Paul Payne

See if small brass rod for the for the bottom door opening would mess up the fit. Maybe just a thin strip of plastic would work. Fiddle about and have fun!

Go for it- open up the passenger door too! I’m guessing you want to build it as stock as possible- guess you won’t be using the louvered trunk lid! Have fun and hack that plastic.

Salvage is a wonderful thing- not good enough to preserve, not bad enough to scrap- go for whatever takes your fancy!

Really like your fire wall and under trunk detail- also your interior side panels.

Looks like real rust- too many T.R.O.G. runs at the beach without a hose down!

Anything is better than billet- you have nailed the 50’s driver look.

What a great score! Whoever built them was a real craftsman- the body work is excellent. Personally, I hope you keep some as is. Thanks much for sharing!

Totally believable- your craftsmanship equals your imagination. Just needs some salt on the tires! This would be a good candidate for the real or model section!

Looks like it’s ready for a T.R.O.G. run- got sand?

This is a great build of a great car- I like the Monogram kit because the grill is more true- the AMT kit doesn’t have the proper tuck under. I think the chopped top was inspired by the AMT kit.

I would drive that!

Time to get this back up top- imagine all these full size at one big show! I posted progress on my track nose but here's a pic for this thread.

Here's some pix: they are hard to see, but the shifter is a crank shaft and the beverage holders are piston rods. WAAAAAY too much fun!

I think a rat rod is a hot rod built with unconventional parts and not much concern for shiny paint. I'll dig out some photos of the one I built.

The R&M seats are indeed cool. I was thinking of an upper pad on the back and a pad near the front edge of the seat- seen a lot like that. Start with sheet plastic and add your corrugated material on top of that.

More progress pix- overall set up,cycle fenders ready for shiny paint, Hallock windshield mocked up, engine progress (having problems with the carbs), cowl filled between cowl and dash, front suspension primed, and Gordon-Schroeder steering unit ready for installation. Also pix of the wheel which inspired the wheels I am modifying, one finished and the others puttied up ready for preliminary sanding.

Very nice rear suspension and drive train design. BTW, what did you use to cut the curves above rear fenders?

If you are going for a leather or Naugahyde interior, spray on your flat black, let it dry, then rub it down a bit for a little sheen. Are you going to add pads to the bomber seats?

Whoever chopped that top appears to have raked the windshield back a bit- looks good!

Really impressive foil work, especially those thin fender strips. I'm working on a 65 convertible backdated more to a 61 to 63 but- customized with a molded in continental area and a sectioned Deuce grill. Final bit of daring- thinking of opening doors...........

Any thoughts on an engine? If the hood is going to be longer, how about a V-12? Maybe a lengthened Y-block ?

Really like the detail painting on the suspension and drive train components- looking forward to the final mock up!

Well I have been building for 61 years, back when diecasts were Matchbox and Dinky Toys, usually scaled to fit the box. I do own a few bi-scale diecasts of subjects not available in plastic or resin. A favorite is the Burago 1/24th scale Bugatti T57SC. I have though for many years of taking one apart, adding realistic wheels and tires, dash, door hinges, etc., using Gerald Wingrove's model as a guide. There should be no divide between a kit built model and a disassembled built model extensively modified, corrected, and made unique. It isn't about what you start with, it's the end result, and the learning experience that goes with it. This post may just be the inspiration to start. As an aside, Burago's plastic seems to be more like vinyl than styrene- any comments on working with this, such as paint, adhesives, putty, sanding, etc.? Thanks again for this thread.

Pegaso being a Spanish car, is that the hood ornament in the background?!?!? Seriously, any thoughts yet on a starting point?

Great build- loved the WIP thread!