Bernard Kron Posted April 23, 2008 Posted April 23, 2008 This is my first complete build since coming back to car modeling last fall after being away for over 40 years. I’m a died in the wool auto buff with wide ranging interests and for some reason I figured out that modeling cars would be an ideal method to express my passion for these beasts. I love what the internet, cheap digital photography, aftermarket resin casters and p/e parts, state of the art paint technologies, and a bewildering array of adhesives have all done to “the hobbyâ€. I used them all in this build! I really chose the wrong subject/model for my first completion since the basic kit used was the Blueprinter edition of the AMT ’34 Ford which had virtually nothing other than the basic body shell and interior and most of the frame and suspension to contribute to final product. I won’t go into the detail’s here. If you want the full skinny on the build check out the Workbench WIP at http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=10518 . The completed model is the result of kit bashing, scratch building, resin and p/e parts and way more technique and ability than I had when I started this build! Anyway, I have a long way to go to achieve some of the stunning works we all enjoy on this board, but I’m pleased with this model because it represents what I set out to build, and it captures a bit of Old Skool vibe with a degree of realism that I like. Thanks for looking!
Kenny Posted April 23, 2008 Posted April 23, 2008 Bernard, You hit a home run with this one! One could never tell you took 40 years off.
Don Banes Posted April 23, 2008 Posted April 23, 2008 Whoaaa! Nice Build, and right up my alley! Welcome back, and your newest effort has that COOL factor down pat!
Nick F40 Posted April 23, 2008 Posted April 23, 2008 Coooooooooooool That thing is cherry man, my style.
CB Posted April 23, 2008 Posted April 23, 2008 Hey Bernard, Looks like mission accomplished. I keep seeing these 34s I'm gonna have to build one or 6 Very groovy build, but.............. If this was yer 1:1 and we were hangin/cruisin together, I'd be asking, "What's up with them rear fenders?" Kudos to you for doin the old school thing, when guys were tryin different things. Yep, if'n it were me I'd a done the rears different (not sure how) but........Man I sure wish we could enlarge these to 1:1 or shrink us down to 1:25 and drive these suckers!! Love the top photo--what them cute girlz see when they be crossing the street while you're sitting at the red light Later, ######'n
Raul_Perez Posted April 23, 2008 Posted April 23, 2008 Bernard, Welcome back!! You should be very proud of this build!! I wish that I could do this well at anything after coming back from a 40+ year break!! The "look" is right on the money!!! Everything about it is period correct and fits together very well! I can hear the soundtrack from "American Graffitti" playing in the background!! Very nice, my friend, very nice indead!!
stevegt738 Posted April 23, 2008 Posted April 23, 2008 What a cool build. Looks just how a rod should. Well done.
RodBurNeR Posted April 23, 2008 Posted April 23, 2008 oh yeah, cool indeed! nice work, the fenders look great!
CB Posted April 23, 2008 Posted April 23, 2008 oh yeah, cool indeed! nice work, the fenders look great! Ggrrrrrrrrrrr.........
Raul_Perez Posted April 23, 2008 Posted April 23, 2008 Those fenders are right on the money for what he built! Oh yeah...I can still hear the soundtrack playin' after all these years!!
Bernard Kron Posted April 24, 2008 Author Posted April 24, 2008 (edited) Thanks for all the kind words. Closeup digital photography can cover up a myriad of sins ... as well as reveal them! But I’m glad you all enjoyed the vibe of the build. I didn’t know that a set a fenders could be such a lightning rod of controversy! As an FYI here’s the pic that inspired the build: Maybe those rear fenders are more to your liking, Crap’n. The car is a 1958 high school auto shop project and the kid in the pic is the builder and he’s 16 (no he’s not me). I’d say he did pretty good. The kid completed the build by adding front fenders and front and rear nerf bars. He showed the 5-window a few times in local custom car shows. Then he sold the car to the guy who had built the engine. That guy then installed a small hemi. The second owner’s son revived the car a couple of years ago after decades in storage just in time for his father to see it run again before the old man died. Typical of the stories we hear these days about these great old rods. ... the top photo--what them cute girlz see when they be crossing the street while you're sitting at the red light ... Yeah, I think that photo is the “money shot", too. That’s the perspective I was after in the build. Like I said, stance is everything. The trouble is we can’t reproduce the sound of the car in our builds – you know, that low lumpy idle at the light, all the little rattling mechanical noises of the ancillaries turning over, and then the throaty roar of lightly muffled pipes as the little coupe pulls briskly away from the stoplight with a crisp chirp of the rear tires! That’s what gits the girlz...every time! At least that’s what the boyz like to think... After all, they’re sitting in the car and can’t see how very cool it looks! Thanx for lookin’... B. Edited April 24, 2008 by gbk1
Don Banes Posted April 25, 2008 Posted April 25, 2008 (edited) I saw that rod in the Rodders Journal, and it inspired me to finish this raggedy '34 coupe. It's got a Caddy engine, with way too many carbs. The body is a survivor from another project that kind of fell apart, and I got tired of looking at it sitting around. It was a bunch of fun to rework into what you see here. The hubcaps in the picture are gone, replaced by those in AMT's '41 Woody kit. Yours looks great! Edited April 25, 2008 by Don Banes
