47 Chevy Convertible Woodie Dumas Chris Craft Cobra Combo

[foghorn62]

I actually started this build several months ago, and have been posting progress reports on a thread started by Paul Payne titled “Truck Boat and Trailer” as a parallel build to his. Paul is a much faster builder than I am, and he has completed his awesome build.  I encourage anyone interested to take a look at Paul’s build in progress, as well as his completed combo in the Under Glass area.  
meanwhile, I’m going to transfer some of my build details from Paul’s thread, and continue from here.

I started my build by purchasing a Dumas Chris Craft Cobra kit (which I found extremely over priced for a box of sticks and a set of plans, but I digress).  I have assembled the hull, and stopped until I decide how I want to proceed. What I have in mind, is sort of an Americanized version of the Riva Aqurama Lamborghini.  I have in my possession, three 3D printed Chevy LS3 V-12s.  I am planning to use two in the boat, and one in the tow vehicle.  For that, I have chosen one of the 47 Chevy kits from Galaxie Limited, combined with a convertible conversion kit for it from Jimmy Flinstone, and I am planning to install wood on the sides and deck on the order of a 48 Ford Sportsman.  I haven’t given much thought to the trailer yet, but I imagine I’ll make something out of brass tubing, as I am comfortable working with that material, and it should be quite strong.

I’m just in very early stages of this project, still trying to figure out how to mount the engines in the boat, with marine cooling, water intake, exhaust, what the power output to the propeller shaft looks like….I’m adding two pics of my current project status, and also one of the Riva Aqurama Lambo engines installed.

TS

[foghorn62]

I’ve been searching around for information on how to set up plumbing for a marine cooling system, and came upon this diagram, that helped me understand how the sea water pickup feeds a pump, which circulates sea water through a heat exchanger, and then dumps the sea water through the exhaust system.  The water pump on the engine receives the cooled water from the heat exchanger and pumps it through the engine block, then out through the exhaust manifolds, and back through the heat exchanger in a closed loop.  I’m also including a pic of the Lamborghini engines in the Riva in early stages of installation so you can see what such a system looks like. 

TS

[Ace-Garageguy]

Pretty cool project.   

I have a couple of 1/24 Dumas kits with similar works in mind, but will probably replace the visible planking with stained basswood for its finer grain.

[foghorn62]

1 hour ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

Pretty cool project.   

I have a couple of 1/24 Dumas kits with similar works in mind, but will probably replace the visible planking with stained basswood for its finer grain.

If you replace the mahogany, there won’t be a whole lot left of the kit for your eighty bucks.

TS

[foghorn62]

I got the convertible kit for the 47 Chevy from Jimmy Flintstone, and I’m working on paper patterns for the Sportsman style woodie overlays.

TS

[foghorn62]

Figured I’d better post a couple of pics just to show that I haven’t gone totally to sleep.  Lately I’ve been working on the wood for the 47 Chevy.  I got one side pretty well done, and I’m pretty happy with how it’s going.  I briefly considered just using the overlays that come with the Galaxie kit, but decided to do the full sportsman treatment instead.  I want to thank Paul Payne for turning me on to cigar wrap cedar for the fields!  I have never worked with it before, but I went and got some, and it is pretty amazing the way it can be contoured and molded with just a little soak.  Notice too in this first pic, that I have removed the center bulk hood from the rear section to make room for the engines.

Edited August 21, 2022 by foghorn62

[foghorn62]

 

Lately, I’ve been plugging away at my 47 Chevy Convertible Sportsman style woodie.  I got the wood laid down, and base coat of paint.  Some more sanding and clear coat, and at least the body will be done.  

The boat is coming along too I’m working on the engine bay, and the cover.  Notched out and installed some of the heavy Timbers for the engines to be mounted. Yesterday, I was a little bored, so I put together a prop freehand out of brass.  I think it came out pretty good for a quick and dirty job..

TS

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 22, 2022 by foghorn62

[foghorn62]

Got the wood done on the Chevy, and applied a couple coats of satin spar varnish.  Put a couple coats of Mr. Color gloss clear coat on the paint.  Needs to be wet sanded and rubbed on the paint yet, and some BMF around the windshield frame and vent windows.  Found a set of wheels and tires in the parts box, that I’ll paint either brown or gold to match the body.  Going to paint the uptop, boot cover, and interior a deep burgundy, then on to all three engines for the car and boat together.

[foghorn62]

 

Since my last update, I have finished the wood, and the paint on the body for the Chevy, and painted the interior and top.  The pics here show the car still in mockup with different wheels and tires than I will ultimately be using. This pic shows the wheel/tire combo that I intend to use.  I still haven’t done anything with the engines other than to rough one of them together to check fitment in the car and boat, but they will be coming soon.I decided to turn a little attention back to the boat, and more specifically the engine cover and rear fin.  The Dumas kit just provides two pieces of balsa wood and says to glue them together and sand them to shape for the engine cover, and another piece for the fin.  Since I am going to be detailing the engine bay, and adding two 3D printed LS3 V12s, I decided I want to make a engine cover out of plastic, with hinged hatches that open up to reveal the two engines.  I thought about making a rubber mold and casting it in resin using the balsa piece as a form, but I don’t have much experience with that, so I thought I’d try vacuuforming, mainly because I have some stuff to do that with.

