’32 Ford Bellypan Roadster

[Bernard Kron]

I'm doing this as a quick and simple build based on the Revell (ex-Monogram) Basic Builder 1/24th '32 Roadster I picked up on sale at my LHS for $8.00. It's my second attempt at a full bellypan roadster (I started a '29 A lakes style roadster last year which I haven't gotten back to). My aim is to see this build through so I know what the techniques are that I need to master in order to successfully build a full bellypan hot rod. So far I've noticed that you need to pay close attention to how the bellypan section joins with the body seams. Also, I think I could have made the bellypan section deeper so that the roadster appeared lower to the ground and the bellypan was more visible. Still, I like the stance and lines of the car so I will continue with this build in the form it is now.

The frame elements and bellypan are scratch built. In the photos they are the white styrene bits. I will add fairings to cover the clearance holes in the bellypan for the oil pan and rear diff. Because this is a kind of prototype build, detailing will be limited and I'll use as much of the kit as I can. I will use the kit motor, a small block Chevy, the kit suspension and the kit interior. The tires and backing plates are from The Parts Box in Australia. I don't know what color it will be, except it won't be black because I want the louvers in the hood and hood sides to be clearly visible. Perhaps a metallic bronze or blue.

Thanx for lookin',

B.

(Click on picture for larger image)

Edited March 20, 2009 by gbk1

[Raul_Perez]

Bernard,

The ride height and stance look right on the money!!

The metallic bronze will probably be a better color to show louvers.

Later,

[Dennis Lacy]

Bernard - This is looking really good so far! Awesome stance and proportions. The frame and pan look like they fit together really well and I like how you tied the wheel wells into the design.

Thanks a lot for getting the wheels in my head spinning once again. As if I don't have enough to try and stay focussed on right now!

PS: Ever seen the Jim Khougaz '32 roadster? It's an old lakes car that was restored 5-6 years ago. It's channeled with a full aluminum bellypan, louvered hood, etc. I thought of it the second I saw your build.

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j109/327...pg?t=1237528587

[Bernard Kron]

Thanx guys!

...PS: Ever seen the Jim Khougaz '32 roadster? It's an old lakes car that was restored 5-6 years ago. It's channeled with a full aluminum bellypan, louvered hood, etc. I thought of it the second I saw your build.

Dennis, the Khougaz Deuce was certainly an influence. In fact I’m a bit frustrated because I didn’t slam the body down over the rails as much as I would have liked. Then the fact that you can’t see the bellypan work that much would have been less of an issue. On the Khougaz car the belly pan barely shows except at the rear and just forward of the firewall where the frame swings up a bit. One thing about the Khougaz design I never cared for is the fairing at the front which covers the frame ends and hides the lower part of the grill. It’s very aero and beautifully done but to my eye this technique (which was used on other lakes cars as well) always looks awkward. That’s why I pinched and bobbed the rails so they end behind the grill.

Anyway, this ’32 does look pretty "elegant" in its wide whites and more prudish stance so it is what it is and now I will finish it up. As I wrote, this is destined to be a very simple build, sort of the roadster equivalent of a curbside. But I'm sure the techniques developed to make the bellypan are repeatable and I'm already planning at least 2 more. First a '29 sitting pretty low with a suicide front end behind a '32 grill and a deep z in the rear. This will be an early drag car most likely so I can delete the radiator and show off the front suspension and motor peaking through a p/e grill. Then, later, when my chops are up to it, I would like to build a full detail tubular framed lakes highboy in the contemporary vein with a tubular frame and roll cage and a really massive contemporary blown motor. I recently saw a pic of a gold Bonneville Deuce I think run by George Poteet with a nicely faired in top mounted blower and a really sweet belly pan that wraps up around the frame rails and runs under the rear suspension. "Alyn" 's recently posted lakes build ( http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=18415 ) is something to strive for in this regard. It's a stunner!

As you say, there never seems to be a shortage of ideas and inspiration to clutter up the brain as we struggle to stay focused long enough to finish a build. That's the curse of car modeling where the time spans and costs are compressed enough to make the wandering imagination an ever present threat!

Edited March 20, 2009 by gbk1

[Raul_Perez]

...In fact I'm a bit frustrated because I didn't slam the body down over the rails as much as I would have liked...

That's too funny because the anal bodyman in me NEVER lets the arch for the rear fender opening drop below the top of the tire! Not even when I built the Future Rat!!

By the way...isn't it time for an update??

Later,

[CB]

......By the way...isn't it time for an update??

Later,

One thing I always enjoy 'bout your builds, Bernard, is dat it's kinda like stoppin in at a 1:1 shop ever now & again and seein' if'n there's any progress. I've always loved the black, white, and chrome look, which yer BP32 be sportin' right now. If'n it were me, (an I'll hafta try it) I'd leave it as is, but do some flames outa them louvres.........hmmmm,

[Bernard Kron]

Thanx for all the kind comments, guys.

...By the way...isn't it time for an update??

You're right, Raul. I got more done today, cleaning, puttying and sanding. So while the primer dries I thought I’d post some detail shots.

