Biscuitbuilder

George, You have to have a paid Fotki account--their free service doesn't have the sharing feature. Biscuitbuilder

The Buick "Nailhead" got its nickname from the rather curious notion of Buick engineers that small valves, set at an extreme angle to the cylinder centerline so they could have a higher lift, gave better breathing. This was done, in part, to avoid the rather wide engine dimensions which did inhibit the turning radius of early V8 powered postwar cars (Ford flatheads excepted here). The small size of the intake and exhaust valves, especially when compared to Olds, Cadillac and Chrysler, looked, in the eyes of many mechanics, like large nails rather than true valves (in their considered opinions), hence the nickname "Nailhead". The aluminum V8 that Buick eventually sold all rights and tooling for, to Rover Cars, was an all-new engine for 1961, having been designed for the then-new Buick Special compact car. It wasn't the sales success Buick Division had hoped for, neither was the then-new Buick V6 (sold off to Kaiser Jeep after Buick discontinued it following the 1963 model year, then bought back from AMC in 1974-75 for use in Buicks again!), so it was replaced by a new family of V8's at Buick for 1964. But, the Buick/Rover aluminum V8 is not a Nailhead, regardless of some similarities in appearance. Biscuitbuilder

I like that a lot! Biscuitbuilder

For those of you who don't know, the link is for PSAB Model Car Chat Room! I put out the invite to Jairus (who comes into PSAB frequently) and Gregg, so that we can all meet him and chew the plastic sprue for a bit. 4pm-6pm PST is 8pm-10pm EDT, 7pm-9pm CDT, and 6pm-8pm MDT--Jairus may have forgotten that it's summer? Seriously, guys, come on in! Biscuitbuilder

You can see that the center panel is already installed, and is a solid part of the body shell. Without this, the body would be as fragile as an eggshell! Biscuitbuilder

Unfortunately, it's really not engineered to be easily cast, as the center panel (across the body behind the front seat) is a solid body member now--too many problems that way---so, it's just gonna get finished out just for me. Biscuitbuilder

Since no model company ever did one, I decided back in 2001 to work one up on my own (I'd tried to do it way back in about 1962, but materials, tools and my own techniques made it an impossible task)--so here it is now, even though stalled for several years: Body is made from two AMT 25 T roadsters, top comes from two AMT '27 T Touring Cars, lotsa cutting, shrinking and stretching went on here:

Thought I might share this with you all: 1959 Imperial Ghia Crown Limousine, done like Ghia did it, by stretching a Southampton Hardtop (Model King kit): Biscuitbuilder

Purty! And that goes for each and every one of them--keep it up! (Love the custom Studebaker--have you tried that one on Mark Gustavson yet?) Biscuitbuilder

...back on for the umpteenth time, and did a "beauty shot" of it--one of my all-time favorite, nearly box-stock builds: Monogram's 1930 Packard Speedster Phaeton, built in 1979. Biscuitbuilder

Just gonna stretch the kit chassis, Bill--as this one is curbside all the way. Biscuitbuilder

Here's a fairly easy project I am working on right now, a 1959 Imperial Ghia Crown Limousine, using the Model King/AMT Ertl '59 Imperial kit (two of them). The body has a scale 21" stretch, as does the roof. I used the clear plastic back window to make the rear of the roof, as Ghia used the very same contours in sheetmetal as were in the hardtop rear glass. Amazingly, the "glass" from the kit, once cut to shape, will fit more or less flush, only a bit of filling, filing and sanding needed. All filler used to this point, throughout the bodywork is Goldberg SuperJet CA glue, with Bob Smith Models Accelerator. The upper edges of the side window openings were added, using .060" square Evergreen strip styrene, as are the two B-posts. My personal practice when installing B-posts is to file a notch into the bottom edge of the side of the roof, and a corresponding notch into the upper edge of the door area, so that the posts fit flush with the inside edge at both bottom and top, and being set in notches, the glue joint is virtually indestructible. I did file off the upper portion of the windshield trim, in order to smooth down the roof, then added it back with Evergreen styrene strip, blended in with CA glue, file and sandpaper. Here's a couple of views of the project, pretty easy one to do, BTW: Biscuitbuilder

