This is my second car, and
what a model it turned out to be. Monogram put this kit on the market a
decade or so ago. It had lot's of "chrome" items, plus a full
blown engine, and transmission. The passenger compartment, and
undercarriage was detailed out to the max, including the duel exhaust stacks,
with 4 mufflers. In those days, they added a round smaller muffler, aft of
the regular mufflers to many GM cars. They called them
"resonators," or some name similar to it. I
know this is true, as I bought a new 1958 four door Cadillac Sedan DeVille.
The kit included a snow white plastic "canvas
etched" top, but I left it off my model to show the beautiful interior of
the car.
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I planned on displaying the model
on a mirror, and show off all the detailed items on the underside, I had to add
the hydraulic brake fluid lines to all four wheels, a gasoline line from the
tank to the carburetor, including the cable to the rear wheels for the
"emergency" braking system.
I had two fit problems with
the kit. The clear injected "wrap-around" plastic windscreen did
not fit properly inside its' chrome plated black plastic frame. As a
result, I cracked it, and I kept breaking, and/or crazing three more
windscreens. With kit number five, I
solved the windscreen problem. Don't ask any questions, just buy the kit,
then you will know what's wrong with it.
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Problem number two
consisted of installing the finished engine, with the transmission attached (per
kit instructions). The modeler was to installed the completed engine, and
transmission assembly, after he had permanently attached the top section of the
body to the car's bottom body section, which was attached to the frame.
The fan blade hit the radiator cover housing, and a few engine side items hit
the side wheel well covers. I had to cut off the fan blade, and make other
adjustments to get the engine in, then reassemble the parts. I added dip sticks
for the engine oil and transmission fluid, including spark plugs and a wire set.
I added some hoses and other items "on and around" the engine as well.
A fellow modeler at a local club meet ask if I attached
the plug wires into the distributor with the correct firing order. He made
no positive comments about my car, so you can guess what my negative reply was!
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After cleaning up the
flashing on several chrome parts, I had a lot of black plastic showing. I
tried spraying on a chrome silver paint, but no way did it match the chrome hub
caps. I painted all the parts with SnJ Gold paint. The kit came with
strips of bare metal aluminum foil, which was to be applied to the large rear
fender fins. These strips of foil did not work on one of the extra models,
so I applied the gold paint.
A year or so
later, I experimented with some SnJ aluminum paint. After the polishing
process with the powder, I sprayed on Future. It looked real close to all
of my Caddy left over chrome parts.
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I drilled out the rectangle holes
in the front grill. I added a second side mirror on the right door.
I made my own rear license plate by typing all the letters/numbers on white
paper, using my IBM typewriter. I reduced them down to size on my office
copy machine, then printed everything onto clear decal film. They were
applied to light blue decal film. The front plate is part of my gift for
entering my car in the "NNL" car show contest here in Northern,
California. The radio antenna was made using round brass rod.
I applied my home made water base
liquid masking film around the "EL DORADO" words on both sides of the
front fenders, then painted on the gold. I make my masking film by adding
one part of liquid household soap to one part of white glue. I then add
enough water to make it easier to paint on my models. You can add a few
drops of food coloring to the mixture if desired.
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Once the engine is in the car,
you can't see much of it, so with all the extra kits, I built a second engine
and transmission, and displayed it next to the car. The shipping palate is
made from real wood stock. I added a dip stick for the engine oil
and one for the transmission fluid. To add extra color, I choose red for my
spark plug wires. I made my plugs, using .020" diameter round styrene
rod. I used Tamiya and SnJ paints on the engine & transmission
assembly.
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I mixed my own "lavender
pink" automotive lacquer for the model. I added white to my red until
I achieved a medium pink color, then I added a few drops of my blue color.
In direct sunlight, the car looks very pink, but in the shade, and especially
inside, it has a very deep lavender color. I like it that way. I
used the standard white lacquer with my lav-pink color for the interior, and a
medium grey Tamiya paint color for the floor.
One photo shows my Caddy with my
clients 1/24 scale P-51B. It lets the viewer see just how big the Cadillac
is, compared to a WW-II fighter. To view the P-51B, go to "Lsp"
www.largescaleplanes.com
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Like my Olds "Aerotech,"
the Caddy took several first place awards, including a first at the 1994 IPMS/USA
contest in Omaha, NE.
Coming soon will be my
fantastic red "Ferrari F-40!"
Rodney
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