customline

More from today. Back wheels attached (glued - that's how I roll). Completed right side header. Glued "pumpkin" to axle housing. Experimented with '34 pickup grille- comments welcome! Mock-up time! '34 shell will need a little trim on the bottom to drop it about 1/8" and possibly shortening front to back 1/8" because it seems a bit heavy. I'm not liking the tunnel ram, it seems like too much for the rear tires. A single 4 or 2x4 on a "normal" high-rise or maybe the cross-ram would be more appropriate. Six 97s would be great but I haven't got 'em. I dunno. Thoughts??

I don't claim my method is the only way to do this, it's just the way I did it today. I'm sure there are modellers here that have a better way so this is not intended as a tutorial. It's just the easiest way for me. Today. I started by ripping off the factory cast manifolds that I had glued on previously and drilled holes in the heads to accept the solder. I inserted and glued lengths of solder with thick CA and positioned them in approximate angles. The hemi heads have exhaust ports angled in an almost overhead attitude ? so the solder is swept up after the CA has cured to clear the frame. I like to use cheap, wood handle artist brushes for the ferrules. Cut off, drilled out, used Dremel, and filled crimp dimples with thick CA and accelerator and then sanded. all "welded" up and ready for paint, which will be flat or semi black. I don't see a need for flanges because at this point it's too difficult to add them and make it look good. Standing next to it, they can't be seen anyway. Maybe just paint them individually at the ports. Now I need to deal with this mess I made priming the body. ? . Thanks for your interest and all comments welcome as usual.

Looks like you had a great day in the sun Bob, ?! You got some great shots of some really nice machinery. The deuce 5W looks period perfect with the motorcycle fenders and the nailhead, white firewall and rims. Love the T-bird too. Awesome Dart with quads popping through the hood.....wow. And that red Chevy pickup! (That's a really beautiful ride you got there!)

I appreciate that, Carl. The lesson here is stuffing a 426 hemi into Revell's "B" chassis (the channelled version) has some pitfalls. Also, don't paint till you get those problems sorted. It's one lesson I just won't learn ?. Yesterday I began the process of creating headers from solder and paint brush ferrules. It's pretty much the only way I can go now. My parts box isn't rich in exhaust headers, but a fairly convincing set can be made this way. ?. Thanks for your interest, may we both benefit.

This is how I wish I had painted the one I built! Absolutely excellent!

Gee, Carl, I hope you're not too disappointed ?. I've made a bit of a mess. Completely normal. It'll be fine.

IDid a bit more today. Watch out when attaching the roof. I didn't see it till ....well, you can see....also I repainted the frame in silver(Krylon metallic silver) because I think it will look better with the Icy Blue and then I started thinking "two tone"....I dunno....anyway, here's what I got. Oh, and I won't be using the factory exhaust manifolds. this is not going to work....this is normal for me. Thanks for looking. ?

If I had a prize to give you for this, you would be the winner of the entire catalog of Moebius movie monster kits ! ? But unfortunately the only thing you have won is a heart-felt "Good eyes, Greg!" Sorry. ☺️ I just thought I'd have a little fun. I don't know why there were no ignition wires on that thing (it doesn't look like a trailer queen to me), maybe the owner had a problem on the way in and headed to Auto Zone for a tune up kit. ?

Mini-update: Engine painted and partially assembled, looking forward to detailing ?. Wheels assembled and fronts attached to axle (the rears will not include finned drums because they don't show and they will be used on the front of subsequent build.) The kit firewall will be superceded by a cleaned-off, "chromed" unit with minimal attachments (master cylinder, maybe the coil). No decision yet on further top chop but leaning away now and filler will probably be used regardless. The radiator is painted to look like a modern aluminum type (with electric fan) so blacking out the front on the chrome kit piece won't make sense. This sort of stuff bothers me ? and I may try something else for a radiator/grille treatment, possibly the '34 pickup unit just to be different ?. Also considering color change on frame to a glossy silver. I love this "Icy Blue" color. Can't wait to see it on the body. Here's a quick mock-up. The split wishbone will be supplanted by the four-link you see sitting on the block to be more consistent with the updated look of the rear coil-over set-up. The use of the massive engine will necessitate re-engineered steering linkage and the cast headers supplied with the hemi will probably be used unless I can find something better in my parts box. Thanks for looking ?.

I was just looking at pictures of Model A hemi powered coupes and I spotted something odd. Can you find what's wrong with this picture?

Hope so, Bob. The coil-over rear sorta spoils the old-timey attitude and a 426 street hemi brings the build era into the '70s but the channelled body and steel wheels drag it back into the '50s...?.....it's going to be strange, Bob, for sure. A real 21st century look, but with the skelletonized interior saying "still under construction."

