1932 Ford B-400 Conversion Build Thread

[RSchnell]

Here's my build thread on converting an AMT '32 Ford Vicky into a B-400. This is part of my quest to have one of every '32 body style my collection. The only models I'm aware of are the Franklin Mint Diecast and the Jimmy Flintstone Resin body. Both have their issues. I initially bought a Flintstone body for this conversion, but upon receiving it, it's easier to convert a styrene body. Not only are the quarter windows off in shape, the top is just rough as a cob no matter how you cut it. On the 1:1 car the top is flush with the body and the rear window (curtain light in Ford parlance) isn't even close to being correct. Having restored a 1:1 '31 Model A A-400 I'm familiar with this body style as lots of parts carried over into the '32 model year.

I dug around in my '32 literature collection and made a copy of the body in white drawing & side view and scaled it to 1/25. In addition to this drawing I also printed out some photos I saved online. 

Edited January 22 by RSchnell
Typo

[RSchnell]

Here's what I'm starting with. This particular boxing of the kit is my favorite as it's the same one I bought as a kid in Kmart all those years ago. Nostalgia is a powerful thing. The aforementioned Jimmy Flintstone body, a set of '32 18" wheels from 3D Scale Parts-very nice parts! Also a donor body from Revell '32 Tudor kit. Not shown is the usual stash of Plastruct & Evergreen styrene we all have kicking around on our build desks. You can see the issues with the top and I also didn't like the curvature of the rear panel on the resin body. 

[RSchnell]

The Victoria has a bustle back where the B-400 has a curved back like the sedans. My plan is to use the rear of the sedan body on the Vicky body and scratch the quarter windows and rework the rear beltline as it's unique to the B-400. 

[RSchnell]

Started making some rough cuts. My trusty razor saw made short work of taking the top & bustle off the Victoria body & the rear section out of the Tudor body. You can see where the Tudor body section is wider than the Victoria body so I cut the Tudor section in half and sanded some off each side. 

[RSchnell]

Some .020 styrene strip fishplated to the body where it meets the rear section & the Tudor half pieces. I went a bit overboard with the fishplate because I figure I'm going to be doing a lot of handling during the rest of the bodywork and didn't want any structural failure by skimping on materials! 

Edited January 22 by RSchnell
Typo

[RSchnell]

Tonight's work ends with reworking the windshield opening and making a header for the convertible top. Even though I plan on having the top down, this area is still visible and want to make it look right. The B-400 uses the same windshield & frame as the '32 Cabriolet and this windshield is not like any other '32 passenger car. It is more Model A like in design with it's square corners & tube hinge. The windshield pillars are different between the two body styles as well so I fitted some .040 square Evergreen into the pillars and laid a piece of Plastruct channel to serve as the basis for the header. 

The kit windshield frame ain't gonna get it so I will scratch a new windshield frame to fit the corrected windshield opening.

[gman]

One of my favourite '32 Ford models. I have been wishing some respected resin caster would do a body to fit the Revell series of '32s.

I am happy to watch this one come together.

[Zippi]

That is going to be a Great looking 32 Ford B-400.  Looking pretty nice so far.

[Kit Karson]

Here's a couple more reference pictures:

[TopherMcGinnis]

I had no idea this even existed. 

[catpack68]

I’m definitely following this thread as I have been wanting to build a 32 Ford B-400 Street Rod for awhile. I have the Flintstone resin 32 B-400 body.It is a little rough but the only game in town.I was gonna build something on the lines of fourm member Michael Moskov’s excellent 32 B-400 Street Rod he built.I hope he doesn’t mind that I posted pics of it.I really like his street rod builds.

 

Edited January 22 by catpack68

[Phildaupho]

Excellent project and you are doing fabulous work. For a display of the 15 versions of '32 Fords my modelling group did for Deuce Days in Scale 2019 we used a Jimmy Flintstone B400 which was OK for the display but yours is going to be so much better. I will be interested with how you eventually pull off a Panel Delivery Truck as we found this one to require the most scratch building using a much modified body from a '37 Panel.

[Chuckyg1]

Off to a good start. Seems like you have this well planned out. Goodly k n your quest. How many have you built so far. If I remember correctly there's about 14 different variants

[RSchnell]

On 1/22/2025 at 8:51 AM, Kit Karson said:

Here's a couple more reference pictures:

Looks like an original '32 Body Parts List! I've got most of the Model A Body Parts & Parts Price Lists, but an original '32 has eluded me so far.

