McMullen '32 Ford Hi-Boy Roadster Tribute - Now Under Glass - April 9

[Mr. Metallic]

To get the front end a little lower you can remove material from inside the crossmember.

Since the Revell Model A axle has the spring mounted on top of the axle it's hard to get it much lower without a z in the frame, or moving the spring. I know the z is probably out of the question for this iconic car, and moving the spring behind the axle will probably drop it too much? Here is the mod I performed for my "Simple" Model A else where on this board. 

[Phildaupho]

15 minutes ago, Mr. Metallic said:

To get the front end a little lower you can remove material from inside the crossmember.

Since the Revell Model A axle has the spring mounted on top of the axle it's hard to get it much lower without a z in the frame, or moving the spring. I know the z is probably out of the question for this iconic car, and moving the spring behind the axle will probably drop it too much? Here is the mod I performed for my "Simple" Model A else where on this board. 

 

Thanks for the great tip Craig. I will certainly use it on future builds utilizing the Model A axle and recommend it to buddies. For this build I think lowering the spring will get close to the desired affect.

[Dennis Lacy]

Frame modifications look good so far, Phil. Nice way to tweak the K-member into more of a stock appearance. I had no idea the car had the spring ahead of the axle. That couldn’t have been too common and I can visualize how it would have caused wheel hop. I wonder why Tom couldn’t have just moved it behind like thousands of other hot rods?

Edited February 27, 2022 by Dennis Lacy

[Phildaupho]

12 hours ago, Dennis Lacy said:

Frame modifications look good so far, Phil. Nice way to tweak the K-member into more of a stock appearance. I had no idea the car had the spring ahead of the axle. That couldn’t have been too common and I can visualize how it would have caused wheel hop. I wonder why Tom couldn’t have just moved it behind like thousands of other hot rods?

Thanks Dennis. I am not sure if Tom or the previous owner mounted the spring forward but very unusual. I also noticed in photos that the shocks were at some point mounted behind the rear axle with the spring still in front but as restored the springs are in front of the rear axle. I am now looking forward to getting the whole suspension arrangement front and rear  finalized. 

[alan barton]

You've definitely got my attention on this one phil.  I built a very loose interpretation of this car when I was about 14, trimming the fenders off a Son of Ford kit. I totally agree with the choices you have made so far and will be viewing with interest!

Cheers

Alan

[Phildaupho]

3 hours ago, alan barton said:

You've definitely got my attention on this one phil.  I built a very loose interpretation of this car when I was about 14, trimming the fenders off a Son of Ford kit. I totally agree with the choices you have made so far and will be viewing with interest!

Cheers

Alan

Thanks Alan - As I mentioned to Dennis - I am now looking forward to getting the whole suspension arrangement front and rear  finalized. 

This has certainly been a a very enlightening learning experience regarding traditional hot rod construction.

[Kit Karson]

Part sourcing is one of the most satisfying part of the build for me and a few others here on the MCM Forum!  Following up on your front axle, did I miss where you located the drilled unit seen in your last picture?  Doing your home work on any subject is a most important aspect that one can benefit from before and even during a build.  With such an iconic piece of hot rod history this deuce is one of the most recognized and revered right there with Gary Baskerville's '32 full fendered roadster and maybe even more so!  Do it honor, Brother!! -KK

[Phildaupho]

2 hours ago, Kit Karson said:

Part sourcing is one of the most satisfying part of the build for me and a few others here on the MCM Forum!  Following up on your front axle, did I miss where you located the drilled unit seen in your last picture?  Doing your home work on any subject is a most important aspect that one can benefit from before and even during a build.  With such an iconic piece of hot rod history this deuce is one of the most recognized and revered right there with Gary Baskerville's '32 full fendered roadster and maybe even more so!  Do it honor, Brother!! -KK

 

Thanks KK for your reply. I will be focusing on the suspension in my Part 4. The front axle is from the Revell Model A which I drilled. I recently saw a great looking 3D drilled I-beam axle from Maple Leaf Modelworks available through Shapeways

Baskerville's is another one of my favourite Deuces and probably lot easier to replicate. 

[Phildaupho]

Undercarriage & Drivetrain

Replicas & Miniatures quick-change rear-end and transverse spring

Tubular shocks from Revell 37 Ford Pickup were mounted ahead of the rear axle but I have seen photos where the shocks were mounted behind the axle

AMT 29 Ford torque-tube and wishbone

Front suspension and steering system from Revell 29 Ford. Axle and radius rods drilled. Spring trimmed on top and lowered to bottom of shackles

Lever shocks from Revell 37 Ford Pickup

Spreader bars are aluminum tube

Exhaust system a combination of parts from Revell 29 Ford Roadster and aluminum tubing

Edited March 6, 2022 by Phildaupho

[adamelvis]

Nice Work as always Phil.

Adam

[Bainford]

That's looking great, Phil. That assembled chassis shot is pretty sexy. Just found this thread, but I'm watching it now. Your attention to detail is paying off.

