Purple Piglet-- '51 Chevy Bel Aire lead sled

[demonhunterfan]

I've been working on this here '51 Bel Aire for some time now, as a way of getting back into building, getting ready to tackle a couple CBPs over on Olskoolrodders forum "Plastihaulics Anonymous": olskoolmodelbuilders.proboards.com/index.cgi where I took on the task of being a moderator, walking in faith, helping a Brother out, etc, and being richly rewarded God sure is good!

So here's the "Purple Piglet" (named by Bucky over on Plastihaulics Anonymous -- Thanks Bucky

I'm building it up like one of the many cars I grew up with around me, even kinda had myself. Even tho 'rat rods' hadn't been 'created' yet, some of our rides might've almost qualified for 'rat' status , but at least they had to pass state inspection if we wanted to drive them-- legally anyway.


As usual I had hoped to keep things simple, get this Chevy together and on the shelf a lot quicker, but........ I just had to try a chop on it ;D


Like I said, I'm building like the cars we used to have & drive. We didn't have the money to really trick them up, so we made do with what we had in trying to make them look cool, and fast, or at least like they could go fast ;D . Running a stock I-6 in this piggie, which isn't the original '51 inliner, but the Stovebolt out of the '37 Chevy coupe (again, using what we could find/afford, etc) Well, there just aint enuff room under that huge hood for that big old oil bath air cleaner, so.........

Finally got some purple on it yesterday, and finally got some pictures that are close to what the purple actually looks like. I'll get those pics up later today or tomorrow. Originally hoped to go with a flat purple that I saw maybe 10-15 years ago which apparently never caught on.

More WIP pics here:
public.fotki.com/V866/lead-sleds/

Later and God bless

[vmaxdreamer]

you have the stance down correct and the top chop looks good. I just love the hole in the hood. can't wait to see it with paint.

[demonhunterfan]

Thanks Chip. While looking thru some parts for something else, I found these kool short side pipes in the '55 Chevy Cameo kit...

HE also led me to just the right sprue to extend them

Opened up the end of just the one so far, even tho they be fakey pipes ;D, but again, we used to do stuff like that, and I'm sure young'uns still do the same

I considered leaving just the hole in the hood, but found this kool hood scoop in the '37 Chevy coupe and 'welded' it on. Less chance of people knowing what's really under the hood that way ;D ;D ;D

Puttied up the scoop and sprayed some purple on just to see how it looks. Could not believe how blue the image kept showing up in my camera! Took a ton of pics trying all kinds of different things, trying to get the right color.

Finally, just before going to bed, I figured I'd try one more time, using a full spectrum flood light as the primary lighting source, and this is a much closer representation of the purple that is on the piggie. Still want it to go flat tho....... Does need a bit more putty in a couple little holes around the hood scoop, so I'll let the purple set up good, fill them holes, sand, etc, and try again.

Later and God bless

[sigmaman]

Looking. Maybe if you redo those rear wheel arch covers to the same shape as the rear fendors it would look even better.

[demonhunterfan]

Thanks Tristian, I agree, but as I said in my first post, I am (in a way) trying to replicate the kind of cars that I and many of my friends back in the 70's used to drive and try and trick up, using what little money, and even less brains, we had ;D ;D We didn't always do things the right way-- often working harder to make the wrong part fit, than taking the time to work to get the money needed for the right part

Pretty much got the body painted in it's final, new, color....

......which I'm not real pleased with btw, but ;D ;D

She don't look all that bad here in this mock up

I was thinking of using the former, darker purple to paint some sort of scallops on her, but will probably use these kool decals behind the front wheel openings. They're from the 55 Chevy Cameo kit

[sigmaman]

The colour looks great! Scallops in the original darker purple wood look ace.

[olskoolrodder]

John...you know I LOVE this one ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

[davewahl]

John:

That's an interesting looking Purple sled. I like the color and the style of build you did. Very 50s - early 60s and the suede shade of purple sets it off completely. Very nicely done.

Dave

[demonhunterfan]

Thanks Dave. It was a very enjoyable build........and I miss it -- but it's nice to finally have one done!

Later and God bless

[alfa]

Thats a slick ride . The Amt 51 Chevy's is one of my favorite kits . ;D Great job.