Wednesday Morning Update/Completion - Revell '29A Roadster Kitbash into a '30 Chopped Five Window Coupe Traditional Hot Rod

[tim boyd]

Next up? A '30 Chopped A coupe, employing the extra, unused parts in the new Revell '29A kit, with the '30 A Five Window Coupe body from Replicas and Miniatures of Maryland. It also includes tall/'n/taller wires and whitewalls from Norm Veber/R&M of Md,, a hot rodded '59 Cad engine, a Halibrand Quick Change on a Model A transverse spring, and much more. The overall vibe is very much "Race of the Gentlemen" (other than perhaps the post-WWII Caddy engine) as opposed to the "spit/'n/shine" gloss of the Roadster kitbash displayed here in the "Under Glass section a few days ago. previously.

Here's the essentially completed chassis. The body is also essentially done. The next step is to marry the two, and add final details. Getting close. In the meantime, a few more photos of the completed chassis are at the link..

http://public.fotki.com/funman1712/tim-boyd-on-line-mo/tim-boyd-on-line-mo-2/tim-boyd-on-line-mo/

Thanks for looking....TIM

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Edited September 30, 2015 by tim boyd

[Tom Geiger]

Looks fun Tim!  I've been eyeballing my extra chassis for my '32 sedan delivery project.  I wasn't having any luck with the chassis that I Z'ed on it so I might as well use this one!

[Brett Barrow]

What is this, like 5 of these 29 A builds?!?  I think it's safe to say you like this kit! 

[tim boyd]

What is this, like 5 of these 29 A builds?!?  I think it's safe to say you like this kit! 

Brett...it's build #4, but #5 is also underway with the kitbashed body in primer.  It uses the old Revell '29A Roadster PIckup body on the new Revell kit frame.  May do it using the Highboy frame, and a small stake bed instead of the pickup bed.  But concentrating on finishing the 5W coupe first. 

Now that I think about it, build #6 is also underway, another '29 A Channeled Roadster, but with the radiator depth reduced, and possibly the Model Car Garage sectioned '32 Ford grille shell, slightly lowered suspension, and either AMT/Ertl Aka Kart (II) chrome reverses with big'n'bigger whitewalls, or perhaps the Rat Roadster wheels and tires.  I also want to use Norm's entire Halibrand Quick Change rear setup that he originally engineered for his old '29A Highboy Roadster kit with one of these new Revell roadster kit builds.  Not to mention a Y-Block somewhere along the way.  

So yes, I like the kit!  Cheers...TIM   

Edited September 28, 2015 by tim boyd

[mike 51]

Please  tell us more about Norm's wheels Tim,they look great!

 Are the spokes photoetched or cast?   I imagine the V8 hubcaps from early AMT 32s would fit.

Anxious to see that coupe body....

[Snake45]

Nice! Did you lower the front end by removing one spring, as someone demonstrated here? I did that on mine and it wasn't too difficult. (Don't have that project far enough along to post a worthwhile pic.)

Do you guys take the time to scrape the parting lines off of the detail parts, such as the front suspension units? I spent a couple evenings doing that on the two (old and new) '29s I'm building. I just HATE visible parting lines. (Would rather look at visible panty lines, for those of you old enough to remember that commercial from the '70s.)

[tim boyd]

Please  tell us more about Norm's wheels Tim,they look great!

 Are the spokes photoetched or cast?   I imagine the V8 hubcaps from early AMT 32s would fit.

Anxious to see that coupe body....

Norm's wheel and tire set is complete as shown, (tires, whitewall inserts, and spoked wheels).  He also includes correctly scale hubcaps, which I omitted due to the overall theme/flavor of my model.  All the parts are Norm's incredibly well done resin.  Those wheels spokes are demonstrably thinner than any of the kit based styrene wire wheels I've seen, and they contain the correct circular section for each spoke that is just not possible with photo-etched spoke setups.  His wheel/tire setup is not inexpensive, but it is well worth the money in my view.  

Thanks for asking....TIM 

PS = hopefully will have Coupe photos in a couple of days or so.  TB

 

[mike 51]

and thank you for your prompt response    

I was thinking of the AMT caps cause they're very nice and already plated.  It doesn't look like there's any hub/lugnut detail?

I'll be watching for the coupe pics....

Edited September 28, 2015 by mike 51

[Spex84]

Looking good! I like the wire wheel /OHV engine combo...it's maybe a more contemporary trend, but it looks tough and that's what counts.

I've been telling myself "gotta finish my A before Tim finishes his, gotta finish..." lol. I see that's not going to happen.

Looking forward to seeing more!

