Dennis Lacy Posted August 30, 2020 Author Share Posted August 30, 2020 UPDATE! Put in some work today. Got the engine completely assembled and wired. Very pleased with the results! The distributor is a Spalding Flamethrower dual-coil unit (no, it's not a megneto!) from AMT's parts pack Pontiac 421 which I had to drill 5x on each side and glue wires into. No fuel plumbing this time around as the shear number of carburetors have enough presence. I did add a dip stick handle, though! I also glued the mufflers to the exhaust pipes and blacked-out the tips. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spottedlaurel Posted August 30, 2020 Share Posted August 30, 2020 Great to see the engine assembled, looks really good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis Lacy Posted September 14, 2020 Author Share Posted September 14, 2020 UPDATE! Got a little more done on this project. The frame is now painted and clear coated, the interior pieces are in color just needing some detail painting and the body and related pieces are in primer. Forgot to take pictures of the body but everyone here should know what primer looks like by now! If you take a second look at the interior panels folks who are familiar with this kit will note the I removed those God-awful molded-in 80's Lincoln Town Car looking door pull straps. I also removed the God-awful giant head rests from the front seats leaving them looking more vintage. I kept the stereo and speakers, though, because this is a retro-rod after all, not a hard-core era correct traditional car. Hoping to have the body in color soon... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan barton Posted September 14, 2020 Share Posted September 14, 2020 Giving me lots of ideas for my next build of one of these kits, Dennis. I built my first one when it came out - pink, with graphics and billet wheels - hey, it was the eighties! I particularly like the way you backdated the engine - it will totally change the feel of the whole car! Cheers Alan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis Lacy Posted September 21, 2020 Author Share Posted September 21, 2020 UPDATE! Today I was able to sit down and assemble the entire chassis. For the most part things went good. I was expecting to get frustrated by the fiddly front suspension but it turned out to be no problem at all. Two problems I did have was that the drivers side exhaust pipe connection came up a bit short where the two pieces are supposed to overlap. I obviously got it wrong during the fabrication phase. I don't care to redo the pipes so it is what it is. The other issue is that the front track is a bit too wide and the faces of the tires are up against the insides of the fenders. This is actually keeping the fenders front going all the way down over the tires. I have a plan to modify the wheel backs so they will go on further and free everything up. Anywho, here's some chassis shots and a mock up showing the car up on all 4 wheels for the first time ever. The body is in its final primer coat and ready for color. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve H Posted September 21, 2020 Share Posted September 21, 2020 Very nice Dennis. Chassis looks great, love the wheel choice, look forward to seeing it in colour. Cheers, Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CabDriver Posted September 21, 2020 Share Posted September 21, 2020 I love it! Did you pick a color yet? I know what I’d choose, but I’m excited to see what you decide on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afx Posted September 22, 2020 Share Posted September 22, 2020 You certainly know how to build a hot rod Dennis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spottedlaurel Posted September 22, 2020 Share Posted September 22, 2020 Looks like it's already sitting very nicely, so any work you do on the wheel backs will only make it even better. The front end panels all seem to fit nicely with each other as well. That's where something went awry on my '37 reassembly, maybe I hadn't got the upper bodyshell fitted down tightly enough onto the lower portion? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis Lacy Posted September 25, 2020 Author Share Posted September 25, 2020 UPDATE! Over the last few days I was able to spray color and clear on this project. I dared to be different. A couple friends and I joked that I should put Taxi Cab decals on it, hahaha. Love it or hate it, though, this is it! Tamiya TS34 "Camel Yellow" with their black and clear as well. Still need to foil the windshield frame and black out the rear window rubber seals. Let me know what you all think! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan barton Posted September 25, 2020 Share Posted September 25, 2020 Well, I didn't expect that! Very cool Dennis. I have just done a two tone 34 pickup myself but it is not as arresting as this combo! Great to see the wheels tucked in, I haven't assembled this suspension before and I was surprised to see how much scrub radius it had. Just as well these things are plastic, eh? Mind you, everytime I see a real rod with finned Buick drums on a beam axle I wonder about scrub radius, when the kingpin is a short walk from the tyre contact patch! I particularly like the way the black fenders highlight the soft metal finish of your wheels - it just works! Cheers Alan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocking Rodney Rat Posted September 25, 2020 Share Posted September 25, 2020 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
