1957 Chevy Black Widow

[Steve_L]

These are pictures of my 1957 Chevy "Black Widow" that was built for the 2007 ACME Southern Nationals NNL. I combined a 1957 Chevy 150 resin kit from Model Car World and the new tool AMT/Ertl 1957 Chevy Plastic kit.

I made intensive use of the GM 1957 Chevrolet Stock Car Competition Guide for reference pictures and I also found a lot of other good material on the Internet.

The engine is from the AMT/Ertl plastic kit, but I substituted the transmission from the Revell 1957 Chevy for the overdrive unit from the AMT/Ertl kit. The headers are also from the Revell 1957 Chevy. I resin cast the fuel injection parts including the air cleaner. I also fabricated the ribbed air hose and the air intake. I used a distributor from Arrowhead Aluminum and fabricated all of the fuel injection plumbing. The model has all of the Black Widow "extras" including two shock absorbers per wheel, added chassis crossmembers, reinforced chassis parts and the truck rear end. I used 6 lug wheels from Plastic Performance Products and period NASCAR tires from ModelHaus. I used a lot of parts from the Model Car Garage photo-etch kit for the AMT/Ertl old tool 57 Bel Air. I enhanced the interior with Elephant Hide decals from Scale Motorsport. The interior is well set-up as delivered by Model Car World, so not much additional work was necessary.

I used Duplicolor Black and White spray paint for the base coats and Kilz Casual Colors for the clear coat. Chrome trim was handled with Bare Metal Foil.

This is probably the most intensive, expensive project I have ever completed, but it pegged the "fun meter." If I ever build another one of these, I will build it much like this one, but add much more detail. Enjoy!

Edited January 8, 2008 by Steve_L

[camaroman]

Good looking work Steve!

I bought that kit and am working(?) on a street machine version.

Check it out at public.fotki.com/glennn/mcw_57_build/57_chevy/

[Steve_L]

Good looking work Steve!

I bought that kit and am working(?) on a street machine version.

Check it out at public.fotki.com/glennn/mcw_57_build/57_chevy/

Looking really good so far! Have you decided on the engine and wheels/tires?

[Raul_Perez]

Nice build, Steve!! Very clean!!

[Steve_L]

Thank you all very much for your kind and positive comments.

[camaroman]

Looking really good so far! Have you decided on the engine and wheels/tires?

Steve I am planning on using the street machine engine with a resin intake and

weber crossflow carbs. The T/W combo is down to three. The sticking point is tires

wide enough to fill those tubs in the back and still fit a modern 17,18,19" whee.

Any ideas are welcome from any one!!!

[mikelo]

That turned out really nice. What did you use for the side trim? The intake looks great!

[Steve_L]

That turned out really nice. What did you use for the side trim? The intake looks great!

One of the many benefits of the Model Car World resin kit is that the side trim is part of the casting. All I needed to do was to cover it with Bare Metal Foil.

[curt raitz]

Great job on this model of the 57 Chevy Black Widow

nice engine detail...hope there's a guy out there doing resin parts for these, I might build some more

love the simplicity of cars that raced in the 50' & 60's, NASCAR, INDY, NHRA, etc.

Threw in a couple pix of the 57 Black Widow Buck Baker raced in 1957...built this for the 1957 theme of last years NNL West

[Fisher61]

Every bit as cool as your '57 Ford!

[Steve_L]

Great job on this model of the 57 Chevy Black Widow

nice engine detail...hope there's a guy out there doing resin parts for these, I might build some more

love the simplicity of cars that raced in the 50' & 60's, NASCAR, INDY, NHRA, etc.

Threw in a couple pix of the 57 Black Widow Buck Baker raced in 1957...built this for the 1957 theme of last years NNL West

Great pictures! Great build! Thanks for sharing them. As far as the resin detail parts, you never can tell...