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Paul Payne

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Everything posted by Paul Payne

  1. They are both 1940's hot rods from the dry lakes era, and it doesn't get any better than that! Race?
  2. I think you are right! Much too saggy!
  3. Inspired by the Pierson Brothers 1936 3 window Ford, which set many records at the dry lakes, and was later chopped and customized, I began with AMT's 1936 Ford and used an original issue chopped top. My intent was to create a high performance hot rod that would also incorporate much custom body work, but would by no means be considered a "lead sled"! The engine will be a late model flathead incorporating Ardun heads, the blower from AMT's 1957 Chevy, and side draft carbs or fuel injection, since I don't want anything sticking through the hood. The next step was to open the doors, which will be hinged suicide style. A Monogram grille will be used, since it has a much more accurate "tuck under" at the bottom as compared to AMT's grille. The hood sides will be molded to the fenders and body, with bulges fitted at the bottom to clear the very wide Ardun heads. The fenders will also be relieved for this. The rumble seat will be converted into a trunk. Fender skirts were cut from sheet plastic using original skirts as templates. The rear bumper will be a tube, wrapping around the continental spare, and incorporating two small bullet tail lights as well as the license plate and club plaque. The trunk will hold gas and oil cans, tools and a tool box, etc. The interior will feature a stock dash with added gauges, tuck and roll upholstery including the head liner made from 1/8" half round styrene, and a seat from Revell's 1932 Ford 3 window coupe (a very cushy seat). The running boards were removed and new rocker panels fabricated from sheet styrene and pinned in place with brass rod. Material was also added to the bottom portion of the front and rear fenders. I wanted a pontoon look for the fenders, similar to the 810 and 812 Cords, and last iteration Auburn Speedsters, designed by Gordon Buhrig. Here are some pix so far: I discovered that the carbs and air cleaner would stick through the hood, so the engine will be reworked with a side draft inductin system which will fit under the hood.
  4. Great build, especially as a replica of an original 40's rod. I built a 29 a-v8 a few years back using a junker 29 Ford body and new 32 frame with a flathead v8. Here are a couple of pix: I tried scratch building a Gordon Schroder steering box like Doane Spenser used in his deuce, but it came out a little large. I used it anyways, too good to junk!
  5. Guys, thanks so much for the enthusiastic response to this project! I actually planned this one out, writing down all my ideas for it, because even built up models are few and far between and I didn't want to forget an idea or feature and then not be able to incorporate it. One idea was to use parts from my stash which would have been available when the kit was available. The grille shell was molded in black plastic with a small Ford oval molded in- I think it was from an old AMT Deuce kit. The flathead was also from an early AMT kit, I have no idea which one, its basically two halves including the block, transmission, front end details, and oil pan. It was dressed up with newer heads but the big feature of the engine is the kit three carb manifold, which is a real gem. I removed the magneto at the back and substituted an oil filler tube. The manifold only needed to be narrowed to fit between the heads. I consider this part to be the gem of the whole kit. Because the frame is split horizontally to trap the rear axle, the front rails for some reason were not brought back up to the full thickness. I added material to the top and this really stiffens the frame. The windshield is from another deuce kit, while the top is also old but I have no idea what kit it might be from. The kit was missing the bed cover, so I modified a bed cover from the 1934 Ford pick up kit. I was determined to create a complete drive train, so a lot of cutting was done to make things fit under the bed area. This is where the gear clearance areas were anyways, but mods were necessary because they were off center. I love the quick change and rear axle from the Green Hornet, so I went to my junker stash and rescued one where the axle ends had been broken off. I was surprised how much more had to be taken off to preserve the proper track. The frame was cut in two and stepped up to provide centering for the axle to maintain the same relationship with the rear fenders. The Black Widow had no tail lights, so I used a tail light from the parts box, painted the lens red, and used a trim ring to complete it. The club plaques were copied rom the Internet with the exception of the Dry Lakers. I designed this myself in SolidEdge and that's the name of my own club in honor of al the original hot rodders who raced on the dry lakes. The trailer hitch was a last minute addition, but now I have a great tow vehicle. I guess I need to finish that old style tow trailer..............
