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Topic starter
20/01/2016 9:24 pm
BoS' 1957 Buick Century Caballero Estate Wagon (PICS)
The BoS '57 Caballero arrived Wednesday morning, and I seized the opportunity to shoot a few photos during my lunch break. I headed outside to Tacoma's Museum of Glass, which I think of as my stand-in for the General Motors Technical Institute.
This is my first of BoS' big 1/18-scale models, and I find it very impressive for its price. Christopher was right; the car's stance -- mostly, it's track width -- is off, almost as though someone had planted the '57 body on something like a 1970 Wildcat chassis. But it was less evident to me first-hand than the early images indicated. I'm accustomed to seeing the '57 Caballeros riding on the Skylark wire wheels, so that part seemed fine to me. And the shape of the body seems highly accurate. Some of the finer details, like Buick's sweepspear side molding, might have been rendered more precisely, but this resin model is vastly more appealing to me than some of the clunky, lower-priced diecast models in my collection.
I loved to photograph the car, and, while some of the images may seem a bit repetitive, I hope that these images provide a sense of the car's shape and style.
Back home, the new Caballero outclasses the old MotorMax Roadmaster convertible. Despite the fact that the Caballero was built with the General Motors B-Body, which was shared by the '57 Oldsmobiles and Buick Special / Century, the BoS model is actually longer than the MotorMax Roadmaster. Roadmasters shared C-Body shells with Cadillac, and are significantly longer and wider than the B-Body cars. I did not measure the models to ascertain whether the BoS is larger than 1/18 or the MotorMax smaller.
Taking its place in the 1/18 displays:
20/01/2016 11:11 pm
Very nice looking Brian. Thanks for the pics.
20/01/2016 11:48 pm
It looks good, I am still considering this one. Beautiful photos.
John Merritt
South Lyon, Michigan - USA
21/01/2016 12:37 am
Brian, wonderful pics. Looks very good to me.
21/01/2016 3:18 am
Hey Brian, glad you like it. As we know, that MM '57 'vert is junk...about the only thing that is...
...correct are the F & R tracks. These wheels need to be "tucked in" and MM accurately replicated this, other than that......... "junk."
Secondly, I'd have to fix the BOS wheels.... the F & R tracks are too wide and the wheels "pop out" of the fenders/quarters way too much. It some-what ruins this otherwise great looking model.
Lastly, if you do "measure to spec" please post the results; I'm guessing the BOS is in scale (maybe a hair too big) ...but not a deal breaker.
It's really a very nice 1/18 1950's station wagon model. And how many times do we get to say that?
Great pics Brian,
-Chris
21/01/2016 5:18 am
Very nice looking car ... ?? Giovoni Display Cases ??
Topic starter
21/01/2016 6:26 am
Dennis, it's been a few years, but I believe the display cases came from Carney Plastics.
Topic starter
21/01/2016 6:28 am
I agree on all points, Christopher. Last evening, I was wishing that I had your skills . . . and courage to try to move those wheels further into the wheel openings.
21/01/2016 7:25 am
Brian, since it's a resin model, I'm guessing that it should be quite easy.
All of the resin models I have the chassis can easily be removed from the body by removing the screws. Once that's completed, the bare chassis usually shows a straight axle that secures the wheels to the chassis. In fact, much like old car toys would do. Now it's just a matter of shortening the axle and re-installing to the chassis. You might need to do a little cutting to move the axle mounting locating pins but that shouldn't cause too much of a challenge.
Topic starter
21/01/2016 8:04 am
Thanks, Marlowe, for the input. Great suggestions!
22/01/2016 3:12 am
Yeah Brian, there's really nothing more I can add; Marlowe cover it precisely. I would say..........
...that should you have a mishap (but I doubt you will...if you're careful) you could always pirate wire wheels from MM's 1953 Skylark (which IS a nice model). You can find these on eBay as low as $7.00
Either way, the F&R "track shorten-ing project" is worth considering. I think once you do this, you'll be impressed at just how much better your-all ready gorgeous-model will look.
-Chris
22/01/2016 4:07 am
Great photos!!!
Topic starter
22/01/2016 5:27 am
Thanks, Christopher, for the further encouragement!
22/01/2016 6:11 am
No problem sir, good luck.
22/01/2016 6:34 am
Dennis, Carney Plastics bought out Giovani serveral years ago.
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