foghorn62

I’ve had some success with vacuum forming the tonneau cover and fin, out of styrene. I’m pretty happy with how that came out, and I’ll cut hinged hatches into it for engine access, after I get a little further along with the engines, and get ready to install the cover. Speaking of the engines, I have roughed together the two V12 LS3s, and roughed in the timbers where they will be mounted. So far, so good. TS

Since my last update, I have finished the wood, and the paint on the body for the Chevy, and painted the interior and top. The pics here show the car still in mockup with different wheels and tires than I will ultimately be using. This pic shows the wheel/tire combo that I intend to use. I still haven’t done anything with the engines other than to rough one of them together to check fitment in the car and boat, but they will be coming soon.I decided to turn a little attention back to the boat, and more specifically the engine cover and rear fin. The Dumas kit just provides two pieces of balsa wood and says to glue them together and sand them to shape for the engine cover, and another piece for the fin. Since I am going to be detailing the engine bay, and adding two 3D printed LS3 V12s, I decided I want to make a engine cover out of plastic, with hinged hatches that open up to reveal the two engines. I thought about making a rubber mold and casting it in resin using the balsa piece as a form, but I don’t have much experience with that, so I thought I’d try vacuuforming, mainly because I have some stuff to do that with. I didn’t have any styrene on hand, so on my first attempt, I used a piece of PETG (acrylic Polycarbonate), which I use to make windows. It is very hard, and strong, but does not sand well due to it’s hardness. Unfortunately, the piece that I was using was too thick, and I think I had it too close to the heat elements in my oven, and it blistered badly, looking like obscure shower glass. I thought about trying to sand it, but as I said, this stuff is very hard, and does not sand well. I thought about spreading a coat of Bondo over it, but I think I’ll try again moving the next piece more central in the oven, and heating it slower. If that doesn’t work, I’ll try using thinner stock, or getting a sheet of styrene, or both. If none of those work, I can still go the resin casting route. The good news is that the vacuum former worked well, and the plastic took the shape nicely, and it fits pretty well. Ultimately, I’ll need to sand the buck a little smaller to allow for the thickness of the plastic, and the correct fitment. That will have to wait until tomorrow though, since it’s getting late, and I’m tired for now. Later, TS

Got the wood done on the Chevy, and applied a couple coats of satin spar varnish. Put a couple coats of Mr. Color gloss clear coat on the paint. Needs to be wet sanded and rubbed on the paint yet, and some BMF around the windshield frame and vent windows. Found a set of wheels and tires in the parts box, that I’ll paint either brown or gold to match the body. Going to paint the uptop, boot cover, and interior a deep burgundy, then on to all three engines for the car and boat together.

Lately, I’ve been plugging away at my 47 Chevy Convertible Sportsman style woodie. I got the wood laid down, and base coat of paint. Some more sanding and clear coat, and at least the body will be done. The boat is coming along too I’m working on the engine bay, and the cover. Notched out and installed some of the heavy Timbers for the engines to be mounted. Yesterday, I was a little bored, so I put together a prop freehand out of brass. I think it came out pretty good for a quick and dirty job.. TS

Figured I’d better post a couple of pics just to show that I haven’t gone totally to sleep. Lately I’ve been working on the wood for the 47 Chevy. I got one side pretty well done, and I’m pretty happy with how it’s going. I briefly considered just using the overlays that come with the Galaxie kit, but decided to do the full sportsman treatment instead. I want to thank Paul Payne for turning me on to cigar wrap cedar for the fields! I have never worked with it before, but I went and got some, and it is pretty amazing the way it can be contoured and molded with just a little soak. Notice too in this first pic, that I have removed the center bulk hood from the rear section to make room for the engines.

I got the convertible kit for the 47 Chevy from Jimmy Flintstone, and I’m working on paper patterns for the Sportsman style woodie overlays. TS

If you replace the mahogany, there won’t be a whole lot left of the kit for your eighty bucks. TS

I’ve been searching around for information on how to set up plumbing for a marine cooling system, and came upon this diagram, that helped me understand how the sea water pickup feeds a pump, which circulates sea water through a heat exchanger, and then dumps the sea water through the exhaust system. The water pump on the engine receives the cooled water from the heat exchanger and pumps it through the engine block, then out through the exhaust manifolds, and back through the heat exchanger in a closed loop. I’m also including a pic of the Lamborghini engines in the Riva in early stages of installation so you can see what such a system looks like. TS

