RatRod

Last but not least......bike #4. Believe it or not, my wife had a great amount of feedback, and input on this one!!! The reshaping of the tank, and dropping it as low as I could, using the front fender, leaving the rear fender longer were her ideas!!! Along with a few other things. On this one I wanted a solid rear wheel, so I cut two disks from sheet plastic, and polished them, and shot magnesium metalizer on. I also made a dual rear brake system on this bike. Of all four bikes, this one was the big winner..... Just goes to show us that maybe sometimes we should listen to our wives....lol.

My third bike was going to mimic the Lo-Ryder style, but using the softail frame. One other thing that was going to be different was that it was going to be black & gold!!! In order to get it low, I cut the rear swing arm apart, and lowered the stance, re-raked the fork down tube. The seat and tank were dropped, and many parts hand built. I used a brass bolt I found at work to turn many parts too!!!

I'll go ahead and post all these in the same post!!! This bike #2. On this bike I wanted a Hotrod look, a bike that was uncomfortable, but badd a$$ too, one that you got out, and rode around the neighborhood annoying the neighbors!! I also wanted to see how badd I could get the softail frame to look. On this one I cut the frame apart, and changed it to a single down tube, then drilled out the frame every where I could. The seat was fashioned to look drilled out aluminum plate with a support to keep your butt off the tire!!! The paint.....well what says Hotrod better than red & black.....

When Revell decided to finally jump on the custom bike bandwagon, I was very excited, as were most. I bought up as many as i could get my hands on, and with them releasing them as fast as they did.....well, WOW!!! (I'm a big bike collector!!) I built two bikes using parts from both kits to see how they went together, then I decided to build four contest quality bikes for this years shows. On my first bike I wanted to go with the look of a "kustom" '76 Harley Lowrider, and because I had a set of decals to do it!! I cut the forks apart, and used 5/32 aluminum tubing as the fork tubes. I also repined the triple tree for a better fit. The handle bars were built from aluminum rod & tubing, and since I wanted a clean look, eliminated the front brake, and used a jockey shift. The seat was dropped as low as I could get it, the rear fender was bobbed, and the tank dropped as well. I turned the tail light, gas & oil caps, and oil filter from aluminum (the oil filter is now located in the primary) and the last neat touch is that I swapped the rear brake over using the sprocket as a rotor!!! Enjoy.....

That is a beauty Lyle!!! I really like the gold candy foil idea, as BMF's gold foil is very finicky, and the gold rubs off so easy.

That's lookin' great Russ!!! Keep at it!!! Sadly both are gone from my collection now, when one offers a good price, they go, but I will find, and do both again someday!!!

That's pretty wild Russ, that you knew Tory!!! His was a big inspiration to me as well. I haven't started a Lil Coffin yet, but restored an original Black widow, and did a clone/resto of the Blue beetle, both using the Dupont 2 part clears after seeing his Coffin!!! Can't wait to see yours finished.

Don't know if you have seen Tory Mucaro's very nicely done Lil Coffin, but it's worth a look!!!! http://www.showrods.com/gallery_pages/lil_coffin3.html He also did a second one, that is just as sweet.....enjoy, and get inspired!!! http://coffincorner.proboards89.com/index....read=1192206414

That's gunna be so kool when finished!!!!

Another great build!!! Keep 'em coming!!!

I love it!!!!

Excellent +!!! That is one awesome build!!!

Other than looking a little under powered, I think you did a fantastic job!!! I really like the way your pics look like it's on the salt flats ready to run!!! The name Rat Rod.....Hmmmmm, well.....

That turned out wicked!!!! It's always great to see other peoples creations & talents!!!

Man Virgil, waited all night for these pics!!! AWESOME JOB!!! I have followed your "in progress" post all the way, and I have to say it was the best!!! You did a great job on the build, as well as entertain us all!!! Happy Halloween!!!

That is a great build Randy!!! Is this a newer kit? I don't ever remember seeing this one.

Thanks guys!!! I have more to show!!! Ed, the paint I used was HoK lime gold pearl. Even though I used good primer, the 44+ year old plastic didn't like it very well....lol. Oh, and Jairus...I added my name!!! (But don't tell anybody)

Awesome color choice!!! I really like this one!!!

Very nice looking Merc!!! I just picked up several of those kits before I moved to another state.....probably will be awhile before I find 'em....lol.

Very, very nice work on this one!!!! Looks real!!!

Here is one I finished a few months ago. About twenty years ago a friend had given me a box of old built-up's he had as a kid, in the mix was a very glue bombed Blue Beetle kit. I had taken all the key parts that made the BB, and put them in a box, and after all these years I finally came across that box of parts!!! I set out to do a simple build, no extra detailing, just a good clean build of a great classic. I used a reissued Monogram '29 Roadster PU as a starting point, and all the key parts from the original (firewall, carbs & intake, Cadillac valve covers, seats, Etc.) and I also used the wheels and tires from an Orange Hauler. I was going to use the rear wheels from a Lil Coffin to be more exact, but liked the matching rims better (even though mismatched wheels were the thing back in the 60's) It's painted Duplicolor Aqua metallic w/ Dupont 2 part clear urethane. I didn't build this as a contest contender, but entered it at two shows I went to, and to my disbelief it won Peoples Choice at one, and best in class at the other!!! This was a really fun project!!!

Hi all!!! Another newbie here, but a long time builder. Here is my first in a series of vintage box art models. I started with a 1963 issue of the AMT '32 Victoria, and set out to build it as the custom version on the box end. It's built straight out of the box with only two aftermarket details. I used Shabo white walls, and a photo etched gage cluster. No extra wiring, just a good clean build like we wish we could have done back then!!!

Awesome stuff!!! You have the 'true fire" down!!!