55 DeSoto

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55 DeSoto
Topic Started: Oct 1 2009, 04:43 PM (235 Views)
dptydawg	Oct 1 2009, 04:43 PM Post #1
Member Posts: 352 Group: Members Member #560 Joined: December 27, 2006	Like most folks here I like to tackle things that are less than normal in the eyes of the modeling world. I have a friend who is into old Desotos in a big way. He has restored several 55's and currently has a pair of mint condition 2 dr hard tops in is garage. For years he has been trying to find a model of his cars in any scale. As you can guess it has been a fruitless search. Last week while following the wife through a bargan shop I found a diecast 55 Chrysler 300 in 1/24th scale . It is made by MotorMax, and at C$9.99, it followed me home. The body lines of the Chryco and the Desoto are identical with differences in trim and interior. The major work will be creating a new grill for the Desoto. Anyway here what it looks like now. zits just come out of the paint stripper process. No surgery has started yet. I'll start by grinding off the side moldinig and adding Desoto molding with half rouund evergreen strips. This will likely end up being a winter works project. The finished model should be close to factory stock. (I hope ) Thanks Carl



Bryan_M	Oct 1 2009, 05:31 PM Post #2
ADMINISTRATOR Posts: 12,481 Group: Admin Member #355 Joined: July 26, 2006	cool! this kinda stuff is great subject matter, because you dont see them everyday.........you know, like chevelles and mustangs! cant wait to see more carl bryan



Danny i	Oct 1 2009, 07:28 PM Post #3
Senior Member Posts: 824 Group: Members Member #1,040 Joined: August 12, 2008	..great project Carl. I've never worked on diecast, it'll be educational to watch the progress and techniques you use.



Lou	Oct 1 2009, 07:58 PM Post #4
Bronze Medal Member Posts: 2,798 Group: Members Member #622 Joined: February 15, 2007	This looks like a fun project. It appears you have a door fit problem already. Keep us posted on your progress.



DamnCranky666	Oct 1 2009, 09:55 PM Post #5
Admin--Chief Crank Posts: 14,957 Group: Admin Member #666 Joined: April 1, 2007	More, more, more, please



Bryan_M	Oct 1 2009, 09:58 PM Post #6
ADMINISTRATOR Posts: 12,481 Group: Admin Member #355 Joined: July 26, 2006	Danny i Oct 1 2009, 07:28 PM ..great project Carl. I've never worked on diecast, it'll be educational to watch the progress and techniques you use. same here..........ive never redone a diecast, it will be good to watch you do this. alot of guys modfy diecasts now, the 3ram added a category to the contest for it..........."modified diecast" class cant wait to see more bryan



Dan S	Oct 2 2009, 02:57 AM Post #7
Bronze Medal Member Posts: 2,216 Group: Members Member #607 Joined: January 31, 2007	Cool find, Carl. Especially after I got curious and did a google search on this to see what you might have started with. Here's what turned up. http://www.toywonders.com/productcart/pc/Motormax-American-Graffiti-Chrylser-C300-1955-1-18-Black-73160AG-94p9929.htm I assumed at first then it's 1/18, but found this too: http://www.diecastmodelswholesale.com/servlet/the-5846/1955-Chrysler-C300-Diecast/Detail?site=google_base I'll now guess it's 1/24? Cool either way. I couldn't help but notice that CAT genset behind it...How's that power generatior station dio coming along?



dptydawg	Oct 2 2009, 10:02 AM Post #8
Member Posts: 352 Group: Members Member #560 Joined: December 27, 2006	Thanks for the encouagement guys. This will be a learning experience for me as well. While I;ve detailed diecasts in the past, I havn't done any major body changes yet. They say "Bondo is a bodyman's best friend" I will likely test this therory big time. Today I'm going to take a bunch of measurements from the 1:1 car so I can layoput the Desoto trim package. I'm thinking that I can make a cereal box template of the side trim. Then both sides will be identical. I'll have some more pics later. This is a reference photo that Google found me. I hope to end up with something close to this. Dan the second link you found http://www.diecastmodelswholesale.com/servlet/the-5846/1955-Chrysler-C300-Diecast/Detail?site=google_base is the model I have. Mine started out painted black amd cost less but its the same car. The power plant dio is still in the works. I have a base roughed in. again more pictures to follow soon. Thanks Carl



HowardE	Oct 2 2009, 11:55 PM Post #9
Diorama Moderator Posts: 1,861 Group: Members Member #316 Joined: July 11, 2006	looks like a fun project, Carl...I've been thinkig of making a Pontiac Streamliner out of the Chevy Fleetline (51 amt)...



