Sam I Am

So after much cleaning (the previous builder just broke the parts off the tree and glued them together) and test fitting, and removing an ignition coil from the top of the breather tube...yea, you read correctly. I came up with this. It still needs wired, and I need to come up with a v-belt, but I am going to sit the engine aside for now and focus on the chassis.

Looking good Bill! Wish I had an "easy" kit in my stash. ?

Anyone familiar with this kit is noticing a lot of the kit chrome parts are now painted. Between the chrome being in really bad shape, and the amount of glue on some parts, I just felt that the best thing was to strip it off. It will give it more of an average looking rod from the day rather than a blinged out show rod. Even though I said I wasn't going to add much detail, this scale makes it difficult not to, hence the gearshift knob.

Much better!

So after prying off as many parts as possible on the engine assembly, I was able to clean things up good enough for who it's for...me. I then did a little detail painting to break things up. I have found with this scale I better get over my love/hate relationship with my airbrush. Even the smallest part can be too big for a brush. Even though I do not plan on putting much detail into this build, one thing bugged me. Where the shifter handle goes into the top of the transmission you usually have a soft rubber or leather boot to hide and keep clean this connection. This model did not have one and looked just like it would if that boot was missing. I couldn't think of anything that I could use for this and so presented my dilemma to my wife. She turned around, opened a box of spare electronic parts, and pulled out the silicon tip off an ear bud. I LOVE my wife. I proceeded to turn it inside out and trim off the excess. I think it gives a very realistic look of a shifter boot.

Glad you like the wheels. I used a little soft scrub with bleach on the white walls and dawn dish soap on the tires scrubbing both with a toothbrush. I had not thought about resin casting them. I have a casting kit but have not been brave enough to try my hand.

Turned out great. That color suits that car to a T.

All that glue reminds me of my Bobtail T. ?

All that glue reminds me of my Bobtail T. ?

It has been a looooong time since I attempted a large scale kit. When I was about 10, I talked my parents into getting me a couple big kits...which I found very quickly that they were over my head at the time, and ended up destroying both attempts. About 15 years ago I started and quickly aborted a 1/16 build. I have been collecting a few large kits with the goal of not letting them beat me....this time. So I am starting with the one I really cannot hurt. It is a combination of an old built up and a barely started kit. I have been slowly undoing what the previous builder started gluing together and making it something I can live with. I have the chassis pulled apart as far as I can, the basic engine assembly fitting together better, and the wheels/tires cleaned and painted. The first of many questions... This has that rubber like interior. Has anyone tried painting it with a SEM interior paint? I know it has self etching properties and a flex agent. Second, the instrument decals are shot. Does anyone know a source for 1/8 instrument decals? TIA

Thanks again!

Yes, Marty Hollmmans 1915 T, and it appeared on three different magazine covers. I did find a discrepancy on the engine. They call it both a Y-block, and a '49 Olds... http://yblock.blogspot.com/2008/01/marty-hollmanns-1915-bobtail-t.html

Love that Elvictamino !

Thanks everyone! It was really fun to build and I still see it with the backhoe on it. ?

Thank you ! (as palm meets forehead).

Just what the title says. I am drawing a blank when it comes to identifying what engine is in the Bobtail T.

Too cool!

I am calling it done...for now. Not really feeling the backhoe at the moment. Going to take a break from the big rigs for a bit. Too many squirrels calling me. This is basically a parts box build. Started as an old build up missing parts. Some parts came from non IH rigs, some came from members, a big thanks to all that contributed. Still need to weather the tractor and finish the load, but that will be another days project. Thanks for all who followed and encouraged.

Somebody local has one now. Its been driving around and I have been able to look it over at times. Still not that impressed by them.

This one has the rear sway bar and the front one is adjustable, very flat in the corners now. Yes, these are a real nice road car. The owner is taking this car from Portland Oregon to Southern California for his 50th class reunion. It is a factory A/C car that blows ice cold. I am redoing the interior and changing the bench seat to buckets with console shift, adding a tilt wheel, dakota digital dash, cruise control, and a set of factory rally wheels. Then I get to bring his 60 T-bird home...

I saw this on the road today, from the best angle.....behind the wheel. ☺️ I am doing some upgrades on this for the owner. Over the weekend I rebuilt the front suspension with brand new tubular a-arms, heavy duty sway bar and steering linkage. The front end was aligned today so I had to make sure the suspension settled in. I love my job !

I am glad to see this wrapped up. The way you caught the essence of the inspiration truck is spot on. I was following this build in particular because of a truck my friend built.

Awesome concept, love where its going.

Dropped my phone and cracked the screen...