Dennis Lacy

This project had been started in the late Summer of last year, worked on periodically then stalled out in February. In the last week and a half I challenged myself to finish it. Not only because I wanted to see it finished, but also because at the end of this week I will be moving and it's unknown what kind of down-time I will have as a result. I started this because it's very rare, practically never in fact, to see a '29 closed cab pickup mounted to a '32 frame. It has been done 100's of times with '29 roadster pickups but for some reason just gets over looked with a closed cab. I also wanted the truck to look useable so it was decided early on to leave the body in primer. I guess one could say that this would be perfect for a "shop truck". Chassis: Revell '32 5-Window, front and rear suspension modified to sit considerably lower. Wheels & Tires: Steel disc wheels / caps / rings from Revell '32 5-Window. Modelhaus T110 & T180 tires. Engine: Chrysler style Hemi from Revell '32 5-Window. Intake modified to use 3 Rochester 2 bbl carbs, flame arrestor air scoops from 70's AMT '34 3-Window, pieced together over the frame headers, Parts By Parks pre-wired distributor, scratch-built coil and fuel log, leftover ignition wire for fuel hoses and fittings from Detail Master. Body: Revell '29 Pickup radiator/shell, cab & bed. Cab chopped 3/16", bed shortened, scratch built bed filler panels with custom rolled pan from '29 pickup kit molded in. Revell '32 series headlights, Monogram '40 Pickup taillights. Interior: Revell '29 Pickup dashboard, gauge panel & stock seat, AMT '41 Woody steering wheel on home made column, front floor panel & shifter from Revell '32 5-Window. Paint: Duplicolor Red-Oxide primer, Duplicolor Semi-Gloss and Gloss Black, Tamiya Racing White.

I've been in a vintage drag-race state of mind lately and this is one of those builds I just had to do the second I started thinking about it. It was an easy project taking only a week and a half which is unheard of for me! Nothing really fancy going on here. Combined the chassis from the Double Dragster kit Fiat and an AMT Parts Pack '23 T altered body kit. The cowl top and dashboard come as seperate pieces so I molded them into the main body shell. Stripped the chrome off of the blower assembly and the wheels and detailed them out with paint & wash. Changed out the tires to Modelhaus T120 up front and the Parts Pack exclusive red pinstripe slicks out back. Ditched the painted front shell in favor of the plated version from the '25 Double T kit. The Sinclair decals come from Lindberg's '34 Pickup kit, the other decals from the Double Dragster sheet. Paint is Testors 1-coat Mystic Emerald with Tamiya Gold on the engine. To get the dow-7 coating look on the wheels I used Model Master "Jet Exhaust" with some semi-gloss clear. Added some plug wires using the kit magneto. And a parting shot with its big brother twin-engine rail from the Double Dragster set that I completed last year.

This project was inspired by an illustration found on the backside of the original AMT Trophy Series instructions for the 1934 Ford Pickup. On this back page is a section of model customizing hints by George Barris. I wanted the model to have a 60's retro "Box Art" feel to it so a minimalistic approach was taken and it is not necessarilly accurate to any particular racing class or period in time. Like the illustration, the top is not chopped, the bed is not shortened and the chassis is simply right out of the box. The blown Pontiac engine is a combination of the block/trans from an AMT '36 Coupe and the heads, intake, front cover, blower assembly, valve covers and headers from AMT's Competition Parts Pack Pontiac engine. For a little extra detail a Parts by Parks pre-wired distributor was used with a scratched coil. The front and rear wheels came from a 60's issue AMT '32 Vicky, the front tires are new AMT pad-printed wide whites and the M&H slicks are from AMT's new Slicks Parts Pack. Several of the '34 Pickups custom accesories were used including the grill, firewall, bucket seats and bed cover. The molded lump of a taillight was also sawed off and replaced with a seperate chrome housing from a Revell '37 Pickup and a custom lense from the Ala Kart. The body & frame are finished in Testors 1-coat Mythical Maroon, the engine in Tamiya Gold with aluminum metallizer & black wash, the suspension in good old shiny black and the windshield & rear window were tinted with a red Sharpie marker. And lastly a fun parting shot. My newly finished '34 Drag Truck with the '32 Vicky I finished late last year.

