WIP 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air

Dominik Weitzer
Same day I started with the Bel Air.
I built the kit as a kid and can't remember about that sad quality now.
A lot of molding lines, every part has to worked on....terrible fitting on the engine parts, Seatbench and so on.

Nigel Chapman
Perhaps the molds are getting old!
The Matchbox/AMT version has been around a few years

Villiers de Vos
Coming along nicely.

Dominik Weitzer
Yes, with no doubt, the molds get old. I have the amt/ERTL in my stash (body painted, not complete i saw today, two parts missing ), and that kit is excellent.
I figure out if i change the kit and build two similar models...don't know yet. But here i put a lot of wotk in at that point and i think to finish it. On the hard way :-D

Dominik Weitzer
Weekly update.
I painted the body with a lot of filler....the plastic was sanded and took color like a sponge. it needed more than five(!) layers of filler till it was a complete coat.
after taht, i primed the body, sanded it wet with 400 and primered it again. Next step wet sanding again and painted the roof plane white.

After drying for a couple days, i painted the body with two layers of turqoise - of course with wet sanding between the two layers 😉
the original color is really hard to get and was not in german databases. The paintshop mixed it as a real special order.
The clear coat is missing, it will be done next days.

Dominik Weitzer
Of course while i was painting, i painted all parts that has to bee in bodycolor.
First parts became clearcoat to have a look, how the color matches.
The interior will get the second, darker paint soon.

Villiers de Vos
A very classic choice in colours.

Nigel Chapman
Wow, that's some body working and painting. You have a lot of patience!
My local paint shop cannot mix US colours either, its all European and Japanese shades.

István Szücs
How could I missed this one? Looking great, as always!

Jv
Taking a seat looking good sofare

Dominik Weitzer
Thank you very much Villiers, Nigel, Istvan and Jv. I try my best 🙂

on this, i painted the undercarriage with clearcoat and started detailing (only the fuelcell so far). also i painted all parts black. The engine will be black.

Dominik Weitzer
In the meantime the body is painted so far. Had to repaint the roof (of course it dropped a part on the roof and damaged the paint).
Two layers of clear coat are done. I had a spot on the deck lid that is gone, on the engine hood needs some attention.
I will sand it out and polis the hood, think that will work out.

Martin Oostrom
One of the quintessential 50s cars. I love the Bel Air. Great work so far 👍🏻

Spanjaard
looking really smooth

Rui S
Impressive shiny work. May I ask what clear do you use?

Kyle DeHart
Perfect color for the bel air. Looks great.

Bob Hall
Now this gorgeous!

Jv
Fantastic looking model after all the work you have done

Dominik Weitzer
Thank you!
Rui, i use all base products (black gloss/semigloss/matt , silver, primer and clearcoat) from Kwasny in rattlecans. it is the "2K-Rallye Paint"-line and since i build i use them. I'll show a picture asap

Rui S
Thx Dominik 👍

Dominik Weitzer
Rui, forgot a picture from the spray cans I use....follows.

In the meantime, the mustang and Mercedes are nearly ready, so I worked on the bel air.
I completed the chassis with the axles and completed the engine. Some small paint needed.
Also I attached photo etched "fin-chrome"...but it was close to "destroy" the paint on the panels. I attached them with superglue but the body was statically charged...so I had fine "glue hairs" all over the panels....d***. After drying the glue, i sanded out all the mistake, that's why the body is semigloss .
I've not decided yet, to paint the chrome parts or use BMF. But after that is done, the body will.polished up for the finish.

Villiers de Vos
Very nice work so far.

Dominik Weitzer
Thank you Villiers 😉
I forgot a little Detail: the steering wheel. i it a real junk and no channce, to give it a nice look. So i decided to grab one from a 58 Impala and took only the outer ring. the spoke is from the 57 and a ring for the horn is 0.4mm silverwire. some sanding, glueing, knocking the head on the desk for this idea and it was done. After paint, im fine with it.
Next was the interior i finished yesturday. for upholstery, trim, stickingline around the grey pattern, it took three hours.

Kyle DeHart
Great work continues. Love the two tone interior.

Martin Oostrom
Gorgeous colours

István Szücs
That steering wheel and the intrument panel looks amazing!

Villiers de Vos
Very nice work on those seats.

Dominik Weitzer
Thank you very much! The time flies....and I had some work on the body done.
All photoetched parts and chrome trim is done, the final layer of clear coat is done also.
Than, I thought, a quick job on the bumpers....just paint the grill and so....but of course, that was a mistake.
It ended up, that I sanded all molding lines down, sanded the chrome down and testfitted the front bumper. Of course (!again) it doesn't fit on he passengers side....holy moly....so I filled up the gap between bumper and body. Why? The bumper line with the wheel arch looks bad.

If you want to build a model quick? Don't choose that of renounce of perfection 😂

Dominik Weitzer
after a while, the final work is nearly done.
after sanding the bumper fitted imo perfect and i sprayed them with revells chroome spray.
you know, that completing the boda is the nicest part, becaus the end is near. not on this....ofcourse, the headlights won't fir ether. i had to correect the angles from the brezels to the bumper. different left or right. and even it is not enough, the "holes" had to be widened also.

Last work? completing Bumpers, headlights and rear lights.

Michael Kohl
Nice to see how you overcome all the hurdles.

Jv
Thanks for all the info to me it looks like a fabulous model if the care is taken

Dominik Weitzer
Thank you Michael, Jv.
Yes, it is a great model if you take the time and stay calm 🙂
The final steps was completing the body. attached brezels, Bumpers, head-/rearlights and chromeparts on the hood. As always on the finishline i forget to take pictures from those steps :-D, but it will drive into the galery soon - in all his glory.

Thank you very much for watching, next model will start soon.

Michael Kohl
You turned it into a gem.

Neuling
I agree.

Jv
Yep one of the best build of a 57 I have seen

Kyle DeHart
Another great looking build!

Christian W
Super sweet. Very good on correcting details. I like the color for sure and with this regular wheels - sweet.

Dominik Weitzer
thank you very much mates! much appreciated.
it took more time to finish, but imo it was worth every work i've done.

as written, the kit had better times and i would jump on Revells Bel Air if i would build it again (and i will 😉 )

Laurent VILLANUEVA HELLER ForEver
Nice !

CaptGPF
That finish is flawless - love the finished product, flawless

Villiers de Vos
I agree, flawless paint work.

Dominik Weitzer
Thank you very much!
i see, that the Bel Air didn't roll out to the galery! thats unbelivable...will follow soon 😉