Dennis Lacy

Yup, there are some kitted original Coddington designs. These (from the original issue of the ‘37 Sedan) are some of his earliest 3-piece style with the bullet shaped center cap. The follow-up Revell 1937 Convertible with Trailer also has a really nice set of them but with second generation flat center caps. Those stayed for later issues of the Sedan.

Oh man, you gotta join in on the 80’s fun, Craig! This is one of several I have planned. Let’s bring it back!!! ?

Man, this looks totally bad ass! I love everything about it. I had the original issue lime green one as a kit and this makes me want to build another.

I hadn’t checked back on this project in a while and came in to find the nearly finished chassis and body in color. Wow! Everything looks great. I love the look of the interior both in colors and parts choices. Very reminiscent of the Anglia street rods of the 90’s. Can’t wait to see how it looks completed!

Thanks!

Not 1936, the Vette IRS is in AMT’s 1934 5-Window. Street Rod version only or 2-in-1. It’s also in that kits predecessor, the 1933 Sedan Street Rod.

Nice! Looking forward to seeing that project. And for real on the cost of the hobby these days. I don’t wanna think about the full scale things I could have done with the money I’ve spent on models. LOL!

UPDATE! @tim boyd I've been thinking about my response to Tim (just above) all day since I wrote and posted it. In particular my comments about the wheels. I really do want this truck to be recognizable to anyone who remembers his old How-To so tonight I decided to mock the truck back up using the same wheels that Tim used, the Boyd Coddington wheels from Monogram's original release of their 1937 Ford Sedan. As it turns out I already had this set stripped and fit to these tires complete with inner rim halves (from a previous project that I abandoned.) The rear tires are identical to what I was already using and the fronts are the little Dunlop's from Revell's 1932 HiBoy Roadster. The front tires had to be trimmed out to fit these wheels. I was also able to get the radiator and shell to stay together (thanks to flash on the radiator making them a tight interference fit) and stand up and pop a set of headlights on. After seeing this mock up I'm 100% convinced to go this route. I'll save the first set of wheels and tires for something else. I always envisioned this project using the Coddington wheels so I don't know why I set out with something else... And for S&G's, how about the view of that fancy Corvette IRS hanging out back! That's all for now. Let me know what you think of the wheel change. ?

Thanks, man! Good to see you here, too. Are you gonna get back to building?

It’s like when a guy buys an already finished street rod and then changes the wheels and some other details to make it feel like their own. This has been a project I struggled with starting because I had my own ideas to personalize it but I also want it to be immediately recognizable as inspired by your article. I saw RRR’s white truck above several years ago in some pictures he texted one day of how full his display cabinet was getting. I noticed a few models I had never seen before, pointed that truck out and a few minutes later he sent me pictures of it. While the truck is very much his own spin I immediately knew your article was his inspiration which I asked and he confirmed. So I hope that’s where I end up with this project. I’m still torn on the wheels and part of me wants to use the same original issue ‘37 Sedan Coddington wheels you did to keep that connection unmistakable. I really enjoy sharing my process hoping that what I’m doing can help someone else out with their scale hot rods. I greatly enjoy and appreciate lots of pictures and thorough descriptions from other modelers so I do the same. There’s a lot of negative aspects that the World Wide Web has brought out but one of the positives are hobby forums like this one where we can all really go deep and get answers to our questions. Back in the day if I was reading Modelers Corner and wanted something clarified I was out of luck. But, now here we are interacting on this forum. It’s a trip!

