gasser59

With one of the latest changes/upgrades, my avatar was cut off. Now I'm unable to load an avatar so it looks like I'm the blue background question mark and that's not really what I look like although I'm quite puzzled most of the time.

Hi gang. I picked up a Street Rod Milestones magazine at 40% at Borders and the cover car, Back Seat Betty, really caught my eye. Its probably the vintage aircraft inspired design as I own a '59 Airstream travel trailer which has the same type of construction that makes this unique street rod speak to me. I want to build this in as close as rendition as possible. I may change out the 325ci Dodge Super Red Ram "Polyspherical" V-8 for something a little easier to locate. It has a '38 Plymouth grill, shell and headlights which I'm sure will be difficult to source. I'm hoping you guys can help me by suggesting other similar grills. I've a couple other projects in the works so time is on my side for sourcing parts for this one. Thanks in advance for any suggestions provided.

If the rest of this build come out anything like the body, chassis and tranny, this one will be a winner. Its outta da park!! Like the others have said, I'll be following this one closely.

Nice builds, all three of them. Really liking the flathead rail. Don't worry about how the hobby room looks if you can build like this.

Outstanding!! So Scale Hardware is going to make these to the specifications you supply so they'll be available to the rest of us in 1/16" scale? If so, that rocks.

Thanks for the comments guys. I'm really enjoying this build and the challenges it brings. Since the body and front nose piece will lift, everything will be visible so I'm pulling all of the stops and going for broke. Thanks again for following along.

Thanks Brett and Chris. The glue I use for the printing plate is Zap-A-Gap. As you can see in the picture, when ever I need to join two pieces, I bend over tabs to glue together. It makes a very strong bond and is impossible to take it apart without ruining the piece and starting over. Here's a pic showing the bent over tabs for the glue. As you guys can see, I got the front piece on and still working out the top where it will mate up with the body in the down position and still open up with being able to lift the body plus fit around the steering box. Also took some time and kinda worked out of sequence but created the body support bar out of aluminum tubing and padding. As always, thanks for following along.

A bit more progress on the interior tin. out of more printing plate, I made the output shaft tunnel and am now working on the front piece. Man its tight in there with my fat fingers. Here's a picture of the tunnel. Sorry for the big rubber band in the way but its holding on the floorboard at the moment at its needed for proper fitting of the tunnel. That's all for now. Another update will be forthcoming tomorrow. Thanks for following along and comments welcome.

Looking good Paul. I always thought those wheelwell openings were too big. You may be new here but you're certainly not new to modeling. Welcome aboard.

Both of these builds are really cool. I'll be following along as I can't wait to see the finished one.

A couple small updates for you guys. Spent a bunch of time make the oil filter mount which the Wild Willie motor was missing and along with a machined oil filter which has yet to be painted and decaled. It took so long because half way through the first one, I dropped it in the carpet and was never seen again. Next was the master brake cylinder and rear brakes lines over the axle. And finally got around to creating a oil pressure gauge which is mounted to the back of the blower. Its made from aluminum tubing turned on my Dremel Stylus and the gauge itself is white sprue finely sanded smooth with needle and indicator marks drawn in with a fine point marker. Thanks for following along. More updates soon.

Holy Smokes!! I gotta find a new hobby because reading through this entire thread, although its an amazing documentary on a fantastic build, has made me think that I'd be better off crocheting or basket weaving. A truly amazing and inspirational work of art Rom. I'm in total and absolute awe. Keep it going, I'll be following along.

Alright!! Another Fiat being built. Looks like you're off to a good start and I'm looking forward to following your progress. Are you planning on using the Johan engine, rollcage, etc. entirely on this build?

Lately, and even earlier today, I grip a small part in the tweezers and while I'm grabbing another part to glue it to, the tweezers compresses and the part goes airborne. PING!! Without having my eyes on it at the time of departure, I have no idea which direction it even went. I don't even bother to look for it most of the time since it could be anywhere. I just resign myself to making a new one which usually turns out better that the first (lost) one.

With the frame now painted and assembly starting to take place, I've come to the realization I'm going to need to remake my front axle. There just isn't enough room for the batwing and radius rods to fit in between the shocks and frame and still have the steering function. Over the past two days, I've been mulling this over and starting over is the best course of action so in an effort to make it more tolerable, I'll do a short How-to with progress photos and instructions. If others can benefit, all the better. I'm still working on the interior components and as things progress to the point where I'm done with making the cockpit components, I'll start the new front end. Stay tuned and thanks for following along.

Spectacular, amazing, stupendous, exquisite, phenominal, slendid, and unbelievable......are just a few words that come to mind. Since this is not a actual bike, how the the final version come out compared to what you envisioned in the beginning?

This deserves to be finished. What? You don't have 15 minutes to put on a parachute? Git-r-dun!!

Looking really good Chris. I know it will be my benchmark and I hope to pick up a 1/16" scale funny car kit tomorrow morning at the local plastic model flea market. Since I'm already doing a Fiat, maybe a bantam will be next. Looking forward to more updates. More, more, more....

A bit of work done of the last two days but not much. Here's a picture of the printing plate inserts on the inside of the frame along with the floorboard. With the metal seat, metal sides, floorboard and metal output shaft tunnel (yet to make), its going to be alot of metal showing on the cockpit. Also, finally got around to putting the valve cover breathers on. I have been dreading these but I'm happy with them. Thanks for following along and your input is welcome.

Thanks Chris. Yup, it was bugging me, big time. Today, in between watching my grandson and some bench time, I cut some printing plate and inserted it into the inside of the cockpit frame to cover the mold fill holes. I'm at wt work now but will post some pictures later, more like early tomorrow morning since I'll be getting home after midnight. BTW - it IS polished.

After additional research, I realized that an altered doesn't have a typical automotive driveshaft with U joints but has an output shaft. I should have realized this from the original Wild Willie kit but it just didn't register. I thusly have made an output shaft out of a telescoping antenna piece and aluminum tubing. Much better. Now I can sleep properly tonight.

Nice. Can't go wrong with a straight line Fiat.

Frame's painted and dry and I've added the rear disk brakes. Painted the calipers Tamiya Clear Red and over the chrome, they look great. Now am finishing up the driveshaft. Am contemplating working U joints but they won't be visible with the belly pan I plan on putting on so I may not make them functioning. Thanks for following along.

The decals were sent to me mid January of this year. I'd been in contact with them for a month or so before that. I'm very pleased with the results although I wish the silver were a bit shinier like the original car.

This actual car and the Swanson Automotive shop that built it has a bit of racing history as one of the original Black Widow cars gifted to them by the GM Racing Division. In his earlier years, Dale Swanson built cars for Tiny Lund and Johnny Beaucamp as all three of these fellas were from Harlan. For more info on this, check out the PDF under about us at www.swanson-automotive.com. Very interesting reading. After reading this article and watching this car race in my younger years, I just had to build it to help tell the story. Thanks again for the comments.