1950 Dodge

[zoegraf]

I just got this today. I get very excited when someone comes out with a car for the 1950's. It's almost as good as those Atlas masterpiece series. I was so disappointed when they cancelled the plans to make their 1950 Ford sedan.
This car will be about 6 years old on my layout so some rust will be applied soon.

 

[Rico]

Nice dodge, but rust?
My old stock '48 has less rust at 62 years than a '06 chev! LOL

 

[zoegraf]

Nice dodge, but rust?
My old stock '48 has less rust at 62 years than a '06 chev! LOL

I'm modelling Atlantic Canada where many of the roads where gravel/dirt and the winter long and harsh with a lot of salt in the air. It was not unusual back then to see a car showing signs of rust at two years of age. I recall seeing a 1960 Chevy in 1966 with so much rust it had holes in the hood, lower side panels, and two in the floor. My grandfather had a Buick that he kept getting the holes patched with steel sheets and then get the car repainted, but still he got rid of it by its 7th birthday. Most people where I lived traded in their cars after 3 to 4 years. I'm sure they were glad when Ziebart came to town, which made their cars rust free for one or two years more if lucky. We bought those old 5 to 6 year old wrecks in the summer to drive around old logging roads and trashed them by the end of the summer. Buying one of those old rusty wrecks could be cheaper than buying a singer sewing machine. Even today, if you want a car rust free in Canada, the West Coast especially the lower mainland is where to be. It is not uncommon to see a car that is over twenty years old with original faded paint without any rust. They have very mild winters; sometimes without snow. I was in Vancouver last winter and saw Hondas and VW Golfs over twenty years old without any rust; people just using them to commute to work. On the East coast they refer to a car that is 5 years old, "old". On the West coast, "A newer model". LOL
Cheers

 

[NH Mike]

Minimetals has done a good job bringing out the cars, trucks and buses of the 50's. Those Dodges are nice. I grabbed a maroon one and a cream one as soon as they hit my LHS. Looking forward to the 53 Ford wagon when it arrives. As you say it is nice to have something that fits an era. You can only come up with so many excuses why everyone is still driving a Model A.

 

[zoegraf]

Minimetals has done a good job bringing out the cars, trucks and buses of the 50's. Those Dodges are nice. I grabbed a maroon one and a cream one as soon as they hit my LHS. Looking forward to the 53 Ford wagon when it arrives. As you say it is nice to have something that fits an era. You can only come up with so many excuses why everyone is still driving a Model A.

The 53 Ford wagon sounds nice. Any preview pics of it yet?
I like the Dodge, but I noticed the stripe was a little askew on it. It was the only one left in the hobby shop in that colour and I love that colour. Oh well, I adjusted the stripe as to simulate that it had worn off a bit then weathered it and put some rust on it.
Here's the before and after shots.

 

[CBCNSfan]

Interesting, I had a 10 year old 1947 Dodge (my first car) and it it didn't have rust and some co workers had 41 and 42's that weren't rusty. I only kept it a couple years and bought a 52 Chev, now that one rusted so I traded it in on a 54 Ford and I kept that one till 59 and that one wasn't a rust bucket. Yep and we lived right on the coast 40ft drop to the water at high tide. When they started putting rusting agents in the steel that's when the fun started. In 75 I can recall cars with rust patches on the roofs, can't blame that on the salted roads. A 50's car should be good for 10 years before the floor (underneath) started to weaken.
Just my opinion and observation as those cars were the cars of my youth.

Cheers
Willis

 

[zoegraf]

Interesting, I had a 10 year old 1947 Dodge (my first car) and it it didn't have rust and some co workers had 41 and 42's that weren't rusty. I only kept it a couple years and bought a 52 Chev, now that one rusted so I traded it in on a 54 Ford and I kept that one till 59 and that one wasn't a rust bucket. Yep and we lived right on the coast 40ft drop to the water at high tide. When they started putting rusting agents in the steel that's when the fun started. In 75 I can recall cars with rust patches on the roofs, can't blame that on the salted roads. A 50's car should be good for 10 years before the floor (underneath) started to weaken.
Just my opinion and observation as those cars were the cars of my youth.