The engine choice for today is one I borrowed from Dirty Donnie. It's the '70 Super Bee 426 with tunnel ram and dual quads and 4 speed. It's a tight squeeze but perfectly doable (I hope.) Yesterday I visited H L and came home with AMT's '34 pickup. I looked it over and found some useful things in the box but not for this coupe because the timing was not good. I have a few hot rod projects swimming around in my head including the '34 pickup. There will be much parts swapping in the future ?.....I also came home with 2 rattle cans of Testors Extreme Lacquer in "Icy Blue" and "Turquoise ". This coupe will get the blue. I sprayed the steel wheels with it today. In the sun, that paint is spectacular ? ! ! I have all but decided to take a little more off the top. I'm leaning that way but will evaluate once the engine is complete. I don't want the top of the engine higher than the roof ?. A 1/8" slice should be okay. Comments always welcome.

I built this kit several years ago, it's a pretty decent kit. I had, I think, an early version and the grille/bumper was not correct. Have you discovered this? They corrected it in the later versions so if you have a GTX in the middle of the grille, you're good! If not, you have a hemi Roadrunner ? . You're off and running, good luck, the paint scheme sounds great!

OK, I got the front axle fixed, moved the spring in front of the axle because the radius arms needed a place to land. I think it looks legit, but you be the judge. No mods to the crossmember yet and hopefully not at all (other than the bottom edges were sanded a bit on the corners.) The recesses on the inside frame rails that locate the radius arms (split wishbones) were filled because they can't be used now due to axle relocation to the rear. Thanks for your interest! After separation, the spring was drilled and brass wire inserted. Evergreen strip stock provides tiny mounting blocks, drilled and glued to axle. The top leaf was removed from the spring for a bit more drop. I hope this gets me the look I want because if not.....suicide! (I actually like the way suicide front ends look ?) Some Molotow chrome takes care of the mess and I still have a nice chrome front end ?

It is, Greg, and I built the first edition of it when it first hit the market. They cheapened it a bit but, basically, it's the same. The big thing for this issue is the nailhead Buick which is cool but I personally would have liked something a little cooler, like a flattie with some esoteric speed parts. And a manual gearbox. And a quick-change rear hanging on a buggy spring. But that's just me. I don't want to spend 25 bucks for a kit and then buy 3 more kits and a few aftermarket parts just to build a traditional style hot rod Model A coupe. There, I said it! Oh, and there's a really old-timey checkered decal for each firewall. Good one, Revell! Where's the buggy spring? ?

Glad you are, Paul. Welcome!

Didn't you just build one of these? Seems like everybody has. I can't keep up with it all. ? My feeling about this kit is it's not the same as the first version. The quality seems a bit off. And no wheel option. ?

? Here I go again. I jumped in by increasing the kick-up on the "B" frame and tweaked the floor to get better contact and raised the trunk floor. Pretty standard. I want this puppy low but the kit has limitations. The front axle is always going to need modifications. I'm thinking just a street-legal, no-nonsense, nose-down attitude even if it takes a suicide front end to get there, Maybe more chop, kit supplied skelleton interior with different seating (I borrowed the bomber seats for another project), maybe a street hemi or 440 six-pak, saving the nailhead for something else, ? I dunno, we'll see. No flat black paint job. Possibly satin eggplant or pistachio ?.....OK, maybe not. Lots of options on paint. I don't know about wheels and tires yet. It has a huge effect on "the look". The kit setup looks pretty good but those rears are pretty tall. Stay tuned ?I

Yeah, who knew? Funny how things like that slip from memory

Gotta give credit where it's due so my thanks to Can-Con for setting me on the right path. I looked at the instruction sheet and WHATTAYAKNOW?!?!? Well, you know what they say; when all else fails....no....instructions are just someone else's.....no, no....anyway....I musta missed it ?

Wow, Steve, that's a revelation! Thank you! I wonder if that's in the instructions. Maybe I should look ? Really, that's fascinating. I thought those white-walls were kinda strange; now it makes sense! ? After assembling the the interior I set the firewall in place in the body and installed the interior/frame assy. into the body and it seemed OK but the glass was not installed. I don't see a problem. Firewall to body looks like the way. Thanks again.

By the way, folks, remember the aerials that weren't telescopic? I remember because I worked in a car wash. ? I consider myself an expert on the subject. I put one through my right hand (the little ball was missing.) Had to shift my 4-speed with my left while driving myself to the emergency room. Yup.?

.....and that's in what scale Trevor? Good gracious ?......although I think I have tweezers that could possibly handle that. No, really.....☺️

Cool project, Bob. I'm eager to see the stance you come up with. Great start ? !

Mini-update: Joined frame assembly to floor assembly ? and installed exhaust systems. Added a little paint detailing to firewall and now I have to decide on the attachment of the firewall. I have thrown the question out there twice now and, as yet, no one has weighed in. I anticipate a fit problem if I go with the AMT instructions. The firewall is shown being glued to the interior assembly but it's not a precise fit - no locators. The fit of the firewall to the body at the inner fenders IS a nice tight fit as if it had been designed that way. I'm inclined to go with that but can't help wondering if I'm not seeing something that I need to before I run up against it during the final fit-up. You all know how that goes. Whomever has built this kit please speak now ? or forever hold your peace. ? The instructions may take into account the placement of the steering box in the sequence of assembly; I can deal with that.