Firestone's 1963 racing tires were an odd breed, particularly those mounting on Halibrand 15" rims. 1963 was the last year for Firestone's "balloon tires" in racing, both in the old 18" rear, 16" front, and the 15" all around. AMT's original-issue Willard Battery Special and Lotus Ford kits had exactly the right tires, complete with correct tread, just missing the Firestone lettering--look to Fred Cady Design for that lettering. Biscuitbuilder

Here's a view of the chassis from above. Biscuitbuilder

In early 1987, a model railroading magazine, "Mainline Modeler" published a set of excellent scale drawings of a 1920 Oldsmobile 1-ton truck that the artist, the late Al Armitage spotted at the Hays Truck Museum near his home, in Woodland, CA. Mainline Modeler magazine printed those drawings in exact 1:25 scale, which made them really easy to use. The truck itself is a complete vehicle, an astoundingly solid "barn find" from a ranch in Montana. The whole thing is actually based off the Beverly Hillbillie's car, which is a 20-21 Oldsmobile touring car, having the rear of the body lopped off, and a crude flat bed built on it. The front 2.5" of the frame, fenders, running boards, radiator, firewall, engine/tranny, front axle, rear axle and wheels are all pretty much straight from the BhB car. All the rest is coming from my stash of Evergreen. The cab will be as the actual truck, done in 1/32" birch plywood and basswood strip framing. The bed is going to be an ice delivery body, though. Biscuitbuilder

How about a 1920 Oldsmobile 1-ton truck? (yes, Oldsmobile built trucks up through the early 1920's!) This one was started (frame built) in 1987, got back on it in January of this year. Biscuitbuilder

JaBill, Geez, a 274cid Offy in a '27 T? Mebbe you better tow that one a little bit farther, to Bonneville--lots more room to open 'er up! When can we get to hear that Offy air-pumper rumble and growl?????? Art Anderson a/k/a Biscuitbuilder

Glenn, They might. I'd suggest looking at the fenders from Revell's '37 Fords, for the forward part, just in case though. It seems to me that the '38 Ford Deluxe front fenders, although they sort of look the same, are actually quite different when put side-by-side with a '39 Standard, but I could be wrong on that. In any case, though, it would probably be easier to splice the front part of either the '37, or those custom '38 fenders (from the Black Force) to the Revell '40 Ford Coupe fenders (or AMT '40, if that is what you are thinking of using). That way, you are pretty much assured that the fenders will make correctly to the body shell you are going to use. Also, don't forget that '38 Deluxe Fords, and all '39 Fords, while they share essentially the same bodies with the 40's, have swing-out windshields (last year for this feature at Ford was 1939, and no cowl vents. The swing out windshield actually has a frame that overlaps it's opening, which will be far easier to do with the Revell 40. Also, if you are building this as a stock '39 Standard, I would suggest the wheels, tires and hubcaps from the Revell '37 Ford pickup or Panel Delivery--Ford used the same 16" wide five artillery wheels from 1936 through 1929. Biscuitbuilder

Her ya go, Jairus! Biscuitbuilder

Etzel's Speed Classics made a fabulous, 1:25 scale 270/255 cid Offenhauser 4-banger several years back, but they are out of business. This engine was so well mastered and cast, you'd think it was a repop of something from the likes of Tamiya. Keep an eye on eBay, one might show up there. Biscuitbuilder

Well, Sorry to disappoint ya, Jairus, but I have yet to even dare think about doing one! Biscuitbuilder

Well, It IS a truck--so what sort of body should I put on it, to hold the girls? Biscuitbuilder

Beyond the grille, front fenders and hood, the rest is the same as the Deluxe. Keep in mind that '39 Fords have exactly the same basic bodies as the '40, with the exception of the swing-out windshield. You can do this conversion on any '40, by remaking the windshield with the frame flush on the outside, fill in the lines for the cowl vent, and move the wipers to above the windshield. Biscuitbuilder

Welp, here is a project, that will be a sort-of woodie, just for Jairus Watson's benefit: Biscuitbuilder

Wow, Finally, a forum from the best model car mag on the planet@@@@ Biscuitbuilder