Those wheels and tires looks great...one of these days I should buy some, instead of struggling along trying to kitbash wheel/tire combos together. I think I can probably put together a combo like this, but the spokes will be fatter and it would take some finicky work, especially stuffing the wire wheel into those AMT bias ply fronts.

 

[crazyrichard]

nice !!

[tim boyd]

Nice! Did you lower the front end by removing one spring, as someone demonstrated here? I did that on mine and it wasn't too difficult. (Don't have that project far enough along to post a worthwhile pic.)

Do you guys take the time to scrape the parting lines off of the detail parts, such as the front suspension units? I spent a couple evenings doing that on the two (old and new) '29s I'm building. I just HATE visible parting lines. (Would rather look at visible panty lines, for those of you old enough to remember that commercial from the '70s.)

Richard,,,,I did lower the front end on this build.  I opened up the center of the crossmember so the spring could locate farther upward in the chassis, and I also removed two leaves of the spring itself.  I also moved the tabs for the radius rod ends upward in the chassis and trimmed off the tabs flush with the top of the chassis.  I also had to modify the shock absorber  mounts to the frame as the shocks now sit higher relative to the frame rails.  My mod here gets the job done, but for a contest build, someone should probably scratch all new shock mounts instead.  

I remove parting lines from everything except plated parts.  That's a step too far for me right now, although I have nothing but respect for those that go to that level of prep and the additional task of using Alclad or sending the parts off to a plating service. I have done that on occasion in the past, but it's not part of my normal build process.  For this particular build, my original plan was to strip the chrome from most of the chassis parts and paint them matte black, but I changed my mind based on the rear end/quick change components I ended up using.  

Cheers....TIM

[tim boyd]

Looking good! I like the wire wheel /OHV engine combo...it's maybe a more contemporary trend, but it looks tough and that's what counts.

I've been telling myself "gotta finish my A before Tim finishes his, gotta finish..." lol. I see that's not going to happen.

Looking forward to seeing more!

Those wheels and tires looks great...one of these days I should buy some, instead of struggling along trying to kitbash wheel/tire combos together. I think I can probably put together a combo like this, but the spokes will be fatter and it would take some finicky work, especially stuffing the wire wheel into those AMT bias ply fronts.

 

Chris....I would love to see yours completed, whether or not I get mine done first or not. It's all about how each builder interprets the kit, the colors, the chassis components, the overall build theme.  This is what I like best about modeling....seeing how each individual builder carries out his or her construction of a specific kit or topic.    

Cheers...TIM  

[tim boyd]

and thank you for your prompt response    

I was thinking of the AMT caps cause they're very nice and already plated.  It doesn't look like there's any hub/lugnut detail?

I'll be watching for the coupe pics....

Mike...my impression is that Norm's caps are different than the AMT '32 Ford caps....I should pull those parts out and compare.  I'll try to do that tomorrow and let you know what I find out.   And Norm's wheels do not have hub or lug nut detail...I did finish the interior of the hubs in a gunmetal type color to try to add some authenticity.  Maybe I should mockup Norm's wheel caps anyway and see if I like that look better.   Cheers....TIM 

[Jantrix]

 

 

A very clean and simple way to add the transverse spring perch in the rear. Well done. I'll be looking forward to seeing more.

[Dennis Lacy]

Tim, your chassis looks great! The '49 Merc Caddy engine looks awesome decked out in all of the Revell parts pack accessories. There's something about a staggered 4-carb intake that just looks tough as hell. Can't wait to see the coupe body dropped on! 

Mike...my impression is that Norm's caps are different than the AMT '32 Ford caps....I should pull those parts out and compare.  I'll try to do that tomorrow and let you know what I find out.   And Norm's wheels do not have hub or lug nut detail...I did finish the interior of the hubs in a gunmetal type color to try to add some authenticity.  Maybe I should mockup Norm's wheel caps anyway and see if I like that look better.   Cheers....TIM 

These wheels, front tires and hubcaps are based on the parts from Monogram's original version of the '34 Coupe/Cabriolet kit from the 60's which could be built stock. The rear tires are based on Monogram '41 Lincoln. They're a beautiful wheel and tire set and arguably one of the nicest set of early Ford wires there is.

[tim boyd]

Tim, your chassis looks great! The '49 Merc Caddy engine looks awesome decked out in all of the Revell parts pack accessories. There's something about a staggered 4-carb intake that just looks tough as hell. Can't wait to see the coupe body dropped on! 

These wheels, front tires and hubcaps are based on the parts from Monogram's original version of the '34 Coupe/Cabriolet kit from the 60's which could be built stock. The rear tires are based on Monogram '41 Lincoln. They're a beautiful wheel and tire set and arguably one of the nicest set of early Ford wires there is.