bsoder Posted April 25, 2008 Posted April 25, 2008 Great lookin' little rod!! ..and I agree about the internet and aftermarket
CB Posted April 25, 2008 Posted April 25, 2008 hey Guyz, I didn't mean to start any controversy with my comment about them rear fenders. I believe that kinda stuff went on in them good old 'Happy Days' -- andyhowz, nice seeing the pix from the past, Raul, and Bernard. So cool how you built it up from the photograph (what did the kid do to his girlfriend? ) "trouble is we can't reproduce the sound of the car in our builds – you know, that low lumpy idle at the light, all the little rattling mechanical noises of the ancillaries turning over, and then the throaty roar of lightly muffled pipes as the little coupe pulls briskly away from the stoplight with a crisp chirp of the rear tires! That's what gits the girlz...every time!" You OK, Bernard? Hey, I do the same thing, get my imagination going! and now specially after checkin out your '34 "Lady Luck" Ratrod, Don, I'm gonna hafta get me a '34, and do something similar (and I aint sayin nuthin about f**ders ). Love to see you drive that '34 now, with the gas prices the way they are !! btw, Raul! where you been hiding that (ahem) very full fendered pu? tha's so sweet I'm getting cavities as I look at it! Later, ######'n
Raul_Perez Posted April 26, 2008 Posted April 26, 2008 hey Guyz, I didn't mean to start any controversy with my comment about them rear fenders. I believe that kinda stuff went on in them good old 'Happy Days' -- andyhowz, nice seeing the pix from the past, Raul, and Bernard. So cool how you built it up from the photograph (what did the kid do to his girlfriend? ) Hey, I do the same thing, get my imagination going! and now specially after checkin out your '34 "Lady Luck" Ratrod, Don, I'm gonna hafta get me a '34, and do something similar (and I aint sayin nuthin about f**ders ). Love to see you drive that '34 now, with the gas prices the way they are !! btw, Raul! where you been hiding that (ahem) very full fendered pu? tha's so sweet I'm getting cavities as I look at it! Later, ######'n No controversy here, ######'n, just a few different opinions... Anytime that you deviate from stock you'll get some people that love it, some that are neutral and some that just plain hate it...that's just life... Personally, I prefer fully fendered cars over chopped fenders or highboys, but that's just me... I one of those who can appreciate the work that goes into a model without liking all of the styling cues that it may include. I'm surprised that anybody noticed that I changed my avatar. The 50 Ford truck is one of several models that I built to sell at the '07 NNL West. If I remember correctly, my friend Hossain bought that one. Here's the link to my 50 Ford Pickup on Fotki. Later,
Bernard Kron Posted April 26, 2008 Author Posted April 26, 2008 I saw that rod in the Rodders Journal, and it inspired me to finish this raggedy '34 coupe. It's got a Caddy engine, with way too many carbs. The body is a survivor from another project that kind of fell apart, and I got tired of looking at it sitting around. It was a bunch of fun to rework into what you see here. The hubcaps in the picture are gone, replaced by those in AMT's '41 Woody kit. Yours looks great! Thanx Don! I saw your '34 on another post and really dug it! It was about the time I had mine in primer and I almost stopped right there! Of course red oxide looks 1000% than dark gray Duplicolor Sanding Primer. Sometime I'll have to build one in primer... The more I look at your build the better it gets. It's such a great combo of killer details. I'm assuming it was built from the dreaded AMT kit. If it weren't for the great bones of the '34 5-window it would almost not be worth it.
Don Banes Posted April 26, 2008 Posted April 26, 2008 Thanx Don! I saw your '34 on another post and really dug it! It was about the time I had mine in primer and I almost stopped right there! Of course red oxide looks 1000% than dark gray Duplicolor Sanding Primer. Sometime I'll have to build one in primer... The more I look at your build the better it gets. It's such a great combo of killer details. I'm assuming it was built from the dreaded AMT kit. If it weren't for the great bones of the '34 5-window it would almost not be worth it. It was built from the AMT kit. Rims are from their '37 Chevy kit, engine from the '49 Ford, and the rear suspension is a combination of stock '34 spring, Ford 9" diff and radius rod from an old AMT parts pack frame. The front suspension is Revell '32 Ford (new tool), with early Ford backing plates. Hollywood Jim sent me the interior seat, which is from AMT's '41 Woody (the last rear seat). Dash is '37 Chevy with a '40 Ford steering wheel. AMT's '34 five-window kit has issues, but it's worth the effort to build. Patience is required, like you found out.
Bluzboy66 Posted April 26, 2008 Posted April 26, 2008 (edited) Bernard, BEAUTIFUL! I love everything about that build. I can't believe that you actually took a break! That car reminds me of EXACTLY what drew me into modeling back in the early 70's. I love that you've incorporated many of the classic customizing traits and styling cues into your '34, and I'm a HUGE fan of the 50's and 60's style customs. I remember reading my Dad's old car magazines, back when they had special sections dedicated to car modeling. The old scaled-down deuce coupes and kustoms really got my imagination flowing, and before I knew it I had my very own tube of 'stiff proof' and I was well on my way to building some of the most hideous glue bombs you can ever imagine. Show us more! Mike Edited April 26, 2008 by Bluzboy66
theflame Posted April 28, 2008 Posted April 28, 2008 Great build Bernard, I love the look of this one
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