[RSchnell]

On 1/22/2025 at 10:44 AM, Phildaupho said:

Excellent project and you are doing fabulous work. For a display of the 15 versions of '32 Fords my modelling group did for Deuce Days in Scale 2019 we used a Jimmy Flintstone B400 which was OK for the display but yours is going to be so much better. I will be interested with how you eventually pull off a Panel Delivery Truck as we found this one to require the most scratch building using a much modified body from a '37 Panel.

It's funny you mention a Panel Delivery, It's on my list along with the Roadster Pickup. I'll probably do the Roadster Pickup first-it's easier! 

[RSchnell]

See if this will post!

I had some time this evening to work a bit more on this project. I started by adding a bead of styrene around the rad shell to duplicate the stainless trim found on passenger cars. I'll sand it down to get it more to scale. 

Edited January 27 by RSchnell

[RSchnell]

I thought how I wanted to go about the windshield. Finding a windshield frame in my junk box from the AMT '36 Ford kit that had a groove on the backside for the clear plastic made this an easy choice compared to building one from scratch. I started by sanding down the thickness, cut the frame into 4 pieces and sectioned each piece. I framed it up on a 123 block with magnets & set it aside for the glue to dry. I'll fine tune it after I let it set a day or two.

 

[RSchnell]

On my lunch break Wednesday(my build desk is next to my work desk so only a 2 second commute) I epoxied some piano wire to the body in the rough shape of the windows to act as an armature for the Milliput that I'll use.

[RSchnell]

Tonight I rough sanded the Milliput. Got the windows roughed in. I made a couple contour gauges from thin styrene so I had a uniform shape from side to side. I'll fine tune this tomorrow evening and start laying in the styrene strip for above the windows. On the 1:1 car this is the part that the top would snap onto when raised. Sorry for the abbreviated posts, the forum won't let me post anything over a couple paragraphs!

[Ace-Garageguy]

Lotsa work, looking good...

Since you're doing so much work, you might consider addressing the too-low cowl on the AMT body (all the AMT '32 kits share the same problem).

The correction isn't difficult, especially in light of how much other major work you're doing, and it makes a big difference in first impressions.

Below is the in-progress corrected AMT Vicky body on Revell fenders and rails:

 

 

Edited January 27 by Ace-Garageguy

[Mr. Metallic]

As a fan of all things 32 Ford you have my attention. I as well as many others have wished for a good B400, so nice to see how you are coming up with your own.

[Bullybeef]

A quest I have undertaken was the 15 body styles as well, I have two remaining the station wagon and the delivery van. My version of the B400 was a simple at best attempt. My delusions of grandeur are still strong as I do want to finish, there are some that I will eventually recreate as my skills have improved. I’ll follow along on your build. 

[RSchnell]

7 hours ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

Lotsa work, looking good...

Since you're doing so much work, you might consider addressing the too-low cowl on the AMT body (all the AMT '32 kits share the same problem).

The correction isn't difficult, especially in light of how much other major work you're doing, and it makes a big difference in first impressions.

Below is the in-progress corrected AMT Vicky body on Revell fenders and rails:

 

 

I thought something looked off with the cowl, figuring I'd cross the bridge when I got there. I plan to either scratch a new firewall or use one of the resin ones available as the kit firewall ain't gonna get it, it's not even close to being correct. My ideal plan is to drop the body over the firewall like you do the 1:1 car. 

[RSchnell]

4 hours ago, Mr. Metallic said:

As a fan of all things 32 Ford you have my attention. I as well as many others have wished for a good B400, so nice to see how you are coming up with your own.

This body along with a good 30-31 Model A Roadster body have been on my list for a good while. I was really hoping the Flintstone body would've been better than it was. Projects like this are good for shaking cobwebs loose anyways!

[RSchnell]

3 hours ago, Bullybeef said:

A quest I have undertaken was the 15 body styles as well, I have two remaining the station wagon and the delivery van. My version of the B400 was a simple at best attempt. My delusions of grandeur are still strong as I do want to finish, there are some that I will eventually recreate as my skills have improved. I’ll follow along on your build. 

Did you use a Model A station wagon body to start with? I'd think that and the cowl from an AMT '34 Ford Pickup would get you in the ballpark. The '32 Commercial radiator shell would be the other problem!