First off, as I mentioned, this is a sort of “curbside†build, since most of the detail will be hidden inside the body. The original kit doesn’t come with a separate chassis, and this version isn’t too much different. The “chassis†consists of two .156 x .060 inch Evergreen strips running front to rear with the part forward of the firewall cut to match the length of the hood side panels. The interior bucket and belly pan will provide all the rigidity the model requires, so I dispensed with any crossmembers. Then I added two more strips to create a step up in order to “z†the frame. Finally I glued a .080 inch quarter round strip along the bottom edge to create the rolled edge of the belly pan.

(click on picture for larger image)

Next up, because I wanted to use the hood side panels, which I plan to glue in place, I added some more styrene strip to fill in the gap created by the upward curve of the hood side’s bottom edge.

(click on picture for larger image)

Finally, to fill in the bottom of the belly pan, I used a piece of .040 inch styrene sheet cut and filed to conform to the curvature of the body and hood. After cutting the appropriate holes to clear the differential and oil pan, as shown last time, I made enclosures from .080 inch quarter round and .040 sheet, puttied and filed to shape.

(click on picture for larger image)

There won’t be any rear suspension since it’s hidden by the belly pan. The rear axle will be glue right up against the styrene strip.

...I've always loved the black, white, and chrome look, which yer BP32 be sportin' right now. If'n it were me, (an I'll hafta try it) I'd leave it as is, but do some flames outa them louvres.........hmmmm,

I agree, but I didn't want to lose the cool louvers in a sea of black shadow, so here’s a test shot of the color I’ve chosen for this build, Plasti-Kote GM 7157, a metallic bronze. This is shot over a coat of light gray DupliColor primer sealer and one coat of DupliColor Red Oxide Primer, giving it a reddish gold cast.

(click on picture for larger image)

Thanx for lookin’

B.

Edited March 25, 2009 by gbk1

[MADmodelDOCTOR]

That looks really nice....kinda between champagne and whiskey?

later,

[CB]

Whoa, Bernard! You's come a long way, baby!!! Pretty soon you won't even be buying kits----just sheets, tubes, rounds, quarter rounds, and angle--all in styrene! Can't wait to see that belly pan in paint and detailed--- you do remember you's gotta make dem covers 'removable', right?

[Bernard Kron]

Whoa, Bernard! You's come a long way, baby!!! Pretty soon you won't even be buying kits----just sheets, tubes, rounds, quarter rounds, and angle--all in styrene! Can't wait to see that belly pan in paint and detailed--- you do remember you's gotta make dem covers 'removable', right?

Well, I'm learning from the master ... The covers won't be "removable" but the pan might be, if I remember to put Dzuz fasteners around the perimeter. Of course in this build it's all pretend because it's starting from a oretend chassis. But this is just a prototype for future builds where the body parts would be removable to show off a detailed chassis. Right now that's just a goal to work towards, but...

Edited March 25, 2009 by gbk1

[Raul_Perez]

I like the color!! It'll really highlight the contours in the body!!

It's really close to the color that the top of my 40 Ford will be.

Later,

[CB]

Well, I'm learning from the master ... The covers won't be "removable" but the pan might be, if I remember to put Dzuz fasteners around the perimeter. Of course in this build it's all pretend because it's starting from a oretend chassis. But this is just a prototype for future builds where the body parts would be removable to show off a detailed chassis. Right now that's just a goal to work towards, but...

I was gonna bring them 'Dzuz' fasteners up, but....... I couldn't remember if'n that's what they were called. Anyhow, yeah, that'll work. Used to know a guy from work, had a locker next to his, and he had gotten (apparently) a really good settlement on his divorce, coz he got into 'buying' and trying the exotic cars. He never had any one of them for very long as he would try them out and then trade them for another. I'm pretty sure he said he had a Ferrari (?) that had a full belly pan, but in sections, and that whenever he had to do any work to it, that was first--removing the particular section of belly pan. Might not have been the Ferrari, he did have Jags, etc. Sounded after awhile that he was tiring of all the seemingly continous maintainence the exotics required.

Your future build with the removables sounds way cool (cruel )

[Bernard Kron]

Thanx everyone. I got some more work done on this guy. It should be done tomorrow. I just have to install the grill, lights, windshield, exhaust tips, hubcaps, steering wheel and steering mechanism. Here are some pics showing the colors, stance and some details including the bellypan which is finished in aluminum Metallizer and has some Dzus fasteners and panel lines now.

Thanx for lookin’.

(Click on picture for larger image)

[CB]

aahhh..........so fine

I'm voting you 'most improved player' B!

Man, you's almost scarin' me .......

I mean, what're yer buillds gonna be like

a year from now!!??

color, stance, whatcha did wit them wheels,

stuffin' that engine in there---BOOM, BOOM, BOOM!

You's NAILDRIVIN'!!

[Raul_Perez]

Oh yeah...this one is coming along very nicely...

I really like the color!!

Can't wait to see this one Under Glass and at the NNL West next year!!

Later,

[Dennis Lacy]

Wow Bernard, that roadster is turning out pretty dang cool! Sometimes less is more, ya know? Great color choice too. Can't wait to see it with all the trimmings.

Edited March 29, 2009 by Dennis Lacy