Traditional 1929 Ford Woody Wagon Hot Rod

[slusher]

You really never fail too impress me watching your builds!

[Rattlecan Dan]

Gonna' be a show stopper for sure. Fine modeling going on here.

[Dennis Lacy]

UPDATE!
 

Okay folks, back on this one. Where I left off the back half of the exhaust system had been roughed-in with the front section from the headers to the trans cross member needing to be figured out. A bit of an obstacle course with the headers tucking in and the oil filter hanging down. After some thinking and staring I got an idea. I trimmed off the bottoms from a pair of block hugger headers from a Revell ‘37 Ford and attached them to the bottoms of the Hedman Headers. This makes a nice transition from the two pipes and rectangle flange down to one pipe with a 90 degree turn and some neat flange & bolt detail. 

Then I found a couple of offset pipe sections cut from the pipes in any of Revell’s 1932 Ford series which get around the oil filter can perfectly. 

From there is was a matter of finding two more offset sections to cut in and connect with the rear pipes at the cross member.

After that I went ahead and final glued all of  joints then sanded all of the seams and mold lines. I also added the flared ends to the tips from a Revell ‘40 Ford so that I can use the chrome tips from the same. 

I also made a driveshaft using some Revell ‘32 kit u-joints and Evergreen tube. 

Decided to set the chassis on the fenders for a look. Getting the exhaust system built is always a huge relief. 

 

Here’s a close up holding one of the chrome tips on with a pair of tweezers for those unfamiliar with what they are. 

Just a few more chassis detail’s remaining. Need to install a steering box and shocks. 

[espo]

2 hours ago, Dennis Lacy said:

UPDATE!
 

Okay folks, back on this one. Where I left off the back half of the exhaust system had been roughed-in with the front section from the headers to the trans cross member needing to be figured out. A bit of an obstacle course with the headers tucking in and the oil filter hanging down. After some thinking and staring I got an idea. I trimmed off the bottoms from a pair of block hugger headers from a Revell ‘37 Ford and attached them to the bottoms of the Hedman Headers. This makes a nice transition from the two pipes and rectangle flange down to one pipe with a 90 degree turn and some neat flange & bolt detail. 

Then I found a couple of offset pipe sections cut from the pipes in any of Revell’s 1932 Ford series which get around the oil filter can perfectly. 

From there is was a matter of finding two more offset sections to cut in and connect with the rear pipes at the cross member.

After that I went ahead and final glued all of  joints then sanded all of the seams and mold lines. I also added the flared ends to the tips from a Revell ‘40 Ford so that I can use the chrome tips from the same. 

I also made a driveshaft using some Revell ‘32 kit u-joints and Evergreen tube. 

Decided to set the chassis on the fenders for a look. Getting the exhaust system built is always a huge relief. 

 

Here’s a close up holding one of the chrome tips on with a pair of tweezers for those unfamiliar with what they are. 

Just a few more chassis detail’s remaining. Need to install a steering box and shocks. 

I need the phone number of your muffler shop. Like the exhaust. 

[ea0863]

It's like watching a Swiss watch maker assemble a watch! So detailed and concise. Love it!

[Phildaupho]

Superbly WIP update like a post-grad seminar in scale hot rod chassis construction

[slusher]

Some real nice chassis work!

[Dennis Lacy]

UPDATE

I did get to the workbench this past Sunday but it wasn’t the most productive. The creative juices just weren’t flowing. I did manage to get the front shocks set up but I’m not entirely happy with them. 
 

With the front axle tucked tight to the frame with sanded down spring the molded in shock mount holes weren’t working out so I ended up cutting the lower shock mounts off of the axle from the Revell 29 Roadster/ 30 Coupe and transferring them to axle I’m using. This not only moved them down below the original shock mounts, it’s more realistic looking, too. The bottom axle is the one I moved the shock mounts to from the top axle. The middle axle is what the bottom axle looked like before I changed the shock mounts. 
 

 

I then tweaked a pair of Revell 32 Ford series front shocks and brackets to fit. This is what I’m not sure I like. I may build my own upper mounts on the frame and mount separate shocks. 
 

So that’s all I accomplished and it doesn’t feel like a complete accomplishment. Hopefully my next day at the bench goes better. ?

