JPL-ACE

Thanks for the response. Your pic of the Pioneer Center door seems like a remake (not a re-issue) if the drawing is correct. My model does not have the box on the running board on the passenger side (nor room for it) but it has a canister on the drivers side. I take that as a clue I should see the Box in the pic show up on the model. It doesent. I think I see the frame in the bag of parts and it is not the same as my part, to my eye. I think I will be content thinking this is a 1915 Ford Center Door cut down a wee bit 😉 Thanks again for the help.

Sorry, I wrote the scale in reverse. It still means the same with a little logic. That is, a ratio of 143 to 1 if you are describing the large end first. In any case, 1:143 is the same as 1/143 and 1/25 is the same as 1:25. Google reports 1:143 as the most popular model scale and 1/25 is most popular scale for model cars. Your guess at 1:32 seems right. I guessed way wrong with 1:143. I think I meant 1:43 which is close to 1:32. Bigtruck commenter (in question forum) also thinks 1:32 and pointed to a Gowland and Gowland model that could be the one. Thanks for your help.

Thanks Johny. PS I posted my question on the Question Forum.

I inherited a cute half-done model T and I don't know what kit it is from. It also is not 1/25 scale. I think it is 143:1 or 142:1 as they are fairly popular. I have the original frame and a modified frame and the modified sedan cabin. I think it is a 1915 Ford Model T Centerdoor sedan. Anyone have or know about it? Just curious. I am building it now with scrap (junkyard parts. See Phonebooth T in WIP, Thanks.

Some of you younger modelers might not know what a phone booth is. But you may have seen it in old movies. Anyway, a tall but tiny box dedicated for use as a public telephone station (a dime a call!). So my model I am working on right now is a tall model T. Actually a modified 1915 (about) Center Door. As it happens, I inherited this mostly as you see it below from my cousin Dale who passed away in a car accident 50 years ago. I have not done much with it over that time. Dale was a very creative and quality modeler. I have several other projects I want to finish that he started. This one is very cute. It is also 143:1 or 142:1 as a guess. I will ask the forum if they recognize it. Below are the main parts I have from Dale. The last picture is a preview mock-up of the T. I added some parts from my junkyard that I might use.

Thanks Bob. I kept my top on most of the time too. Not a Wind-in-the-hair kinda guy. Good old days...

Thanks for the comment, Ken. Is the picture by your name the 60 Vette? Looks pretty good. 1983 is not far from when I sold mine. About 1975.

Thanks for the compliment, Johnny. I had my 1:1 58 for 5 years or so back in the '70s while going to college. Wish I never sold it. And thanks also to Espo's complement too.

Sorry I took so long to finish but now you can see it.

Final assembly done. Put in rear end, drive shaft, front wheels with springs and steering, header flanges, exhaust pipes, tail and headlights, floor pan, rear view mirror, BMF and chrome painting, interior tub, engine bay, windshield and finished the roof. Note that the roof is inaccurate for this car. I owned a 58 which is the same body and the roof allows roll-up windows and this one has a giant gap that just could not work. In the real 1:1 world, it would be 6" back and 2" sideways. I could lock my 58 and drive in the rain. No way I could fix the model. The BMF was hard as this is my first use of it. Not perfect but I am happy with my first attempt. I used Molotow pens for some parts and started using masking to make cleaner lines. I am happy with that too, mostly. The interior tub and front windshield were a pain. Mostly did not line up and had to fit 3 major assemblies at the same time. I never had the model box which was missing instructions and parts so I don't know what manufacturer to bad mouth on the kit design. I have a 58 kit from Ravell that looks good and is recommended in several places. That will be for my 1:1 version. I wish I had taken some pictures of my 58. I don't remember the custom hood I had with (I think) a Ford bubble for clearance of my dual quads on cross ram. Anyway, here are a few pictures. Maybe I will post some in the "finished" section of the forum.

In about the middle of the scenes is a pic of Mel's dinner with the scooter on the right side. On the left is the 58 Chevy too. The scooter is partly obscured. It is also in another Mels shot but very tiny and obscured also. I don't know how to search the pics nor how to get a URL to see it.

I graduated HS in 64 and did plenty of cruising in S. Cal. And the movie is one of my favorites. So many memories. Now you do it all justice guy, incredible Diorama. Too bad you don't have a museum space for a permanent display. Of course, the builders probably want the cars back so would not work anyway. Thanks for the pics which will last longer too. Now where did I put that movie...

Cool, Coffee shop and Cafe have some diorama potential.

Very clever Tony. Particularly nice clean work and good detail.

I like the details like the shelf full of tiny stuff. Nice job. I am thinking about doing one but the cost of the diorama kits put me off. I have a lot of stuff from old kits I may be able to scratch-build the rest.

I often use tans and creamy colors for the interior as they contrast well. I did the same thing on my Avanti I just finished, with goldish body paint. Thanks for the comment Len.

I bought a Revell 58 Corvette Roadster kit some time ago. It does not say or look like it has an open trunk, but it has 137 parts and looks detailed in the pics. I opened the box and the instructions show an opening trunk, so I do have it already. Thanks for the suggestion.

Thanks Carl.

Thanks, Brian. I am itchen to build and afraid I will mess it up. So I have another half dozen to practice on. Busy alright.

Thanks, John. I have built 4 practice models so far and I am not satisfied yet. I have collected a dozen models of favorite cars I have owned and I want to do them justice.

Your work is coming along nicely John. I especially like the engine. Your attention to detail is fantastic. I also like to scratch build accessories. It is the little things that can make a model stand out.

After a short spell of procrastination, problems, and other fun, here is a slight update to the 60 Vette. Here is a more detailed engine bay. Pay particular attention to the battery cables. I don't usually wire my models because I have not perfected that technique yet. But this came out pretty good. In the next 2 pictures, I show a mock-up of the chassis and the painted body. I am planning to try to chrome the body next. Molotow pens and the metal foil (which I never used before). Wish me luck.

Did you post yours? You may be too modest. Thanks for the comment.

Also, look at the 1950s turret back window or better, the 1953 2-door very sleekly styled sedan. The 53 was used on speed runs on the salt flats for many decades.