Is there a difference in length between the '59 Ford Galaxie convertible and the retract hardtop?

If so, any idea where the length was changed?

Lastly, any correct stock non-tri-color (plain chrome and black) '59 Ford Galaxie hubcaps/wheels available in 25th scale?

I've had a project on the back burner for a long time to convert the Revell '59 Ford retract to a convertible as a model of my mom's car back in the day. It's the car I learned to drive in! (Wish I still had it...)

Thanx

An alternative might be to use a Modelhaus '59 Galaxie sedan kit, remove the roof and add a Modelhaus convertible boot. I think that might be more do-able than cutting up the retractable.

http://www.modelhaus.com/

http://www.modelhaus.com/index.php?c=4106&p=63499

http://www.modelhaus.com/index.php?y=37&c=4106&pt=6=1&Submit=Search

CinC Hooterville Air Corps
.....flying top cover for America's hog farms since 1989....

sumus quod sumus

Daryl, I just got done ordering some fender skirts from Modelhaus for a '56 Ford project... Didn't look at the time, but I see they have some stock wheels for the '59 available. Have to grab some.

I'm going to keep looking for dimensions on the two bodies, though. I have got pictures of the two I grabbed off the 'net, and I put them one above the other in the ol' photo program. I duplicated a section that includes the front and rear door edges from both pix, and moved it along the various features of the car to see if one shows differences. Kind of crude, I know, but so far everything matches up on the bodies. Can't tell about the retract roof because I can't find a pic of one with the top fully up... always hanging in mid-retract. (Did people drive them like that? Sometimes you gotta wonder.)

I have two of the old Revell kits, and I think I will chop them up if need be rather than attempt to modify a resin body at this point.

Modelhaus is a good place to do business with.

A friend of mine is writing an article on them. He borrowed a built kit to photograph and emailed me one of the shots......



I'm not sure who the builder is but it sure is pretty!

CinC Hooterville Air Corps
.....flying top cover for America's hog farms since 1989....

sumus quod sumus

There it is at half-staff again. Did they have another position?

My mom's car was very similar in color to that one (It was Geranium and white). The builder got the three-tone interior right, which is nice to see. I downloaded a '59 Ford interior colors pdf file yesterday, and the three-tone was not listed. Might have been a late model year addition, as I think the "Galaxie" name was.

Very nice!

Hi RR,

I believe that the skyliner had a 210" overall length, whereas other fairlanes had an overall length of a tad under 208" but they both had a 118" wheelbases, so even though the skyliner has a longer 'tulip panel' (not actually sure what the little panel connected to the front of the trunk lid is called) between the rear of the cabin and the start of the trunklid, the rear wheelarches should be in the same spot, which would make me think that the extra length would actually be a bit of extra overhang at the rear.

I think it was only the base models and the rancehros that had a shorter wheelbase of 116", and a 202" overall length.

p.s. great model there daryl, that is a really nice choice of colour scheme.

Wonder if 2" would be worth a saw cut? Might be tough to get the gravel shields to look right afterwards.

I had wondered if the roof and back seat area might be shorter on the retract as well. That must have been one expensive car to produce. Unless I get an actual convertible and retract to measure bits of, it may be a mystery for all time if there were various differences spread all over the place. I know the fuel filler was moved. Quite the project.

I am still considering the Modelhaus body, but the build will be a bit in the future at any rate.

It's always looked to me like the Skyliner (esp the 57) was taller in the rear to accomodate the steel top, and the gas tank filler was more mid-ships on the (I believe) the driver's side. The deck also looks flatter and, of course flips the opposite way. The regular Ford looks a lot the same, but side-by side they look somewhat different. If you're kitbashing, look at some photos and see if you like the Sunliner / Skyliner kitbash you're doing.

You are the only one who has to like it...

The 55-65 Fords are beautiful cars! Go for it...