Cheers
Willis

It is interesting. I saw a 1976 Buick Regal in 1978 with rust spots on the roof and hood. Also a 1974 Ford Torino totally full of rust in 1976. Perhaps some of it is due to neglecting the car.
Cheers

 

[NH Mike]

The 53 Ford wagon sounds nice. Any preview pics of it yet?

They've been running color ads in both MR & RMC for a few months announcing a late Summer availability. The pre production pic shows it has the simulated wood panels on the sides. Just the right vehicle to display next to the playground with a Little League mom waiting for the kids to finish the game. ( These days she would be a soccer mom with a mini van picking up the kids from counciling or day care. )

 

[zoegraf]

They've been running color ads in both MR & RMC for a few months announcing a late Summer availability. The pre production pic shows it has the simulated wood panels on the sides. Just the right vehicle to display next to the playground with a Little League mom waiting for the kids to finish the game. ( These days she would be a soccer mom with a mini van picking up the kids from counciling or day care. )

I'll have to take a peek at the magazines the next time at the the supermarket.
I wish the people who make this car made 1950's vehicles.

 

[NWCanuck]

View attachment 20778

Looks great! What did you weather it with? I like that you were able to dull the colour down a bit along with the tires. The rust spots look great.

 

[zoegraf]

View attachment 20778

Looks great! What did you weather it with? I like that you were able to dull the colour down a bit along with the tires. The rust spots look great.

Thanks. I took it apart, which was really easy and dusted it with white chalk on the roof and hood to simulate faded paint then dullcoted it with light coats. I dusted the tires with a reddish brown chalk, which is the colour of the dirt of the area I model, and sealed it with dullcote. The model looks much better with eyes seeing it from a distance of about 2 to 3 feet, but my layout is too narrow for those type of shots. The macro lens shots do it no justice.

 

[zoegraf]

Minimetals has done a good job bringing out the cars, trucks and buses of the 50's. Those Dodges are nice. I grabbed a maroon one and a cream one as soon as they hit my LHS. Looking forward to the 53 Ford wagon when it arrives. As you say it is nice to have something that fits an era. You can only come up with so many excuses why everyone is still driving a Model A.

Check out this one. I just ordered it. What I have noticed is most of the cars made for the 50's tend to be higher end models; not ones like the Dodge sedan. I was so disappointed when they cancelled the plans to make the 1950 Ford sedan.

 

[Rico]

That does look very good, just the right amount!
I wish I could find some 80's cars to do up...

 

[NH Mike]

Check out this one. I just ordered it. What I have noticed is most of the cars made for the 50's tend to be higher end models; not ones like the Dodge sedan. I was so disappointed when they cancelled the plans to make the 1950 Ford sedan.

Right, the 1956 Lincoln Continental MK2. Model Power makes that and a few other 50's vehicles as well. A year or so ago they had a run of 55 Chevy Bel Air 2 dr sedans in a variety of 2 tone paint jobs and a 53 Caddy convertible. They're still around here and there and the Caddy's are often listed in Walther's Flyer. Minimetals has a 59 Ford 4 door sedan in a few 2 tone colors as well as a police and taxi version too. If your RR is just barely into the 60's Model Power has a decent 62 or 63 T-Bird.

Woodland Scenics has a couple of late 50's Chrysler Corp cars as part of their Scenic Accents. Somewhat pricey but you usually get a few people and other small details.

Alloy Forms made or still makes a few 50's cast metal car kits if you're into painting and assembling them a well as making up some window glass.

The 50's stuff is out there but not in the abundance of more modern era vehicles so it takes a little hunting down sometimes.