[Dan Hay]

Just scrolled through this again for inspiration. I'm about 75% done with a 29 Woody, I'll post in under glass when done. Very nice detail, I kept the molded in chassis of the AMT kit but I had specific reasons for doing that which will be explained when I post about it. Nice work as always! 

[Ace-Garageguy]

Always a pleasure to see another builder who works as though he's building a real car that has to function, and who has the real-world knowledge to get it right.  

[Kit Karson]

Keep it up, ADL!!! -KK

[bobthehobbyguy]

Would love to see more of this.

[tim boyd]

On 7/12/2023 at 11:11 PM, Dennis Lacy said:

UPDATE

I did get to the workbench this past Sunday but it wasn’t the most productive. The creative juices just weren’t flowing. I did manage to get the front shocks set up but I’m not entirely happy with them. 
 

With the front axle tucked tight to the frame with sanded down spring the molded in shock mount holes weren’t working out so I ended up cutting the lower shock mounts off of the axle from the Revell 29 Roadster/ 30 Coupe and transferring them to axle I’m using. This not only moved them down below the original shock mounts, it’s more realistic looking, too. The bottom axle is the one I moved the shock mounts to from the top axle. The middle axle is what the bottom axle looked like before I changed the shock mounts. 
 

 

I then tweaked a pair of Revell 32 Ford series front shocks and brackets to fit. This is what I’m not sure I like. I may build my own upper mounts on the frame and mount separate shocks. 
 

So that’s all I accomplished and it doesn’t feel like a complete accomplishment. Hopefully my next day at the bench goes better. ?

Hi Dennis.... 

Once again, not sure how I missed this one but will be watching and cheering from the sidelines from this point forward.

Just as you mentioned up front, over the years I can't even recall the number of my model projects (but it's a big number) that began with the discovery of a killer wheel/tire combo, and the subsequent need to come up with a model project to showcase them.  Glad you went back to the wires, too, somehow wires and woodies just live together.  

Got any color/livery schemes in mine yet...?

And thanks for the really clear, step by step photos and explanations.  Excellent.  And for what it's worth I too struggle with being happy with the front shock mounts on my rod projects.  You've already gone to much more effort than I typically do there, so kudos on that.  But I often wish for some sore of scale representation of the classic 1950 Ford F-1 tubular shock mounts.  Particularly for our febderless traditional rod projects.  

Looking forward to updates as you can share them....Best....TIM 

[Dennis Lacy]

20 hours ago, tim boyd said:

Hi Dennis.... 

Once again, not sure how I missed this one but will be watching and cheering from the sidelines from this point forward.

Just as you mentioned up front, over the years I can't even recall the number of my model projects (but it's a big number) that began with the discovery of a killer wheel/tire combo, and the subsequent need to come up with a model project to showcase them.  Glad you went back to the wires, too, somehow wires and woodies just live together.  

Got any color/livery schemes in mine yet...?

And thanks for the really clear, step by step photos and explanations.  Excellent.  And for what it's worth I too struggle with being happy with the front shock mounts on my rod projects.  You've already gone to much more effort than I typically do there, so kudos on that.  But I often wish for some sore of scale representation of the classic 1950 Ford F-1 tubular shock mounts.  Particularly for our febderless traditional rod projects.  

Looking forward to updates as you can share them....Best....TIM 

Thanks for chiming in, Tim! More than half the models I’ve built start with a wheel & tire combo then I come up with a car to put them on. And, I totally agree with you on wires & woodys going hand in hand. 

Sadly the work on the front shocks (July 12) is the last time I’ve been to the bench to date and it’s not for lack of interest. Downside to working in the garage. Plenty of days I could have but the weather made it downright uncomfortable. That said, I’ll be redoing the upper mounts and I have a plan. Stay tuned…

[Dennis Lacy]

Finally, after a year (!) I pulled this poor project out of its box and put in an afternoon of work. With all of the major fabrication done it was down to the details or as my Aussie friend, Bryce, says “the fiddly bits.” 
 

1. The steering system was built consisting of a box from the Revell ‘32 3-Window / Hi Boy Roadster with the double U-joint steering shaft from the new tool ‘32 Roadster and a receptacle added to the underside of the floor. The box pins to the frame rail and the steering link pins to the box. 

