GrandpaMcGurk

Yes sir Mike......the square frame in the front...that supports the suspension will accept the radiator...just haven't decided yet if I'll go with an electric fan which would be easier to fab or work out a mechanical set-up. Kinda leaning toward the mechanical as this is s'posed to be a 70s themed build, not sure yet. Wood and brass trong box is in the works also. I've even already purchased material for the coach upholstery, thin foam, tan suede for the seats, vinyl for the roof and some wine red material for the interior walls. The floor of the passenger area will be wood or some black fuzzy material I have on hand. Lots more to do as I'm trying to have this build finished by the end of Jan.

Thanks Curtis. I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving, my best wishes to all of you. I started to mock up the cradle that will support the coach, drivers seat & rear luggage rack. It's finally starting to look like the brain fart I had in my twisted mind...I wonder if Roth & Barris would have approved? The pics are just a mock up so that I can make sure everything clears and looks right.....things like clearance for the air cleaners, access to the dip stick, suspension movement and ample seating for 4 passengers all come into play at this point...yeah I'm nuts. So what? The driver and the shotgun dude will ride up front so it'll actually carry 6 good ol'boys and or ladies and their luggage. I already have some 1/12th scale 50 lb. flour, sugar, salt bags, crates and luggage to load on this coach's maiden run. Still have to make a 1/12th scale sawed off shot gun.

Just trying to maintain as much of the old stagecoach look as I can David, while keeping it something that could actually have been built as a full size show car from the '70s. Mostly I'm havin' fun. Glad you're enjoying it and thanks for the kind words.

Looks like you've been busy at the bench Rick....keep 'em coming.

After a lot of sanding and fitting mismatched parts from different kits, I tapped the rear axles and front spindles to accept a small screw to secure the wheels....the knock off hub conceals the screw. I painted whitewalls on both sides of the front tires. I removed the tread from the front tires & scuffed up the rear slicks. Finally, I have a rolling chassis, all the suspension works. Now I'll need to make a tie rod, finish wiring the engine and do a little touch up. Everything I need to build the cradle that will support and attach the coach body to the frame.

Can't tell you exactly just yet Harry.....the bean counters are working on the final tally and structuring a payment plan for sub assemblies. You thinking 'bout building building one?

As many of you know TDR has been working some long headscratching hours to bring you our first multi-media kit...... It's the TDR Roadster! We've asked Sydney Deem to build a prototype along with TDR's Tim for photos and to work out any remaining gremlins so that we can make running changes if needed. This way we will be able to provide you with the best kit we possibly can. The kit will be as complete as we can make it. Bumper to bumper, things like a real wood steering wheel, pre-cut aluminum interior panels, material for carpeting, all the suspension pieces, wheels, tires and as many other goodies as we can produce will be included in the complete kit. Tons of time, effort & coins have gone into producing this kit....we are doing everything we can to keep the cost to you as low as possible and will even offer the kit in stages so you can purchase one assembly at a time as your budget and build time allows. The engine will be a 427 side oiler.....thanks to Tony (another TDR partner). Tim did the chassis & all the suspension work so you know it's top notch as well. Once the body had cleared Tim's keyboard it was done in RP. It then went to the old master the "Madd Fabricator" for assembly and many hours of fine tuning and finishing. Anyhow...here's a few pics of his master for you to run your orbs over.....M.F. now faces the task of making the multi piece molds as the body will be hand laid up in fiberglass which has untold advantages over resin for a body this size. Watch this thread for Syd's build up of the prototype and more information on the kit as it progress.....you'll get a first hand look at what goes on behind the scenes at TDR. As always, your input, comments and questions are not only welcomed but encouraged.

Thanks Rick, Pretty much the same deal on the front tires except I'll be using the 2 piece tires from the Fiat kit. These tires are carry overs from one of the earlier the kits and originally had whitewall inserts, this kit however does not include them so I'll have to make some or paint the whitewalls. Mock -up of wheel & tire..... Mock up installed on the chassis.....well,back to the bench to do the rest of them.

Don't you just get all excited when things actually start to go together and look like what you had in mind? Here's a couple pics of the assembled and painted wheel....just need to scuff up the tread area a little, add a valve stem and the knock off hub.