UPDATE! Back at it and now it's time to focus on updating the chassis. The first order of business was to modify the under bed supports to accommodate Z'ing the frame. The original front-to-back supports would be in the way so I installed a pair of left-to-right braces made from Evergreen rectangle rod then removed the middle sections of the original supports. (Original top, modified bottom.) Here you can see in the original article that Tim Z'd the back of his frame to help get the back end low. He was able to do this using a single frame and then trimming the rear cross member to still fit beneath the bed. I approached mine different by cutting off the back end of the frame and building a new rear section from Evergreen rectangle stock. I stacked the front edge on top of the original frame rails and then angle cut the tops and bottoms to create the "Z" look. I then added an aditional cross brace and fore/aft member which will make more sense later. Here you can see how the Z'd frame fits up into the modified under bed structure. Tim used a modified Monogram Jaguar XKE independent rear suspension which he fit the modified original rear cross member. I don't have a Jag IRS on-hand so I decided to go with another staple hot rod IRS, a Corvette unit. This one comes from AMT's 1934 5-Window Coupe Street Rod. The whole reason for running a Jag or Vette IRS in one of these Model A pickups is the impressive wide open view from the rear to show it off! Tim built his transmission mount and center "X" structure using pieces cut up from Monogram's '37 Ford creating a very stout and realistic looking frame. I started to modify the center cross member the same way Tim did, by cutting the center member out of a Monogram '37 Ford frame (left) and trimming it down to fit inside the stock Model A center member (middle). A stock Revell A frame is shown (right) for reference. I didn't get to creating the "X" braces yet, that will have to wait for next time. I made some front engine brackets from .040" bottom plates and .020" side gussets. I had to get the engine as far forward as possible so the tunnel ram induction will clear the firewall. I don't have the rear wheels adapted to the Corvette IRS yet and I didn't get to the front axle set up so I simply taped the frame to the fender unit and then set the fenders onto the wheels and tires. With the engine located and mocked up we can at least get a look at how that stacked tunnel ram small block fills the engine bay with the air filters just above the top of the cowl. I couldn't have hoped for a better result! That's where I ended up this afternoon. Let me know what you guys think! @tim boyd

Nice to see another one of Ed's bodies getting built. Looks great so far! (Also dig the Drag City '32 Fordor in background!)

UPDATE! A small update but progress is progress. I was able to get the floor "carpet" and inside of the firewall painted. Did a quick mock up to see how the final interior paint scheme looked together. Very pleased. I also sprayed the underside of the floor and hood panels flat black. Getting closer...

Nice, clean build of this kit. Like Alan said, nice to see someone get the trim correct on the hood and rear windows. I have one of these in the works right now so this is good inspiration to keep on it. ?

Sweet! Always liked these old Willys trucks and wagons. Looking forward to seeing it come together. What’s the spice for the cab?

After reading this I went straight to eBay to see if there were any reasonably priced. ? No dice at the moment but I’ll keep my eyes peeled. I’ve actually never owned an issue of this kit! Guess I better get with it. ?

More, more, more! (Because I know you’re farther along than this) ?

LMAO! Those exact words left my fathers mouth countless times in my youth. Looking back on it as a 40 year old, if what I was doing in school was half as interesting as building models I probably would have made a better effort. ?

I absolutely never imagined that which proves that there are actually some positive attributes of the internet. ?

Thanks, Chris! For someone who has only witnessed me build strictly traditional hot rods you’re about to witness my hidden inner 80’s emerge. ???

This turned out absolutely fantastic, Roger! The meshing of the two truck looks so seamless it's as if the kit was engineered like this, along the lines of AMT's Phantom Vicky Or Revell's Foose FD100. I love the colors you chose and that you stuck with the steelie wheels and dog dish caps. It looks like an old truck but at the same time it's immediately obvious it's a hot rod.

I know nothing about any era of Mopar vehicles but I know an excellent model when I see one! I also enjoy the kit-bashing noted as it shows what all it took to get to where you wanted to be. You pulled out all the stops on the detailing, the engine and chassis look fantastic.

Excellent Model A, Phil! The full scale car is the quintessential street rod. Good looks and a well upgraded chassis that will make driving enjoyable. Your model is a terrific replica of it. There’s some really clever kit-bashing going on here which I greatly appreciate. ?

I was hoping this would excite you, glad it did! I’ve been wanting to get going on this project for a good while now and actually the clincher was recently picking up a complete Revell ‘67 Chevelle Pro Street engine parts set from eBay which included the Supertrap exhaust like you used. While I’m changing some things that is one of the must-have details. I also appreciate the sentiments regarding my abilities and not to get all gushy here but your influences over the years is a big part of what got me to where I am with model building, so thank you! ? And, while my truck won’t be pink rest assured that it will definitely be some equally obnoxious 80’s colors!!! ?

I’m glad you shared your truck and hoped you would after seeing those pics this morning. ? I love everything about it! Who knows, maybe someone else will pop out of the woodwork with a version they did? Let’s hope so!