T Model Lakester, chassis done, some quick photos!

[jbwelda]

ok so I found some time to put time in on the ever-continuing project and I've got the chassis done and the body just in need of a few fiddles and I am gonna call it (and post it) Under Glass!

hope that gives some idea of the finished product. when I get the body to fit nicely I will take more

and post them in the Under Glass section, probably later this week!

here is a little fact sheet I wrote up a couple years ago giving some idea of where I sourced parts:

2005 NNL Western Nationals

Oh well, there’s always next year!

4 Years In The Making…(mostly shelf sitting)…and still counting

AAM Resin ‘27 “T†Turtledeck Roadster Body, Dry Lakes Racer

Molded in hood & custom track nose

Etzel’s Speed Classics Offenhauser Motor & Transmission

Resin and white metal, with complete wiring and plumbing

Southeast Finecast Morgan V-8 exhaust header

Monogram ’30 Ford Woody Frame,

Narrowed & shortened

Z’ed in rear

Smoothed and filled

R&D Unique Metal Dropped Front Axle & Suspension

“Suicide†mount

Radius rods scratchbuilt from R&D batwings

‘27 Ford lever shocks

Revell Orange Crate Halibrand Rear End & Suspension

Aluminum drive tubes

Replaceable gears (just kidding!)

Scratchbuilt Aluminum Driveshaft

Detail Master U-Joints

Steelie Wheels Front & Rear

S&S Specialties spun aluminum covers

Replicas and Miniatures of Maryland Buick Finned Brake Drums

Ford backing plates

Satco M&H Racemaster Cheater Slicks

Highly Polished White Metal Radiator from Southeast Finecast Morgan V-8

Detail Master Moon Tank

Scratchbuilt tie-downs

Scratchbuilt Floorboards, Panels and Firewall

Complete Chassis Wiring including Brake Lines and Fittings

Paint, Frame:

Krylon Sun Dried Tomato

Paint, Body:

Tamiya Orange with Black Trim

Builder: J.B. Welda

Sacramento, California

[Raul_Perez]

Your lakester is looking awesome, Bill!!

The detail work is so clean, crisp and precise!!

If I hadn't already seen this one in person I'd have a hard time believing that its 1:25th scale!!

Take care and we'll se you in a couple of weeks at the NNL!!

Later,

[Eshaver]

Interesting choice for an engine there sir ............ Ed Shaver

[cruz]

Fantastic stuff man, great attention to detail is gonna make this one a sure winner.....

[george 53]

YES, by all means, a GREAT job! I thought there looked like some machined parts in it, It sure came out NICE! I'll betcha it'll REALLY be a KILLER when you get the Body on it!!!Loookin Good,Jah!

[Paul Payne]

BEEN FOLLOWING THIS PROJECT SINCE THE BEGINNING- LOOKING GREAT! CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE FINISHED PIX!

[John Goschke]

Just awesome!

[Bernard Kron]

So cool that you're getting this wrapped up. Can't wait to see the completed model - both Under Glass and hopefully at the NNL West.

[made007]

nice, can you take a photo of the undercarriage? i want to see it, thanks

[jbwelda]

finished fiddling with the body and now about to apply final decals and seal them. a few more photos to bring it to the top and also show the undercarriage, then its under glass for sure!

first a shot of the body off chassis:

now some undercarriage shots, some better quality than others.

shot from above showing reflection of chassis:

kinda blurry shot of motor bottom and driveshaft:

closeup under motor and front end:

closeup of aluminum tube driveshaft with white metal u joints:

car sitting on glass from the rear, note number decals i plan to use:

left side profile:

and finally, straight on shot of the nose and front end. looks like its sitting to one side but its

actually level:

[jbwelda]

seriously, what i need is dude here:

http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=17854

to flame the nose of this body! i have no experience with fancy paint

jobs like that but this body is just dying for some realistic flames!

thanks for looking!

[made007]

wow, awesome , a lot of work there

[atenzapower]

This is outstanding,great build and clean.

[Art Laski]

This is a great build. Can you tell me where you found the quick change rear end you used?

[Chuck Most]

Is the body going to be removable? It would be a shame to cover up all that gorgeous work on the chassis!

[olarge1]

Wow, great detail love the subject, If not flames scalops would look sharp too!

[Alyn]

I was fascinated by this car back in February. Sure glad it's popped back up. It's just a fantastic little car; beautiful in it's simplicity.

I really like the numerous metal finishes and clean breaks between colors and finishes on the various detail parts. The Offy is way cool too.

I hope you go for it on the flames. I wanted to do that on my Bonneville roadster, but in the end chickened out.

[jbwelda]

hey thanks for all the kind words and for bringing this back up!

i think i posted final photos in the under glass section, with the decals i finally chose. its difficult for me to pick out decals somehow so its usually a stress inducing moment.

yep the body lifts off. that was part of the real problem with this car: getting the body to clear the various components and not get too chopped up in the process, so it could come on and off relatively easy. as it is i still have rear axle radius rods to put on but it would mean cutting more notches in the body and at this point it looks good on the shelf!

but i am hoping to do a couple improvements before nnl west this year like making an aluminum tonneau cover for one side, and mounting a drag chute and linkage. and maybe a roll bar too but lets not get too extravagant there! might also hinge the body to swing up too but now i am really asking to mess it up!

rear axle is the halibrand out of the revell orange crate.

now that there is a 1/8 scale offy motor available i want to do a similar car in big scale.

thanks again for noticing this post and reviving it!