On 2/4/2022 at 11:53 AM, mrm said:

I have contemplated doing a model of this iconic Deuce too. I have no problem painting the flames, but what has deterred me from attempting such a build are pinstripes which are extensive and I have not figured out a way of doing them.

My story exactly. Been wanting to do one of these for many years, but every time I look at those pinstripes...

 

[Mr. Metallic]

Chassis is looking good. Looks like you got the stance locked down.

[NOBLNG]

Lotsa cool work going on here!??

[Dennis Lacy]

Nice chassis, Phil! Certainly looks the part!

[Phildaupho]

18 hours ago, adamelvis said:

Nice Work as always Phil.

Adam

Thanks Adam

18 hours ago, Bainford said:

That's looking great, Phil. That assembled chassis shot is pretty sexy. Just found this thread, but I'm watching it now. Your attention to detail is paying off.

My story exactly. Been wanting to do one of these for many years, but every time I look at those pinstripes...

 

Thanks Trevor - The pinstripe along the bottom of the frame is as narrow as I could cut the self adhesive vinyl. I am going to try to do the body reveals with similar width vinyl and see how it looks. For the trunk pinstripe I have made a decal.

4 hours ago, Mr. Metallic said:

Chassis is looking good. Looks like you got the stance locked down.

Thanks Graig. I am pretty satisfied with the stance and as you say it is now locked down

4 hours ago, NOBLNG said:

Lotsa cool work going on here!??

Thanks Greg

3 hours ago, Dennis Lacy said:

Nice chassis, Phil! Certainly looks the part!

Thanks Dennis - I am kind of considering each sub-assembly of this project as separate and completed models in their own right. I am now moving onto the interior.

[Phildaupho]

Cockpit Interior

Seat has pleated area from 32 5W modified to more closely resemble McMullen upholstery. I have done some touch up on the seat where the black meets the white
Door panels from 32 5W – cranks removed. Replicas & Miniature door handle
Skull shifter from R/M 1/24 Model T pickup hot rod
Steering wheel Revell 29 Model A
Spoon gas pedal AMT 289 Cobra
Parts box hand brake 
Dash is from the kit blanked with sheet styrene. I found images online of each of the eight gauges which I put together on Photoshop to produce a decal although the density of the black background produced by my ink jet printer is disappointing

Edited March 24, 2022 by Phildaupho

[bobthehobbyguy]

Love this project. It's coming along nicely.

[Bainford]

Oh yeah, that’s looking great. Coming along very nicely. 

[Paul Payne]

Since we are talking hot rod, they are always being tweaked, modified and generally worked on, hence the relocated shocks as well as any other changes you might spot. Everything you have done is great and I am looking forward to more progress!

[Phildaupho]

On 3/24/2022 at 4:21 PM, bobthehobbyguy said:

Love this project. It's coming along nicely.

 

19 hours ago, Bainford said:

Oh yeah, that’s looking great. Coming along very nicely. 

 

18 hours ago, Paul Payne said:

Since we are talking hot rod, they are always being tweaked, modified and generally worked on, hence the relocated shocks as well as any other changes you might spot. Everything you have done is great and I am looking forward to more progress!

Thanks guys - So far so good. I am one more step away from the most challenging aspects of this project - the flames and the pinstriping. I have some plans and alternatives but time will tell how successful they will be.

[Phildaupho]

Up Front

Widened the Moon tank with Evergreen styrene tube. Fabricated a hand pump

Replicas & Miniatures open grill shell and double-sided radiator. Installed electric fan as on the restored car.

Model Car Garage photo-etch grill

Headlights from Rat Roaster with shocks removed

The plates on the frame horns were to mount a tow bar

[Bainford]

Digging it! That’s coming along great. 

[Phildaupho]

13 hours ago, Bainford said:

Digging it! That’s coming along great. 

Thanks Trevor - The next step will be maybe the easiest - painting the body. But then comes the most challenging - the flames and the pinstriping.

[Phildaupho]

This will be the last work in progress update as I am abandoning my attempt to build a close looking tribute to the McMullen Deuce Roadster because I now realize, I cannot even come close to duplicating the flames and the pinstriping. Right from the start I knew that the biggest challenge of this project was going to be replicating the flames and pinstriping but I figured I had nothing to lose by at least trying. I managed to download pretty good images of the flames from which I removed the black back ground with Photoshop and scaled them in my old Testor’s decal program to be printed on an ink jet printer. I have had pretty good success with self made decals over light colored surfaces but over black is a different story. Even with the highest settings on the printer, the colors on the decals lack density.  I made multiples of each decal so decided to just keep layering to see how many it would take to achieve something close to the desired affect. After seven layers it was completely obvious this was not going to work. Not only was there still no density to the colors but it was impossible to keep all those layers lined up. As for the pinstriping, I was going to cut self-adhesive vinyl as narrow as I could which might have given a decent look but without the flames, what’s the point. I am going to complete this model with flame decals from my collection but it will not be referred to as a McMullen replica although certainly inspired by and a tribute to that car.

Edited April 4, 2022 by Phildaupho

[Belairconvertable]

April fools?? Hopefully, I was sure interested in this build.