AmericanMuscleFan

Your Missile is awesome Scott, I can't wait to see the final photos. I'm not an expert but I think your wheelie bars are upside down, the rod with the compression spring is supposed to be on top. There are many types and yours could be a different model from the one in the photo I attached? Sorry for uploading a photo to your thread but at least it's a Mopar! ?

Thanks to each of you guys, I won't be in the making of the biggest parts in the coming days (weeks... ?) but it's a must and I hope that the sum of all these little things will make a nice whole, may your patience be rewarded and my eyes relieved. ? Francis

Great demonstration of resourcefulness Charlie, it was just you to have thought of that! ?

Glad to see this cool project back on track Tim, I really love these old Pro Stock and this unusual FORD body is no exception! ?

Hello everyone, It's time for another update, but know that this isn't my biggest part of the project. I've been making functional driveshafts and universal joints for a while, but I've always wanted to improve my technique and make them more accurate. As you can see in my previous update, I thought about using a small brass bolt (and nuts) to simulate the pinion so the next step was to adapt the yoke to it. I also thought of a new way to make the universal joint, I'm working on it and I hope to show you the result soon. My goal is to complete all the components for the rear suspension, brake system and the wheelie bars before moving to the front. In the meantime, I hope you like my latest little offering! Francis The differential yoke at early stage of machining. Drilling hole for the universal joint seat. I drilled 4 holes for the studs and I machined a clearance for the u-joint bracket nuts. I made a bevel cut to simulate the shape of the real thing. Another plan adding cuts to refine the part. I created an opening and a seat for the nut that hold the pinion in place. The final part after a lot of calculations and a bunch of small cuts. I think this is definitely my best yet without wanting to deny what I've done before, I guess I can call it improving! ?

That's not necessary, they were workhorses, weren't they? ? Your French is impeccable by the way! ?

Superb work Claude, once again but I'm not really surprised, your imagination and your ability to bring them to fruition have been demonstrated for a long time. Of course, I'm a little biased, but this one could be a serious SEMA show winning contender. ? The execution is flawless as usual and I notice the skid plate under the car, a legacy of your love for salt flat cars if I may say so. ?

Don't know why but I love your new project Pat! ?

Great project Ace, sad to know that something is stopping you from moving forward?

Thanks Scott, I would have thought you would be "blown away" at how slow I am... ? I would love to have more time at the bench and follow the cadence of ideas that loop in my head. I have the impression that when I get there, my brain will be lazier... ? I'll come back to you with my latest madness at the start of the week, I hope to have a productive day, it's snowing around here, heavy spring snow... in winter! By the way, I love your Motown Missile, they're my favorite drag racing team, I'm a little biased... ? Francis

Good job Robert, great idea for the hood scoop, it's certainly the best way to have it perfectly aligned with the carburetors! ?

Thanks Tin, I'm surprised myself, I made the last one using a completely different technique. The important thing is to achieve your goals as they say! ? Francis

I am limited by the size of my end mills... ? The trans will surely squeal, I don't have the appropriate grade of oil for the 1/25 scale... ?

Looking at your work on the grille, I think you don't need anyone's help my friend (I love this kind of improvement by the way). These old Johan bodies are so beautifully molded and the sharpness of the body lines and details are unmatched today it seems like a lost art. You have a busy workspace but I love your board with important information about your project, my workspace is pitiful in comparison! Glad to see you back, I hope I can finish a project in less than 3 years one of these days. ?

Breathtaking or mind-boggling, I don't know which of these words is more appropriate so I choose both!!! ? I was just wondering where you source your white metal, there aren't many modelers who use it but you have mastered an art that is not common to everyone or anyone I should say!

Thanks Randy, what surprises me the most is that you can do better with two hands and manual tools. This is proof that tools do not replace talent and you have no shortage of it, I am in awe of your prowess my friend! Francis

Thanks Daniel, I love the four-jaw chuck because it holds the workpiece with more force, the only negative side is that it cannot grip parts as small as the three-jaw chuck. Francis

Stop giving me ideas Rich, I'll never finish it! ? Francis

Thanks Scott, I'm still waiting for the tapping and die tool kit but the elves who make them are on strike at the moment. ? Wait until you see the differential yoke I started working on, I'm starting to find my tools unnecessarily big for these things. ? Francis

I am with you Charlie, sad that there is only one in a normal car! ? Your work is so inspiring my friend! ?

Hello everyone, Sorry for the delay, I'm a bit stuck on time this week as I work nights but I wanted to post my recent progress before heading back to the factory. I have few comments to make, I think I'm not fully awake yet and I'm having a little difficulty finding my words... ? In any case, photos are worth a thousand words and feel free to ask questions if you want explanations on anything. See you soon with other machined parts. Francis Dana 60 cover at the very beginning of machining. I moved on to a smaller end mill to gradually add more detail. Slow progress is essential to avoid making mistakes and having to start again. Almost complete, the simulation of the embossings between the holes for the mounting bolts was done using a 0.020" end mill. The cover is now separated from the rod. Thanks to Tim (Codi) for the inspiration (you can never have too much!) to add these little extra details. The fit is very good. I will drill holes later on the Dana for the small brass bolts.

At my current pace the parts would cost as much as the real ones, my slowness would probably earn me 10 cents an hour... ?

Thanks for the kind comments Ian, it's just the result of an endless amount of little cuts, rotations and angle changes with a good dose of filing and sanding! You'll laugh, I'm happy with the result but I think the next one I'll make will be in styrene because I think I could do better with more details, we'll see then... I've made further progress and will post the photos soon. Francis

WOW !!!!!!!! Fantastic job Scott, the paint job is absolutely superb. The Clutchflite would have been an incredible detail, but I understand your feeling about all the resources that would have been required to make one. Sometimes you have to make choices and that doesn't take away from the quality of your project. ?

Thanks Randy, the word artist is certainly exaggerated and coming from a master like you it is received with great humility. I still have a lot of work to do to approach the quality level of your talent! Francis Thanks Tim, as I mentioned on your Maverick thread, I'm so happy to see you back, your prowess has been a huge inspiration to me since I joined the forum a few years ago. Documenting and explaining how the pieces are made takes a lot of time, but I think it's my way of showing what you can achieve when you believe in it. Trying to improve the flaws of the original kits is more difficult because there are many great experts on the forum, there is little or no margin for error. With your great talent, I have no worries that everything will be done to the highest standards! Francis Thank you for your open-mindedness Ace, I always think that regardless of the brand I would have the same interest in it, I'm just more in my comfort zone with Mopars. When you spend so many hours on a project, you have to choose the right one because it stays on your workspace for a long time and the motivation has to follow to the finish line. Maybe one day I will change my approach and do less detail in order to make all the models I like and there are Fords in this long list! ? Francis