Maindrian Pace

Once upon a time, Ford decided that it was going to offer the baddest 4 door sedan in all the land. People laughed out loud. They delivered. People stopped laughing. It was a different world back then, but the SHO with it's Yamaha engineered 3 liter V6 was the business, and the sedan arms race started then and there. In those days, the model companies released new models at the same time as the new cars, and AMT dropped their very nice, promo based kit on the market while the cars were filing into the dealer show rooms. I went to the local Phoenix Toys R Us and got the new kit the first day they had it, back when TRU stocked model kits... and existed. I dove right in, originally intending to build it box stock. Like that ever happens. I looked at the well executed body and I thought to myself "I wonder how this would look as a 2 door coupe?" About like this. The only surviving photo of the original build showing what I did; re-scribed door lines to 2 door configuration, moved the posts back, eliminated the rear most stationary glass posts. But there was a problem, the 1/4 windows were too big, it reminded me of a Volvo 242 in that way. What now? I decided to move the C pillars/rear window/back of the roof line forward to make the windows and roof smaller and the trunk lid longer to bring it it into proportion. I shortened the interior shell to match the new green house length, and that was pretty much that. I painted it in some sort of Testors maroon, possibly Model Master, and called it done. I took it to the club meeting, the theme that month was Customs. Only a couple of guys picked up on what was done, others guessed that it was a Thunderbird or a Tempo. When word got out, it won the plaque that day, the same day the above photo was taken. But a few weeks after that, tragedy struck. Sort of. I used 3M spot putty, AKA red lead, back in those days, and as I was in such a hurry to get this car done for the meeting, I didn't allow enough time for the putty to cure - and it shrunk everywhere, revealing all the door lines, the trunk surgery, everything. I was bummed. So I stripped it down, began to reapply the filler, got frustrated and bored, and put it in a box - for 33 years. Fast forward a year and change ago, and the subject of the SHO coupe came up in a discussion with a club member, so I dug around and found it (for reasons unknown) in a '64 Galaxie box. I started fooling around with it, and before too long, the body work was finished once again - in Tamiya filler, no more red lead. The idea this time around was to do what I wanted to do back in the day, paint it in the factory 2F Currant Red, one of three colors offered on that car in '89. I didn't know anything about air brushes then, that came later, and getting factory colors was difficult and expensive. I called Scalefinishes and Jameston set me up with a bottle, not offered on his site, but he will make you up about any color you need for no extra charge, because that's how he rolls. I painted the body and cleared it with Tamiya TS-13, decanted and airbrushed. Masked and sprayed the black trim.

So many great bump/dent side Ford pickups here lately, I hope this trend continues.

Two great new additions, both to be added to the Moebius collection.

What year are you trying to replicate? I don't have any Monogram parts kits, but I do have this US Airfix kit, 1:24 scale. The hood does fit the Monogram '79 body, so the rest can be blended easily enough. If you can use the parts, it's yours.

Wow, I had no idea it had that kind of influence, but I'm glad it did. I did update the thread pics, so here it is: Hopefully the self-hosted pics on this site hold up a bit longer than that other company. If you want any additional pictures, let me know. As for your truck's ride height, I think the front is perfect, it's the back that's too low. All of the AMT kits in this OBS Ford series are tail draggers, if you raise it up about 2-2.5 MM, it should have the perfect stance.

Fantastic job, I love the look of this little car.

Monogram '79 Pace Car. I'll see what I have.

What can I say, it looks real. One of the nicest conversion jobs I've ever seen on that kit. I did a short bed 4x4 some time ago, and now I feel the need to do another dent side.

Super nice job on this truck. I did a '92 F350 service truck about a decade ago, I just edited the thread to get rid of the old Photobucket pictures that were marred with the watermarks. I still have to redo the pictures on the build thread, those don't even show up anymore in any form.

Miles, you have a PM.

That thing is neat! Put the mini compressor in your pocket or a belt loop, go to the parking lot, and fire away. I think we have a winner.

Thanks for the nice words, gentlemen.

It looks quite nice, and I really like the interior, my favorite interior combo for the muscle car era. I believe the hood would close for you if you straighten the engine, perhaps drop it in the chassis a bit, and lower the air cleaner housing - or maybe just a couple of those.

Masterful conversion, and the details left no stone unturned. Love the overall look of the trim level, sort of basic but sort of not.

Honestly, you want Scalefinishes Turbine Bronze. I painted this interior shell with it, great match to factory. The problem with the Testors lacquer cans is that they are all old now, and are almost all leaking from the seams. So there is little or no pressure inside, and the clear carrier is what is leaking so the mixture is off - meaning you would have to decant and airbrush it anyway, and who knows how it would come out or if there would be enough; the leaked cans are much lighter in weight than the full ones.

