Dennis Lacy

Nice build up of the new kit. I like how you reworked the headers to get rid of the under car exhaust.

I absolutely agree that Revell has really been bringing out some fantastic stuff over the last few years and overall they feature only minor accuracy issues, except in a couple of specific cases (like the '90 Mustang.) Because the '29 body is sitting on top of a '32 frame (a hot rod tradition going all the way back to the late 30's) or channeled over the '29-style frame. Neither scenario caters to having fenders without heavy modification. Practically no one would build a full scale hot rod like this (partly because of the work involved, partly because it doesn't look very good) so finding such a subject for Revell to use for engineering would be next to impossible. Even if a person has no interest in building a '29 Roadster in any form, that box of parts is an absolute kit-bashers delight! Luckily, AMT's '29 Roadster kit is easy to come by and has a stock body and fenders for those who prefer that.

Naturally, non-computer controlled engines in competent hands can make very impressive numbers. But, put those engines in a vehicle and lets see how far someone would want to drive it? Not to mention the fuel mileage would be in the gutter. Computer controlled performance engines, on the other hand... For example, one of my best friends has a 2001 Corvette ZO6 with a 520 rear wheel horsepower naturally aspirated LS3 in it that he built himself. Venture to guess that's a legitimate 575(ish) HP at the flywheel. Having personally spent time in the car I can vouch for the fact that it starts, idles and drives like a stock Corvette. It's still completely civilized. The only hint that it has a built engine is a very mild cam lope out of the stock titanium exhaust. But, put the pedal on the floor and all hell breaks loose. The car has absolutely violent acceleration and at 7K RPM sounds like a blue printed race engine. Now, I know you already know this, Bill. Just making conversation.

Absolutely correct about the Hot Rod version of the '29 Pickup containing a plain chrome cylinder head. Also, the Street Demons version of the kit is the same way and both of those feature closed cabs with the large back window. I'm pretty sure the Happy Days version also has the large window but I can't remember if it has the plain or Winfield chrome head. Those 3 versions were also missing the windshield visor. The Winfield script head, small back window and visor returned with the Rat Rods version of the kit. The Hot Rod version is a bit of an anomaly. It's the only one of the reissues of the '29 truck kit to feature smooth hood sides, smooth tailgate, 80's style Cragar billet Champ wheels and perhaps the coolest piece in the kit, a dropped headlight bar.

Looking back at this thread today it occurred to me that after all of the effort to put a Halibrand quick change axle under this thing I didn't take any pictures that show it off. Here's a couple more! Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki

It's an optical illusion. Part of it is because of the frame rails tapering down thinner towards the rear.

Considering you have been my biggest influence in scale hot rod building and after all the help I've been given from your magazine articles over the years, we'll call it even.

Here's my first take on Revell's new kit. Back in one of the review threads it was brought up that the kit could easily be built a 3rd way by using the optional Model A frame (intended for the channeled version) as a hiboy so i decided to take that approach. Setting it up that was is relatively easy with some trimming of the wheel wells and spacers on the engine mounts to raise it up a bit. Everything else more or less falls into place. I wanted to use a lot of the kit but did make the following mods: - Revell '49 Custom Mercury chrome reverse wheels. - Revell M&H Racemaster slicks. - Revell '32 Ford frame front cross member and frame horns. - Revell '32 5-Window Moon auxiliary fuel tank. - Revell '32 Fords radiator shell & grill, chopped 1/8" and lowered over frame 1/8" - Bashed together Halibrand quick change rear axle. - '50 Pontiac taillights. - Pinstripe decals from assorted Revell hot rod kits. - Testors one-coat Pure Gold. Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki

It's the Model A grill. One, it should be a '32 grill. Two, it sits way too far forward on the channeled version. Also, the stance for both versions isn't good. At least the channeled version as a hint of rake. The '32 frame version sits flat as a board. As far as the channeled version goes, your efforts to lower the front go a long way towards making the car look a lot better. I also really like the color scheme you chose. It suits the car well. PS: All of the brake plates on your black '32 chassis are upside down...

Yup, that's the one! It's still evolving, too. As of now sports a homemade Hallock-style aluminum split V'd windshield.

Absolutely fantastic, Tim! You know you've built a hot rod right when such a simple car is dripping with style. The color scheme suits it perfectly and the built Caddy engine and quick change rear make it look really tough. I also like the departure from the common by using the '34 truck grill. Those don't just work on anything but it really does work for this car.

Saying that doesn't offend me! Thanks for such a generous compliment. It's awesome how many fresh projects and completions this kit has stirred up in the last few weeks. They've all been really cool and I'm sure there's plenty more that will be popping up. I'm already making plans for #2.

I have used Model Master Ultra Gloss clear (from their factory color line) over Tamiya paint many times. Never had a problem. It doesn't hurt decals, either. It gives a really glossy finish and dries in an hour to hard shell.

