AmericanMuscleFan

Hello everyone, This is my smallest update to date! I didn't have much time on the bench as I was forced to make an unexpected purchase that took up most of my weekend. Basically, I've started making the interior rear panels now that the door structure is complete. These will be glued to the body, the floor pan and the rear fender tubes (which are glued together) will fit together in the final assembly. Since I'm into this kind of fabrication, I intend to make the roof reinforcements to give continuity to the whole. The inside of the body was a bit damaged by the glue that held the windows, so this will be a good way to hide some of the scars left behind. I won't do all the details of these but I want to create a light car look with a partially emptied interior. Anyway, this will be a first for me and I will improvise as I go along in the making of the components, photos of this kind of detail are rather rare as you can imagine. Comments and suggestions are welcome. Francis I copied the radius of the rear wheel tubs onto a sheet of .020" styrene. I then cut and sanded them until they fit perfectly. I glued a strip of styrene to give them rigidity, these were sanded to fit inside the body before gluing them in place. This is what it looked like before I glued them in place for good. Of course, I used the floor pan to get the right position to glue them to their final location. Before I couldn't do it anymore, I had planned a seat for the rear windows but I had omitted to show you this because I found it rather simplistic. The hardest part was engraving a seat so that the syrene piece I added would fit into the roof. Seen from the outside, I'm thinking of moving and redoing the rear window support which should be closer to the side windows. Obviously they must be thinner than that, I am thinking of a solution... ?

Thank you for your kind comments Andy! These cars were not known for their build quality, but rather for their body style and performance. It is certain that mine will not show rust any time soon! ? As for the educational aspect, I would like to be able to show more pictures but I think the construction would never end. I am glad to see that what I do is of interest to some who like this kind of build. Francis

Thanks Ian! Let's say that these are just doors but they open the "door" to even more details to make bad a pun! ? Francis

Congratulations Daniel ! ? I agree, it's well deserved and it's nice to see that this category exists to allow us to see and appreciate all the work invested in such a project. This award while waiting for the "Best of Show" when it will be completed! ?

Thanks for the kind words Bob! This is just a drop in an ocean of things to do for this build and I think the rest of the details to add to them will make a big difference. We end up being caught in a spiral when we want to make details and it forces a little to continue so that what follows is consistent. I'm starting to discover unknown territories and I like it, it takes me out of my comfort zone and it makes me feel good! ? Francis

Very beautiful Thunderbird, we can't argue that the new headdress you grafted on it suits it perfectly! I love the color and I know (from seeing all of your models) that this shade is one of your favorites, It's a classy color like the builder who presents it to us! I just noticed that you used a Dana differential, it's not a reproach but we know how famous Ford is for its 9 inch which are a reference in the field. There's no harm in interchanging the parts, anyway they can't be found these days and I could tell you about it... ?

I don't know about their availability on Amazon but I advise you to look in your little change, sometimes we can find the American version on our side of the border. To be reusable, I think so because I intend to do so! ? The only thing is that the Canadian currency is losing value but luckily the format of the coin seems to keep its size! ?

Thanks Daniel, I also think the aluminum skins will take the doors to the next level and I'm considering doing an aluminum sheet to close the opening between the cabin and the trunk. This will give continuity and a "drag racing" look to the project! ? Francis

I know that certain issues can make us juggle the idea of stopping a project at certain times, but your perseverance pays off and you will appreciate it even more once it is finished. Each part is perfectly executed and thought out, all you have to do is cross the finish line which is looming on the horizon. The painting however is one of the most stressful parts of the build (at least for me) and I hope everything goes well. The pattern and the colors chosen are very beautiful and will give it a look that sticks with the time when these superb dragsters ruled the drag strips! ? By the way, I'll have to buy one of these ring clamp, it might save my fingers! ?

Hello everyone, I've had a lot of reason not to move forward lately because there's been a lot of action in my life. It would take a long time to explain to you but this site is not made for that so I will limit myself to saying that I hope that everything returns to normal soon! On the scale model side, I have almost finished the details of the doors and I will have to add an aluminum panel as interior trim, make the handles and the window cranks. For the latter, I will probably proceed later because I have to concentrate on finishing the structural components. The photos are in order of construction progress so it speaks for itself. I planned openings to insert side windows but it is not yet certain at this stage that I will put them in, at least the slots are there, that adds a little to the details anyway. I added a lot of bracing that will help support the panels on the interior side of the cabin. I hope you like them, I think they are my best so far although I haven't done many before. ? See you next time with more progress. Francis I used styrene strips to try to recreate the shapes of the doors on the interior side of the cabin. After a bit of sanding. I will add a thin aluminum panel as trim. Again, the dime is not to promote the Canadian currency, but to get a good focal point, this is the best trick I've found so far! ?

