American Graffiti Ford Coupe

[Twokidsnosleep]

I am going to make a start building this. It will be a smash up of a few things from different kits as I don’t have the actual movie car kit from Revell I think it was.

So research shows it is a model A body with a Chevy 327 V8 engine inside

Edited May 16 by Twokidsnosleep
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[OldNYJim]

6 minutes ago, Twokidsnosleep said:

So research shows it is a model A body

No sir, Deuce coupe

[Twokidsnosleep]

My starting points are a ‘30 model A Revell kit that was avaliable for reasonable cost

 

and a 66 Nova pro stock I am hoping to use engine and tires 

This is my starting point for a somewhat reasonable cost. I may have to do a 3D resin print engine if the Nova isn’t decent.

[Twokidsnosleep]

So

I have chopped the top 2mm all around with an Tamiya tape guide

 

Established a kerf cut with a razor saw at the tape markings

 

separated the bottom portion off, still with its attatchment points to the lower past of the body

 

then cut the upper kerf lines through to separate the top

[Twokidsnosleep]

Now the dry fit of top to bottom to body and some slight file work to get level

 

And then the glue up

[Twokidsnosleep]

 

[Mattilacken]

Nice start on that chop top! 

I was dooing some research and it seems that the kit you have would have been my go to as well in a way if i wanted to do what you do. It seems to have a '32 frame in it only thing is misses in my eyes are the '32 grill which the movie car has. The other Revelle '32's have air suspension rear end and electric fans. I guess the biggest difference i can see is the lower part of the door on this '30 ford body and their '32. And since the American Grafiti have no rear tank as the 32's do this resembles that nicley.  Keep at it!    

[bobss396]

My Revell '32 5-window chop was a ton more involved than yours.. well done!

[OldNYJim]

11 hours ago, Twokidsnosleep said:

I am not gonna listen to the  moaning about the ‘30 . I haven’t even started and here we go 🙄

It is a five window model A exactly like the movie car, if it ain’t good enough for you scroll away.

I might keep the front windscreen shade as I like that…and it is my model build; we will see. May just build this somewhere else

FFS, send me the ‘32 kit then. I don’t wanna spend another $100 on a kit that is the same

 

Who’s moaning?  It wouldn’t be good enough for ME if I was building a replica of the Milner Coupe, but if you’re happy; you’re happy 🤷‍♂️

If you decide to use the RIGHT body for the replica then a 5-window kit is WAY less than $100 though…

That said, have fun!

[Bullybeef]

13 hours ago, OldNYJim said:

No sir, Deuce coupe

 

[Belugawrx]

In all seriousness (not really), what ARE the differences between a 30 and 32 Ford body...? I see the door bottom needs to be scribed above the 1/2 round detail, file off the flange on the front of the cowl, and take the visor off above the wind shield...but what else..?

Enquiring minds want to know.....

[Silvercreeker]

I have the same project coming up next on deck.  Yes I plan out several builds in advance and only build one at a time.  The Drag City Casting 32 Chop is very close to the actual chop, and Model Car Garage has a chopped 32 Grill, which Milner's had.  But a hot rod is a hot rod, if you are building an exact replica of Milners, there are a lot of subtle things.  

[Twokidsnosleep]

9 hours ago, Belugawrx said:

In all seriousness (not really), what ARE the differences between a 30 and 32 Ford body...? I see the door bottom needs to be scribed above the 1/2 round detail, file off the flange on the front of the cowl, and take the visor off above the wind shield...but what else..?

Enquiring minds want to know.....

 

9 hours ago, Silvercreeker said:

I have the same project coming up next on deck.  Yes I plan out several builds in advance and only build one at a time.  The Drag City Casting 32 Chop is very close to the actual chop, and Model Car Garage has a chopped 32 Grill, which Milner's had.  But a hot rod is a hot rod, if you are building an exact replica of Milners, there are a lot of subtle things.  

Exactly. I am working with what I have, what was available to me 
If I didn’t show the kit, nobody would have known. An exact replica is impossible, I have not seen one, though I have a decent 1:1  build reference and even that isn’t identical. 