This is a killer patina-rod! I love all of the coloring and texturing. I also love that it looks worn and weathered and not totally rotted out. This is exactly the kind of hot rod I would drive around. It also reminds me a lot of my friend Frank Barone's '29 Roadster that he's been driving around for a decade or more! Hosted on Fotki

Tim, your chassis looks great! The '49 Merc Caddy engine looks awesome decked out in all of the Revell parts pack accessories. There's something about a staggered 4-carb intake that just looks tough as hell. Can't wait to see the coupe body dropped on! These wheels, front tires and hubcaps are based on the parts from Monogram's original version of the '34 Coupe/Cabriolet kit from the 60's which could be built stock. The rear tires are based on Monogram '41 Lincoln. They're a beautiful wheel and tire set and arguably one of the nicest set of early Ford wires there is.

Fixed that for you, LOL! The wheels are from Revell's '49 Mercury, front tires from the new '29 kit and the slicks are Revell M&H like what come in the Orange Crate, older SWC Willys, etc... I don't know where the roll bar comes from, I found it in one of my parts boxes. It was full height to fit in the interior of something so I cut it down to simulate it passing through the back body panel and down to the floor. Glad you like it!

UPDATE During the week I managed to get everything for this project painted. Only had a 1-day weekend so today I spent the afternoon and a little bit of the evening and did the best I could which included doing a bunch of fine detail painting and black washing. I would say the roadster is 80% there. The body is not glued down yet and the wheels are not attached but I couldn't help mocking everything up for a sneak peek. Worst case, it will be finished by next Sunday. Please excuse the poor lighting. Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki

The problem isn't so much that the frame is too long, it's that Revell placed the radiator and shell farther forward to make room for the length of the engine. On the version I'm building I used a chopped Revell '32 grill and mounted it over the front cross member like it should be. The hood top is an AMT '29 Roadster with no modification other than thinning the back side so it fit around the firewall. Hosted on Fotki

Sweet! The positioning of the cab and bed look really good. Will look even better with the bed cut down. The track nose from the truck kit looks really heavy. I bet it would help a ton to cut a strip off of the back edge to thin it down. I'd say a quarter of an inch. That'll get rid of the bulky look it has and will also cut down on the height getting it better lined up with the top of the cowl.

I throw them all away. I don't see the point in hording paper. As soon as the kit box is empty it goes in the recycle can, too. I mean, I can see the point in keeping a super crisp instruction sheet from an original issue 50's or 60's kit because (for example) the AMT Trophy ones have the neat "Hints by Barris" customizing suggestions on the back. But, to me, there's absolutely no value in modern issue sheets. I try and learn from people like my Dad who open a box after 40 years and ask, "Why did I keep all this BS?" I always did keep all my Lego instruction books as a kid, though, because those actually get torn down and rebuilt.

I'm using the hiboy exhaust pipes on my A-framed hiboy. The relationship between the floor and body is no different because we're still using the hiboy interior panels which set the height of the floor relative to the body, All we've done is switched frames, which the floor doesn't care about. I mocked it all up as the only concern I had was that the hiboy pipes would snake around the A frame cross members correctly, which they do. Coker only offers the straight ribbed track tires in front sizes. They come in 500-15, 500-16, 500-17 and 500-18. I look forward to seeing your conversion article surface, Even though I've already done the same conversion I just enjoy your how-to articles!

UPDATE We have color, Clarence! Been chipping away at getting this thing painted and as of tonight everything chassis related is good to go, minus fine detailing (like all the finned engine parts, black washing, etc.) The frame and some assorted parts are Testors 1-coat Pure Gold, the Buick engine is Duplicolor red, some pieces Tamiya semi-gloss black, exhaust pipes Tamiya flat white and the aluminum parts Testors metallizer. Hosted on Fotki All of the interior and body parts are in primer and will be getting color tomorrow and Friday. I might just have it all ready for final assembly this weekend. We'll see...

Beautiful kit bashed '29 Roadster, Tim! It looks sweet in white pearl and I never would have thought to combine the maroon and midnight blue accents but somehow it really does work. Although Firestone never made the ribbed track tires in big rear sizes it does look pretty neat having the matching sidewall and tread design fore & aft. The dual quad intake is a nice touch, too. Did you prop the front of the engine up with spacers? Also, which set of exhaust pipes did you use front and rear, hiboy or channeled?

The colors you chose are fantastic! The frame looks incredible in that metallic blue and the high quality craftsmanship shows really well. Keep at it, there's still 2 days and nights left! I feel like I've seen the term "Extreme Rod" used to describe cars built with exaggerated rat rod proportions but nicely finished. I think Extreme Rod defines this particular project perfectly.

Like has been said, these cars were made up by combining all of the individual Parts Packs. For the Scarlet Screamer shown above I have the individual frame kit and Pontiac engine. Neither the frame or that engine have any kind of engine mounting provisions. Tim Boyd said above that he recalls the parts in the Double Car Kits having slight tweaks to aid in assembly. ACE, since you claim to own all of these plus the individual kits is there any way you could confirm this???