a Fad-T -update 8/9/22 -the ragtop

[Rocking Rodney Rat]

I got inspired (or is that insipid?) by my good friend Dennis Lacy 'ADL' when he started texting KK and me pix of a T bucket has was putting together. I decided to join the fun and now Dave Darby has also posting up pix of his build so...why not...here's my entry. I decided to of full-on "Fad-T". I guess the origin of the Fad T goes back to the 60s with the Kookie Car from the TV show 77 Sunset Strip with Norm Grabowski building the little T Bucket. The style really got ridiculous in the 70s. In all honesty, it's not a style that has appealed to me that much as a T-Bucket is almost a cartoon car. Probably the most impractical car you could ever drive. Dinky T body, oversized ragtop, motorcycle front tires and huge meats in the back with an over-the-top motor. 

Kinda like this. Sorry for the crappy quality pic!!! Oh, well, squint and you get the idea....

 

So, here's my 'yard sale' of parts I've gathered together. Front suspension from The Slingster dragster kit, body from the AMT '25 T kit, shortened pickup bed from the Revell Ed 'Big Daddy' Roth Tweedie Pie kit. Engine from the ole Revell Rat Roaster SBC with the Weiand blower and side pipes (should fit really nice). I had cut the trans off of the block for another project, so I'll graft on the other trans (4 speed?). Big rear meats from the Revell '41 Willys street rod kit, 9" rear end from the Revell '32 series and the nice swoopy ragtop (which will be much modified) from the Monogram Black Widow kit....

 

Follow along as I turn this pile o parts into a really goofy build. I just may go full "lanterns for tail lights" and squeeze bulb curly Q horn and all...lots of CHROME!!!!  -RRR

Edited September 9, 2022 by Rocking Rodney Rat

[Dave Darby]

I'm liking it! Have you ever seen the "Leg Show" T?

[bobthehobbyguy]

Another cool project t.

[cobraman]

I like buckets so I will be following along.

[Rocking Rodney Rat]

23 hours ago, Dave Darby said:

I'm liking it! Have you ever seen the "Leg Show" T?

Thanks, I'm heading it that direction, but probably won't go all the way!!!  -RRR

Edited September 3, 2022 by Rocking Rodney Rat

[Kit Karson]

Ambitious Task Replicating the Tall T Top!!  Take a look at the AMT '27 Model T Touring and/or AMT Deuce Phaeton Top... Corners might come close... Hang on folks 'cause RRR will be using higher forms of math & geometry to come up with the absolutely perfect equation while creating his own twist on the RRR Tall T Drop Top Roadster!!  -KK

[OldNYJim]

I'm liking all these T buckets lately - nice start! 

[bisc63]

Super fun project!

[Can-Con]

Now that sounds like a lot of fun. I'll definitely be watching to see what kind of wild creation you pull out of that pile of parts. 

Makes me want to pull out my MPC "Switchers" T kit and have a go at it for a "simple" quickie build. 

In the meantime I hope it's OK if I put this pic here. I did it around 17 years ago and it's still one of my favorites. ?

[Rocking Rodney Rat]

10 hours ago, Can-Con said:

In the meantime I hope it's OK if I put this pic here

Looking good, Steve. That's a great old kit. I based a build on that one, too.  -RRR

[Rocking Rodney Rat]

The basis of a good hot rod (well, any car) is a solid foundation. I decided to build my own frame. 

I started with strips of Evergreen styrene rectangle for the rails...

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Fabricating a suicide perch for the front axle...

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Make the rails about this long with a Z in the rear....

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This should do....

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I added a transmission crossmember mount. I'm going with coil springs in the back, sourced from one of the Ed 'Big Daddy' Roth kits from Revell. I 'm using the 9" pumpkin from the Revell '32 series. I cut off the axle shafts, glued on some Evergreen round and then put the wheel mounts back on. From there I fabricated up some spring mounts on the axle and the frame. The springs will be cut to length once I figure out the desired ride height. The trailing arms are the 'thicker ones' from the front suspension on the Revell Model A kits, mounts on the axle end to be made. The pickup bed will be notched on each side so that the spring mounts on the frame will fit under. I still need to fab up engine mounts and I have added a driveshaft loop, not pictured here...

Stay tuned, more later.... -RRR

Edited September 3, 2022 by Rocking Rodney Rat

[Dennis Lacy]

The more T Buckets the better! The late 60’s and 70’s saw them get really dorky. Do your worst! ?

[Kit Karson]

Great fab work, Brother!  T Time! -KK

[larman]

Nice work on that frame! Looking good!

[Rocking Rodney Rat]

4 hours ago, Dennis Lacy said:

The more T Buckets the better! The late 60’s and 70’s saw them get really dorky. Do your worst! ?

LOL... I hope it won't be too outrageous!!! ? -RRR

[bobthehobbyguy]

Gotta love all these neat t projects. Truly inspiring.

[tim boyd]

Oh yeah!!!   TB

[Rocking Rodney Rat]

I realized I was going to need a transmission tunnel in order to get the engine to sit properly....

A little creative slicing and dicing along with a schmear of putty did the trick. 

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A quick mock-up....

 

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I got the frame squared away with some tube supports around the trans mount, driveshaft loop and got the front engine mounts dialed in...

Next up, tackling the ragtop...

Stay tuned... -RRR

Edited September 6, 2022 by Rocking Rodney Rat

[bobthehobbyguy]

Nice work.

[slusher]

I am tuned in for this one RRR!

[Rocking Rodney Rat]

11 hours ago, slusher said:

I am tuned in for this one RRR!

Thanks, Carl!!  -RRR

[OldNYJim]

Nice work so far - you guys are making me wanna build one too!  Always enjoy your threads

[Kit Karson]

High flying ragtop on a traditional T roadster with a rock-n-roll fab T chassis tuned pipes and 8 pistons pounding out the constant hot cam thump... 

-KK

[Kenmojr]

Fantastic work...

[chris chabre]

Ive never been one for T buckets...BUT I may have to get in on this.