BUILD ARTICLE 2
MODEL KIT #6554
WHEN I GOT THIS CAR IN, IT WAS PRETTY MUCH TOAST!
THE FRONT WINDSHIELD FRAME WAS MISSING, AND THE
ROOF WAS STARTING CRACK IN THE MIDDLE. THESE AMT
RIVIERA'S WERE NOTORIOUSLY WEAK WHEN IT CAME TO
FRAGILE ROOFS. THIS IS ONE THAT SHOULD NOT BE
PICKED UP BY THE ROOF. I CUT THE FRONT SECTION
OUT OF A 65 RIV. REISSUE, AND MADE MY REPAIR.
SMOOTHED, FILLED, AND PREPPED THE BODY. THIS CAR
CAME AS A PARTIAL KIT.
AFTER TWO COATS OF PRIMER, I LIGHTLY SANDED WITH
1500, CLEANED THE BODY, AND APPLIED TWO MIST
COATS OF FACTORY COLOR, CORAL MIST LACQUER.
EVEN THOUGH I AM USING NON PENETRATING LACQUER
THINNER, IT WILL CRAZE THE PLASTIC IF PILED ON TO
THICK, TO SOON. I LET IT SIT FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS
TO CURE, AND SANDED WITH 2400. AFTER THE BODY WAS
CLEANED, I APPLIED MY FIRST WET COAT WITH AN IWATA
ECLIPSE MEDIUM TIP AIR BRUSH AT ABOUT 23 LBS OF
PRESSURE, SPRAYING IT ON WET AT A DISTANCE OF 3".
THIS COAT I LET DRY OVERNIGHT.
THE NEXT DAY I WET SANDED, CLEANED AND DRIED THE
CAR. I USED 4000 FOR THE WET SAND. THE PAINT I USE
COMES PRE THINNED WITH NON PENETRATING LACQUER
THINNER, BUT ON MY LAST WET COAT I GIVE THE PAINT A
SHOT OF MEDIUM DRY THINNER, TO MAKE IT LAY DOWN
SMOOTHER. THERE IS ENOUGH PRIMER AND PAINT ON
THE PLASTIC, SO THIS LAST WET COAT WILL NOT CRAZE.
AFTER TOUCHING UP THE BODY WITH 6000, I SHOT IT
WITH 2 WET COATS OF CLEAR. A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER
I RUBBED IT OUT. THERE IS ALWAYS ENOUGH OTHER
WORK TO DO, SO SOMETIMES I WAIT A WEEK TO RUB
OUT. DEPENDS IF I AM UNDER THE GUN OR NOT.
THE AMT ORIGINAL ENGINE IS PRETTY BASIC WITH A
BLOCK AND AIRCLEANER. THE OPTIONS FOR THE
NAILHEAD IN 64 WERE AS FOLLOWS, 401CI.4BBL=325HP,
425CI.4BBL.=340HP, 425CI.2-4S=360HP
I TOOK THE MANIFOLD FROM A AMT RIV. 425 ENGINE, I
HAD A COUPLE OF AFB 4BBL.S. I SWIPED THE WATER
PUMP HOUSING FROM AN AMT 66 RIV. REISSUE.
REMEMBER THE ORIGINAL AMT ENGINE NEVER CAME
WITH ANY OF THAT, SO IT WAS HARD TO PLUMB THE CAR,
AND NO PLACE FOR THE CARBS. I DID NOT LIKE THE
STOCK DUAL SNORKLE AIRCLEANER, SO I OPTED FOR
THE SMALL POTS. THE ENGINE IS PAINTED IN THE BUICK
BLUE, GREEN COLOR, BUT IT APPEARS LIGHTER IN THE
PICTURES. ENGINE IS PLUMBED AND WIRED, AND ENGINE
BAY DETAILED. I SHOULD HAVE PUT A EARLY GM AIR
CONDITONER PUMP IN, BUT I DID NOT WANT BASH
ANOTHER KIT. YOU CAN USE A MONO. 59 OR 60 CHEV.
THE INTERIOR IS DONE IN WHITE. THE FACTORY
SIMULATED WOOD BURL IS DONE BY PAINTING A COAT
OF TESTERS FLAT TAN, AND DABBING MODELMASTER
BURNT SIENNA OVER IT. THEN CLEARCOATING IT FOR
DEPTH. AMT USED THE SAME STEERING WHEEL SINCE
1960 IN THEIR BUICKS THROUGH 65. IT WAS ONLY
CORRECT IN 60. I CUT THE MIDDLE SECTION OUT AND
SHAPED IT TO RESEMBLE THE RIV'S WHEEL. I DUSTED
THE SEATS AND DASH WITH DULLCOAT, THEN RUBBED IT
WITH MY FINGER. THE OILS BRING IT UP TO A MATTE
LEATHER SHEEN. IT WAS DETAILED, FOILED, AND
CARPETED.
TO BE CONTINUED BACK TO TOP
