Eric Macleod

We have arrived upon another milestone; the wheels are done. Im waiting for a new dashboard from Shapeways (thanks Pico) then will complete the final details of the body. Next up, an interior.

If I am not too late to join in the fun, I have a goal of completing my L-29 Cord project in time for this round's deadline. It was started 37 years ago and has been on my workbench on and off ever since then, so it's about time.

I have looked at this project several times. I am absolutely in awe.

Today I spent time refining the fit of the convertible top. Here it is getting closer to being ready for prime time.

Thanks Richard. With that I probably am giving away my choice of colors.

And the undercarriage is in its first coat of primer. It feels like huge progress has been made today.

I decided tonight to move to something else. I disassembled one of the Automodello Cord wheels and applied red paint to the spokes, hub and rim. I also painted the brake drum dark blue. Man what a difference. While the wheels are quite nice in chrome the red against the blue makes them absolutely pop. What do you think?

I always thought the Mercurys of this era had more of the appearance of a modified car than many stock cars of the era, right off the showroom floor. Agreed, this is very nice.

Note, this model was originally posted here 13 years ago. It still is nice to see it again.

The revised exhaust system is going back on. I like this one better as it is cleaner than what I had before.

So just like the proverbial band aid, the old exhaust system is ripped off. L-29 exhaust system version 2 will begin tonight.

So here I was getting ready to post the triumphant news, that the undercarriage was done. Oh, what a feeling! Then I flipped the car over. Yup, sure thing. I ran the exhaust system down the wrong side of the car. Not sure if I am ready to tear it off and give it another go, even though I know that's the right answer. Ugh... Anyway, here it is tonight.

You are absolutely right and that likely is the best solution to my own screw up Thanks so much. Sounds like that is the consensus. I have to keep your observation of being almost done in mind...do I want a perfect model or do I want a completed model? Your approach, wisely, will achieve the latter goal. Thanks! Here you see the revised exhaust system and the repair of the bumper bracket. Once it's buttoned up I'm going to call the undercarriage done.

I now have the muffler and muffler support in place. The exhaust system is going to take a rather to-and-fro route from there to the back of the car but it should look the part. I figured out exactly what I did wrong when mocking up the rear valance panel. Looking at it in relation to the rear bumper it's clearly out of alignment. So...what to do? Remove it but risk years of progress if (when) all that old bodywork comes apart? Saw it out (perhaps the best option) or cheat things over? I am open to suggestions. Have a look.

Oh wow...that was definitely worth a look.

I had that kit for a while and sold it off. Mine never would have looked as good as yours!

As you probably know, these Ferraris were hand made cars with rather obvious side to side differences. All the good people at Monogram did was to try their best to accentuate this feature! "Duh...I meant to do that!" Its all you have to say for story #1. For story #2 you could say the 1:1 was wrecked at the track. This is looking great. No matter what you do, yours will look 100 times better than that turd Monogram put on the box! Don't give up now.

So for a model that was supposed to be very minimalistic in the undercarriage department I am now making some progress. Almost done now.

I have seen that one. I was showing a car at Auburn and the guy came in with that god awful gaudy thing. Oops...turns out it is done up in factory colors. As was stated earlier in the post, the L-29 was not typically a subtle car.

After 39 years of work I should have some semblance of a plan!

I agree with the others. You have done a very fine job with a very challenging kit. Thankfully the 1:1 version goes together easier than the model.

That's a really beautiful car. I like the colors of that.

Thank you! I like speedsters a lot too. I'd love to see yours!

Many thanks. There was a LOT of blood, sweat and tears in that one.

You are right. Henry Ford was known to be thrifty but he definitely was not cheap, nor was the Model T. Inexpensive, yes; cheap, no. Having worked on many of these cars over the years, I have been repeatedly amazed by how well engineered they were and by the continious quality improvement program that was in place at Ford. While they rarely threw out older parts, literally nothing from a 1909 would have been a correct replacement for a '26-7, and visa versa. When teaching a student driver about the car, I tell them you have to look at the car in context. When it was introduced in 1908 (as a 1909 model year car), the Model T was the iPhone of its time. To that date it was the single most important, and successful, commercial product ever. It got that way because it was affordable and of tremendous quality, not because it was junk. They endure for that reason as well as an intangible factor...they are a hoot to drive.