a awesome kit. However I would use a '69 Ford Galaxie frame. It was recommended that I use a '70 Galaxie frame. The '70 frame dose not allow the interior tub to sit right. So with some cutting and adjustments for wheel stance, the '69 Galaxie frame worked better.

[sjordan2]

Very, very clean and a particularly nice job on the wheel well chrome trim. I'm always impressed when I see a car that's run-of-the-mill at actual size become a beautiful scale model. In the photos, the headlights look perfect – did you do anything special there?

[Rob Hall]

Sharp build..I have to get one of these and the LTD 2dr...do the mirrors come with it or did you source those elsewhere?

[FordWagonNut]

Skip: The wheel trim is not on the kit, I added the strips from random strips of plastic I had. I wanted to bump the model from a Custom to a Custom 500, added full size wheel covers, chrome trim the door frames, thin white wall tires from American Satco, and the wheel lip chrome.

And no, I did nothing at all with the headlamps. Just did a basic black wash job on the grill. Who ever mastered these LTD's and Custom Fords did one HECK of a wonderful job on fully capturing what these cars are.

Rob: The rear view mirrors are from AMT's '68 Ford Mustang Fastback kit. Honestly I think they look a little too high but these where the only FoMoCo style I could find in my stock. I would like to get some more mirrors for the other LTD's. The '72 LTD 2-door I just started, I'm still looking at body and landau top colors.

[sjordan2]

Seeing what you did and didn't do makes it that much more impressive.

[charlie8575]

Looks good, Johnny.

Charlie Larkin

[charlie8575]

Skip: The '72 LTD 2-door I just started, I'm still looking at body and landau top colors.

Idea for a color scheme, if you're receptive:

Whatever they had for a burgundy or similar color that year, white or beige vinyl top, and a camel or red (if offered) interior.

Dark blue/white/dark blue, and dark green/beige/beige are other can't miss colors.

Charlie Larkin

[Romell R]

Excellent!

[Zoom Zoom]

Fantastic build!

The '72 LTD 2-door I just started, I'm still looking at body and landau top colors.

I've always been fond of triple black, or black/black vinyl top, red interior combinations on the 71/72 LTD. It has the clean/classy lines that look so good in that combination.

[Rob Hall]

Fantastic build!

I've always been fond of triple black, or black/black vinyl top, red interior combinations on the 71/72 LTD. It has the clean/classy lines that look so good in that combination.

Good choice. I've seen white/white vinyl top w/ red interior also that is quite nice. I remember a pale yellow one w/ black interior in the Florida Keys in the '80s, quite striking w/ no vinyl top and Magnum 500 wheels.

Since childhood in the '70s I've always liked the '71/72 Fords, maybe it was from watching too many cop shows and movies w/ them, but I love the long, angular lines of these cars and the unique grill and taillight designs, esp. the '71.

[Guest]

Sweet! beautiful work. How about some engine and chassis pics?

[Nick Winter]

Jonny my Grandfathers angry with you, you stole his car, about 38 years ago, he had a '72 Ford Custom 500 in the same color. He said there it it's my car.

[RodneyBad]

Dang!! I gotta say I think that looks better than the 1:1 Version..

Excellent work...

[Duntov]

Wow..... a real car....that you could actually DRIVE!!!!!!!!!!....VERY NICE work......thanks for sharing!!!!!

[bsoder]

Well first WOW that looks great!..I have a lot of fond memories for these cars

[Jon Cole]

Wow! Don't look now, but there is a narc in a green car at the top of the page! Boy does it have "the look!"

[bluemoose]

beautiful work!

[Scale-Master]

Looks great! There is one minor detail that is off though. The license plate is from 1970, it would never have been issued to a '72 car. (I know because I created the art for that decal plate and the real car that wears it is a '70 Camaro.)

Otherwise you did a fantastic job!

[Chuck Most]

I want one!

[SteveG]

Looks great! There is one minor detail that is off though. The license plate is from 1970, it would never have been issued to a '72 car. (I know because I created the art for that decal plate and the real car that wears it is a '70 Camaro.)

Otherwise you did a fantastic job!

Actually it's only the annual renewel sticker that's different, the plate is the same. The '72 sticker was Yellow and '73 was Orange, I didn't check beyond that. Regardless, I agree you did a fantastic job !!

[Scale-Master]

That is incorrect Steve, it is the plate that is dated a 1970 issue too.

In California, the letters and numbers of the plate denote the year the plate was produced. The B in BXK denotes it to be a late 1970 plate. Some late production 1969 cars in California received the first round of blue and yellow plates starting with 000 AAA. Letters for 1972 plates start approximately in the "late" C's - "early" D's.

A plate issued prior to a car's production year would never have been issued to an older car. A re-registration however can yield a later (newer) plate for an older car. (I have 1998 plates on my 1972 Chevy.)

Yes, changing the tags to 1972 tags would bring it into the realm of 1972, but that plate is still on the wrong year car to be correct, unless it was being used as a get away car...

In fact if using that "story line", the model is perfect. A 1972 ford bank robbery get away car!

BTW, I am a California native and have been studying CA plates since the 60's.

[FordWagonNut]

Looks great! There is one minor detail that is off though. The license plate is from 1970, it would never have been issued to a '72 car. (I know because I created the art for that decal plate and the real car that wears it is a '70 Camaro.)

Otherwise you did a fantastic job!

They where the only plates I had on stock that did not look too small or toyish. When I find a set of plates I like, I will replace them.

Thank you everyone for the kind comments.

[Van Halen]

amazing chrome work, what was used for the grill ? chrome paint ?

[FordWagonNut]

amazing chrome work, what was used for the grill ? chrome paint ?

The rear & front bumper, along with the grill where all chrome plated from the Modelhaus. And just simple flat black washed the grill and headlamp areas. I did nothing special at all. Just a nice, clean, simple build.

I have a few other Modelhaus kits, these have been the most enjoyable resin kits that I have bought. I have spoken to the owner and I think it was his wife, WONDERFUL folks, great customer service. If you or anyone is put off by working with resin, their kits will change your mind. Very very little work was needed to prep the bodies and some minor filling was all that was needed. Who ever did the master on this, hes an artist. Lines are spot on to the 1:1.

[Scale-Master]

They where the only plates I had on stock that did not look too small or toyish. When I find a set of plates I like, I will replace them.

Thank you everyone for the kind comments.

Please don't take my comments as anything other than a transfer of facts. Your workmanship is fantastic. You can still claim it was stolen and be accurate...