I've been working on this little roadster off and on since June of last year and I have to say I am particularly proud of it. Definitely raised my personal bar a notch or two with this one. And, now people can't tell me in their comments "It would look even cooler with engine wiring" because it's got a set of plug wires AND fuel hoses. So there! So, basically what I wanted to do with this project is something no one does, put an earlier than '26 T on top of a pair of '32 frame rails. I had done it a year ago with the chopped '25 T Coupe body and now here's the '25 T Roadster version. Body: AMT '25 Roadster cab, custom short bed, radiator/shell, headlights and chopped windshield. Interior: AMT '25 Roadster custom interior unit and dashboard. Firewall set back and '40 Deluxe steering wheel on a home made column & drop. Frame: Revell '32 frame side rails with home made front cross members, engine mounts, spring perch and Z'd rear section. Cut-down Revell '40 Ford X-member. Front Suspension: Revell '29 Pickup dropped axle, brake plates, steering arms, tierod and gear box. Home made drag link & pitman arm. Revell '32 5-Window hairpins. Rear Suspension: Revell '32 Ford axle with fake quickchange cover, modified coil-overs and shortened trailing arms. Wheels & Tires: AMT '36 Ford wheels & caps with Modelhaus T110 and T180 tires. Engine: Revell '40 Ford engine block, front cover, distributor, water hoses and Stromberg carbs. Revell '48 Ford Convertible "Motor City Flathead" heads & air filter. Model Car Garage resin 3x2 intake & risers. Revell '37 Pickup stock exhaust manifolds. Home made exhaust pipes with AMT '36 Ford custom mufflers and turn-outs. Paint: Tamiya "British Green", "Olive Drab #2", Craft Smart "Espresso" (interior/bed cover) and various shades of Testors Metallizers and home made blackwash.

That's a really cool build! Very representative of one of the segments of hot rodding where a guys 1st priority is getting it running. I like how the body is textured. What did you use as a paint stripper that resulted in this? Those Hemi valve covers look a lot better painted than plated.

Thank you for the nice comments, everyone! While not a detailed build, these old AMT kits are still a blast to put together - especially in a retro box-art style like this. This one was a nice offset from the several quite involved projects I have going. I'm gonna have to do another in the near future.

1932 FORD VICTORIA VINTAGE RACER My mission with this project was a basic clean & simple build with a 60’s box art vibe. This is the first time I have built one of these old AMT kits in this style and I have to admit it was fun! This was actually an 80’s re-issue that I back-dated with the race headers and log manifold / 6x2 carburetor setup. The chassis uses a combination of the stock front suspension and optional rear Oldsmobile? axle with trailing arms. The chrome wheels and white stripe front tires were taken from the AMT “Double T” re-issue and the whitewall slicks are from AMT’s new parts pack. Paint is all Tamiya - Gold on the body, Mica Silver on the suspension and Mica Red on the engine. Decals come from the AMT “Double T” and “Double Dragster”. Hope y’all enjoy!

Looks like you are off to a good start! Should look good in those colors you're planning. What kind of engine are you thinking it will have? Oh, and one more question: Are you sure you got it low enough? LOL!

Everyone, thank you for your generous replies! I had a lot of fun building this model as it gets down to what a hot rodder really needs - a big motor in a light little car. The 1:1 roadster that inspired this project has been a staple at traditional hot rod events in Southern California for many years and was even the owners daily driver for over a year - rain or shine! This is not the first model where I have recieved (many) suggestions to add aditional detailing and I appreciate that people feel that I am at a point where I should head in that direction. I plan to at some point and it will happen when I feel it but I'm just having fun. I'm 31 and back in my teens I burned myself out trying to do too much. I've been back building for a couple of years and I'm trying to keep it fun this time around. But, again, I do appreciate the suggestions! Lastly, it was a real treat to have Tim Boyd comment on this build! I have been a major fan of Tim's hot rod builds for many years and used to eagerly await the arrival of my Dad's Street Rodder Magazine issues so that I could check out Tim's "Modelers Corner" column. Thank you, Tim! Thanks again, guys!