I actually started this build several months ago, and have been posting progress reports on a thread started by Paul Payne titled “Truck Boat and Trailer” as a parallel build to his. Paul is a much faster builder than I am, and he has completed his awesome build. I encourage anyone interested to take a look at Paul’s build in progress, as well as his completed combo in the Under Glass area. meanwhile, I’m going to transfer some of my build details from Paul’s thread, and continue from here. I started my build by purchasing a Dumas Chris Craft Cobra kit (which I found extremely over priced for a box of sticks and a set of plans, but I digress). I have assembled the hull, and stopped until I decide how I want to proceed. What I have in mind, is sort of an Americanized version of the Riva Aqurama Lamborghini. I have in my possession, three 3D printed Chevy LS3 V-12s. I am planning to use two in the boat, and one in the tow vehicle. For that, I have chosen one of the 47 Chevy kits from Galaxie Limited, combined with a convertible conversion kit for it from Jimmy Flinstone, and I am planning to install wood on the sides and deck on the order of a 48 Ford Sportsman. I haven’t given much thought to the trailer yet, but I imagine I’ll make something out of brass tubing, as I am comfortable working with that material, and it should be quite strong. I’m just in very early stages of this project, still trying to figure out how to mount the engines in the boat, with marine cooling, water intake, exhaust, what the power output to the propeller shaft looks like….I’m adding two pics of my current project status, and also one of the Riva Aqurama Lambo engines installed. TS

Thanks Paul! Not sure what I was thinking! Not one, but two V12s, plus one in the tow car. 36 cylinders in all, with 36 fuel injectors to detail, 36 spark plug wires to run, 36 exhaust ports to fabricate. This thing is going to take a while! I’ve got the exhaust ports for the boat engines fabed. I am planning to do the full marine cooling system and exhaust, like in the attached picture of the Lambo Riva, which is my inspiration for this build. I’ll give all of the brass a shiny polish before final assembly and installation.

Glad to have you join us Ken! Your story is a very familiar one, as many here have followed similar paths. I too started building and customizing model cars at a very young age, continued into my early thirties, took a break for about forty years to do life, and returned about five years ago after retirement from a long career in the oil and gas industry. Now, in my mid 60s, and living in northern Vermont, I divide what free time I’m allowed from serving as full time caregiver for my handicapped wife, between building model cars, and tinkering with my 41 GMC pickup, which occupies most of my garage. As Francis (who is an amazingly talented builder who inspires me with every one of his posts), and others have already stated, we look forward to having you join us! Regards, Tim Slesak

Thanks Guys! I’ll keep on plugging away at it, even if it takes a while. I’ve had some success with vacuum forming the tonneau cover and fin, out of styrene. I’m pretty happy with how that came out, and I’ll cut hinged hatches into it for engine access, after I get a little further along with the engines, and get ready to install the cover. Speaking of the engines, I have roughed together the two V12 LS3s, and roughed in the timbers where they will be mounted. So far, so good. TS

Well, it’s been a while since my last update. Now that Paul has finished his amazing combination, I guess it’s been left up to me to carry on this thread, and I am a notoriously slow builder, so the updates sometimes are spread out quite a bit. Since my last update, I have finished the wood, and the paint on the body for the Chevy, and painted the interior and top. The pics here show the car still in mockup with different wheels and tires than I will ultimately be using. This pic shows the wheel/tire combo that I intend to use. I still haven’t done anything with the engines other than to rough one of them together to check fitment in the car and boat, but they will be coming soon. I decided to turn a little attention back to the boat, and more specifically the engine cover and rear fin. The Dumas kit just provides two pieces of balsa wood and says to glue them together and sand them to shape for the engine cover, and another piece for the fin. Since I am going to be detailing the engine bay, and adding two 3D printed LS3 V12s, I decided I want to make a engine cover out of plastic, with hinged hatches that open up to reveal the two engines. I thought about making a rubber mold and casting it in resin using the balsa piece as a form, but I don’t have much experience with that, so I thought I’d try vacuuforming, mainly because I have some stuff to do that with. I didn’t have any styrene on hand, so on my first attempt, I used a piece of PETG (acrylic Polycarbonate), which I use to make windows. It is very hard, and strong, but does not sand well due to it’s hardness. Unfortunately, the piece that I was using was too thick, and I think I had it too close to the heat elements in my oven, and it blistered badly, looking like obscure shower glass. I thought about trying to sand it, but as I said, this stuff is very hard, and does not sand well. I thought about spreading a coat of Bondo over it, but I think I’ll try again moving the next piece more central in the oven, and heating it slower. If that doesn’t work, I’ll try using thinner stock, or getting a sheet of styrene, or both. If none of those work, I can still go the resin casting route. The good news is that the vacuum former worked well, and the plastic took the shape nicely, and it fits pretty well. Ultimately, I’ll need to sand the buck a little smaller to allow for the thickness of the plastic, and the correct fitment. That will have to wait until tomorrow though, since it’s getting late, and I’m tired for now. Later, TS

Thanks Paul! Yes, the boat will have the same interior as the car. The rear deck cover and fin will be painted the same gold as the hood on the car.

