1960 Chevy Fleetside Pickup

[70 STING]

I don't have many good things to say about this kit. The list of issues is lengthy resulting in a less than enjoyable build.

Body colour is Tamiya TS-41 Coral Blue, roof and bumpers are White Primer cleared with Pearl and Semi Gloss respectively. Chrome trim is decanted Revell Chrome Spray. Interior is Tamiya XF-19 Sky Grey. Wheels are kit chrome cleared with Semi Gloss and a light application of Tamiya Panel Liner.

Build Thread



Negative:

Chassis frame and interior tub were warped (badly). Used a heat gun to straighten them as best I could. The steering wheel was warped, too.

Required air bit of sanding to make the roof and hood fit flush to the body.

Most of the individual suspension parts had to have the mounting holes widened or locator pins sanded down.

Spent far too much time cleaning and prepping parts in this kit.

Firewall (separate part) had sizeable gaps on each side when installed... filled those with putty.

Could not squeeze the interior tub inside the body (an issue with this kit, made worse with the warpage) - had to cut the back panel off the tub to get it all the way up. It can't be seen when installed.

Body, truck bed and chassis install was no picnic... had to cut off the locator pins on the chassis as they were not gonna line-up.

Due to all the issues attaching the interior tub and body to the chassis, the front end sat way too high. I had to cut off the front of the frame and mount the front wheels with a 1/8" offset to get all 4 touching the ground... resulting in a weird stance. :^(

Decals broke apart and wouldn’t stick.



Some Positive:

Opened up the front grill which was easily done grinding only from the inside.

Added small brackets to the firewall for magnets to keep the hood in place as it sits quite loose if you choose the hood closed option (kit comes with hinges for hood open option).

First attempt at wood grain on the truck bed. (thanks tcoat )

Wired the engine with a Yamamoto distributer and wires.

First time using Revell Chrome Spray. The stuff is definitely the most chrome looking product I've tried. I decanted and thinned it 1:1 with Mr. Levelling thinner (a must at that price!). From all I've read it cannot be cleared with any product. It seems to hold up to minor handling, though I wore off much of the shine while struggling with final assembly.



Conclusion:

With the price of kits and supplies in Canada, it wouldn't been right to trash it. Over all, I'm glad I didn't mail it in as it makes a decent 10-footer.

[buddho]

I love, love love it! ❤️

[406 Silverado]

For all the issues you had going on with this kit, this truck sure turned out like it came from a perfectly molded kit. Paint and finish look just fabulous and the results of the Chrome Spray and I’ll have to give that stuff a whirl myself.

[keavdog]

Fantastic! What a great color. Really sharp and really nice application of panel liner. Engine bay looks really nice. Well done!

[tcoat]

As discussed before I find it very strange that your version of this kit had so many issues. The only things I found with mine was the decal problem and a bit of extra flash to clean up here and there. I had none of those other problems and built the whole thing over a weekend. I have seen many builds of this and none really had the issues yours did. You really drew the short straw on that one!

That said you managed to beat yours into submission with a perfect stock appearance.

[sharp]

Super clean build! Very nice!

[BattleScale Collectica Show]

I would never has guessed you had to clean up so much based on the finished model. looks real good!

[maverick]

Simply stunning! Gorgeous build!!! Love it.

[handiabled]

You took this from pos to piece of art! I love the finish on this with the color you put on it and that outstanding chrome work

[project510]

I LOVE THIS. So clean and simple looking. But we all know the work involved to get that. Great job. I think im going home tonight to stick my 64 in a purple bath and start over haha. THANKS!

[dean48ws]

To my eye, the photos of the finished product give no indication of the struggles you have had. Superb work!

[70 STING]

Apr 25, 2024 11:12:02 GMT -5 406 Silverado said:

For all the issues you had going on with this kit, this truck sure turned out like it came from a perfectly molded kit. Paint and finish look just fabulous and the results of the Chrome Spray and I’ll have to give that stuff a whirl myself.

Appreciate it Joe. :^)
At $40/can I would highly recommend decanting and thinning with MLT. 

[70 STING]

Apr 25, 2024 12:11:01 GMT -5 keavdog said:

Fantastic! What a great color. Really sharp and really nice application of panel liner. Engine bay looks really nice. Well done!

Thanks dog.  I gave up on Tamiya Panel Liner for door seams and grills, instead I’m using Vallejo acrylic thinned heavily with water. It’s so much easier to remove/cleanup.  I do prefer Tamiya for chrome, however. 

[70 STING]

Apr 25, 2024 12:32:37 GMT -5 tcoat said:

As discussed before I find it very strange that your version of this kit had so many issues. The only things I found with mine was the decal problem and a bit of extra flash to clean up here and there. I had none of those other problems and built the whole thing over a weekend. I have seen many builds of this and none really had the issues yours did. You really drew the short straw on that one!

That said you managed to beat yours into submission with a perfect stock appearance.

I agree… I have seen a few nice builds of this kit.  Someone at the factory musta been having a rough day when they made this batch. 

Thanks again for the wood finish tips.

[70 STING]

Apr 26, 2024 7:19:25 GMT -5 BattleScale Collectica Show said:

I would never has guessed you had to clean up so much based on the finished model. looks real good!

Thanks BCS.  Just don’t flip it over.  That’s where the Frankenstein work is evident.

[70 STING]

Apr 26, 2024 8:05:06 GMT -5 handiabled said:

You took this from pos to piece of art! I love the finish on this with the color you put on it and that outstanding chrome work

Thanks Dood.  I weren’t gonna let no hunk ‘o plastic git the better of me. 