Thank you for all of the replies, everyone, they are very much appreciated! One of my goals with this build was to actually USE the kit provided small block Ford engine as I normally discard it for something vintage. With that in mind, I wanted to not only use the engine but give it a convincing vintage appearance. From the sound of all of your wonderful replies I have accomplished that. I also wanted to be a little different when it came to color. I think I've only seen one other Revell '32 5W painted dark green and it was full fendered. Also, no one mentioned it but I was aware when I applied the 231 B/A decals that they are not correct for this car, I just like the look of them! One way I could always sell them is that this is a modern rebuild of an old hotrod that once was drag raced as a B/A and the numbers and class were re-applied to remember the cars past. Thanks again!

And a few more....

1932 FORD 5W COUPE 231 B/A: GREEN IS MEAN! This Revell-based coupe was built as part of community build challenge on another forum where the subject consisted of 4 kit choices, one of them being the Revell ‘32 5W. This car is largely box stock and enhanced by stripping many of the chrome components and paint-detailing them. Originally I was not going to chop the top for the sake of a quick & easy build but the urge overwhelmed me and I’m glad I did! I also dared to be different with a modified and supercharged take on the kits often rejected small block Ford engine. Tried to get interior shots but it’s a no-go with the chopped top. Chassis: Kit stock with additional lowering of front and rear axles. All chrome stripped and paint detailed in silver and various shades of black. Kit American Mag wheels stripped and paint detailed with Armstrong bias-ply front tires from Lindberg ‘34 Pickup and AMT Goodyear slicks out back. Optional MOON auxiliary front fuel tank stripped and painted. Engine: Kit small block Ford engine. Modified intake manifold with AMT ‘57 Chevy supercharger and 4-bbl carburetor. Modified kit pulleys/belt with parts box supercharger pulleys/belt. COBRA valve covers from Revell ‘26 T Sedan / Touring. Kit headers stripped and painted white. Engine painted Tamiya Light Gunmetal with various shades of metallizers on intake, supercharger, carburetor and pulleys topped with black wash. Body: Kit body chopped 3/16” with an additional 1/32” cut at A-pillars. Optional kit solid grill panel, multi-row louvered hood sides and deck lid, nerf bar bumpers at front with additional pair from second kit at rear. Painted Tamiya British Green with Tamiya Racing White grill panel and firewall. Kit supplied 231 B/A decals with grill and firewall decals from Revell ‘32 Sedan. Interior: Optional ‘40 dash, ‘40 steering wheel and floor mount shifter. Dash painted Tamiya Gloss Black, seat and side panels painted Tamiya Semi-Gloss Black and Tamiya Racing White with semi-gloss clear coat.

1929 FORD ROADSTER: BARE NECESSITIES This roadster is inspired by a 1:1 version that is very similar save for finished paint and flathead V8 vs. Dodge Hemi. However, the concept is the same: A hot rod roadster in every sense of the word with an absolute bare minimum of components. A body, seats, 4 wheels and an engine. Chassis: AMT ‘29 frame Z’d at rear with custom tubular reverse k-member. Ala-Kart front suspension modified to traditional leaf spring and lever shocks. AMT ‘25 T quick change rear axle with flattened ‘29 spring, custom drilled trailing arms and tubular shocks on custom mounts. Ala Kart wheels and tires, whitewalls painted black and turned inside, wheels stripped and painted, AMT ‘53 Ford Pickup hubcaps. Cowl steering with Revell Model A pitman arm and Ala Kart draglink. Engine: AMT ‘29 optional early Dodge Hemi with Ala Kart water pump, front mount, pulleys & belt, generator, starter and radiator. Modified AMT ‘36 Ford Pontiac intake manifold and Rochester-style carburetors topped with flame-arrestor air filters from AMT ‘34 3-Window (70’s one-time-only). AMT ‘25 T headers. Painted Tamiya Gold with various metallizers. Body: AMT ‘29 roadster with windshield removed and doors smoothed over. Sectioned Revell ‘37 Ford truck grill. Custom made flat firewall from Evergreen .040” sheet. AMT ‘25 T headlights. Ala Kart taillights. Painted Tamiya Mica Silver with Tamiya Gloss Clear. Interior: Custom made floor pan from Evergreen .040” sheet. AMT ‘25 T bucket seats and shift handle. AMT ‘40 Ford steering wheel on custom column. Modified gas tank from Revell ‘37 Ford frame mounted in trunk area. AMT ‘29 dashboard and gauge panel.