Thanks Jerry! Now I just have to bury them behind styrene... at least the part of the hinges mounted inside the door panels. ? Francis

Thanks Andrew, You have to pay the price when you decide to make only 1/25 scale models. Francis Thanks Daniel, I didn't take the easiest route but I'm pretty satisfied considering the complexity of the operation. It adds hours to the project but it's something I really wanted to do! ? Francis

Thank you Ian, I call these small victories and it will take many to deliver a finished product as I envision it! Francis Thanks Edgar! The current state of the project is probably not the most interesting, but it is one of the "musts" that I have to go through before I can have fun with the machining part. It will come one of these days but thanks for continuing to follow me! We were rather spared here by the freezing rain unlike the Montreal area which once again received the worst of the precipitation. Francis

There is no harm in moving slowly at this point, it's all in the details and you are doing a great job Daniel ! ?

I agree with Daniel, I also really like the gold Moroso valve covers, it looks so drag racing! ?

Super job on the grille Steve, nothing is achieved without effort and your good work is rewarded. A good blackening would also have given a good result, but it is difficult to do better than the look of an open grille where you can see the radiator! ?

Hello guys, I finished the second part of the hinges and did a test to see if they will work as I planned. It should be fine but I have to admit that there is not much space left and the thickness of the front fenders must be as thin as possible not to interfere. When the details of the doors are finished, only the end of the hinges will protrude and will be visible, the rest will be used to glue them inside the door. It's not easy to adjust the hinges on a real car so I chose this easier way of doing it because I couldn't see myself trying to mount the second part on the walls of the doors, the adjustment would have been nightmarish. Now I can finish the door details and continue with more work inside the cabin. I'll be back soon with more updates. Francis Second parts of the hinges being machined in the rotary table. Temporarily installed with brass bolts to verify proper operation, I will use smaller bolt heads of course. The hinges can open 90 degrees but the door will limit the opening once in place. It's pretty simple, but it works... It's not over yet but it looks promising! ? To give you an idea of how they are fixed inside the doors. I will take better shots when I do the fabrication of the door walls.

Thanks Steve! You don't have to worry, we are all silent visitors from time to time and it is not possible and necessary to comment every time. I'm having a lot of fun with this project and I'm trying to share as much as possible by trying to show what is relevant. I will try to hide my disasters as much as possible and share only my good shots. ??

The kind of detail I love! ?

You prove with each update that you are gaining in competence, this can be seen in the quality of your custom-made parts. I too think that the rotary table is one of the most useful tools and it allows you to machine surprising parts with great precision. There are several talented modelers on the forum and you are certainly one of them, I always find in your post ideas to use for my own projects. Thanks for that my friend! ?

Yes, I am, I bought all this nice equipment in order to improve the precision of what I could do manually with the basic tools and my two hands. I often take unconventional paths but my goal is to try to improve the recipe from time to time (what we call gaining experience). These are tools that seem intimidating but I have learned that you just have to work slowly and measure twice (maybe more...) before cutting. On the other hand, you need a wide range of cutting tools because this is often what limits the realization of a part where several sizes are necessary to create the details. Francis

Thanks Daniel! I've thought about it before and will probably buy one one of these days, but I've always been a little worried about the stiffness due to the weight of the motor assembly (head stock) when positioned at an angle. Keeping the cutting assembly (head stock) perpendicular to the bed with an angled table for the workpiece has always seemed like a more traditional way to go. I am self-taught in machining so my way of working may seem strange to experienced machinists. The goal is to get there but it's always interesting to see the approach of other modelers who make their own custom pieces. Francis

Thanks Bob, the second part is "in the works" and I hope to have them installed next week. Francis We would still need a digital camera or a smart phone to take pictures of the good shots developed to be able to upload them to the forum... ? Francis

Great job on the transmission Daniel, I'm not surprised that the whole thing fits well because you did everything the right way and now you're reaping the rewards!

The "to do list" is pretty extensive but it is good news for those who like this kind of build and I am one of them! ? By the way, the master cylinder and line lock are both superb!