espo Posted September 25, 2020 Share Posted September 25, 2020 Beautiful looking paint, and I can see why your friends wanted you to put Taxi signage on it. This would stand out in any crowed in a good way. Love the stance on this also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis Lacy Posted September 25, 2020 Author Share Posted September 25, 2020 7 hours ago, alan barton said: Well, I didn't expect that! Very cool Dennis. I have just done a two tone 34 pickup myself but it is not as arresting as this combo! Great to see the wheels tucked in, I haven't assembled this suspension before and I was surprised to see how much scrub radius it had. Just as well these things are plastic, eh? Mind you, everytime I see a real rod with finned Buick drums on a beam axle I wonder about scrub radius, when the kingpin is a short walk from the tyre contact patch! I particularly like the way the black fenders highlight the soft metal finish of your wheels - it just works! Cheers Alan Thanks, Alan! The exaggerated scrub radius is partly my fault because of the way I built the back side of the wheels. If you read my previous chassis post you’ll notice I plan to correct it, mostly because the track is too wide keeping the wheels and tires from fitting up into the fenders properly. Keep in mind I modified the spindles with the mounting stubs and disc brakes from the Revell 32 kits whereas the 37 kits have simple flat wheel back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slusher Posted September 26, 2020 Share Posted September 26, 2020 Fantastic work, and enjoying your build! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Limeyglue Posted September 26, 2020 Share Posted September 26, 2020 Nice work Dennis. Kinda like the colour combo but it does remind me of a taxi! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koellefornia Kid Posted September 26, 2020 Share Posted September 26, 2020 Very nice color combo, Dennis! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doorsovdoon Posted September 26, 2020 Share Posted September 26, 2020 Stunning looking engine and chassis, very nicely detailed. I like the body colour, looks like 1940's LA Yellow cab. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis Lacy Posted October 7, 2020 Author Share Posted October 7, 2020 UPDATE! A small update but progress is progress. I was able to get the floor "carpet" and inside of the firewall painted. Did a quick mock up to see how the final interior paint scheme looked together. Very pleased. I also sprayed the underside of the floor and hood panels flat black. Getting closer... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tim boyd Posted October 7, 2020 Share Posted October 7, 2020 Dennis....surprised but very pleased that you are applying your touch to this oldie but goodie! I remember railing about that non-dropped front I-beam with non-split wishbones when the kit first came out; other than that bugaboo it was a really fine kit for the time. Love the parts swapping you are doing.....but was surprised to learn the latest issues of the coupe had that lowered rear suspension. Need to go see if I can find one in my stash. One idea for a quick fix of the gap in your exhaust pipe fit - I've done this (seems like hundreds of times) and most always works well. Simply mix up a small blob of 5 minute epoxy and flow it into the gap. As it dries, you may need to "mold" it a bit (with an X-Acto) to more properly match the curvature of the two mating pipes. When dry, touch up with some matching paint on a brush and voila - issue fixed (or at the very least, minimized). One idea here that everyone would benefit from is noting how Dennis paint details all of his engine, chassis, and interior components. I learned this approach from 1960's modeler/journalist Don Emmons, and I've found it adds greatly to a model's appearance, especially when time does not allow the kind of detailing that Dennis has added here. And kudos on the Yellow/Black paint scheme. Eye catching for sure! When this kit first came out, I ended up building three versions - IIRC, one for Street Rodder Modeler's corner (mint green, mostly box stock) and two for Scale Auto (two-tone metallic blue and a second one in full blackout mode). When you get yours done and posted in the "Under Glass" Section, I'll post pix of my three as well for a scale Comparo...keeping in mind that mine were built about three decades(!) ago.... Best wishes as you complete this project....and thanks a bunch for taking the time to photograph and explain how you are putting it together. TIM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis Lacy Posted December 9, 2020 Author Share Posted December 9, 2020 UPDATE! It's been a solid month since I've had any decent time available to spend at my workbench and just over 2 months since I touched this poor thing. Finally, this past Sunday I was able to get in a few hours and decided to spend it wrapping up the final fine paint details for this project, as well as blacking out the inside of the body and underside of the fenders. I believe at this point there's nothing left to do but assembly. I also did the final polish and wax on all of the exterior surfaces. Pretty dang happy with the result! I think with the success of these fenders I'll finally have the balls to try an all shiny black hot rod. Sadly we'll be out of town this weekend so progress will have to wait but I'm gonna do my best to finish this model by the end of the year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan barton Posted December 9, 2020 Share Posted December 9, 2020 Looking great! Will patiently await the Under Glass entry! Cheers Alan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kit Karson Posted December 9, 2020 Share Posted December 9, 2020 ADL, Your work is so klean and refreshing! I truly enjoy keeping up to date on your progress, not only on this, but the way you post what you're up to on any one of your builds! Very helpful pictures and supporting texts! Needs a checker board firewall! Always Kool, Brother! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plowboy Posted December 15, 2020 Share Posted December 15, 2020 Just got caught up on this project! Don't know how I missed it! I really like how the outside is backdated. But, underneath is a modern chassis. I can't wait to see the finished product! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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