Bernard Kron Posted March 8, 2008 Posted March 8, 2008 (edited) I've got several builds going at once – all of them traditional rods and racers. This one is based on the AMT 34 Ford 5-Window coupe “Blueprinter†edition. I’ve already committed the flathead V-8 it came with to another project so I decided to use the rest of the kit to build a late 50’s street rod. Since it comes with zero hot rod parts it’s required a lot of cutting and adapting of the stock bits. The ’34 coupe looks especially good with a steep rake, channeled and unchopped IMHO. So far I’ve done the bulk of the bodywork including the channel job, sectioned the interior, replaced the front crossmember, dropped the stock axle from the kit, cut the front spring, shortened the frame front and rear, and started work on the Caddy V-8 that it will use. The grill shell is the 4†sectioned piece from Model Car Garage. To fit the Caddy I’ve had to rebuild the k-member of the chassis and set the crossmember further back then stock. It'probably going to be dark candy blue with a white firewall. I’m going to keep the stock top insert, finshed in white. The wheels and tires on the mockup are probably keepers, including the funky gold paint, but I may add chrome rings and Ford hubcaps. Here are a few shots so far (click on the image to enlarge): Edited April 29, 2008 by gbk1
dub Posted March 8, 2008 Posted March 8, 2008 Right on about the stance! And you have that thing right on for stance!!! Looks great, I'm definitely going to follow this one. I also agree that these 5-window 34s do look better with no chop. They have all the attitude they need with just a channel job and a proper rake. Don't let this one get to the back burner, its too cool for that!
Kenny Posted March 8, 2008 Posted March 8, 2008 I LOVE it. Please continue and post lotsa pics! I didn't care for the fenders at first glance but they are growing on me. Looks great!
Raul_Perez Posted March 8, 2008 Posted March 8, 2008 Right on about the stance! And you have that thing right on for stance!!! Looks great, I'm definitely going to follow this one. I also agree that these 5-window 34s do look better with no chop. They have all the attitude they need with just a channel job and a proper rake. Don't let this one get to the back burner, its too cool for that! I LOVE it. Please continue and post lotsa pics! I didn't care for the fenders at first glance but they are growing on me. Looks great! I am really liking this one! Jody Not much more to say that hasn't been said! Keep up the good work, Bernard!!
bobss396 Posted March 9, 2008 Posted March 9, 2008 I like it! Rods are like a blank canvas, anything goes and the "gotcha" factor is key. And you got it with the fenders and it sits just right, dare to be different! Bob
Bernard Kron Posted March 13, 2008 Author Posted March 13, 2008 Hey Bernard, how about an update on the '34! I'm bouncing back and forth between this project and my '29 A Ford Bonneville Roadster. I should be able to post pics of the interior in the next couple of days.
Raul_Perez Posted March 13, 2008 Posted March 13, 2008 I'm bouncing back and forth between this project and my '29 A Ford Bonneville Roadster. I should be able to post pics of the interior in the next couple of days. Cool! I'm looking forward to seeing them!
