I've just got a model of a '62 Electra. I like to get my builds as close to factory as I can, so I'd like some help with colours for these parts: Engine Air Filter Underbody (red oxide?) Drive shaft Chassis Back axle Front suspension Frame Thanks for any replies, Regards, Chris.
Engine: The closest you'll get in a rattle can is Detroit Diesel green. I used what I had left over from an engine job The Detroit Diesel green is slightly off in shade, according to what I got from Hirsch. I like the look of it better than the real stuff which just looks too dark IMHO. Transmission is always cast aluminum, not painted. The pan is more of a tin or plate steel colour. The off-set if painted properly adds to the 3D effect. The inspection plate on the front of the transmission is semi-gloss black. Oil filter, your choice. Exhaust: Aircraft aluminum, exhaust manifolds, rust, unless you want to "powder coat" them, then they'd be flat of whatever colour you choose. It's just that the moment the engine first runs, there's enough heat and whatnot to degrade the original chassis black very quickly, so most appeared with a fine coat of rust even in the showroom. Air filter, generator, fan and inner fenders: Semi-gloss black. The firewall was also probably semigloss black, I've seen Canadian built LeSabres where the firewall is body colour and the heater box is black. Both my Buicks are from Fairfax and they're black. Underbody: Red oxide or body colour, I'm sure one of the experts will chime up but I seem to recall each factory did things slightly different. I've seen both when I've done appraisals. Drive shaft: Chassis black, which is a semi see-through flat black wash applied to bare metal, ostensibly as a cheap rust inhibitor. When I did my model I took the easy way out, I made it look more realistic as if the car already had 100,000 miles, so I painted it all rust brown with oil streaks. Back Axle: Same as above, chassis black. Front suspension: depends on the components, some were semi-gloss black others were chassis black. Personally, I prefer semi-gloss black, it doesn't attract filth the way flat black does and is easier to hose off and keep clean, so I'd paint the model the same. Frame: As above. Not sure what your skills are as a modeller, I've been doing it for over 40 years, here's what I've done (Ignore if you already have a system) Body colour; I can get a lot of GM metallics in rattle cans at my local auto parts shop. It's an option you might want to try; I've had some good success using these on AMT 1:25 models, it doesn't eat the plastic and it goes on pretty evenly. Interior colour: I'd mix up a semi-gloss of the colour of my choice for vinyl, and then do fabrics and carpet in flat and then go over it with a 2/3 dry brush of the same paint to texture it. Takes a bit of practice, but it can be made to look convincing. Dash: Can be tricky; instrument panel is semi-gloss, lettering is white dry-brushed on. Here again, takes technique and talent of which I have next to none, just a bit of experience. I did the AMT 1:25 scale 1962 Electra 225 in the colours of my Electra, unfortunately the model got lost when we moved and I haven't found it again. It actually turned out pretty nice.
Thank you Marc. Exactly what I wanted to know. Much appreciated. I'm a member here: http://skidsplace.forumotion.com/ Under the name Webby. I've got about 50 years of model building under my belt. Always good to meet another plastic addict! Cheers, Chris
Starting in '63 ALL Riviera firewalls were black. In the early production '63 Full Size cars they were body color then switched to black later in the production year.
