EngineerBob Posted August 1, 2022 Share Posted August 1, 2022 Hi All. I just finished my version of a supercharged 1957 Ford Thunderbird Land Speed Racecar. My version is inspired by Ford's Battlebird and modified for land speed trails at places like Bonneville and Muroc. The model is based on the AMT/ERTL kit. I created the front end from the back end of a '34 Ford fenders and roll-pan and scratch-built the tonneau cover. I scratch-built the McCullough supercharger from left over misc parts. I kept it simple by not detailing the molded chassis and even still used the metal axles. By the way, the vintage-style trailer is a modified race-boat trailer from a Bronco combo-kit. I hope this inspires more kit bashing and customizing. Enjoy. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace-Garageguy Posted August 2, 2022 Share Posted August 2, 2022 Very nice. Reminiscent of the '57 Mercury Mermaid too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curt Posted August 2, 2022 Share Posted August 2, 2022 Amazing model! Nice work and the choice of color and graphics make it sizzle! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claude Thibodeau Posted August 2, 2022 Share Posted August 2, 2022 HI Grant! Very nice, and imaginative, bravo! The "cowcatcher" front air dam out of a 34 Ford is a clever idea. There can never be too many lakesters! CT (Self-proclaimed chair of the Flat Earth Society... LOL!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kah puts Posted August 2, 2022 Share Posted August 2, 2022 That's killer, and we'll executed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cobraman Posted August 2, 2022 Share Posted August 2, 2022 Very nice, well done ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slusher Posted August 2, 2022 Share Posted August 2, 2022 Very sharp! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TarheelRick Posted August 2, 2022 Share Posted August 2, 2022 Beautiful work on that T-Bird. Really has the feel of land-speed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EngineerBob Posted August 2, 2022 Author Share Posted August 2, 2022 18 hours ago, Ace-Garageguy said: Very nice. Reminiscent of the '57 Mercury Mermaid too. Thanks All for the kind words. This was a fun one to modify. I had never heard of the Mercury Mermaid. You've got to love the ingenuity and experimentation back then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phildaupho Posted August 3, 2022 Share Posted August 3, 2022 WOW - great looking streamliner T-Bird. Very well executed and presented. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1959scudetto Posted August 3, 2022 Share Posted August 3, 2022 1 hour ago, Phildaupho said: WOW - great looking streamliner T-Bird. Very well executed and presented. x 2 - great execution ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Scully Posted August 3, 2022 Share Posted August 3, 2022 I like this , a lot of nice work , well done . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PappyD340 Posted August 6, 2022 Share Posted August 6, 2022 Awesome bird! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1930fordpickup Posted August 6, 2022 Share Posted August 6, 2022 Nice Thunderbird. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unclescott58 Posted August 25, 2022 Share Posted August 25, 2022 Beautiful. I like it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EngineerBob Posted August 26, 2022 Author Share Posted August 26, 2022 I appreciate the nice comments. This was a fun build. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan barton Posted September 5, 2022 Share Posted September 5, 2022 Sensational. I have a black version from Hot Rod magazine on my to-do list. I will be coming back to this thread for clues! Cheers Alan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisR Posted September 5, 2022 Share Posted September 5, 2022 Looks great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeatMan Posted September 5, 2022 Share Posted September 5, 2022 Very nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kit Karson Posted September 5, 2022 Share Posted September 5, 2022 Well done! Blue Phoenix rising!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EngineerBob Posted September 5, 2022 Author Share Posted September 5, 2022 13 hours ago, alan barton said: Sensational. I have a black version from Hot Rod magazine on my to-do list. I will be coming back to this thread for clues! Cheers Alan Thanks for the nice comments. Looking forward to seeing what someone else does with a Tbird kit. Here are a couple of W.I.P. pics to show some of the changes I made to this kit. Cut out the molded-in seat and added driveshaft tunnel and floor; used old airplane horizontal stabilizer as fairing/rudder; cut molded in exhaust. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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