2. A Revell 1940 Ford dashboard was slightly trimmed on the ends to remove its original mounting tabs and the shifter steering column from the same pinned for a positive connection. Also using the ‘40 steering wheel.

3. Way out back a Revell 1948 Ford gas tank was cut from the floor pan it comes molded to. 

 

4. The radiator was tweaked with a round outlet fitting added to the lower right corner and a filler neck added to the top tank.

5. The lower radiator hose was made from one of the 10 that come in Revell’s modern Model A hot rod kits.

6. A voltage regulator from a Revell ‘40 Ford was added to the firewall. One of my favorite detail parts.

7. In previous mock ups I had been using the dropped headlight bar from Revell’s 1929 Pickup kit. The dropped bar came in one issue, the Hot Rod logo box from the late 1980’s. Problem is like every issue of that kit the headlight lenses are molded into the lights and chrome plated and there’s no way to make them look convincing. To solve that the nice dropped bar from any of the Revell ‘32 Fords was fit and pinned to the fenders. With this comes the added benefit of smaller hot rod headlights that are optional in those kits.

8. Out back the taillight mounting arm and license plate bracket from a Revell ‘29 Pickup was fit with a steel pin where it attaches to the underside of the floor and fit with a ‘32 taillight from Revell’s ‘32 Sedan. The plate bracket was also trimmed down to fit the size of the early 1960’s plate decal.

9. Not shown but equally important is that the engine and fuel injection were drilled for plug wires and fuel plumbing. 

After all of that I did some final sanding cleanup and meticulous flash cleanup in the webbing of the woody body. I’m happy to say that this project is ready to move on to paint. Finally! ?

 

[James2]

Only you could've turned a wooden brick into a fine-looking hot rod, creative and well-crafted as always.

[tim boyd]

6 hours ago, Dennis Lacy said:

Finally, after a year (!) I pulled this poor project out of its box and put in an afternoon of work. With all of the major fabrication done it was down to the details or as my Aussie friend, Bryce, says “the fiddly bits.” 
 

1. The steering system was built consisting of a box from the Revell ‘32 3-Window / Hi Boy Roadster with the double U-joint steering shaft from the new tool ‘32 Roadster and a receptacle added to the underside of the floor. The box pins to the frame rail and the steering link pins to the box. 

2. A Revell 1940 Ford dashboard was slightly trimmed on the ends to remove its original mounting tabs and the shifter steering column from the same pinned for a positive connection. Also using the ‘40 steering wheel.

3. Way out back a Revell 1948 Ford gas tank was cut from the floor pan it comes molded to. 

 

4. The radiator was tweaked with a round outlet fitting added to the lower right corner and a filler neck added to the top tank.

5. The lower radiator hose was made from one of the 10 that come in Revell’s modern Model A hot rod kits.

6. A voltage regulator from a Revell ‘40 Ford was added to the firewall. One of my favorite detail parts.

7. In previous mock ups I had been using the dropped headlight bar from Revell’s 1929 Pickup kit. The dropped bar came in one issue, the Hot Rod logo box from the late 1980’s. Problem is like every issue of that kit the headlight lenses are molded into the lights and chrome plated and there’s no way to make them look convincing. To solve that the nice dropped bar from any of the Revell ‘32 Fords was fit and pinned to the fenders. With this comes the added benefit of smaller hot rod headlights that are optional in those kits.

8. Out back the taillight mounting arm and license plate bracket from a Revell ‘29 Pickup was fit with a steel pin where it attaches to the underside of the floor and fit with a ‘32 taillight from Revell’s ‘32 Sedan. The plate bracket was also trimmed down to fit the size of the early 1960’s plate decal.

9. Not shown but equally important is that the engine and fuel injection were drilled for plug wires and fuel plumbing. 

After all of that I did some final sanding cleanup and meticulous flash cleanup in the webbing of the woody body. I’m happy to say that this project is ready to move on to paint. Finally! ?

 

Dennis...super to see you back at the bench on this one.  Personally, I have great admiration for the extent that you (and also, my modeling buddy Steve Perry) prioritize the use of these pins to faciitate mockups and goof-proof your final assemblies.  Thx for the update!  Cheers....TIM 

[mrm]

I missed this one the first time around, but I am definitely following now. A lot to be learned in this thread and definitely some ideas/techniques that will be used in the future. Thank you for that.