Thanks gang, I appreciate the kudos but I'm just trying to keep up with you talented guys. While I was doing the wood sealer, filler, drying time, sanding and more sanding on the body it dawned on me it wouldn't dry any faster by having me stare at it....so I'll get the wheels done for the rolling chassis. It would have been a simple matter to grab some wheels and tires from the parts box but being a glutton for punishment I figured I'd cobble up something a little more in keeping with the stagecoach theme......after all, what's a stagecoach without spoked wheels...right? I wanted a really tall tire for the rear (cause that's the way the old timer coaches did it) so I decided to use the 1/8th slick from a Big T kit. I wanted fat whitewalls too (a little bling for Rick Gonder, that's an inside joke) hence the whitewall insert. The spokes are from a discarded Mini Craft steam engine and the chrome trim ring is the backing ring from the Big T kit. I had to cut down the white insert considerably to make it work with the spokes & painted the inside yellow. Removed that lug that was used to drive the wheel on the steam engine, drilled out the center to fit my spindles and thinned the spokes a bit. Painted the disc brake hub yellow. It's finally starting to look like a coach wheel. I'll be using knock off hubs so I don't need lug nuts.

I kind of figured you were looking around for a 1:1 project car to fill that void where the dune buggy used to live.

Looks like a shiny confused turtle.

Thanks Jason, So far my plan for the interior is padded seating and wood trim....still trying to decide if I want to run wiring for lights before I close up the walls (if I decide to use lights I could hide the batteries under the drivers seat.

I cut a piece of basswood for the interior headliner...... attached 1/8" balsa strips 1/16" apart to complete the headliner, this will be varnished and used as is. This pic is the coach upside down showing the headliner. The outside top will have compound curves and be covered in vinyl. Couldn't resist setting the coach on the frame just for giggles....

Great tutorial Virgil......mind if I stick it in my favorites for later reference?

Figured I'd grab a few more shots of this coach in progress as most of it will won't be visible when it's assembled and painted. Started the passengers seat framing and floor board. The gas tank will under under the rear seat so it will be permanently fixed. The front passenger seat will be hinged to allow access to the battery and engine.

Right on Danno, the blocks are basswood (no excuses for the typo). Beat me, whip me and send my sorry old butt to the corner.

Hey Roger, how ya doin' bud...glad to see pics of your Bat Rod posted here on MCM. What's next........Spider man?

Thanks guys.....more pics soon, hope you're enjoying them, I'm havining a great time building it.

Now we're gettin' somewhere......

I finished up the framing on one side and started framing the other. I also started applying the outer skin to the finished side. Note the baggie with the balsa sawdust in it...I dab a little CA in the imperfections and add a bit of the sawdust. It makes a great sand-able matching color filler that dries quickly and best of all it's free. The pics below should give you a pretty good idea of the compound curves I was able to achieve using this construction method.

I like the Willys headlight & grille design touch on the overhead light Dave.

Thanks gang...... Here's a few more pics....I added window frames & door jambs (inside view). Doubled up the hinge side of the door jamb for more strength to support the door & added basa wood blocks (harder and denser than balsa) to secure the hinges to. The other block is for mounting the striker plate for the door latch. I put in some filler wood along the bottom edge & tapered it so that I would have more surface area to attach the outer skin to.

Thanks guys, I really appreciate the interest. Here's a few pics of the roughed out (un-sanded) coach in progress........some assembly required....yeah right. This is the inside of the yet to be upholstered passenger compartment. Those little windows are handy if if you have to use a wheel gun to fend off robbers. The rest of these photos are to show some of the framing for the outer contoured skin & door opening...yep, gotta have opening doors right?

I didn't feel like driving 30 miles to the LHS this a.m. so I got started on the body with what I had on hand. This is 1/16th inch thick bass wood. These are the interior panels of the coach. Not having any pieces large enough on hand, I'm splicing two sheets together to make each side. As I said these are the interior panels & will be upholstered on the inside, it'll also give me a base to assemble/glue the tapered ribs, door jambs etc. onto for the outer skin. Sure, I could just use flat panels for the outer skin and call it a day but being a glutton for punishment I want the outer skin to curve under at the bottom & I want the body to taper in front and rear. The roof will be a compound curve affair as well....why?..... ....for rain run off!