Dennis...that engine is actually the Monogram/Revell '59 Caddy engine, with the Revell Parts Pack accessories.  Of all the early OHV Caddy engines in scale, in my view that's the best engine block to start with.  Glad you like that Man-A-Fre style intake....I previously built another Caddy hot rod engine that used the 4x2 intake from the Outlaw kit which is similar but not with the staggered layout.  Both versions, I think, are very cool...

Thanks for the info on the source Norm used for the wheels and tires.  I have an original '34 Ford kit (well, at least I have the box art, can't recall if there's anything inside the box), so I'll try to look that up.  I've been a fan of those '41 Lincoln Continental tires for a while now,...I used them in this quick and dirty Rod style buildup I did eight or so years ago IIRC>

 

Cheers...TIM    

[tim boyd]

Here's the update...floorpan added to chassis and body ready to go...

..

...and body added to floorboard/chassis...

Since these pictures were taken....firewall added, grille and grille shell/radiator ready to go...steering box/column ready to add...windshield and frame ready to go....and just prepped the side exhausts for some Alclad II but I got a very, very bad coat of Testors Gloss Black as undercoat for Alclad II Chrome (it came of the can and left countless bubbles on the parts being painted)....decades ago Testors Gloss Black was what my buddy Steve Perry likes to call a certain "Trophy in a Can" - flawless, super deep gloss, dried hard overnight, superb results every time.  The last couple decades it's been all downhill for me...now I don't go near the stuff for gloss black paint, unless I need an enamel basecoat for Alclad II.  This is really unsatisfactory.....not sure what to do.  Oh well, I could always paint the headers and exhaust extensions flat black....:)  

Regardless....hopefully it will be finished in another couple of days....a bit of a surprise planned for the grille/grille shell.....TIM 

Edited September 29, 2015 by tim boyd

[TimKustom]

Sorry to hear about your Testors gloss black problem. I've had that issue before as well. Could be a moisture problem? I only airbrush the stuff (very thinly) now. Haven't had that issue anymore. This Model A looks great. Really like the numbers. Keep 'em coming!

[tim boyd]

Sorry to hear about your Testors gloss black problem. I've had that issue before as well. Could be a moisture problem? I only airbrush the stuff (very thinly) now. Haven't had that issue anymore. This Model A looks great. Really like the numbers. Keep 'em coming!

Hey Tim...great to hear from you.

I have never had an issue like that with Testors Gloss Black before, and I've been using it for...oh...about 50 years now.  But the quality started slipping IMHO well over 20 years ago, and this is a new low.  There were no weather or moisture issues here yesterday.  

I stripped some of the parts, found some unpainted duplicates of others elsewhere, and went searching in my paint archives this morning.  Found an old can of Testors Gloss Black (probably 10-15 years based on the label), and it worked fine.  The new can from yesterday when in the trash.  

Thanks for the comments....and very best regards!   TIM  

[geemoney]

love the four carbs!

did Cragar make an intake back in the day?

[tim boyd]

love the four carbs!

did Cragar make an intake back in the day?

Mike....I believe that intake is a Man-A-Fre or something very similar to it.  The Cragar intake is similar but forming an exact rectangle with the four inlets, as opposed to the slightly offset alignment of the Man-A-Fre.  In the pictures above, the Cragar intake (from the Revell Outlaw kit) is shown above on the Rat-Rot style maroon '27 Phaeton pictured above. Here's another picture showing the Caddy engine with the Cragar intake..

.Hope that helps..Cheers....TIM 

Edited September 29, 2015 by tim boyd

[Davewilly]

looking good!

[Tom Kren]

TIM LOOKS GREAT!!!! GOING TO UST NORMS WHEELS ON MY 2ND BUILD DID YOU USE JUST BACKING PLATES FROM THE 29 KIT ANY MODS?

[tim boyd]

TIM LOOKS GREAT!!!! GOING TO UST NORMS WHEELS ON MY 2ND BUILD DID YOU USE JUST BACKING PLATES FROM THE 29 KIT ANY MODS?

Tom....that's the neat thing.  Norm's wheels have the brakes molded in and those brakes match perfectly to the '29A backing plates.  The only mod I did was BareMetal the front brakes.  The rear backing plates came with the Halibrand Quick Change I used, and those also matched Norm's wheels perfectly. ( For those that are wondering, these wheels are not compatible with the finned Buick brake drums in the '29A kit, so those parts when in the parts box.)  

Needless to say, I'll be looking forward to your Build #2.  Best...TIM

.  

[GerN]

Spaz Stix makes a gloss black for use under their chrome spray paint.  I've used it that way, never under anything else, but it might work for you.