I didn’t have any styrene on hand, so on my first attempt, I used a piece of PETG (acrylic Polycarbonate), which I use to make windows.  It is very hard, and strong, but does not sand well due to it’s hardness.  Unfortunately, the piece that I was using was too thick, and I think I had it too close to the heat elements in my oven, and it blistered badly, looking like obscure shower glass.  I thought about trying to sand it, but as I said, this stuff is very hard, and does not sand well.  I thought about spreading a coat of Bondo over it, but I think I’ll try again moving the next piece more central in the oven, and heating it slower.  If that doesn’t work, I’ll try using thinner stock, or getting a sheet of styrene, or both.  If none of those work, I can still go the resin casting route.  The good news is that the vacuum former worked well, and the plastic took the shape nicely, and it fits pretty well.  Ultimately, I’ll need to sand the buck a little smaller to allow for the thickness of the plastic, and the correct fitment.  

That will have to wait until tomorrow though, since it’s getting late, and I’m tired for now.

Later,

TS

[foghorn62]

 

I’ve had some success with vacuum forming the tonneau cover and fin, out of styrene.  I’m pretty happy with how that came out, and I’ll cut hinged hatches into it for engine access, after I get a little further along with the engines, and get ready to install the cover.

Speaking of the engines, I have roughed together the two V12 LS3s, and roughed in the timbers where they will be mounted. So far, so good.

TS

[foghorn62]

 

Not sure what I was thinking!  Not one, but two V12s, plus one in the tow car.  36 cylinders in all, with 36 fuel injectors to detail, 36 spark plug wires to run, 36 exhaust ports to fabricate.  This thing is going to take a while!I’ve got the exhaust ports for the boat engines fabed. I am planning to do the full marine cooling system and exhaust.  I’ll give all of the brass a shiny polish before final assembly and installation.

[cobraman]

It may take awhile but when it's done you will really have something very cool.

[foghorn62]

12 minutes ago, cobraman said:

It may take awhile but when it's done you will really have something very cool.

Thanks Ray!  I’m having fun with it!

TS

[bisc63]

Very interesting project.

[foghorn62]

Working on plumbing for exhaust and cooling.  One side is almost done,

[misterNNL]

I'm looking forward to seeing the wood stained and varnished on the boat.

Edited August 25, 2022 by misterNNL

[foghorn62]

Been working on the turtle deck, cut it apart to make the engine doors, installed brass louvers, and made a tuck and role seat for the cockpit.  The seat will be painted to match the interior in the tow car.  Getting close to building the engines in their final trim, and detailing the engine compartment.  Then I’ll take it all apart to do the final install of the top deck and give everything several coats of finish before final assembly.

TS

[TooOld]

Some excellent fabricating going on here , not only your wood work but also the vacuformed rear cover looks great !

I mat have missed it but where did you source the engines ?

[foghorn62]

45 minutes ago, TooOld said:

Some excellent fabricating going on here , not only your wood work but also the vacuformed rear cover looks great !

I mat have missed it but where did you source the engines ?

Thanks Bob!  The engines are 3D printed LS3 V-12s from Ron Olsen via Shapeways.

TS

[afx]

Great looking project.

[foghorn62]

13 hours ago, afx said:

Great looking project.

Thanks JC!

[foghorn62]

Made a seat, using sculpted craft foam for a tuck and role look, sealed with Future, and painted with craft paint for a leather look.  Turtle deck is just about done, with opening hatches over the engines.  The recessed polished brass louvers worked out pretty well (thanks Fred).  Finishing up the heat exchangers and exhaust plumbing for the V-12s, then should be just about ready for final finishes (paint on the turtle deck, spar varnish on all of the wood), and close to wrapping this thing up.  Still need to build the trailer, and finish up a few of the details on the 47 Chevy Soortsman Woodie tow car.  Hope to get the whole project done before year end.  We’ll see.🙄

[Dragline]

N extremely ambitious projecy that you are absolutley killing. The car woodwork is simply amazing and the boat is more of the same. Ill be watching with awe.

[foghorn62]

On 11/7/2022 at 3:11 PM, Dragline said:

N extremely ambitious projecy that you are absolutley killing. The car woodwork is simply amazing and the boat is more of the same. Ill be watching with awe.

Thank you very much for the kind words Bob!  This thing has been a labor of love for quite a while, but I am hoping to finish it up by year end.  We’ll see.😐

[foghorn62]

It’s been a while since I did an update.  I’ve been working on the plumbing for the wet exhaust, and the intake manifold.  I’m just about done with the hard plumbing, but still need to run hoses.  Got the intake manifolds done.  What a pain, getting all of those shortie velocity stacks lined up!  Here are a couple of pics.