Monogram 32 Ford roadster

[Johnt671]

This kit arrived in the mail as a trade. I wasn't going to start it until spring, but I had an old Thunderbird motor that was in the Tall T kit that been looking for a home.  I did a test fit with the motor and found it fit perfectly after some sanding. I shouldn't have done this because now I can't put it down. It's a pretty simple kit but I think it will turn out to look good.

I also got the Chevy in a trade but I'm not touching that until spring.

This is the test fit of the motor.

Now I'm hooked.

Testing wheel and tire fitment. The kit didn't have the wheels and tires, but I have a small supply of resin wheels. The tires are from the AMT parts pack sets, the front and rear wheels are from Scale Equipment Ltd and the motor is covered above.

The horizontal grill is also from the Tall T kit and fits this kit like a glove

I got two of the Tall T kits at Ollies a long time ago, and this kit has so many extra parts it's just crazy. The chrome T-bird motor and the grill I'm using, Several different sets of chrome exhaust pipes and a set of Centerline type wheels. If you like old rods the Tall T kit is great.

Is this gap normal to the 32 or should it be somehow filled in?

Anyone know were I could find headers or exhaust manifolds for this motor? I want to keep the pipes under the hood.

Any pointers or suggestions or criticism is welcome.

[Ace-Garageguy]

 

...Is this gap normal to the 32 or should it be somehow filled in?

 

The gap you refer to is between the fuel tank and the body. It's normal, and can be wider or narrower due to several factors...like whether the frame, tank and body are OEM '32 Ford, or reproduction.

    

 

[Intmd8r]

I like where this is going!

[bobthehobbyguy]

Nice start. Kitbashing is always fun. I like the choices you've made. Keep up the good work. 

[Johnt671]

I got a lot done today. It's suppose to rain for the next 4 days so I really wanted to get the paint work done. I dropped the fenders and scuffed the fresh paint and broke one of the front bumper mounts off, so no front bumper for this one.Plus I'll have to wet sand a few scuffs out and paint again.Color is Testor's Bright Blue.

Flocking color for the interior.

A few pictures of the motor so far. This is my first time using Spaz Stix spray and I'm pleased with the results. I took a few pictures of the painted block and the original kit chrome on the heads and intake manifold to show the difference. The block was also sprayed with Spax Stix clear since I'd have to handle the motor a lot.

Also Spaz Stix'ed the suspension, with no clear.

No work tomorrow, Happy Thanksgiving.

Edited November 23, 2016 by Johnt671
Moved a line.

[DumpyDan]

Awesome

[Johnt671]

The motor is almost done, still need the headers/exhaust manifolds for it. Disaster struck with the paint job. I haven't used Testor's enamel in years and I wasn't happy the way it turned out and the paint was still sticky after three days, so I stripped it. I like the color so I'll have to see what I can find.

Thanks to Ace-Garageguy for the info on the rear gap. I don't build many of this type of car so I don't know a lot about them.

[Johnt671]

I found a can of Rust-oleum Gloss Maui Blue left from painting our lawn chairs, so I went with that. It's lighter than the other blue but wow, it's sure shines. The picture is right out of the can without buffing it. I may have to use more Rust-oleum instead of Duplicolor in the future. The interior is painted with the Testor's blue so you can see the color difference. I had to sand a couple of dust specks on the rear fenders, and have to wait for the rain to stop in a few days to spray another coat.

[Johnt671]

It finally stopped raining so I got to paint the last body part and touch up a fender that got dust on it. I did some buffing on some of the body, and will finish that in a couple of days to give the paint time to dry.

I looked in my parts box and found a set of side pipes from a Corvette kit and a set of too long lake pipes.

I chose to go with the lake pipes, and used my new mitre saw box to cut a section out of the middle.

Here"s one after cutting. I think they will look nice.

[Rider]

This is really coming along nicely. The "chrome" looks real good. I always like seeing when another builder uses Spaz Stix Ultra Chrome. 

[wmobie]

Engine is from the 34 Ford pickup. factory style headers are available in that kit, Along with short exhaust extensions that might work.

Walt O'Brien

[Jantrix]

First off congrats to you. I've never gotten anything but disappointment from Rustoleum paint. That looks great. Looking forward to more.

[Johnt671]

Thanks for the tips and comments. They do help keep one motivated on a build. Jantrix, I was very pleased with the Rust-olem paint as I only used it before on a model. The can I found was in the garage for 2 years, left over from painting lawn furniture. I did this Tall T in semi gloss black so it didn't need any buffing  I started buffing the 32 and the paint looks even better. I can finish buffing today and start doing the decals, and after a few days to dry do some clear coat.

mobie, thanks for the exhaust info. I post in the wanted section and a member working on the 34 kit is kindly sending the parts to me.

Rider, I was surprised at how easy it was to get nice results with Spaz Stix. This is the first build I've used it on and I'm very happy with the results.

Edited December 2, 2016 by Johnt671
added info

[Rider]

John, Spaz Six really is fantastic stuff. It can be cleared, masked and handled with out fear of it coming off or changing. Another bonus is you can get a black chrome effect by spraying it over acrylic black. 

[Johnt671]

I was surprised that it is so easy to work with, Rider.  After reading some threads about it it seemed it would not be so easy.

Finished buffing and did the decals. I think I'll try the clear Sunday afternoon.

 

[Rider]

Looking great!

[Johnt671]

I'm doing some buffing on the body to smooth the clearcoat. For some reason the clear came out rougher that the last time I used it. Maybe the damp and cooler weather caused this.

Thanks to vintagedragcrazy, who sent me the headers/manifolds for this motor I was able to work on the exhaust system. This turned out to be easier than I thought it would. I cut the pipes from the manifolds that came with the kit, and trimmed them a little bit so the lake pipes lined up with them Other than trimming the length of the lake pipes they lined right up.

[Dogfish_7]

Very well planned and implemented.

[MeatMan]

Nice rod!! I love the detail.

[Johnt671]

Thanks. I'd like to say the exhaust was well planned, but it just sort of all just came out that way. At first this looked like a simple build, but even without the extra kit bashed parts it would turn out to be a nice model. The exhaust is finished, and the underside will be done after a little touching up.

[Johnt671]

I ran into a problem. While I don't have the interior or firewall in for this picture (the glue is drying now) the hood is a long way from fitting. I think the parts will raise the front of the body up some, I don't know if it will be enough to let the hood fit properly. Because of the vents in the hood it would be hard to trim the hood down and have it look right.

The grill is good to good. I need to to do a little paint touch up on the running boards, and I can start gluing the trim parts on.

[Johnt671]

The interior and firewall did move the body up some, and by pushing the hod forward against the grill let the hood fit in. I need to get something to make sure the grill isn't too far forward. Even if it is I can just remove a little from the ends of the hood to get it lined up.

[Johnt671]

The interior is done.

The final check of the body and grill look good.

I need to do a little more touch up on the frame and running board and I'll have this one finished. If I don't mess something up it will be done tomorrow, just in time for jury duty Monday.

[mod3l Lover]

    Looks good, but what about the T-shirt?

 

        David S.

[Johnt671]

I'm not going woth the tee shirt ever though it's kind of cool. But I may rethink this. I start planning a build but often change some thing while building.