Thank you for all of the nice comments, everyone. It's a pretty simple build but it was a lot of fun and I'm enjoying seeing it in my display cabinet.

Finally, after many months of not much building I took advantage of the holiday weekend, sat down and put my ‘32 Roadster project to bed. I started this car sometime last year. Here’s the story: This roadster is supposed to represent a driving work in progress. Basically, as if the fellow building it got the chassis and running gear done then ran low on funds when it came to final paint and upholstery. Curious if he could paint a car himself, he tried a few of the smaller sheet metal parts like the radiator shell, gas tank, firewall and dashboard only to realize he would rather leave painting to a painter. Rather than have the car sit while more funds were saved to do finish paint, he blew black primer on the hood and body so at least the car would be sort of black like he intends when finished. To keep the project look alive in the interior I fabricated some inner door and body structure and primered the inside a different color. The roadster is largely out of the Revellogram box with the following changes: - Complete Flathead V8 from ‘32 Sedan - Engine chrome stripped and detailed with metallizers - Engine block painted Tamiya “Mica Red†over dark primer for a red/brown look. - Custom fabricated flat firewall - Beehive oil filter from Revell ‘32 Sedan - Voltage regulator from Revell ‘40 Coupe - Armstrong bias-ply front tires from Lindberg ‘34 Pickup - AMT Goodyear slicks out back - Custom tube front/rear frame spreader bars and front license mount - Revell ‘40 Coupe dashboard, steering column and bench seat - Monogram ‘32 Roadster 3-spoke steering wheel - Kit windshield chopped 1/8†for more aggressive/sleeker look

This is the best Phantom Vicky I've ever seen, absolutely brilliant! Love the gun metal paint and all of the gray and black tones you used to contrast it, they all work perfect. I also think the top looks goofy on the fender-less version but it looks awesome with fenders. Again, awesome work!

I hate to sound un-original and like I'm repeating what everyone else has already said, but the first word that comes to mind is beautiful and that is exactly what your Midget Racer is! Definately should be a "box stock" contender! Awesome work!

Yes, definately add a clear top coat or it will look pretty dull. Another option to make it POP would be to use a couple thin coats of Mica Silver as a base. I was just experimenting with this color myself.

If this kit makes it to shelves and the body and other details are done correctly then I will buy at least a half dozen. It's going to sell like a MOFO if it has a nice assortment of currently popular drag race parts and engine performance parts too! With as popular as the 1:1 5.0 LX Notchback has been, especially '85+ models, I can not understand why it was never offered as a model kit. The Notchback is arguably the most popular and saught after FOX body style and my modified '88 has been my daily driver for 3 months shy of 12 years now. I would absolutely LOVE to be able to build a model replica of it. (Looks like I need to get on eBay and get ahold of a Tamiya '95 Cobra R kit so I can have the wheels in-stock and ready to go.) Also, I bet if a talented person had a correctly proportioned body shell to start with they could backdate the side trim and make the bumper covers to replicate an '85-'86. Of course, the interior is another story.

