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Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz 1959 by fnick - Monogram 1/25


Fnick

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Evening all

 

Welcome to my next build: the Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz 1959! The ultimate chrome 50s monster American car!😄

 

This is the car I really wanted to build but not wanting to pay silly money for the revell version I build the Chrysler 300C instead.

 

When this one came up on a bidding site I just couldn't resist and was really chuffed when I won the auction.

 

You can build the car with the roof on or folded back. I am going with the folded back look as in the box art. I really like doing car interiors and this will really give me an opportunity to go to town on the interior detailing.

 

Here's the box

 

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The kit was already started. The previous owner had painted it in Ford metallic velvet purple and clear coated it (and done a very good job I have to say). However that was not the colour scheme I wanted so into the IPA bath it went.

 

I started this build earlier in the year as I wanted to get all required parts painted and clear coated before the weather turned.

 

I had three things in mind for the colour scheme. 1) metallic colour for the body, 2) quite a light colour for the interior to really contrast with the body colour and 3) I didn't want to replicate one of the original colour schemes

 

I also didn't fancy experimenting with a new brand of paint or brush painting the body as I did on my Mustang and prelude builds so I restricted myself to the tamiya TS range.

 

I ended up choosing TS-54 light metallic blue for the body and TS-45 pearl white for the interior.

 

Here is the car body 

 

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And all the various bits and bobs I had to spray paint

 

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Hopefully I've not forgotten any...🤔

 

I'll be using this car as a reference (courtesy of mecum auctions)

 

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I painted the Eldorado letters before clear coating

 

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As I wasn't sure it how tricky it would be after.

 

Of course I had some issues with clear coating... I applied the second coat when the humidity in my garage was too high which resulted in fogging

 

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However after posting for and receiving some excellent advice on this forum all that was required was a light sanding and the application of another coat.

 

Next step is the engine which I have already started gluing together.

 

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I'm really looking forward to this build!🙂

 

Thanks for looking, Nick

Edited by Fnick
Added engine photo
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Liking the look of this one. When I came back to the hobby these were quite cheap and readily available and definitely tempted me.

 

This looks like you've made a good start, particularly on the engine, and it's good that you've got the body painted before winter hits. Now for the big question - how are you going to do all that chrome?

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2 hours ago, Marco F. said:

Mine fogged bcs of the glue to keep in place

Sorry to hear that. Windscreen issues are a pain. I'll be using PVA glue for clear parts

 

1 hour ago, Anteater said:

. How long is the body?

Its a beast... 23cm long and only in 1/25. In 1/24 it would be 24cm! 😱

 

1 hour ago, Spiny said:

- how are you going to do all that chrome?

Well I'm hoping to use the kit chrome for a lot of it especially the bumpers but I need to have a proper look at the kit stuff first. Molotow chrome for any detail work. The kit does come with some chrome like stickers as shown below.

 

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But I have bought some bare metal foil so I'll be using that instead.

1 hour ago, Spiny said:

particularly on the engine

Thanks its only glued together at the mo. No paint on it. That's the sprue colour. I read somewhere that the kit was designed to be just glued together without painting if you did not want to paint.

 

Nick

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Cool subject! Don’t know if it’s true or just an urban myth but I recall reading somewhere long time ago that a horse being ridden by a NY city police officer was accidentally impaled on a tail fin of one of these Cads 😳!

 

Love the color for this Cad, it really pops with the Pearl white upholstery. Two questions: 1) how did you paint the Eldorado letters? (Dry brush?) and 2) what are chrome stickers supplied in the kit intended for? (Is it like BMF for the trim?)

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Thanks all!

 

John I can't comment about the injuries to horses but I did find a thread on the Cadillac owners forum and they do mention multiple incidents and injuries to people...

 

To answer your questions

1) I used mr colour silver chrome metallic and a very fine paint brush!

2) you are correct they are used for the trim. I'll probably use them as a template to cut the BMF.

 

Glad to know you and others like the colour scheme!😊

 

Nick

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  • 3 weeks later...

Morning all

 

Engine block finished. I'm trying to go for a restored and still driven car for this one so the engine has been weathered slightly.

 

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Next up the chassis. Thanks for looking

 

Nick

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That engine looks really nice. Subtly weathered.

Just an observation. I always assumed that all US V8 blocks had a 90 degree angle as this seems the best for smooth running. This one seems to have a 120 degree Vee. Is this an optical illusion?

 

Cheers,

Alan.

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Yup! That looks like 90 degrees! Obviously an optical illusion brought on by extreme age!

As I said before, beautifully crafted engine!

 

Thanks for the picture.

 

Alan.

Edited by Alan R
Fat fingers!
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Don't be so hard on yourself! If you look at the last pic of the three i think the angle of the pulleys and belts is more than 90 giving the impression that that is the same for the engine.

 

Nick

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  • 4 weeks later...

Morning all

 

First of all Happy new year! 

 

Progress was somewhat slowed down over the last month but a major step was completed today. The chassis work is done! 🙂. No major hassles. Touch plastic this kit is going well together so far.

 

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I've weathered the underneath by mainly by dry brushing dark grey. Not my best effort at dry brushing but I am a bit rusty. Anyway not a bad thing to practice on something that is probably not going to get seen very often!

 

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And a couple more shots 

 

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I've cleaned up the wheels a bit since then!

 

Next up is my favourite part of the build: the interior. Really looking forward to this one as it's going to be fully visible with the top down.

 

Thanks for looking, Nick

Edited by Fnick
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1 hour ago, Toftdale said:

Great work on the chassis

Thanks Andy!🙂

 

1 hour ago, Toftdale said:

however it does look more like a commercial vehicle

What you've never heard of the Ford Eldorado transit Biarritz van? 🤪🤣

 

Nick

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On 11/16/2021 at 11:29 PM, Fnick said:

Sorry to hear that. Windscreen issues are a pain. I'll be using PVA glue for clear parts

 

Its a beast... 23cm long and only in 1/25. In 1/24 it would be 24cm! 😱

 

Well I'm hoping to use the kit chrome for a lot of it especially the bumpers but I need to have a proper look at the kit stuff first. Molotow chrome for any detail work. The kit does come with some chrome like stickers as shown below.

 

spacer.png

 

But I have bought some bare metal foil so I'll be using that instead.

Thanks its only glued together at the mo. No paint on it. That's the sprue colour. I read somewhere that the kit was designed to be just glued together without painting if you did not want to paint.

 

Nick

 

I can't wait to see more :)

You should try Hasegawa Mirror Finish instead of BMF Chrome, for this one. A bit more difficult to apply, but a far better result !

Everyone knows how Americans love shiny and flashy chromes on their cars  😉

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56 minutes ago, CrazyCrank said:

I can't wait to see more

Thanks Thierry ! Glad you like it.

57 minutes ago, CrazyCrank said:

You should try Hasegawa Mirror Finish instead of BMF Chrome

Thanks for the suggestion. However since I already have the BMF chrome and it will be the first time I use it I think I'll start with that before trying something more adventurous! I have seen the hasegawa mirror finish used and yes it does look really good!

 

Nick

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