"CONCEPT"
1959 EL DORADO CAR OF THE
FUTURE
REVELL/MONOGRAM EL DORADO/ BANCHEE CUSTOM
BUILT BY IRA DAHM (5/05)
"OVER THE TOP" WINNER IN THE "CUSTOM CLINIC"
2005 CONTEST!!!
MORE COLOR PHOTOS BELOW!
This project was inspired by my dad, he loved
Big Red Cadillacs. I finished the "Concept" just in time for him
to see it on his last visit. It brought a smile to his face which was what
I was hoping for. The 1959 El Dorado "Concept" was designed like
the factory concept cars of the 1950's, Long and Low with a Bubbletop and
Lots of Chrome and Fins. The "Concept" was built using parts from
the Revell/Monogram 1959 Cadillac El Dorado, Pontiac Banchee and Ferarri
F-50 kits.
Construction of the "Concept" started
by shortening the El Dorado Body by one inch, (See Construction Photos!).
Then I cut the top half of the El Dorado grill off. I used this cut down
grill and bumper to determine the amount of sectioning to be done on the
front/sides of the body. "Progressive Sectioning" was then done
by removing about a half inch from the front/sides, narrowed down to 1/32
inch at the rear/sides.
Next I cut an oval shaped section from the
top of the Banchee Body, about a 1/4 inch wide around the mounting surface
for the bubbletop. I then traced this oval shape on the top of the El Dorado,
where the top was to be positioned. Then I cut the oval shape from the top
of the El Dorado Body and glued the Banchee oval body section in place.
The wheel wells were filled with sheet plastic. The side vents were made
from HO Scale plastic stairs, cut to fit. Chrome trim on the sides , hood
and trunk was made from strip plastic, covered with Bare Metal Foil. A sheet
plastic fin and taillights from the AMT Ala Kart were added to the Banchee
roof scoop. The rear El Dorado Bumper was cut out to make room for the exhaust
pipes.
The Banchee Interior was modified for the
"Concept", first by sectioning it and cutting out the seats, (See
Construction Photos!). A new floorboard was made from sheet plastic and
the El Dorado's instrument cluster was modified to fit the Bachee dashboard.
The Ferrari F-50 headrest/motorcover was also modified to fit the Banchee
interior. The part of the Banchee's console between the dashboard and the
console was removed. A new console, connecting the Ferrari and Banchee sections,
was made from sheet plastic and putty. The chrome console trim is from the
AMT 1955 Nomad kit and the El Dorado kit. Headrests from the new Revell
VW Bug were cut from the VW seats and added to the El Dorado Seats, along
with silver stripping tape, for the trim. The inner section of the El Dorado
steering wheel was trimmed to fit the new interior.
The body and interior imperfections were
filled with Evercoat Putty, sanded smooth and primed. The interior is done
in Testors Ruby Red Metalflake, Flat White and Flat Black. The "Concept"
was painted with Testors Ruby Red Metalflake, applied over Testors Metalic
Silver, and was then finished with several coats of Glosscote.