[70 STING]

Apr 26, 2024 14:34:11 GMT -5 project510 said:

I LOVE THIS. So clean and simple looking. But we all know the work involved to get that. Great job. I think im going home tonight to stick my 64 in a purple bath and start over haha. THANKS!

No, don’t do it.

[70 STING]

Apr 26, 2024 14:42:53 GMT -5 dean48ws said:

To my eye, the photos of the finished product give no indication of the struggles you have had. Superb work!

I used the ‘Fix My Photo’ filter in Photoshop. ;^)

[tcoat]

Apr 26, 2024 21:54:54 GMT -5 70 STING said:

Apr 26, 2024 14:34:11 GMT -5 project510 said:

I LOVE THIS. So clean and simple looking. But we all know the work involved to get that. Great job. I think im going home tonight to stick my 64 in a purple bath and start over haha. THANKS!

No, don’t do it.

I have the '64 kit but since I will doing my dad's poor old rotted and roughed up truck the worse the fit the more accurate. I may actually have to ADD a twist to the frame to get it right!

[kyledehart5]

I almost let this finished thread slip past me!! An absolutely stunning and gorgeous result. I love the colors and your wood grain turned out awesome as well. Nice job pushing through the issues and getting such a great finished product.

[70 STING]

Apr 29, 2024 23:57:54 GMT -5 kyledehart5 said:

I almost let this finished thread slip past me!! An absolutely stunning and gorgeous result. I love the colors and your wood grain turned out awesome as well. Nice job pushing through the issues and getting such a great finished product.

Thanks Kyle, I’m glad I finished it. Aside from a couple paint issues (self imposed), it looks decent on the shelf.  I’m gonna leave the older AMT et al. kits alone for a while. Time to build a Tamiya. :^)

[tcoat]

Apr 30, 2024 20:53:14 GMT -5 70 STING said:

Apr 29, 2024 23:57:54 GMT -5 kyledehart5 said:

I almost let this finished thread slip past me!! An absolutely stunning and gorgeous result. I love the colors and your wood grain turned out awesome as well. Nice job pushing through the issues and getting such a great finished product.

Thanks Kyle, I’m glad I finished it. Aside from a couple paint issues (self imposed), it looks decent on the shelf.  I’m gonna leave the older AMT et al. kits alone for a while. Time to build a Tamiya. :^)

The AMT/Round Two kits are so hit and miss it is almost impossible to guess what will be in the box. In my long term project to build all the cars I can that I (or my family for a couple) used to own I have had both extremes back to back.

The '69 Covair kit ( modelerssocialclub.proboards.com/thread/13927/1969-corvair-amt ) was one of the worst moldings I ever saw with flash as thick as the kit parts and misaligned mold marks that almost needed a bench grinder to clean up. 

Whereas the '64 Galaxy kit ( modelerssocialclub.proboards.com/thread/13923/amt-galaxie-500-stock-oob ) was one of the crispest perfect molds you could ask for and required zero clean up.

Of course the Corvair may have pumped out millions more copies over the decades but considering the Galaxy was made from the original promo molds and would be older there is a real disconnects someplace.   

[kyledehart5]

May 1, 2024 6:57:39 GMT -5 tcoat said:

Apr 30, 2024 20:53:14 GMT -5 70 STING said:

Thanks Kyle, I’m glad I finished it. Aside from a couple paint issues (self imposed), it looks decent on the shelf.  I’m gonna leave the older AMT et al. kits alone for a while. Time to build a Tamiya. :^)

The AMT/Round Two kits are so hit and miss it is almost impossible to guess what will be in the box. In my long term project to build all the cars I can that I (or my family for a couple) used to own I have had both extremes back to back.

The '69 Covair kit ( modelerssocialclub.proboards.com/thread/13927/1969-corvair-amt ) was one of the worst moldings I ever saw with flash as thick as the kit parts and misaligned mold marks that almost needed a bench grinder to clean up. 

Whereas the '64 Galaxy kit ( modelerssocialclub.proboards.com/thread/13923/amt-galaxie-500-stock-oob ) was one of the crispest perfect molds you could ask for and required zero clean up.

Of course the Corvair may have pumped out millions more copies over the decades but considering the Galaxy was made from the original promo molds and would be older there is a real disconnects someplace.   

I have a 90s “Prestige” boxing of the corvair floating around here somewhere. I wonder if it’s as bad as the one you’ve described. I’ll have to go check it out sometime

[70 STING]

May 1, 2024 6:57:39 GMT -5 tcoat said:

Apr 30, 2024 20:53:14 GMT -5 70 STING said:

Thanks Kyle, I’m glad I finished it. Aside from a couple paint issues (self imposed), it looks decent on the shelf.  I’m gonna leave the older AMT et al. kits alone for a while. Time to build a Tamiya. :^)

The AMT/Round Two kits are so hit and miss it is almost impossible to guess what will be in the box. In my long term project to build all the cars I can that I (or my family for a couple) used to own I have had both extremes back to back.

The '69 Covair kit ( modelerssocialclub.proboards.com/thread/13927/1969-corvair-amt ) was one of the worst moldings I ever saw with flash as thick as the kit parts and misaligned mold marks that almost needed a bench grinder to clean up. 

Whereas the '64 Galaxy kit ( modelerssocialclub.proboards.com/thread/13923/amt-galaxie-500-stock-oob ) was one of the crispest perfect molds you could ask for and required zero clean up.

Of course the Corvair may have pumped out millions more copies over the decades but considering the Galaxy was made from the original promo molds and would be older there is a real disconnects someplace.   

The interiors are great on both those cars… especially in the Galaxy. Also noticed your Chevy Fleetside in the display case. 8^)