Eric Macleod

Here are a couple more shots. One of the interior and one of the engine. If I had it to do over I would have made note of the part numbers on the inside of the hood panels and would have sanded them off. I still might but not right away. Enjoy.

Here is my first completion of 2018. This is a very old Monogram kit, probably 1963 or 1964. In all likelihood the model is older than I am. That being said, the model went together much better than many much more modern kits I have built. I had some trouble getting the relationship between the front fenders, hood side and top panels and radiator to fit properly. Otherwise this model was an absolute joy to build. I did struggle with the paint but that was more of a user error problem than any issue related to the kit. There are still four small things I plan to finish; I will be detailing the up-top and will occasionally use it, I am working on a license plate for it, I plan to add a speedometer decal (which I have ordered) and I need to do a small amount of detail touch-up painting. I am very satisfied with this model but do wish I could have added Ford's double whitewall tires (whitewall on both inside and outside surfaces). Many reference photos show these cars with such tires, even from the factory. Unfortunately, the tires were so hard that I had to soak them in boiling water for 5 minutes before I could get enough give in them to get them over the very, very brittle spokes of the wheels. That being said, I did not want to paint them, then soak them in the water as did not thing the paint would last. This is a mostly out-of the box model except for minimal engine plumbing. I hope you enjoy this completion of a unusual, factory stock '34 Ford Cabriolet by Monogram. Thanks for looking.

I too like this concept...a LOT. Great model in every way.

Very nice. You've done this one proud.

This is looking pretty incredible. Your engine is nothing short of amazing. I'm going to be following this one closely.

I really like this build. I'm curious about the color you choose. Locally, someone has one of these in pale yellow with a white interior. It looks good but would be better with black upholstery. Keep us posted on t his excellent model.

Thanks Tony, thoigh I'm not quite there yet. Maybe tomorrow!

I thought I would be posting "under glass" by now and really I am within about 1-2 hours of being there. That being said, here is my progress. I find the front clip assembly-grill, hood and fender alignment to be very "fiddly" on this model. Giving credit where credit is due, it is about 55 years old so I will cut the kit some slack.

X2!

I have no idea where its going either, but like what I see so far. Your workmanship is top notch. I like what I see here.

Definitely an inspiring build so far. Your wood panels look great.

I too like these. Can you talk to us about what appears to be a Jeep in the background?

I finally got nearly all the body panels installed without a paint blemish. Interior is in it and things are getting glued down. Likely, I will have this wrapped up tonight.

Agree!

Excellent! I like this a lot. Great use of color and recycled parts on this one.

Yes it is and I wondered if anyone would notice that one. While I would love to take credit for building it, this one came from Automodello. It was a distressed model damaged in shipping. I put it back together and still plan to do some weathering so it looks like it has been driven on the Salt Flats. In the background I also have a model of the Duesenberg SJ Murphy Convertible Coupe that was the car Fred Duesenberg was driving when he had an accident that led to his untimely demise. And there is a 1907 Thomas Flyer back there as well. Thanks for the encouragement guys!

Work continues on this project. I have listened carefully to the feedback. My revised fictional story is the gentleman in question took his fabulous Duesenberg Torpedo and prepped it for a TROG event without bothering to read the rules (pretty close to my situation). A great car, it was none-the-less ineligible to run. The following year he made a "few" modifications to the car. Pictures tell 1000 words as they say. You can see where I am heading with this project with the following images.

I am continuing slowly on this one. I have done some detail painting and assembly slowly continues. I find the paint I chose seems very fragile (Rustoleum plastic paint/primer) so I am being extra careful. That being said, I like the stance of this car and it is coming together well. There probably was some filling and sanding I could have done on the upper door extension but candidly, this was supposed to be a fairly quick build in between bigger projects and stripping the body again is simply not in the cards.

Frustrated does not even come close to describing how I feel. I got a bit more together and noticed a little dust in the rumble seat cover. Well...Ive come this far. So i sanded it smooth only to have the paint come back up . Back to the purple pond...again.

Yes, constructive or destructive comments are welcome. I really appreciate the feedback. Walt i appreciate the info. I was fortunate to see both car 2594 J563 ( the Cooper SSJ) and car 2595 J567 ( the Gable SSJ) and have a couple models of the latter. I am thinking more along the line of car 2201, J 183 but based upon car 2554, J 526, a LeGrande Torpedo Phaeton. Stay tuned.

I always thought the Rommel's Rod was a little weird. Maybe a LOT weird. I can't be alone with this, am I? I totally agree with the earlier posts re a '72 Montego GT, wagon or whatever. My parents first and only new car was a green '73 Montego sedan. Dad got it as a company car when he worked for the Boy Scouts of America. It was a base model but I loved it. Then I saw a '72 and liked the look of the front bumper more than the '73. We can dream, right?

I have been a bit of a holding pattern waiting on some research. My answer is clear based upon information from the AACA, the Early Ford V-8 club and finally a trip to the Benson Ford Library, the correct way these cars were upholstered was with Bedford cord in the front seat then leather in the rumble srat. Now..how to make plastic liok like cloth?

How cool this is!

Meanwhile...in the world of the '34 Ford Cabriolet I have nearly completed the engine wiring. I made looms (which were surprisingly difficult to make) for the wiring and installed them. I discovered I must have gotten a bad batch of cement as nothing...and I do mean NOTHING would stick. Here is the photo of the progress.

I have been playing around with several ideas. Fortunately I have enough "junk" Duesenbergs in my stash that I can explore some ideas without putting the whole project into jeopardy. In this case, I decided to look at how the car would look with a set of heavily bobbed fenders. TROG cars come in many forms but they rarely are ugly. What I had in my head and how the car looked just did not work out. First is a photo of the car on a junk chassis with the heavily bobbed (and exceptionally ugly IMHO) fenders. The second is a mockup of the car with more of a final appearance. Much better. I am also playing around with wheels. I am inclined to go with the primed wheels with the knock-off hubs but likely will try to fit the JoHan Cadillac tires as I like the tread pattern. I will go with either very narrow whitewalls or just blackwalls. The solid disc wheels (from a Hispano Suiza and interesting to me but I may reserve them for another project. Have a look and I really want to hear your opinions. Eric