The AMT '29 A Roadster down-grade

[customline]

I know, I know.....I'm a sucker for a topless model A hot rod. ? especially in primer.  A work in progress.  That's the plan. I'm down-grading from high-buck show rod to a high school kid's hot rod in 1955. Strictly shade-tree engineering. But the kit designer wanted a blown and injected red ram hemi.  No slicks, just big fat street tires on big offset chromeys.  No alternator, just a blower drive. No distributor, a magneto. A blown injected hemi in a model A? Some street rod. Who would drive that on the street? The kit included a chrome banjo on air bags but the front axle was not dropped or even plated. Huh? The idea of a street rod with the engine provided in the kit (with no alternator and no engine cooling and no way to make it streetable unless you build it stock)....anyway, I started playing around with it and before I recognized what was happening,  I had the engine glued together and.....well....here we go again ?.

 

This is a bit more realistic. Keeping the fenders and running boards is a new experience for me. I figure it's time to give it a try. I could rethink the plan, though. We'll see. Thanks for checking in and, as always, your input is welcome.  ?

[Bullybeef]

I like it Jim! I have a box of amt model A parts and have mocked up a couple of them trying to find a configuration that I liked, you may be onto something here. 

[customline]

8 minutes ago, Bullybeef said:

I like it Jim! I have a box of amt model A parts and have mocked up a couple of them trying to find a configuration that I liked, you may be onto something here. 

Well, I just can't get over how often I run into stuff that makes no sense. I do, however, enjoy an odd-ball like this one with the old Red Ram hemi. I should look up the history on this kit. The kit wheels and tires have been transferred to another project where they will look better than anything else I have for it.

Much better.

[rattle can man]

Remember, this was an effort to re-use existing tooling (mostly original AMT Ala-Kart double kit parts with a blower set up added) to attract new sales. it didn't have to make sense to a '70s kid. It just had to be kool.  I have two in my stash.

[Can-Con]

4 minutes ago, customline said:

Well, I just can't get over how often I run into stuff that makes no sense. I do, however, enjoy an odd-ball like this one with the old Red Ram hemi. I should look up the history on this kit. The kit wheels and tires have been transferred to another project where they will look better than anything else I have for it.

Much better.

First, Love '29 Fords, they're my favorite hot rods.

So, yes, some odd things with that kit like the Dodge hemi and other assorted bits. It's because the kit was originally a double kit with the Barris "Ala Kart" as the second kit. 

Eventually the AlaKart was dropped but a large amount of it's parts , such as it's engine body parts et. were left in the kit.  

[customline]

4 minutes ago, rattle can man said:

Remember, this was an effort to re-use existing tooling (mostly original AMT Ala-Kart double kit parts with a blower set up added) to attract new sales. it didn't have to make sense to a '70s kid. It just had to be kool.  I have two in my stash.

Yeah, I know, Harry, I get it. But the old hemi (which definitely is cool) mounts in the front directly on the crank pulley. ? I dunno......

[customline]

9 minutes ago, Can-Con said:

First, Love '29 Fords, they're my favorite hot rods.

So, yes, some odd things with that kit like the Dodge hemi and other assorted bits. It's because the kit was originally a double kit with the Barris "Ala Kart" as the second kit. 

Eventually the AlaKart was dropped but a large amount of it's parts , such as it's engine body parts et. were left in the kit.  

That explains a lot. The chrome rear end assembly makes sense now as well as the lack of a chrome front suspension set-up. The Kart had coils up front! So why not keep that? ?

[Can-Con]

1 minute ago, customline said:

The Kart had coils up front! So why not keep that? ?

It's in some of the reissues. Looks more like air bags though. 

IIRC, the latest reissue has a lot of the Kart parts in it. 

 

[NOBLNG]

Nice plan Jim! I like topless models too.?

[customline]

4 minutes ago, NOBLNG said:

Nice plan Jim! I like topless models too.?

Yeah, it's a problem...

[TNT]

Looks like a cool project.

[LennyB]

6 hours ago, customline said:

Yeah, it's a problem...

