FEATURE CAR
Revell Monogram's 12th scale 1957 Chevrolet Belair. When I bought this model I had a clear plan I how I wanted to build it but unbeknown to me Revell Monogram had other ideas. Firstly this model is very poor in the chassis detail, basically it's non existent, secondly the white wall inserts supplied in the kit don't fit the tyres, well poo!!!.
So plan "B" kicked in and I thought I'd build a modern style kustom, sort of cross over Boyd Coddington, Chip Foose style. The rear end was completely cut out of the chassis and scratch built modified chassis rails and floor pan were added along with a scratch built aluminium drop fuel tank complete with Chevy emblem embossed into the base. Then a hand made four link rear end with airbag suspension was adapted to the kit supplied differential. The front end got the same treatment with new scratch built control arms from aluminium and airbag suspension. Scratch built brakes were made and plumbed and Tamiya 1/10th scale chrome drift rims adapted to suit.
The rest of the build used all the kit supplied parts although I added heaps of detail including drilling out all the bolt heads on the engine and differential and replacing them with chrome pins to simulate billet bolt caps. I cut out the ugly chrome plastic grille and added a photo etch mesh grille that was treated to a coat of Alclad chrome. Interior is basically stock with flocked carpet and I added glass faces to all the gauges. I added braided lines and fitting and installed linkages on the gearbox. The injection system is what was supplied in the kit but I adapted one of the carbie velocity stacks to be the air intake.
The paint was grey primer followed by plain orange enamel then I went over that with candy copper then ghost gold pearl (made these using powders bought off eBay) and then a few final coats of clear. The two tone is Pactra pearlescent white that matches the engine and drive train colours. I highlighted the flames with satin black to give them a 3D look and then softened that by adding another coat of the pearlescent white.
Hope you enjoy.