I had actually never heard of AMT’s vintage Double Dragster kit until all the buzz started happening about its re-issue about a year ago and a few people dug out their vintage parts and built a few examples. I was very intrigued and purchased a tin box right as they hit the shelf. I’ve been waiting patiently until I finished several other projects so that I could get started. Preliminary clean-up and sub assembly began in mid-August then I got distracted. A couple weeks ago I decided I had put it off long enough and focused on finishing the twin small block rail. Initially I planned to use the dual front mount blowers but every twin engine rail I have seen built so far was using them too. So, I opted to be different and went with the more basic fuel injectors. The build is entirely box-stock. All of the chrome parts were stripped as I wasn’t very happy with the inconsistent condition of the chrome tree. The body was finished in Tamiya Chrome Yellow. The engines, front and rear mount plates are Tamiya Light Gunmetal with the small parts in various shades of Metalizer’s. The wheels are finished in Model Master “Jet Exhaust†with Tamiya Semi-Gloss Clear to replicate the Dow-7 coating used on 60’s magnesium wheels. The chassis is finished in Tamiya Gloss Black with a few bits detailed with Metalizer’s. This was a really simple and, more importantly, FUN project!

Well, if a guy was to weld a sprocket or gear onto the internal driveshaft, cut a window in the torque tube, make a new sprocket or gear to go in place of the generator pulley and run a chain to drive it, it could work! Not that anyone would ever do such a thing. Thank you very much for your nice comments, Jauris!

Thank you for the nice comments about my T, guys! The generator trick is a bit of fantasy I came up with to get it off the engine, yet still keep all the components necessary for a street car. To my knowledge, no one has ever done such a thing. There are modern-day kits available for street rods that mount an alternator on the chassis and drive it by belt either from the tailshaft in the transmission or the pinion shaft in the rear axle. Naturally, the alternator will only charge when the vehicle is in motion. As far as keeping track of kits, all I can say is that remembering all this junk is sometimes a blessing and others a curse. I honestly don't know how I retain it all but I could tell you the source of a kit-bashed part on a model I built 15 years ago. It's a sickness!!!

Wow, talk about a super clean build! What shade of Tamiya blue is that, its just beautiful! Awesome work, that's about the nicest model Cobra I've ever seen.

After about 3 months of off and on work I’m happy to announce that my ‘25 T Coupe on ‘32 rails is finished. I have to say that I feel that this latest creation is my best work to date when it comes to fit & finish and since it’s the newest it should be, right? The body is from AMT’s current Double T release. From there I dissected a Revell ‘32 frame for it’s side rails and created the rear frame section and cross members from Evergreen and pieces of a Revell ‘40 Ford center X member. The suspension is a combination of many kit-sourced pieces such as a Revell ‘32 front axle and steering linkage, AMT ‘41 Woody hairpins, Lindberg ‘34 Pickup rear axle and Revell ‘40 Ford brake plates. The front wheels are from a Revell ‘50 Pickup and the rear wheels, tires and all 4 hubcaps from Revell’s ‘40 Standard Coupe. Front tires are piecrust skinnies from an older issue SWC Willys. The ARDUN flathead is from Revell’s latest ‘50 Pickup and has been modified with AMT ‘32 Phantom Vicky headers and a custom vertical magneto drive. The generator is mounted to the rear axle torque tube and gear driven off of the driveshaft. A chopped Revell ‘32 grill, shell and headlights are mounted up front. Inside, a Revell ‘37 Sedan dash was narrowed with a custom steering shaft and AMT ‘40 Ford wheel. The seat is a narrowed Revell ‘32 Roadster part. The body and frame are finished in Tamiya Olive Drab 2 with the bodies soft top painted flat black. The suspension and wheels are a combination of gloss black and Mica silver. The engine is Antique Ford Engine Green (available from restoration suppliers) with the intake, carbs and valve covers a combination of metalizer shades. Hope you guys like it!

Very cool project. The cowl vent and rear door mods turned out perfect. Are the rear windows going to be left open or will panels be added to make it a full sedan delivery conversion? I think it's awesome that you got your Dad back into the hobbey. My father built model hot rods in the 60's when he was a teen and made some really cool stuff, some of which he still has. He got me into models when I was 10 or so and now I'm 30 and still building every week. My Dad, on the other hand, has no interest and seems to think I should do something else with my time. (He has no hobbies so he's one to talk!) Only recently has he shown some (barely) positive, enthusiastic interest in a few of my rod projects. So consider yourself lucky!