Got the wood done on the Chevy, and applied a couple coats of satin spar varnish. Put a couple coats of Mr. Color gloss clear coat on the paint. Needs to be wet sanded and rubbed on the paint yet, and some BMF around the windshield frame and vent windows. Found a set of wheels and tires in the parts box, that I’ll paint either brown or gold to match the body. Going to paint the uptop, boot cover, and interior a deep burgundy, then on to all three engines for the car and boat together.

A truly amazing rig Paul! Congrats on bringing it to completion! I love all of the little added character bits that you have included to give the whole rig more interest. The trailer is impressive all by itself, even before you set that beast of a wooden boat on top of it. The things you did to the boat to give it that period character are shear genius! The truck is a work of art all by itself! Put the three together in one complete package with all of the additional bits, and you have a display piece that one could spend hours on, taking it all in. TS

Thanks for the good words Paul! Your suggestion of the use of Spanish cedar cigar wrap for the fields really helped me get this thing going. That stuff is very workable for compound curves after soaking. Yes, the engines are 3D printed. I got them from Shapeways. They are by Ron Olsen (3D Model Specialties). Ron does a bunch of fantasy engines, as these LS3 V12s demonstrate. A couple of years ago, I bought a Lincoln v12 flathead with Ardun heads from Ron, that I am doing another build around, all made out of brass, that I call my HotRod Lincoln. I felt like I needed a break from that build for a while, so I got involved with this one. When I saw these LS3 V12s, I bought three of them, and went to work looking for a project where I could use all three. I knew it would have to be multi vehicles, and a car boat and trailer seemed like a natural. Looking around on the web, I came across a boat built by the Italian boat builder Riva, with twin Lamborghini V12s, so that really got my wheels spinning. Then I mentioned the idea to Tim Boyd, who brought your build to my attention, and here we are. Hopefully I can finish this one before I go back to the other. It’s been fun following your build, seeing the directions you have gone, and the things you have scratch built. Yours is almost done, and I still have a long way to go Build on my friend, and thanks for the encouragement! TS

Paul, you’re blowing me away! Your boat turned out fantastic, and now the trailer too! I can’t believe the pace of the progress that you are making! I’m out of breath just looking at the pics! Meanwhile, I’ve been plugging away at my 47 Chevy Convertible Sportsman style woodie. I got the wood laid down, and base coat of paint. Some more sanding and clear coat, and at least the body will be done. The boat is coming along too I’m working on the engine bay, and the cover. Yesterday, I was a little bored, so I put together a prop freehand out of brass. I think it came out pretty good for a quick and dirty job. TS

Wow, that is way cool! Those Gar Wood Miss America boats from the twenties and thirties are a huge inspiration to me! Hard to imagine all of that horsepower on the water almost one hundred years ago. They were way ahead of cars for sure! TS

Wow, very nice!

Anyone who was around our hobby and participated in any of the MPC Model Car Customizing Contests, or picked up a copy of Car Model Magazine during the 1970s, will recognize the name of Bruce Owen. Bruce passed away last week, after a long battle with MS. I first met Bruce in 1971, when we were both competing in the MPC contest at the Detroit Autorama. Over the coming years, as a contest organizer, and judge, I had the privilege and honor of examining Bruce’s creations up close and personal with amazement under bright lights and magnifying glass. The decision to hand Bruce the Best in Show award was usually an easy one since he set a high bar for creativity, and excellence that to this day, few have challenged. Over the years since the MPC shows, Bruce continued his craft, ultimately being awarded yet another national level “Best in Show” at the 2003 GSL-XIX. Bruce will not soon be forgotten. TS

Light all 48 candles and find something to hold onto!

Wow, that is way cool! Those Gar Wood Miss America boats from the twenties and thirties are a huge inspiration to me! Hard to imagine all of that horsepower on the water almost one hundred years ago. They were way ahead of cars for sure! TS

Four years, 66 pages, 1646 replies later, this masterpiece has earned it’s rightful place on the shelf of fame, where it will undoubtedly draw myriads of drools and expressions of astonishment from those of us that have the great fortune to be able to not only follow its creation, but also celebrate its completion! Francis, I bow to your talent and steadfast dedication to this amazing project! I am also blessed to have made your acquaintance, and to be able to call you “friend”. The things you have taught me while never rising to your level under my hand, will still support my desire to ever improve my own skills for years to come. Perhaps even more impressive than the build itself, is your own patience in answering and advising us all with our questions and comments throughout this journey. Thank you so much for bringing us along Francis. Most others would have brushed many of us off along the way, but instead you continued to dazzle us with your next accomplishment at every turn. Bravo my friend! TCOTT

A Triumph Spitfire? Surely we could fit one of those in?!