1/16th 55 Thunderbird BB/FC Funnycar "GIRL TROUBLE"

[Ian McLaren]

I'm a ways down the road on this one as I didn't know if I could pull it off initally. There is no 55 T-Bird 1/16th kit and I didn't want to buy Revell 1957 T-bird kit just to throw 80% of it in the parts box. Also no 1955 T-Bird STL files werer found, but I did find a reasonable 57 factory stock style file that could be modified but it was going to be a huge undertaking.  To turn a factory stock file into funnycar proportions I had to save three versions of the file changing only the length, once the width and height were adjusted.  I ended up with a 20% shorter, 10% longer and 30% longer files. The files were then sliced and the required parts saved, body behind the roof at -20%, roof rear window and windshield  section at 10% longer, and front end from in front of the windshield at 30% longer.  The challange was to print and convert the nose to a 55 from a 57 which required changing everything but the headlamps and hood line.  This took the better part of three days but I do have a creditable result so now the project can advance.  The real car was driven by one of the daughters (Courtney Mageau) of a friend of mine and was run out of Edmonton Alberta.  Initally Rodek powered it was up graded to a KB Hemi with a 14-71 to bring the performance up to standard.  This is the version I'm modeling.  If you are going to follow along on this adventure please feel free to ask questions or leave comments, they will be replied to.

  

Edited April 21 by Ian McLaren

[NerdmanB]

Ian I have 1/16 scale t bird glue bomb I got with a 63 corvette I needed for a project. I have no use for it you are more than welcome to it. A fair trade for all the great information I get from your builds. Let me know and I will send it to you. Brian 

[NerdmanB]

Ian I checked my t bird it is missing the roof . It’s still yours if you want it. Brian 

[Straightliner59]

Oh, yeah! What a great body. That's a beautiful car!

[Zippi]

Pretty kewl project there Ian.  

[John B.]

This is going to be great!

[Ian McLaren]

20 hours ago, NerdmanB said:

Ian I have 1/16 scale t bird glue bomb I got with a 63 corvette I needed for a project. I have no use for it you are more than welcome to it. A fair trade for all the great information I get from your builds. Let me know and I will send it to you. Brian 

Hi Brian, I really appreciate your kind words and also your offer.   That being said I live in Canada and freight on the T-bird  would be in the 40 to 60 dollar range, and as I said I'm well down the road with the printed body already.  It's a great kit and an excellent starting point for a S/G or S/C roadster project and I'm sure someone you know in your area could benifit from the kit.  I'm jumping ahead a bit showing this to you but here's were it stands today after about two weeks of cutting fitting and sanding, with a very rough read wing/ spoiler assy made out of cardboard trying to refine the size and shape of it.  Please keep following as I go over the steps needed to get to this point in the project.

 

[Ian McLaren]

7 hours ago, Straightliner59 said:

Oh, yeah! What a great body. That's a beautiful car!

Thanks Daniel, I'm doing this one at the same time as my Vega project, which I will post  in the next couple of days.

 

[Ian McLaren]

7 hours ago, Zippi said:

Pretty kewl project there Ian.  

Thanks Bob, I'm kind of excited about this one.  I haven't modeled a Hadman chassis before so there is going to be a lot of research and drawing involved in its developement

[NerdmanB]

Ian I did ship a body to Scotland was about $20 as I remember. But what you have looks very good. I have a question, where do you get your end mills. If anyone else can use this T Bird body let know I have no use for it. Looking forward to more of this build Brian

[Straightliner59]

9 hours ago, Ian McLaren said:

Thanks Daniel, I'm doing this one at the same time as my Vega project, which I will post  in the next couple of days.

 

I'll be watching both, for sure. You know I love me a Vega!

[1930fordpickup]

This is going to be awesome. 

[Kenmojr]

Fantastic work...

[AmericanMuscleFan]

WOW Ian, another fantastic Canadian drag car project in progress, your work on the computer to adapt the STL file to your needs is amazing!

I don't know this funny car but I'm sure that your usual passion for representing their history will interest us until the end, I'm along for the ride my friend! 😊

[Codi]

WOW Ian.........now this is quite interesting.  3D printing has also really changed our hobby.  Amazing.  Cheers, tim

[Ian McLaren]

Skipping ahead, the last few days have been refining the surfaces and adjusting the body for clearances of various items related to the chassis. Starting designing the chassis for both cars. The Vega will be getting the lions share of the effort which will transfer directly to this car in most areas.

   

[Ian McLaren]

My rendition of the Hadman chassis in the Vega and Thunderbird the only difference will be the rear section of the upper main rail to accomodated the difference in how far out the engines are from the rear axle centerline. Generally the more power the further out it is.

[Ian McLaren]

After constructing the basic Vega chassis and compairing it to the thunderbird body it became apparent that the differences are somewhat larger than originally thought. So a redesign of the template  was going to be easier than adjusting the original jig.  Here is the early redesign of the Thunderbird chassis with the Keith Black out its correct 68 inches from the rear axle centerline and the relocated rear engine plate .

[sah5150]

Chassis looks awesome, Ian!

[Ian McLaren]

On 5/15/2025 at 10:34 AM, sah5150 said:

Chassis looks awesome, Ian!

Thank you Steve, I'm building two versions of the same chassis , I just started on the one for the Thunderbird today, the one shown is for the Vega .  BTW your Promod chassis looks to be coming along nicely.

[Ian McLaren]

On 4/26/2025 at 2:28 PM, Codi said:

WOW Ian.........now this is quite interesting.  3D printing has also really changed our hobby.  Amazing.  Cheers, tim

Yes it has, I dom't think I could have gotten to this point with the Plastic model that's out there.

[Ian McLaren]

Side skirt template makes all the difference to the overall look, re-reprofiled the front fender area again and the injector just needs a small spacer between it and the 14-71, just like the real car. Next, to clean up the front end and lower front edge of the fender and I'll be close to the final primer coat and blocking the body for paint. Also shown basic chassis partially assembly in the jig to set chassis and body ride height and drive train alignment. I was having trouble with my iron when doing the seat, it has since been cleaned up as have all of the tube joints.

 

[Ian McLaren]

The side skirts in aluminum really start to bring out the personality of this body style

[AmericanMuscleFan]

Nice job Ian, the aluminum skirts are superb, in addition, the thickness of the material is a plus! 👍

[Dave Van]

Great project