Running boards and fender flares will be needed. I think the grill will be the same but will research that. There is not much body difference which is why I went this way and the 30 kit was easily available.

 

Edited Saturday at 02:58 AM by Twokidsnosleep

[Twokidsnosleep]

37 minutes ago, Belugawrx said:

In all seriousness (not really), what ARE the differences between a 30 and 32 Ford body...? I see the door bottom needs to be scribed above the 1/2 round detail, file off the flange on the front of the cowl, and take the visor off above the wind shield...but what else..?

Enquiring minds want to know.....

 

completely different 🙄

I am just gonna build now

[OldNYJim]

37 minutes ago, Belugawrx said:

In all seriousness (not really), what ARE the differences between a 30 and 32 Ford body...? I see the door bottom needs to be scribed above the 1/2 round detail, file off the flange on the front of the cowl, and take the visor off above the wind shield...but what else..?

Enquiring minds want to know.....

Completely different bodies - I don’t believe ANYTHING interchanges.  Different roofline on the Deuce, different width cowl, no visor on a Deuce, the body line, the shape of the trunk…everything, basically 

5 minutes ago, Twokidsnosleep said:

If I didn’t show the kit, nobody would have known

Yes they would 

5 minutes ago, Twokidsnosleep said:

An exact replica is impossible

No it’s not…but if you’re having fun, that’s the main thing!  Just trying to inform and educate, was all - no need to be defensive

[OldNYJim]

11 minutes ago, Twokidsnosleep said:

Running boards and fender flares will be needed

BTW: The kit I linked above has the fenders and running boards that you need 👍🏻

[Twokidsnosleep]

2 minutes ago, OldNYJim said:

BTW: The kit I linked above has the fenders and running boards that you need 👍🏻

Great

Send it right over 

 

[OldNYJim]

Looks like you actually already have one…

Like I said - long as you’re having fun, that’s the main thing!  Build what YOU want to build 

[Twokidsnosleep]

Nope turns out they didn’t have it after I ordered after I posted that. So I settled for the 30 on Amazon 

You can stop posting if it offends you. Especially quoting my posts, that’s kinda weird and stalking

Like stop, really.

Nothing more demotivating than what you are doing

Edited Friday at 06:17 PM by Twokidsnosleep

[Silvercreeker]

The December 96 issue of SAE has a great article on how to replicate Milner’s. Best Auto on eBay sell license plates for it too

[Twokidsnosleep]

3 minutes ago, Silvercreeker said:

The December 96 issue of SAE has a great article on how to replicate Milner’s. Best Auto on eBay sell license plates for it too

Now THAT’s helpful

Will try and find it online

[DJMar]

3 minutes ago, Silvercreeker said:

The December 96 issue of SAE has a great article on how to replicate Milner’s. Best Auto on eBay sell license plates for it too

It's a great article BUT the talented Mr. Hartman started with the AMT '32 Ford 5W and did all the body mods needed to correct the inaccuracies of that kit. However, the engine, frame, exhaust, etc., mods that he showed are screen accurate and could certainly be used for reference. He did use a lot of kits/parts that are long out of production,though.

 

1 hour ago, Belugawrx said:

In all seriousness (not really), what ARE the differences between a 30 and 32 Ford body...? I see the door bottom needs to be scribed above the 1/2 round detail, file off the flange on the front of the cowl, and take the visor off above the wind shield...but what else..?

Enquiring minds want to know.....

For the uninitiated but interested, here's an informative (but kind of rambling) video on the differences between the two...

 

[Xingu]

This is a members build thread. It isn’t a place to say what you would have done or what you think they should do. Follow along and enjoy the process or move on to the next one or better yet start your own build thread. 

[Twokidsnosleep]

A good 1:1 build reference of the movie car

https://www.hagerty.com/media/entertainment/american-graffiti-3/

 

nice painting captures the era

Some cartoons of the race

 

 

 

 

Edited Saturday at 01:22 AM by Twokidsnosleep

[Twokidsnosleep]

Taped up dry fit of frame, floor pan, interior door cards and body