Dan S	Oct 3 2009, 04:31 AM Post #10
Bronze Medal Member Posts: 2,216 Group: Members Member #607 Joined: January 31, 2007	Cool, I'm looking forward to seeing progress on both the power plant and this car then.



ronr	Oct 3 2009, 06:57 AM Post #11
Senior Member Posts: 585 Group: Members Member #353 Joined: July 25, 2006	Cool Project! I have heard the paint on die cast can be a bear to strip?



Fordforever	Oct 3 2009, 03:02 PM Post #12
Senior Member Posts: 924 Group: Members Member #802 Joined: September 26, 2007	Very cool project.I stripped the paint from 49 Ford diecast.Never did anything else to it.Keep us posted. Chuck



dptydawg	Oct 10 2009, 12:40 AM Post #13
Member Posts: 352 Group: Members Member #560 Joined: December 27, 2006	I've made a little progress on the Chryco to Desoto conversion. I thought I should do a bit of an update. Since diecast is a different medium than we're used to, I've taken a few extra shots of some of the techniques that I'm trying. Some of these may work and some may not, but I'll try to explain what I'm trying to do as I go. I started off by makeing a pattern for the desoto side molding in cardboard then marked out the car body with a Sharpie. I ground off the side trim at the rear of the car with a flap wheel in a dremel flex shaft. The Chrysler grill had an egg crate design in the diecast. Since part of this would have to be cut out and part of it filled in, I figured that it would work best to fill everything in with epoxy putty to start with and then do the cut outs later. here the grill openings are stuffed with epoxy putty. This stuff dries harder than resin and seems to work well with diecast. The rear fenders had plastic fin/taillights inserted into grooves in the diecast. I built this up with putty then sanded it to Desoto contours some additional filing will be done to fit the taillights I've started to cut out the Desoto grill opening. I started off placing duct tape along both eges to control any slips with the cut off wheel. I've been using Dremel cut off wheels to make the first cuts through the diecast and epoxy. I've found that the metal builds up on the rim of the wheel. Once this happens the wheel quits cutting and needs to be replaced. Once I get the centre section cut out I will contour the grill opening with a diamond burr. When playing with diecast or resin and power tools, Safety equipment is important. I always use a dust mask when using my dremel, as well as safety glasses + an optivisor for my old eyes. when working with epoxy nitrile gloves are also a good idea Thats about as far as I've got to date. stay tuned for furthur updates Thanks Carl



Bryan_M	Oct 10 2009, 12:45 AM Post #14
ADMINISTRATOR Posts: 12,481 Group: Admin Member #355 Joined: July 26, 2006	thats great carl, it looks like you will be able to convert this over and make it look really nice..........ive been waiting for some progress on this one. the pattern on the quarter panel looks good, and the remolded tops of the quarters are shaping up really nice as well..... keep it coming, im watching this one! bryan



Danny i	Oct 10 2009, 12:55 AM Post #15
Senior Member Posts: 824 Group: Members Member #1,040 Joined: August 12, 2008	..that looks really interesting Carl. Keep all the up dates coming cause one of these days I'm going to try one. I'll need all the help I can get!



Bryan_M	Oct 10 2009, 12:57 AM Post #16
ADMINISTRATOR Posts: 12,481 Group: Admin Member #355 Joined: July 26, 2006	yea same here, i have never done a diecast like this, so any info will be helpfull, one of these days i will do one..... bryan



Danny i	Oct 10 2009, 01:08 AM Post #17
Senior Member Posts: 824 Group: Members Member #1,040 Joined: August 12, 2008	..one day I'd like to redo this 66' GTO. Maybe in red or black......



