Kit Karson

Referring back to the last picture in the previous post... the old flat tongue that had been the base for the modified AMT Blue Printer Racing Tandem Trailer tongue broke just as the first drop of CA was 'bout to be laid down... Looke close... A little work to blend the parts and they should end up looking like they belong together...

I'm already way passed impressed with the degree of amazing attention to parts that may never be seen by the casual observer. I have to crawl under my 1:1 '34 PU to see the delicate assemblies and connections you've combined from over the counter and very accessible parts and materials! Looking forward to seeing it and meeting you at GSL XXVIII... -KK

WOW! Just kouldn't resist, Brother?!. Thank you so much for sharing!! -KK

Just as I was 'bout to apply the 1st drip of AC... the old tongue snapped! Look close! It'll klean up... otherwise it turned out OK... From the top... ...to down under... This is the before pic... krazy kuts following measure, plot, erase & repeat several times! Spent some time adapting a set of disc brakes on the tag-along axle ends... Should work... Before the newer trailer tongue was married to the ol' tag-along, checked out the weight transfer... much better! -KK

Tag-Along Kustomization Begins: Removed the axle Leaf Springs... Kleaning up... Axle kross member needs to be moved back to alter the weight transfer originally engineered for the tandem configuration... Removing the kross member requires several separate cuts to save as much material as possible on each end and in the middle... No one kut goes all the way through the ends or the center... angle kuts intersect removing as little material as possible... Out and after a bit of kleaning it will be set back to just beyond center... Test fit in the new location... The steel angle was a gift from @Rocking Rodney Rat and makes a great weight... Set in place the axle kross member's new placement will settle the tongue forward onto the trailer jack wheel... From the bottom... ...to the view from above... the ol' kross member looks right at home! -KK Note: Small gaps are filled with pieces/strips of post-it note paper... a drop of CA let dry and file/sand smooth.

Greg, it's still a work in progress... I assure getting the bed as low as possible is a major goal! -KK John, I'm a hack with a vision... years of experience and limited selection of hand tools. I have a Craftsman Rotary Power Tool used only in extreme circumstances! -KK

Spacely Sprockets' George Jetson's futuristic glance at what most others can only imagine... kustom kars often kross the line between one step beyond and the twilight zone without sensing the difference found in-between them. What you have kreated is a klingon kollision of two separate automobile landships while keeping all four wheels on the ground! Outstanding kustom koupe, Claude!! -KK

Well, we used to be able to update the titles of our threads up until just recently... but by no means will this thread be limited to just mockup pictures... surprise there will be more detail progress updates in the near future! But for now... backing up to the tag-along and latching on to an update on the restoration and kustomization of the ol' antique trailer @Rocking Rodney Rat& I have been trading back and forth for several decades. Along with the well-worn single axle utility car hauler, Brother Rat tossed in a couple three leftover Rat Roaster Deuce hoods... you might recall eight of those flared openings were incorporated into the '29 TNR's belly pan as exhaust outlets. Here the plans show the tandem configuration based on a single axle over parallel leaf springs, where the ol' trailer did not include the dual wheel brackets, etc. Others have noted the weight transfer from the tongue to the ramps is out of balance on the single axle trailer. Ending in not enough weight forward of the axle and not behind the center of the weight load where it needs to be. At rest the weight transfer should rest on the trailer jack. Having the axle centered above leaf springs on the tandem configuration works to balance the weight of load. The ol' two-wheel tag-along will have its leaf springs and axle moved back a tad to just behind the center of the rails. Recently the tandem version was included in the AMT Piranha Drag Team kit: ...but, does not include the ramps! The '29 TNR will be a trailer queen towed by the '29 XPU! Lots of work left attaching the newer AMT tandem version's sturdier triangle tongue unit and make it look like it grew there in place of the older style model trailer hook-up ball and hitch. -KK

Yes! If there was anything that came out of the @tim boydTrib' thread, it's this kit and the inherent possibilities it presents. It has its own set of challenges and like many of the Revell kits from this era it is well designed and very buildable regardless of where the builder takes it! From box stock to fenders up gasser, stripped of most all of its tin to rusted out rat, easy to make it your own or copy one that suites your fancy. Kan't wait, Bil!! Bring it on... -KK

Great project & great progress! -KK

Great progress! -KK

Here's the latest mockup! If you are interested in how it got to this stage, leave a comment!! -KK

Both Dennis @Dennis Lacy and (now retired) Paul @Speedpro have a deep history in 1:1 real cars! Both deeply steeped in hands on experience in hot rods, factory stock and restoration of museum quality automobiles. Having known both of these guys for years and being invited to visited both of these modeling master's benches makes me the honored brother and friend of two of my very close mentors! Watching over the shoulders of modelers such as these teaches each of us something new or at least reenforces good habits and skill honing. Collaborating on a daily or weekly basis with @Rocking Rodney Rat, Dennis & Paul enriches my life and strengthens my desire to continue building! Thanks, Guys!! -KK

@Speedprojust asked me if I knew what I was doing! Let's see... Adding a second cross member while extending the '29 XPU wheelbase: Step kuts add both alignment and more glue surface over straight seams... Notice anything a bit amiss? Frame addition is a scale 20 inches... Stacking the Z'd section adds another 4 scale inches the length of the '29 XPU... Here's the plan: Drill, Pin, AC & Repeat! Studying the joint before drilling allows one to find the angle of the bit to find the most meat to pin through... Back to pinning the frame extension into place... The predrilled floorboard makes a great gig for joining the extension as a unit... An hour and a half the set the first pin... Ten maybe twelve minutes to set the second pin... Back to stacking the Z's... Predrilling the base makes finishing with a guide/pilot hole... Let's see what the result of measure twice... kut once has to show for itself: Sometimes you just have to let it all hang out!!! -KK

Tips are greatly appreciated! The GSL has always been on my bucket list for events to attend. Glad to be able to attend this year. -KK

Last couple of shots B 4 closing up the shop last night:

Interesting... -KK

The '29 XPU needed to have the bottom edge evened up all the way around... Rough kut... -KK

Revell Model A Coupe Bare-Bones Interior kan be adapted to fit the '29 XPU inside... floorboard and all! -KK My biggest fear is being caught somewhere between amnesia and deja vu...

Smooth! Smooth everywhere! Smooth ride underneath; smooth box with a smooth deck & tailgate; smooth grille shell and smooth firewall. Even the interior is attractively smooth! From the seats to the panels and around to the smooth dash, smooth column & steering wheel. Smooth from top to bottom... smooth from front to back... outstandingly smooth! Inside and out, Brother! Way Kool -KK ps Did I say I really think it's smooth?

More filing, sanding, patching, filling repeat! -KK

Hair Spray Caps Oh! And old 35mm film cans, too! -KK

Lots of body work left to do...