Big wheeled '37 Chevy rod

[CB]

Got inspired some time ago, after probably a couple years of walking past the diecast 1/18 scale 58 Chevy conv I had sitting on top of a desk. It had these great stock (?) hubcaps and wide whitewalls on it, and finally one day I looked up under the skirts to make sure there were 2 whole wheels under there, and seeing they were, I kinda lost it! I had wondered how them cool lookin wide whites and chrome & red caps would look hangin on a 1/25 scale 30s era body, so I got a '39 Ford sedan, a '37 Chevy coupe, and a '32 Ford coupe outa my stash and mocked em all up. Liked the Chevy the mostest, so I started on it:

Didn't look this good, or bad , in the initial mock up, and this is after I've started on the frame, engine, etc and at this point I was working on axle placement. The rear is pretty much set, and the front aint gonna be this far back--just thought I'd let ya'll get a chuckle

More chuckling! although I wasn't laughing the nite I was shooting these pix because I was having female problems and couldn't think straight. I realized I'd taped the dummy front axle on upside down, and figured I'd see what it looked like as a half a donk? Just to be sure, mind you.

Calmed down, took the dummy front axle off, taped it back on correctly, moving it up under the rad, slid the wheels on and started shooting. I think it looks much better with the longer wheelbase.

This shot reminds me of when Chevy first started promoting their SSR pickup. Just about every promo picture I saw of the SSR was awesome. When I saw one in person, I was very disappointed. This here 37 is kinda the same---some views are really cool looking, and some are better not seen.

Did some 'painting' on my computer, remembering I have a can of flat blue primer in the cupboard. I'm planning on making it as a stock 37 coupe with all the moneys spent on the wheels & suspension, axle, mods, but a little left over for some paint. Don't know that it'd be very realistic in 1:1, but nowadays I'm thinkin it could be possible.

Thanks for looking, and if'n you wanta see more WIP pics, here's the link:

http://public.fotki.com/V866/37-chevy-rod/

[Bernard Kron]

Niiiice...

[Dr. Cranky]

Holy smokes, those are some great pics . . . nice mockups and ride. Keep it going.

[E St. Kruiser50]

Hey John

This is a wild project - A Donk in the weed's - Pretty coooool .

Gonna be fun to watch this - makes me want to build one.

Got enough projects right now - but maybe later

Keep on this. I'll be watchin' - dave

[CB]

Hey John

This is a wild project - A Donk in the weed's - Pretty coooool .

Gonna be fun to watch this - makes me want to build one.

Got enough projects right now - but maybe later

Keep on this. I'll be watchin' - dave

Howdy Dave,

"A Donk in the weeds" Me like that, Dave! and yeah, it is pretty wild. I'm having fun working up concepts. Nice that we can do that in this scale--results are probably a lot more attainable thataway.

Probably my favorite part of this here forum is seeing all the cool stuff others build, and being inspired to try and do something similar. Nice to know I may have inspired you to build one like this,

but just remember,

aint no fenders to hide them big wheels in!

Gotta use "the wheel, the whole wheel, and nothing but the wheel"

Thanks for watching, and the kind words.

[CB]

Finally getting around to tackling the front axle on this here wide-trackin '37.

As usual I thought of scratchbuilding a working one, maybe someday when I

get a soldering iron and make 'em outa brass tubers. Decided to try this route,

using the stock axle that came with the kit, but it is now too short, so....

(approxiametely 3000 words follow )

Ran out of styrene sheets, and haven't been able to make it to my LHS...

(actually, I'm kinda afraid to go there---can't control my spending ) so

found some Rubbermaid drawer storage boxes which I've used before. Nice

heavy stuff, a full 1/16" (.060") thick. They come in a few different sizes and

for about $2-$3 you gets a goodly bit o' styrene (?)

.......well, it's plastic of some kind

I'll give this a couple days to set up good and start cutting and patching it together,

then work on getting it in place under the chassis.

[CB]

I'll give this a couple days to set up good and start cutting and patching it together,then work on getting it in place under the chassis.

well, I planned on giving it a couple days, but my OCD wouldn' let me

Lookin' purty groovy ifn' I says so myownself Might even add some mo'

stryene so's it aint so dainty thin there in the middle

[CB]

Glued up another strip o' styrene so's the middle of the axle won't be so

thin. I'll cut it down and file/sand it to match the other contours of the

axle and probably putty it up.........How crazy is that? Puttin' putty on

front axle parts

[E St. Kruiser50]

Hey John

I love the way you come at us "Sideways" with these "Outta the box" builds.

With all your imagination and detailing skills, you remind us there are so many fun way's to look at this hobby and have a different slant on how to approach it - which to me is very cooool

The imagination thing is a big deal to me too - kinda fun to what-iffin' a project. Don't alway's turn out, but sure is fun to try.

As far as "Inspiration" goes, you and several other's keep me inspired and motivated to do the things I love, and maybe build some of your idea's into my stuff - USING WHOLE WHEELS . Pretty coool to me:P.

Keep on doin' what ya love - dave

Edited January 21, 2009 by Treehugger Dave