DamnCranky666	Oct 10 2009, 07:23 AM Post #18
Admin--Chief Crank Posts: 14,957 Group: Admin Member #666 Joined: April 1, 2007	Love the process, keep it going. I've never worked on a diecast model, but I can see how it could be lots of fun.



dptydawg	Oct 10 2009, 09:22 AM Post #19
Member Posts: 352 Group: Members Member #560 Joined: December 27, 2006	Danny i Oct 10 2009, 01:08 AM ..one day I'd like to redo this 66' GTO. Maybe in red or black...... Hi Danny stripping paint off a diecast is fairly easy to do. just brush on a paint stripper like Poly-Strippa or something similar. The paint will bubble up immediately. Then just scrape the paint off. a stiff brush helps clean out the nooks and crannies, then wash it all down. One good thing about diecast, you can use automotive finishes without worring about destroying the plastic. So you can repaint your model with what ever paint you like. Thanks Carl



DamnCranky666	Oct 10 2009, 10:25 AM Post #20
Admin--Chief Crank Posts: 14,957 Group: Admin Member #666 Joined: April 1, 2007	Yeah, and the fact that it is sturdier too. Easier to handle, I think. So far so good, Carl.



HowardE	Oct 10 2009, 03:35 PM Post #21
Diorama Moderator Posts: 1,861 Group: Members Member #316 Joined: July 11, 2006	dptydawg Oct 10 2009, 12:40 AM I've been using Dremel cut off wheels to make the first cuts through the diecast and epoxy. I've found that the metal builds up on the rim of the wheel. Once this happens the wheel quits cutting and needs to be replaced. looking good, Carl...on the clogged wheels, I found that my old work shoe soles worked great for cleaning the disc and belt sander mediums, give it a try on your clogged dremel wheels...I Just run the tool and hold the old shoe sole against it and it unclogs it in an instant... Edited by HowardE, Oct 10 2009, 03:38 PM.



dptydawg	Oct 16 2009, 11:38 AM Post #22
Member Posts: 352 Group: Members Member #560 Joined: December 27, 2006	Thansk for the tip on the shoes, Howard. I have one of those rubber block cleaners for my belt sander. O just never concideredd it for a dremel cutting wheel. I'll have to give it a try. I did a bunch more grinding and filing and managed to get the grill cut open. Lou, I solved tnat door alignment problem with a bit of masking tape I've also glued on the right side trim. The bottom line is 1 mm half round, the top line extention is 2 mm half round. I still have to blend the joint with some body filler and files. Haven't tackled the drivers side yet. I dechromed the front bumper and removed the bumperettes. I need to build some new ones that will line up with the groves under the hood. The grill teeth will be mounted to these bumperettes. the car body has mounting points for the frame screws at the fromt corners of the grill. I carved out part of this for access for the parking lights. Milling out diecast is much more difficult than cutting out completely. Thats it for this installment Thanks Carl



dptydawg	Nov 25 2009, 11:03 PM Post #23
Member Posts: 352 Group: Members Member #560 Joined: December 27, 2006	When I finally found this old string I see it has been 6 weeks since I did an update on this project. Time flys when your having fun. Any way I have this thing just about beaten into submission now. a couple more trim bits and I'll be done. It is a pretty good 3 foot model, any closer than that and the flaws start to show through Here are some catch up pics: The body has been primed and masked for white paint. I masked to about the centre line of the chrome trim so that any misses or bleed through wouldn't matter. The White has been masked and ready for red paint as it came out of the paint shop Desoto-ized interior and dash converted from the 300. Here a bit of a tale about building the Desoto grill I dechromed the front bumper and cut the bumperetts off it. I made up a set of grill teeth from a swizle strick and glued them to an evergreen bridge plate. The umperets were also lengthened with evergreen. after lining the bumperettes up with the eyebrows in the car I glued them to the bumper then glued the denture bridge to the bumperettes. I added parliking lights outboard of the bumperettes. The grill/bumper ready for Alcad ll treatment. And then I started into Bare Metal Foil. almost a half sheet later I had the trim work foiled. Here is how it sits now. I still have to do some trim work around the lights and add the tail lights. I made up a presentation base for the car. The Giesz Motors badge is an old plaque that they used to put on the cars they sold. The lad I made this model for used to work for them waaaay back when Sorry for all the pics at once but I wanted to catch up Thanks Carl



Bryan_M	Nov 26 2009, 12:09 AM Post #24
ADMINISTRATOR Posts: 12,481 Group: Admin Member #355 Joined: July 26, 2006	very cool carl!! nice conversion, and the base looks really nice too! bryan



Dan S	Nov 26 2009, 04:12 AM Post #25
Bronze Medal Member Posts: 2,216 Group: Members Member #607 Joined: January 31, 2007	Nice job, Carl. That die cast is a different sort of critter to work with, let alone customize or modify, but you really pulled it off.



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