Parts Box Model A Returns

[gwolf]

I purchased a '29 Model A roadster frame and body at NNL and started this project about three years ago, and began to post the progress here. I guess I ran out of steam, other things became more interesting, whatever. Maybe it's better suited for the Bring Out Your Dead contest, lol.

I dug it out last week and began to work on it again. I don't think any two things (except the wheels) came from the same kit. Body is an AMT '29 Ford roadster, frame is a AMT '32 Ford, rear tires are Stephens International whitewalls (sadly discontinued), front are AMT whitewalls. Steering wheel, firewall, hood, radiator, radiator shroud are all parts box items.

The idea with this build is not to achieve perfection in appearance, but to create what I would end top making if I had an actual 1:1 Model A I was working on. I think I'll go for the freshly premiered look, using a battleship gray primer. 

 

I wanted to run a Mexican blanket across the back seat, so the seat had to be cut from the tub. Tub was discarded, will make my own floor / tub. Made a short bench riser from sheet styrene.

 

 

The new seat riser is trimmed and painted aluminum. I found a big stack of miniature Mexican blankets (I think they're actually meant be coasters) at the thrift store last week, so I began cutting down a scale version. I'm not happy yet with how it looks; it looks too clean, too perfect, too doll house-ish. I've also created two interior panels to mimic the look of the actual Model A metal door panels without upholstery. I've drill four holes in a pattern I saw in an old book, and scored a sill line for the door with a X-Acto sawblade. I also trimmed down the windshield frame really low;  that windshield frame was broken at the top and came from an old Ala Kart kit.

 

 

I created a pattern of the floor I'll need and will use this great wood wallpaper from wallstickery.com to create the illusion that the floor is made out of wood (as seen in many hot rod magazines).

 

 

I painted the body and frame with Rust-Oleum 2X flat gray primer. Unfortunately, I spilled a large blotch of panel line fluid on the trunk and to that ruined the paint. Honestly, I didn't want to paint again, so I just started weathering. Rubbing, sanding, scraping, and a healthy dose of Sophisticated Finishes Rust Antiquing Set. I added plenty of rust behind the doors so it'd show through the door panels.

 

 

The initial hood I was going to use wouldn't allow for an engine to be present since the front suspension will be altered. I decided to use a cranky, old '29 Ford hood from the parts box that was split in two and that I glued back together. I left the top seam rough since this is mimicking what I'd make in 1:1 scale if I could.

 

 

In order for my new floor and altered bench seat to not sit at an angle, I had to cut this bump out of the fender assembly. Scoring several times with a fresh blade was key, and it was actually easier than I thought it might be. Not pictured is the roughly half pound of hot styrene skimmed off the top rear of the '32 Ford frame with a palm sander to get the ride height the way i wanted it.

 

 

The '28 fender assembly and '32 frame are slightly off center, so I used some glue and a rubber band to get things aligned. The horns on the '32 frame were broken when I got it, so I just sanded them down all the way. This will also allow the slightly shorter '29 fender assembly to line up with the '32 crossmember to attach the radiator.

 

 

Headlights were scavenged front he parts box; not sure what they're from. It bothers me that the line son the lenses don't line up horizontally, but that's ok, it'll just add to the driveway hot rodder look.

 

 

Unnecessary areas got trimmed from the headlights. Using a pin vise, I'll drill into the radiator shroud to mount them. As luck would have it, that worked and they weren't obscured by the radiator or the tires.

 

 

 

Here you can see the custom wood floor and un-upholstered door frames. Window glass was cut from clear sheet styrene. Does everyones builds look so dusty when they're this close up? Sheesh.

 

 

An older 3 barrel flathead will power this build. No spark plug wires, no super detailed engine on this project.

 

 

The near finished project. Wheels are painted with Krylon Satin White Chiffon. There's a few more things to do before I can call it done, but it's getting there.

I haven't put a waterslide decal on a model in at least 20 years... but I had to put Mr. Horsepower and Moon Eyes on there (they're from an old '32 Ford kit).

Thanks for looking.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ksnow]

That looks pretty sweet. Nice build.

[Tom Geiger]

Looks great!  My favorite kind of car. 

[bobthehobbyguy]

Nice work. Great idea doing the weathering to deal with the paint problem rather than stripping it.

Parts box projects are always enjoyable.

[NOBLNG]

Cool looking  little roadster. Dang that rust looks real.👍

[Paul Payne]

Great old school roadster! Looks like you had fun- which is what it's all about!

[slusher]

very cool looking model, love the Mexican blanket .. 👀   

[gwolf]

On 5/28/2021 at 11:23 AM, Paul Payne said:

Great old school roadster! Looks like you had fun- which is what it's all about!

I did have fun, and thanks!

[Kelly Burns]

On 6/1/2021 at 8:17 PM, gwolf said:

I did have fun, and thanks!

 

Do you happen to know what kit has the Mr. Horsepower decals?

[Slotto]

Great looking little mutt! Love the rust. It looks very realistic and the blanket is the cherry on top

[Dave Darby]

There's a lot to like about this one!

[PatW]

Groovy!