So you can only work on it when wifey is out of the house then?

[espo]

Like the full fendered look. 

[customline]

2 hours ago, espo said:

Like the full fendered look. 

I thought I would see if I could build a full-fendered model A, Dave.  Just to see if I could. ?.

[stavanzer]

14 hours ago, rattle can man said:

Remember, this was an effort to re-use existing tooling (mostly original AMT Ala-Kart double kit parts with a blower set up added) to attract new sales. it didn't have to make sense to a '70s kid. It just had to be kool.  I have two in my stash.

Boy, isn't that the truth! I had the Mod Rod back in the '70's. Those Ala Kart fenders made for a great Street Rod. Just like the second Box Art with the Black Car shown in Steve Milberry's post.

Edited July 18, 2024 by stavanzer

[Zippi]

The down-grade on the 29 Roadster is looking pretty kewl there Jim.  I'm diggin the Red Ram Dodge engine.  

[customline]

2 hours ago, Zippi said:

The down-grade on the 29 Roadster is looking pretty kewl there Jim.  I'm diggin the Red Ram Dodge engine.  

Yeah, Bob, that's the icing on this cake. The up-top is another cool item. I'm not sure yet on the finish. The WIP scenario seems like the lazy way. 

[customline]

I got a bunch of stuff in primer yesterday and this project was some of it. I need to mess with the interior but this one is close to wrapping up. My current thoughts on color are still a bit unsettled. I have a MCW black cherry enamel. Basic black is another choice but I really hate dealing with a black paint job. If I go that way, I may use flat black with clear on top.  Anyway, here's a mock-up for you mock-up geeks. Following that is a couple of "looks" that interest me relative to this project.

How about primer gray with red wheels and interior and black up-top. No? Black cherry with red rims? Or like one of these....

[DJMar]

Black with red is almost never a bad color combo.

[bill-e-boy]

Looking good. Yup black'n'red go together really well. Built a few of these over the years

 

[espo]

A lot to be said for the gloss black body and red interior to match the wheels. Whichever you decide, think about matching colors on the wheels and interior. 

[customline]

5 hours ago, espo said:

A lot to be said for the gloss black body and red interior to match the wheels. Whichever you decide, think about matching colors on the wheels and interior. 

 

18 hours ago, bill-e-boy said:

Looking good. Yup black'n'red go together really well. Built a few of these over the years

 

 

On 7/22/2024 at 9:54 PM, DJMar said:

Black with red is almost never a bad color combo.

Yes, I know...I know ?.  I just really hate doing a black paint job.  I was thinking a patina job. Just satin black with some sand-through spots and primer.  A work in progress,  a rolling project car.  100% shade-tree. ( Ohhh...the innocence ? ).....and much easier than all that tedious polishing.  Or a flat light green, very shabby. The bright, shiny red wheels tells you what the owner is thinking. He just needs time and money. I think  I need to pick out a Navajo blanket ?   Thanks for checking in.

[Bullybeef]

I dig the primer

[redscampi]

7 hours ago, customline said:

 

 

Yes, I know...I know ?.  I just really hate doing a black paint job.  I was thinking a patina job. Just satin black with some sand-through spots and primer.  A work in progress,  a rolling project car.  100% shade-tree. ( Ohhh...the innocence ? ).....and much easier than all that tedious polishing.  Or a flat light green, very shabby. The bright, shiny red wheels tells you what the owner is thinking. He just needs time and money. I think  I need to pick out a Navajo blanket ?   Thanks for checking in.

 

Someone once pointed out to me that a car in primer was full of potential. Anyone can visualize their dreams on a blank slate. Once you paint it - it's yours. You'll get the whole gamut of reactions from love to hate. Not to mention that if your tastes are a bit off the beaten track, the car can be much more difficult to sell because the color can be off-putting to some. But we were talking about model cars, right?

[customline]

2 hours ago, Bullybeef said:

I dig the primer

Yeah, me too Bil. 50 shades of gray.  Can't screw it up no matter how bad your painting skills are ?.