Dr. Cranky

RAT ROD (Definition according to the new RR Bible, RATROD MAGAZINE) [rat.rod] (noun) FUN, low-budget, traditional, rusty, patina hot rods, built with junk yard parts. Built to drive--not show. I am hoping all those of us interested in building Rat Rods and keeping up with its new trends will find inspiration in this ALL-YOU-WANTED-TO-KNOW-ABOUT-RAT-RODS-AND-WERE-NOT-AFRAID-TO-ASK thread. We will take it all, pictures of the real things, your own reference pictures are gravy, ideas for new builds--ANYTHING, really, that is going to be conducive and an eye-full to keep our Rat Rod inspiration and love for FIRED UP! To start things off, here's a question that perhaps a few of you will know the answer to: What are the earliest examples of rat-rodding, both real in model form, you can remember? Here is an excerpt from Wikipedea: The December 1972 issue of Rod & Custom Magazine was dedicated to the "beater", a low-budget alternative to the over-polished, slickly-painted, customized early car. The beater could easily be considered a progenitor of the rat rod with its cheap upholstery, primer instead of paint, and lack of chrome or polished metals. However, owners of these beaters often had a high-dollar machine sitting in their garage. As with many cultural terms, there are disputes over the origin of the term "rat rod". Some say it first appeared in an article written in Hot Rod Magazine by Gray Baskerville about cars that still sported a coat of primer. Some claim that the first rat rod was owned by artist Robert Williams who had a '32 Ford Roadster that was painted in primer. Hot Rod magazine has since verified this.[1] Although the term likely started out as derogatory or pejorative (and is still used in this way by many), members of the subcultures that build and enjoy these cars have adopted the term in a positive light. Here are a couple of links to get your heart pumping: http://earlyrods.com/ http://autoculture.org/?p=742 http://timelesshotro...merican-Rat-Rod Here's a link for GOOGLE IMAGE SEARCH for "Rat Rod Model Cars" and a plethora of finished builds and builds in progress by folks out in the world, but many also include folks here on this forum. https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&sugexp=pfwe&gs_nf=1&tok=K9p5ddyNOGAO3xuXbSVtrA&cp=18&gs_id=2e&xhr=t&q=rat+rod+model+cars&gs_upl=&biw=1440&bih=799&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.,cf.osb&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=ow89T8zsN4S2twfCovDiBQ

I think I'm sitting this one out, but you never know. Might get the bug two weeks before it's over.

Cole, that's looking good. The color really makes it stand out. And I like the stance . . . keep this one going.

No detail is overlooked, Rom. Great work as always . . . keep it going.

Ah, a wonderful dynamic duo. Great job all around. Another fine model(s) added to your collection. Thank you for sharing the eye candy with us.

That is one nice and beautiful model. Great job.

Bring it on, Big Kahuna, looking forward to the article.

Excellent work, thanks for sharing it with us.

Welcome to the forum and I hope you enjoy all the eye candy, and please continue to share yours with us. Best, DC

Terry, I like it. Those side doors looks nicely weathered. Everything about this model screams mild rat rod. Nice work, buddy. Cheers.

Fabulous, you are on another building spree, Mr. Most. Good for us, more eye candy for us.

Those rear window louvers make a nice detail too.

Mark, Matt, and Jamie, again, some great work as you continue to work on your vehicles. I got some of the pictures over on the archives. Thanks, everyone, for keeping the energy going.

Jamie, nice start, I got the pictures over to the vid archive. THanks.

Nice collection, and it looks like you are ready for building some scenes for it . . . keep having fun. It's a Mad Max world out there! Congrats.

Beautiful. I'd like to see a couple of closer pics of that tank and the engine. I will check your Fotki for them.

Darin, my deepest condolences and prayers go to you and your family. A big hug to you, buddy. Hang in there, you have a lot of friends and support here.

Christian, that's a wonderful and generous move on your part, but it's true. I will be more than happy to send you a couple of kits, Rick, to keep you going, and to prove to whoever stole your kits you ain't giving up so easily. Let me know.

Thanks, Rom. I appreciate the support. I'm always trying to get as many people into the conversation as it is humanly possible. We're all learning by talking things out. LONG LIVE STYRENE ADDICTION!

Derrick, sorry to hear about your wrist, buddy. Hope you heal up quick. Rob, I've always liked this build. Thanks for sharing your experience with the salt and rattle cans.

That's probably way cheaper than Micro Mark. Thanks, Harry.

Chuck, I just realized it comes with two figures. For some reason I thought it was just the one in the two halves. But it comes with a figure that goes IN the coffin too. That's just perfect. That's enough for me to want to get the kit now.

HA! Another Floridian in Hawaii! That just cracked me up. Seriously now, Erik, those are some very cool pictures. It pays double to build models AND photograph them!

They have those readily available at MICRO MARK.

Wow, Tony, you've hit the ground running with these. I have copied them over to the Video update archive. Thanks, and keep 'em going.