Here is the crazy thing. I love street rods and I absolutely love woodies. I have bought woody kits countless times, but somehow in the last 30 years building street rod kits, I managed to only ever build two of them. One was a '30 Ford woody which I build while working part time in a hobby shop in Chicago, back in 1996. I painted it some kind of lighter green metallic and at the time it was one of my best models. When my relationship with the shop's owner fell apart and we decided to part ways, thanks mainly to his unbelievably bratty son, he refused to give it to me and kept it on display at the store. I was furious, but mostly hurt by his petty attitude. The other was a Dan Fink Speed Wagon converted to a pick up with the drivetrain and chassis from the Phantom Vicky, built in New Jersey in 2001 which ended up on the cover of Scale Model Contest Annual 2003. I still have it. So over 20 years since I have even attempted a woody, while I've bought plenty of them during this time. Ironically enough, the last woody I bought was last year and it is the latest reissue of the very model you are showing on here. I definitely simply can not fit another build on my bench right now (I wonder how many times we have all said this in vain) but your thread is definitely making me want to go dig out the box in my garage and start mocking parts up. Must resist... I'm with the force and the force is with me...I'm with the force and the force is with me... LOL

Edited July 8, 2024 by mrm

[Dennis Lacy]

@tim boyd

I started pinning my parts from early into my return to adult modeling back in ‘08. Pretty sure I got the idea from someone on here. To be able to constantly mock up and do final assembly and always have the parts fit the same every time sure is nice. Not to mention the substantial additional rigidity they add to the finished model. Especially these old hot rods with spindly suspensions. ?

@mrm

I feel you. It’s tough having all these ideas in your head and wanting to flesh them all out. But, any serious model builder should have a minimum of 20 started projects at any given time. Especially guys like us that are heavy on the kit-bashing and fabrication. 

I have yet to build a woody model but I’ve got quite a few.  I’ve forever been intimidated by painting the wood. Some people just go with some shade of tan and call it done but that’s not good enough for me. My Aussie friend, Bryce Michelmore, clued me in on the technique he used and I like his result so I’m gonna give it a whirl. More on that later…

 

Edited July 9, 2024 by Dennis Lacy

[mrm]

5 hours ago, Dennis Lacy said:

 

@mrm

I feel you. It’s tough having all these ideas in your head and wanting to flesh them all out. But, any serious model builder should have a minimum of 20 started projects at any given time. Especially guys like us that are heavy on the kit-bashing and fabrication. 

I have yet to build a woody model but I’ve got quite a few.  I’ve forever been intimidated by painting the wood. Some people just go with some shade of tan and call it done but that’s not good enough for me. My Aussie friend, Bryce Michelmore, clued me in on the technique he used and I like his result so I’m gonna give it a whirl. More on that later…

 

20 started projects?!... That's probably just the '32 Fords I have in different stages. LOL. I have this one model which has a body somewhat based on parts of an Aluma Coupe, which would be best described as something that could have come out of Marcel's Custom Metal on a Coddington or Foose commission that could be passed as '33/'34 Ford. It was started in New Jersey together with the aforementioned Speed Wagon some 25 years ago. Numerous body mods, three different scratch built frames and two interiors later it is still not finished. And it is not the only one. Actually, thinking about it, I should have somewhere a Dan Fink Speed wagon with the roof taken off, taped together with masking tape as a highboy. Maybe I should dig it up. See what you have done now?!?! LOL

[Bullybeef]

6 hours ago, Dennis Lacy said:

 

 But, any serious model builder should have a minimum of 20 started projects at any given time. Especially guys like us that are heavy on the kit-bashing and fabrication. 

 

Looks around build area, numbers check out! 

[Kenmojr]

Nice progress on this interesting build.

[Mr. Metallic]

Oh man. I'm trying to get caught up after not being around here much lately. I was excited to see this back on your bench, but since I hadn't seen it on Insta lately I should have known.

[Modelbuilder Mark]

I like the suspension mods, nice work going no here. 

 

[Kit Karson]

Always the BEST, Brother! -KK