  6. I shot the pix with my wife's new digital slr, so I need to play around a bit more with settings, light, and editing. I decided to add a trailer hitch, so I made one using an old license plate, bent brass rod, and a dress maker's pearl bead. Add paint and there you are. I also couldn't resist adding a few club plaques (the owner is a Black Widows member with affiliations with other clubs......) as well as an S.C.T.A. timing tag on the dash. I included the fuel pressure pump from the Green Hornet as well, since almost every 1940's hot rod had one.
  7. When did you last see a Black Widow with a drive train? I used the quick change and narrowed rear axle from a junk Green Hornet.
  8. A few more:
  9. Some more pix:
  10. Having aquired some built up Black Widows over the years, I decided to restore the one in poorest shape. However, I decided to backdate it to a 1940's style roadster pickup as pictured in some of Don Montgomery's hot rod books and The Birth of Hot Rodding by Robert Genat and Don Cox. I decided to install a Deuce grille shell, flathead engine, lower windshield and top, and a full drive train, since this kit never had one. I also decided to use The Model Car Garage's Spiderweb Hot Hoodz and grille insert for the graphics, since I had no original decals. Instead of a spider, I decided to use cut outs of Lady Luck in the web center.
  11. Peter, the car is just awesome, your working features are great. The Phantom Corsair had bumpers that wre three slabs of chromed metal stacked one above the other, bottom furthest out. This look or something similar might really work with the four accent slashes.
  12. Dry lakes cars from the 1940's usually had hand painted numbers. Looks like they used water base white poster paint. I would just hand letter the numbers with white water base craft paint.
  13. Herb Deeks used to make some nice racing tires which would look good on the back. I don't have a way to contact him, maybe someone can help. Also, Norm Veber at Replicas and Miniatures has a set of big and littles that would work. The Revell 1932 Ford sedan has nice chrome Kelsey Hayes wires- chuck them in E-Z Off and the chrome should disappear in about 1/2 hour. For tires caked with dry lakes dirt, try diluting white glue and brushing it on the tread. Then roll the tires through some flour mixed with ground ginger, or add some light brown pastel.
  14. Love all the details- a very 1940's build- would look right at home on the dry lakes. Can't wait to see it finished!
  15. I really like the Ford dry lakes and salt flats car- reminds me of the Crisman brothers coupe. Any thoughts on the engine and wheels? Norm Veber has the old style solid dished Halibrand wheels but they aren't listed in his catalogue. Hope you finish this soon and post more pix.
  16. some side by side pix:
  17. It's been a long time, partly due to a year's (so far) unemployment, but the maroon deuce is finally finished. The premise was that two deuces were built in the 1940's, one (the blue deuce), staying pretty much as built, the maroon deuce being updated with a new engine, disc brakes, and wider tires. Hope you enjoy the pix!
  18. Thanks guys for all the help- I am rebuilding a junker with a flathead, deuce grille, and drive train, everything else pretty much a stock build. Just wanted some reference for the original construction.
  19. Cranky, Looks like some folks are using your weathering techniques on full sized vehicles and structures...................
  20. Does anyone have a picture of the Black Widow instruction sheet they could post for me? Thanks!
  21. I have been away from the forum for awhile and discovered this when I was catching up. This is amazing work. It reminds me of the Duesenberg custom one of the "mints" put out a few years ago. Can't wait to see it finished!
  22. Thanks for the support and encouragement. Once things stabilize a bit, I will continue building, and at least posting pix here, if I can't attend shows.
  23. Well, Friday I got the word that effective that day I was laid off. This is the fourth time since 2001, all due to the economy. Won't be going to the NNL East, gonna be raiding the parts box instead of buying new stuff. Erie, PA's a tough place to find a new job, unemployment is already high. I'll be looking for anything between Buffalo, NY, Cleveland, OH, and Pittsburg. I have been a foundry tooling engineer for years, have a lot of experience with several 3D, 2D, and simulation systems, and can figure out how to build a virtual master or mold for just about anything. Thanks for listening, Thanks, Gregg, for the free forum.
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