1937 Ford Roadster

[Peter Lombardo]

I must admit, when I got this kit handed to me, which my son picked up somewhere along the way a number of years ago, I didn’t care for it at all.  First, with very rare exception, I have an aversion to any kit not molded in white or light gray, and this one is a hideous nondescript blue.  Second, it is too short and boxy looking for my taste, and third, since Revell “customized” the kit, it limits what you can do with it as much of the custom touches are built in.   Oh, and since I am not a fan of trailers with street rods, that additional feature didn’t impress me at all, so it was not built.

So it sat on the shelf for many years untouched and unloved.  But a few weeks ago while cleaning and rearranging one of my kit storage areas, I came across it and for some still unknown reason, I pulled it out and gave it look.  I gave it a fresh look and a few ideas came to mind. 

Back in 2007 I built a 1940 Ford Convertible and to set it apart, I gave it custom extended front fender that extended all the way back to the rear wheel.  I always loved how that look made the car seem longer and more modern looking and I thought maybe I could incorporate that styling into the 1937 kit.  On the 1940 car I completely fabricated the fender extensions with lots of plastic and bondo, but I had a different idea on the 1937 to accomplish the job.  About 10 years ago, I created an Art Deco coupe and made vacuum formed bodies of it.  I had one laying around that I took the roof off of to use on a Camaro Concept to give it a split-window design in honor of the ’63 Corvette coupe, that I loved from the moment I first saw it.  The front fenders on that car extended far to the rear, so I cut them off, trimmed them up and added them to the ’37 roadster.  Next I cut a “pie” shaped wedge out of the side of the body (more up front, less in the back) so that I could lower the front of the car to give it a sleeker look and sectioned the grill to now fit the lower body.  To the front end, I added a new extended front valance which, I think, gives the car a lower look and then added yellow fog lights, which would be a throwback to the period.  Because I used the pontoon fender extensions, it was not that difficult to open the doors and hinge them, mind you, it was not a slam dunk easy job, and getting the hinges in place required some unique engineering, but I got it accomplished.   Next I hinged the hood to the side, which I like as it is different, but after installing the hinges and making sure there was sufficient clearance under the hood, it became obvious that the hinges interfered with the kit supplied V8 engine.  I could have removed the side hinges and done something more conventional, but I really like the side hinges and how they looked, so I need a different alternative.

Digging around one of my aftermarket parts storage boxes I found a straight six Oldsmobile resin engine sent to me by Ken Kitchen of Kitchen Table Resins a number of years ago.  The light went off in my head and I figured that the straight six being narrower would not interfere with the hinges on the side.  I added a few details and the engine bay was complete.  While digging around for an engine, I stumbled across a set of wide low profile tires from a 1934 Ford coupe kit I had tucked away a number of years ago and had forgotten about complete with the chrome baby-moon caps.

For the rear end, I really didn’t care for the “Sargent Stripe” taillights in the kit.  I wanted something different, so I cut out a large opening across the lower back portion of the rear valance.  In it, I secured a loge piece of clear red sprue that was shaped to fit.    

I airbrushed on a couple of top coats of Tamiya Copper metallic for the upper body and then a couple of coats of Tamiya clear to add a buffer and make masking easier.  Once I completed the masking of the upper body, I airbrushed on a couple of coats of Tamiya gloss black.  When that was dry, I cut thin strips of tangerine orange vinyl to make the orange pinstripe color separation line. Once all dry, it was clear coated again with Tamiya clear to also help seal the pinstripe to the car.  I lightly sanded, waxed and buffed out the body, which was not easy with all of the changes of elevation the body has.

The interior is pretty much as the kit has it, I just used, Tamiya flat black for the base and the seat and side patterns are Tamiya copper, orange and deck tan.

That is, it.  Considering that I didn’t care much for the kit, I am happy with the result and glad that I decided to give it a go.

Edited April 12, 2020 by Peter Lombardo
fix pictures

[RichCostello]

No pictures here.

[DonW]

The images on this site generally are a bit messed up. Ground control to Major Tom.......... ..

[Peter Lombardo]

That's it, I quit.  No more pictures or posts for me.  Google has my photos and will not relinquish them, so I am done posting.  

[JollySipper]

Try going back and editing the op..... be sure to put the file names for the pics in their own paragraph. Like a space between the body and the pic.......

I would like to see what you've built.......

[cobraman]

I would also like to see it.

[Peter Lombardo]

Try it now.

[cobraman]

There it is !  It was worth waiting for !  Very cool model.

[PappyD340]

Awesome build

[Phildaupho]

Very well executed concept and build. A Rolls Royce grill would not look out of place.

[Craig]

Worth the wait! Very cool looking Ford! Great work!????

[slusher]

Sweet Ford custom!