Post by Grandpabeast on Jun 10, 2017 11:47:58 GMT -7
from Nova AWB car , moved rear axle forward and rear wheel well openings , wired the engine then added tinted windows .
Awwww hell I guess I'll throw my old dog in the ring. Mine has a little "jingle" as far as story is concerned. I went back home last year to grab the last build that was still at my parents house back in my brother's and mine's old bedroom and there it sat after 32 years on the shelf never having a case in which to protect it like the other four remaining builds from childhood that I still have. It looked terrible and I contemplated just throwing it away. Instead I saw some potential in the ol' girl and decided to undergo about a month and a half long project to bring 'er back from the dead but not getting too carried away with all the details. I wanted at least one build that I could show my skills back then as a 16 year old.
I gave it a lot of TLC during the resto. Lot's of touch up and some parts replacements from a newer release of the kit along the way helped out some. The paint is all original with only clean up and a polishing with Novus to bring out the shine. On the original build I never installed any glass or headlamps so right off the bat there was an improvement there. Wheels and tires are all replacements with some tricks that I've learned here and there to enhance those items. All exterior chrome was replaced and the hood was added as well. I'm not just real happy with the hood but I'll work around that for now. Interior is all original with no upgrades other than cleaning up and adding windows (I never installed any windows or headlights on the original build--don't ask, I think I was feeling lazy that day. lololol) . The engine is terrible and if it weren't for the fact that the headers were visible all the way up to it I would have left it out but I freshened it up just a tad.
All in all this was some good fun with little frustration and I've even got to try out a few tricks and ideas in what was unchartered waters before this build. As stated earlier: Is this my best model or will this win in any IPMS shows?? No. It does, however, have it's place inside a good display case to pay tribute to some of my earlier teenage years. With any luck it will last another 30+ years............
To recap. Beginning shots. The dust collection and tire to wheel melting on this thing was crazy!!
and yes................that's a clear hood.
and a shot of the interior after that long:
Now for the contest shots. The paint shines better than it did new 3 decades ago and there's no clear coat.
Well, I managed to get this in. Some great cars in the field but I'm prepared to win via holeshot! Sorry about the bad interior pic but the windows are so small there was no way to get a good one. It has your classic racing seats of the era, a roll bar, steering wheel, and gauges. Only the necessities. Enjoy.
[img src="i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q576/grandpabeast/finished%20kits/58%20Impala%20Gasser/IMG_0308_zpsa7ynjtot.jpg" style="max-width:100%;" src="http://media.fotki.com/1_p,rtftdkgbfrqwbwrxswsgrtggtwktg,vi/brdrwtkrrxbrrqtrsgkxbrtgtfbtr/6/3746056/14300487/AustinEnginePic-vi.jpg" a
Well i got it right this time and for my entry I am using my 58 Impala Wagon - mostly 58 Impala, grafted a 57 nomad roof and tail gate, motor is a big block from the pro street chevelle kit.
a couple more