Check on Walther's web site under manufacturers for Model Power, Minimetals or Classic Minimetals or do a broader search for HO vehicles.
http://www.walthers.com/

 

[tomstockton]

There's a guy on eBay who sells many 40's and 50's model cars and trucks, cast in an off-white resin. I've purchased several from him, and have been pleased with what I got. To me, the only drawback to these castings are they are solid, like the old Magnuson model kits (most are a "body" casting and four tires), so I'll have to paint the windows with a gloss black or dark blue or somesuch to represent the reflected light. But I think they'll build up into pretty respectable models.

If you want to check them out, here's a link to the eBay "store" of this seller:

http://stores.ebay.com/THE-RAIL-CONNECTION?_rdc=1

or look for the seller bbuddd1.

Regards,
Tom

 

[stationmaster]

Interesting, I had a 10 year old 1947 Dodge (my first car) and it it didn't have rust and some co workers had 41 and 42's that weren't rusty. I only kept it a couple years and bought a 52 Chev, now that one rusted so I traded it in on a 54 Ford and I kept that one till 59 and that one wasn't a rust bucket. Yep and we lived right on the coast 40ft drop to the water at high tide. When they started putting rusting agents in the steel that's when the fun started. In 75 I can recall cars with rust patches on the roofs, can't blame that on the salted roads. A 50's car should be good for 10 years before the floor (underneath) started to weaken.
Just my opinion and observation as those cars were the cars of my youth.

Cheers
Willis

I didn't know they made 1942's due to the war, No new cars from 1942 'til 1946.

Bob

 

[tomstockton]

Bob,

I may be wrong (wouldn't be the first time, just ask my wife! ) -- but I think there were a very few 1942 model cars, built mainly from parts the factories had already made before World War II started (for the U. S., anyway). Seems like Dad told me that years ago, but my memory ain't what it used to be!

Regards,
Tom

 

[zoegraf]

Bob,

I may be wrong (wouldn't be the first time, just ask my wife! ) -- but I think there were a very few 1942 model cars, built mainly from parts the factories had already made before World War II started (for the U. S., anyway). Seems like Dad told me that years ago, but my memory ain't what it used to be!

Regards,
Tom

That's interesting. My friend told me that he knew of some Canadians that went south of the border in 1942 to buy American vehicles, which actually weren't new models but previous models with slight modifications, with the year 1942 tagged onto it.
I'm wondering during the first years of WWII (1939 to 41) if GM Canada ceased producing vehicles for the public. If so, I'm guessing a Canadian would have had to buy a new car in the U.S..

 

[zoegraf]

Right, the 1956 Lincoln Continental MK2. Model Power makes that and a few other 50's vehicles as well. A year or so ago they had a run of 55 Chevy Bel Air 2 dr sedans in a variety of 2 tone paint jobs and a 53 Caddy convertible. They're still around here and there and the Caddy's are often listed in Walther's Flyer. Minimetals has a 59 Ford 4 door sedan in a few 2 tone colors as well as a police and taxi version too. If your RR is just barely into the 60's Model Power has a decent 62 or 63 T-Bird.

Woodland Scenics has a couple of late 50's Chrysler Corp cars as part of their Scenic Accents. Somewhat pricey but you usually get a few people and other small details.

Alloy Forms made or still makes a few 50's cast metal car kits if you're into painting and assembling them a well as making up some window glass.

The 50's stuff is out there but not in the abundance of more modern era vehicles so it takes a little hunting down sometimes.

Check on Walther's web site under manufacturers for Model Power, Minimetals or Classic Minimetals or do a broader search for HO vehicles.
http://www.walthers.com/

What's interesting is that the 1950 dodge is not made of metal, it's plastic and looks a tad more detailed/refined than their earlier metal cars. The plastic Dodge looks almost like the quality of Atlas's masterpiece series.

 

[zoegraf]

That does look very good, just the right amount!
I wish I could find some 80's cars to do up...

Too bad they don't make many 80's vehicles. I'd like to buy some just for memories.