A Lavender Pink Cadillac Convertible

by Rodney Williams on Oct 31 2003

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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

Photos and text © by Rodney Williams