Bernard Kron Posted March 25, 2008 Author Posted March 25, 2008 Here’s an update. It’s a real challenge building this car working from a kit with absolutely zero hot rod parts. Virtually everything has to be either kit-bashed, built from scratch or heavily modified. The pics don’t show it, but the frame required extensive mods to accommodate the Cadillac engine, and the front cross member landed up being virtually scratch built. Even the front axle had to be reheated and dropped just as if it were a 1:1. Frankly, I’m relieved that the stance of the original mockup survived all this cutting and fabricating! The front shock towers and shocks come from the AMT’25 Ford. They just went in and currently interfere slightly with the grill shell which accounts for the daylight between the shell and the radiator in some of the pictures. The overall look of the car involves a minimum of chrome. For this reason I mixed up a combination of Testor’s Acryl Gold, Jet Exhaust and Falt Black to paint the front axle and spring, as well as the rear spring. The front and rear locating arms are semi gloss block, and the rear axle is gloss black. The brake drums are jet exhaust which is a kind of dark bronze color. The interior is heavily sectioned and the kit seat has been sectioned and set back; again, just as it would be done on a heavily channeled 1:1. As the pics show the interior is still pretty rough. The tuck and roll is scratch built from Plastruct corrugated siding sheets. The dash will get p/e gauges. I’ll probably use a 50’s style steering wheel and the blue trim will be rubbed out and painted with clear semi-gloss once it’s cured. The color matches the engine block. I still have to make some decisions on the exhaust system. Most likely the headers will be tucked inside the frame rails. I’d love to figure out how to get the tailpipes to hang below the rear axle. I thought about more carbs but I kind of like the three stacked ‘97’s from the new RMC’49 Merc kit that are installed now. They complement the rake of the car. The poor detail of these carbs is hidden beneath the air cleaners. I may decide to ditch the chrome valve covers and go with the stock Cadillac script valve covers available from Replicas and Miniatures. Also still to do is installing shocks on the rear suspension, installing a driveshaft, putting in a fuel and electrical system, and wiring and plumbing the engine. Obviously I need to paint the car (I guess with the rat-rod thing going on maybe painting it isn’t so obvious). The color will be Tamiya Deep Metallic Blue TS-53. Figuring out how to mount the front fenders with a minimum of plastic showing and mounting the headlights promises to be fiddly and time consuming, too. I plan to do this once the main paint has been completed and it’s thoroughly cured. The frame rails and cross members will be painted the body color. The rest of the undercarriage is flat black. Click on a picture for a larger view:
tim boyd Posted March 25, 2008 Posted March 25, 2008 Bernard that is looking way, way sharp! THanks for the update. TIM BOYD
tim boyd Posted March 25, 2008 Posted March 25, 2008 Bernard that is looking way, way sharp! THanks for the update. TIM BOYD
Raul_Perez Posted March 26, 2008 Posted March 26, 2008 Bernard, The stance and the overall look is right on the money!! It all looks and fits together really well!! Keep up the good work, my friend!!
MojaveRacer208 Posted March 26, 2008 Posted March 26, 2008 I say mount the front fenders to the inside of the box. Cooler without them.
kasteer Posted March 26, 2008 Posted March 26, 2008 Looks great! Can't wait to see the finished product. Can't say much that hasn't already been said. Keep up the good work.
VW Dave Posted March 26, 2008 Posted March 26, 2008 Car's got a great stance, and I'm a huge fan of cycle fenders on hot rods....the copper-colored wheels are staying, right? They look righteous on there as well.
Bernard Kron Posted March 29, 2008 Author Posted March 29, 2008 Couldn’t resist an “in the paint shop†pic or 2 with the windows masked, the white firewall in place and the first color coat rubbed out with 2000 grit. It’s moments like this that fill a modelers heart with hope! I included a pic with the model box to remind me just how far from the original this baby will be! ....the copper-colored wheels are staying, right? They look righteous on there as well. Thanx Dave! Yeah the wheels will stay as –is although they’re supposed to be gold according to the label on the paint jar. Anyway, next another color coat, some detail sanding and then the clear. Click on the picture to see a larger image:
Kenny Posted March 29, 2008 Posted March 29, 2008 I just have to say this is one of my favorite builds. Something about it just draws me in. I love it!
MikeMc Posted March 29, 2008 Posted March 29, 2008 Oh My ......I've got one of these...NO .....Wait... its got to sit longer and let this '34 Snort!!!!!!
Raul_Perez Posted March 30, 2008 Posted March 30, 2008 Oh yeah!! That is really coming along nicely!! The white accents really pop with that dark blue body color!! I can't wait to see this one finished and sitting on a table at the NNL West next year!!
Bernard Kron Posted April 1, 2008 Author Posted April 1, 2008 Out of the paint shop/// Click on picture for larger image: ...and into the garage for assembly and final detailing.
Raul_Perez Posted April 1, 2008 Posted April 1, 2008 Alright Bernard!! You're on the home stretch!! You've got my address...I'm making room in my display case right now!!
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