Deuce 5-window Highboy - My last for 2015

[Bernard Kron]

’32 Ford 5-Window Highboy

I built this in 10 days with the express goal to get one last model done before the end of 2015. I just made it on the evening of the 31st. It’s what I’ve come to call a “therapy” build – a simple, straightforward project covering familiar territory with idea t o get something done in a ,short period of time that I will be satisfied with and that’s not too technically challenging. They’re usually Revell Deuces, which is right up my comfort zone.

This one isn’t quite Out Of The Box, with a pretty severe redo of the kit stance via a shaved front spring and notched frame rails, and a blown Revell Parts Pak blown Pontiac 421 with carbs and air cleaners from a Revell Parts Pak SBC. The wheels are Halibrand 5-slots I got at the NNL West a few years back. I have no idea of their origin. The rear tires are Herb Deeks truck items and the front “implement” tires are Modelhaus T100’s. Paint is ultra basic, just Duplicolor Gloss Black on the frame and Duplicolor Red Oxide Primer for the bodywork. I neglected to photograph the interior but it’s the kit interior with a seat from the Revell 32 Ford Goodguys Roadster, all finished in blood red leatherette with a black dashboard floor area and steering wheel. The grill graphics are from the ‘50’s and applied by way of a home-made decals.

Just yer basic Hot Rod…

Thanks for lookin’,
B.

Edited July 19, 2017 by Bernard Kron

[wayne swayze]

I really like the stance you got there !

[Jantrix]

Looking good Bernard. 

[Bernard Kron]

Thanks guys. This was lots of fun and provided a nice end of year diversion.

[JTalmage]

Beautiful work

[Phildaupho]

Congrats Bernard for getting one more Deuce done. There is a lot I really like about this one - the stance, the paint textures, the slot mags, the engine compartment spreader bars, the Pontiac engine and especially getting a dual quad blown engine to fit under the hood.

I did not manage to get my year end projects completed but I should have a couple under glass early in this new year.

[topher5150]

is that a camshaft spreader bar in the front

[Bernard Kron]

Thanks Jesse!

Congrats Bernard for getting one more Deuce done. There is a lot I really like about this one - the stance, the paint textures, the slot mags, the engine compartment spreader bars, the Pontiac engine and especially getting a dual quad blown engine to fit under the hood. ...

Thanks Phil!

You really need to teach the Revell Deuce who's boss when it comes to stance! There are hardly any Revell hot rod kits where the stance isn't just terrible, usually way too tame and high in the air; the Deuces, the Willys and '40 Ford street rods and even the current '29 Ford Roadster release, all need serious work just to get them in the ball park.

The primer paint is a false time saver. It's super fragile and required constant attention. I'm convinced the best matte paint jobs are actually gloss paint finished with DullCote applied at the latest possible stage to minimize handling!

The wheels and tires were just blind luck. A deep dive into the Parts Box paid off for once!

I used a couple of techniques to make sure squeezing the blown poncho was a straightforward as possible. After all this was supposed to be a quicky! LOL

First off I used the Ford transmission in the Revell kit. After measuring the Revell Parts Pak bell housing and determining it was roughly the same length as the Deuce kit's bell housing I cut off the tranny from the small block Ford. This ensured that no surgery would be required on the drive train.

Then I had to make sure that the overall length was OK since the blown mill has all that belt drive stuff to deal with. The good news there is that the set-back on these Revell Deuce kits is gigantic and there is tons of room for additional motor length. It just meant that I couldn't use a stock style firewall as I had hoped.

Finally, since I was planning a full hood setup, the motor height was critical. There what I did was shave down the stock Deuce motor mounts to eliminated the raised channel edges and make them plain thin tabs. This eliminates about 1/16" of vertical height and allowed for adequate clearance of the carbs and air cleaners. I still landed up having to grind away material from the Pontiac Super Duty headers on the passenger side to allow the motor room to drop down.  Looking back now I almost think I just traded off between chopping the top and shoehorning the big blown mill! I almost reached for the Rat Roaster's blown SBC but then that would have meant adapting an Old School Jimmy blower rig. If it ain't one thing...

is that a camshaft spreader bar in the front

Yes it is. It's the Pontiac cam from the AMT Parts Pak version of that motor. I left the kit chrome on but dulled it with DullCote and highlighted the detail with black wash. The amazing thing is that the width is a perfect fit for the Revell Deuce chassis! An enterprising aftermarket caster should offer a little bag of these things.

Edited January 4, 2016 by Bernard Kron

[Bernard Kron]

Broken Photobucket links repaired. For now I'm only updating completed model pics. Updating w.i.p. links is just too huge a task! I'll update them on request...