That's a major improvement! Ford went to a larger radiator in '36 to combat overheating on the flat heads, hence the wider grille shell. About 15 years ago, I built a '37 for a friend/customer, full rod build with a 312 Y block, C4, 9 inch rear, and dropped stock axle. Very fun truck, and surprisingly quick. Before/after:

This project was started by Brad Norgaard, a club member who passed away last year. Brad was a super cool guy, friend to absolutely everyone, larger than life in more ways than one, (6'4"), and was taken from us way too soon by cancer. He built vintage drag cars, street rods, 4x4s, and specialized in dioramas with tons of in-scale fabricating and working features, like steering and U joints in brass. He was a vintage Airstream trailer buff, and had a real one along with models he scratch built. He was such a good modeler, the first time he went to GSLMCC, which was the last one, the teardrop camper scene he entered took best in class in the diorama category. If that wasn't enough, his Model T carney wagon also took best in class in commercial/light duty. The basics are a Revell '37 Ford pickup kit, an All American Models resin conversion kit to turn it into a '35, Dancing Bear aluminum wheels, 327 Chevy engine, and parts from a variety of other kits. Paint is Tamiya Brilliant Orange with Tamiya Metallic Orange on the chassis and drivetrain. Most of the particulars are in the build thread. De-chromed and lowered the headlights and taillights. Wood tone decal and BMF in the bed floor, relocated the license plate from the taillight bracket to the bed. Hood and grille emblems are Molotow ink applied with a brush, '34 Ford front bumper. Brass radiator support rods added. Chassis has raised rear cross member, de-arched front spring, chrome Revell '32 dropped axle and steering, split wish bone, 4 wheel disc brakes from the '32.

Amazing job, the nicest build ever on that kit, and one of the nicest C3s out there as well.

Engine looks great with the triple air cleaners, this is shaping up to be one fine rod.

Thanks. I did the hood and grille emblems in Molotow ink applied with a 000 brush.

This truck is done, so here is a one page build thread. This project was started by Brad Norgaard, a member of our club who passed away last year. This truck was in the early stages on his bench, so I took it on to send it over the finish line. We will never know exactly how Brad wanted to do it, but the parts selection in the tote told part of the story. So, there I was. Seen here are the basics, an AAM resin transkit to convert the Revellogram '37 Ford pickup into a '35. I never knew this kit existed. I supplied the '37 kit. Tote contained a small block Chevrolet engine with a 4 speed, Dancing Bear aluminum wheels. Tires are on their site pictured with the wheels, so they probably came from them too. I elected to use the original kit fender/floor/bed unit instead of the resin, as the resin was cracked and required more body work. The only difference was the bed - a bit shorter on a '35, an easy mod. I erased the spare tire recess in the right running board and sketched the ribs back in with Evergreen strip. No recess, recess. First mock-up with ride height dialed in. Chassis almost done. I used a Revell '32 front drop axle and de-arched the '37 spring and the height turned out well. Split wishbone. I flattened the rear crossmember and raised it in the chassis to lower the rear. I don't know where the engine came from, but probably the '55 Chevy truck kits. Manifold, triple Rochesters, and air cleaners were in a medicine bottle in the tote. Several manifold setups were there, I chose this one. Valve covers were also in the tote, I added Tamiya clear orange between the ribs. Exhaust is modified '70 Mustang with shortened mufflers, ram horn manifolds were from my parts stash. Driveline/chassis paint is Tamiya Metallic orange. I made the wheels roll by adding axle retainers under the hub caps. Interior - resin '35 dash, shortened column with parts stash steering wheel, custom mixed flocking. I threw some pleats on the seat and gauge decals in the cluster. Paint is Tamiya Racing White. Body is Tamiya Brilliant Orange, AKA McLaren orange, over Tamiya fine gray primer. I was going for a Creamsicle look. First fit to the chassis.

I bought these and they look very nice. https://www.ebay.com/itm/335195506056?itmmeta=01HY2CM3DMG36BAFG5C8DCK8N4&hash=item4e0b358588:g:oQoAAOSwDq1llby9&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAABEKCzQcoY63DvCh%2BXfMwgyB8kFaENjlB%2BhNgCRkLrQTKQloeETe%2BIZQV7L357aTG4zZr1zY9JWVG0GStgLUmzOWyfHaFH1p%2FHiavbbCDqibe4PF1tsenkmSmlmp6Pcz0sOyV2f19LhRRCaFFvxyHBKe4LLmnd1N%2BmdRzz9j7hHV7SrlDtvQDuoZnszHJVb%2BHg68ST9m4dVGo1vKi5j7xLPjVYl0Hzw6xRBvu%2B1LQl2i%2BJx2L8ggYqvnfVN5PmN%2FCa2eAeW8MA6Hv1x3javGmyMPC%2FFbx2kSGbRN3MBsXK187%2FLDPNYMAAEzrc7Nd3yZhm7G36xGC9Y%2FUxxx81yfbubOFyTVUg%2BgBcpZXUFSK7VPna|tkp%3ABk9SR_K20MzwYw

Those are Appliance Wiremags.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/315272917246?mkpid=0&emsid=e11021.m43.l1120&ch=osgood&euid=dc2a14c5de9441e88da134d9be2ed083&bu=43187303658&ut=RU&osub=-1~1&crd=20240405063032&segname=11021 Better see this fast and better act fast.

Home depot the other day. Rare '78 turbo Regal.