1953 Studebaker Starliner

Thanks. I figure I have a better chance of ending up with a good looking model if I start with a good looking car. I'm not as dumb as I look. Usually.  smileyCACETROO_zps365bb43e

Yes, it has the twin blower option, it's a 3-in-1 kit.

Great looking body, Sid. I'm sure it'll end up looking great. Those panel lines do look deep and nice.

If you're going with a stock build, I have factory colors for this year studebaker in my ebay store. Let me know if you want to take a look.

I think the engine is done. The spark plugs were molded in...I painted them white and attached the boots. The horizontal black tube is the air cleaner. The orange thing is the oil filter.

Nice engine work there mate. Looking real good.

An all-time great kit. On the engine I'd do a few bolt heads in a metal color, but the rest of the engine looks tops! Stock is fine with me. Hope the interior colors are authentic too. With a good kit and good paint and detailing it can be a star.

Finally got the chassis done. Nothing fancy. Rather than try to paint perfect circles in the centers of the wheel covers, I punched out little circles from a plastic container lid, painted them and glued them on.

I'm waiting on an airbrush part before I can do any further work on this kit.

Great work on this car Sidney. I remember seeing these cars when I was just a pup. They were good cars.  {showing my age here.}

Not that much. I was born in 1951. They were still around where I was while I was growing up.

That must have been a late oval window or very early square window was it? Cant remember the US start for imports too well but was it one of the ones imported through New York by someone other than VW? I would happily have one of them today.

LOL I had a Blue 59 Bug in Germany , when I was stationed there.. It was painted with a Brush before I got it.. But that thing ALWAYS ran , not much for heat ,but very dependable...

I finally got my airbrush mojo working again and am making progress. The body is not done yet, but I wanted to post a couple of pics to show the color scheme. It was hard to get my camera to pick up the colors. The body silver shows more accurately in this one....



...and the interior color shows better in this one...



The metallic paint is definitely more of a challenge. After increasing frustration with the duel action Master I've been using, I gave up on it and bought a Paasche H series "external mix" airbrush. I'd seen it being used by some very skilled painters in Youtube videos. Man, what a difference. I'm still getting used to it, but it's so much simpler to use, and it handles any paint I use with ease. Clean up is much quicker too. It's great not having to feel like I'm always fighting with the thing to get it to work. If anyone wants more info on the Paasche, just ask.

I'm probably going to sand the minor imperfactions in the body paint and give it one more coat, then reverse the masking and do the roof in the amethyst. Clear coat over all, and all window frame chrome will be BMF.

So far, not bad.  egyptian

Thanks.   I still have to detail the door handles and window cranks, and I'm going to cut some pebble grained black vinyl for the floor mat and pedals. The dash has great detail...I hope I don't muck it up. 

Ready for final assembly! There was a considerable delay while the body was stripped and repainted several times and finally discarded due to an unfortunate incident involving a kitchen appliance. I will say no more about it. I bought a second kit and a different brand of paint and all is well. As required by law I took pics of the tub before it gets hidden away under the hard top. I think my fear of dashboards may be cured. smileyCA9464IN_zpsd9ee499f The body still has to be waxed but all the detailing is done. This will hopefully be finished in a couple more days. Phew. Thanks for looking.