Ed's Chopped & Sectioned '40 Ford Coupe - COMPLETED

[Bernard Kron]

Thanx everyone!

The finish work is completed on the body and fenders and nearly there on the hood. The fenders and body have two coats of Plastikote semi-gloss black as an undercoat. The undercoat has been polished out in preparation for two or more coats of DupliColor gloss black followed by two to three coats of Duplicolor Clear before final polishing. I changed over to an AMT chassis because I've got so much time invested in bodywork that I don't want to risk cutting up the fenders to get the Revell chassis in. The car will sit slightly lower than the current mockup because I still have an internal brace in place across the fenders behind the engine compartment to keep things stiff for sanding and polishing. It lifts the fenders about an 1/8 inch. I also switched over to Modelhaus T160 Commander 78 4 ¾ inch wide whites for a real 40's custom vibe. The hub caps came with the body when Ed sent it to me. I like their simplicity.

I'm going to keep the whole thing ultra simple with no bumpers, just a little bit of chrome trim around the windows, down the nose of the hood and along the beltline, '39 headlights and a splash of red paint on the wheel rims under the hubcaps. Power will be a nearly stock flathead. Here's a photo mockup of the rear lights and license plate.

And I've got the interior tub cut apart to start a black and white tuck and roll job based on the stock seats and dashboard.

Thanx for lookin',

B.

Edited February 1, 2010 by gbk1

[Raul_Perez]

I'm sorry to hear about Shirley's injury. I hope that she's feeling better...

I like the simple taillights!!

The absence of the running boards really give this car a different look!!

Will this one be done for the NNL?

Later,

[Bernard Kron]

The overall look of this build just hasn't hit me right up to now. I love Ed's chop and section but I just haven't been able to get the stance right to set it off. Now I think I've got it. To begin with I've gone with more of an early 60's rake rather than the 40's look I was working with. I switched to smaller Modelhaus T246 wide whites to bring the car down and removed the fender brace which was holding up the nose. As you can see I had radically lowered the AMT chassis by shaving the front crossmember and setting in the rear spring deeper into the rear crossmember.

Now the car has a more extreme "in the weeds" look

And here are a couple of pictures comparing the chopped and sectioned coupe to a '40 Fordor I did last summer that has a similar lowering job but where the body is uncut. The coupe really looks tight and compact compared to that big sedan!

Now I'm ready to finish this one up because it's finally got the hot rod vibe I was after even though for quite a while I wouldn't admit it!

Thanx for lookin' (and putting up woith all the stops and starts on this one!)…

B.

A yes Raul, I will get this one done in time for the NNL! Thanx for askin' - now I'm committed...

[ajulia]

Hello there friend! Wow! What a difference in ride height! Really cool looking ride there fella and the one in your signature! Awesome!!

Paz

Tito

[Foxer]

I Like it! The suspension work has improved the stance immensely.

[Raul_Perez]

This picture really shows how much material was removed in the chopping and sectioning!!

I'm giving serious consideration to sectioning the '50 Chevy pickup I'm working on. The belt line on the cab still looks too tall with respect to the bed height...

Later,

[Bernard Kron]

Thanx guys. It's finally starting to look "right" to me.

Looking at this some more I decided the rake was a little too radical so I adjusted it some more by lowering the rear. Now it sits like Cushenberry's El Matador which isn't necessarily a bad thing…

As you know sectioning, even on a simple slab-sided body like this one can result in a lot of collateral issues which need to be addressed. I think I understand why Revell chose to mold the front fenders in one piece with the main body - it's far stronger than the AMT approach, at least on the Tudor. The fender set from the AMT '39/'40 Tudor kit is very fragile at the front. They left a big hole there to take either the '39 style Standard grille or the '40 style Deluxe grille. It's held together by two small thin strips and is very weak.

Because I removed the running boards and filled the front pan, a lot of bodywork had to be done to the fenders. As a result these two strips eventually twisted in a parallelogram shape like so:/_/. They finally snapped and I put in a small re-enforcing strip across the top between the tops of the fenders. Unfortunately I created a gap in along the edge of the fender on the passenger side.

Ed Fluck pointed out the gaps around the hood to me (although I knew about it already I had been putting off fixing it since I had already finished the fenders…). But, since the master had spoken I had no choice but to fix it post haste!

So… I broke apart the re-enforcement on that side, re-aligned the edge of the fender with the hood (the kit comes with two hoods, a standard and deluxe one) repositioned the brace. Still some fitting work to do regarding the grill but basically I think it's fixed now.

And I'm trying to get this one done for NNL West which is on the 22^nd!

...I'm giving serious consideration to sectioning the '50 Chevy pickup I'm working on. The belt line on the cab still looks too tall with respect to the bed height...

Yikes! Don't do it! It looks fine just as it is, and anyway it's already in paint. The flow and weight of the fenders balances out that step down. If it really bothers you make a tonneau cover to add some height to the bed area. But IMHO I wouldn't change a thing. Get her done so you can show it at NNL West!

[Raul_Perez]

Yikes! Don't do it! It looks fine just as it is, and anyway it's already in paint. The flow and weight of the fenders balances out that step down. If it really bothers you make a tonneau cover to add some height to the bed area. But IMHO I wouldn't change a thing. Get her done so you can show it at NNL West!

That's too funny!!

The paint you see in the pics is only a base coat I used to see if I liked the current state of the bodywork and the hood design.

No, I'm not going to section it, especially after you sent me a Photoshop image of it sectioned. It just looked completely out of balance.

Yes, I do plan on making a cover for the bed to help with some of the height...It will probably also have a small wing/spoiler, (like the one on my '55 Chevy pickup), to help balance the overall height proportions of the design.

No, there's no way that this one will be done in time for this year's show.

Later,

[Bernard Kron]

I got the interior and seats sectioned down (5/32") and the doors and sides "upholstered" using Plastruc corrugated siding which is very thin and flexible. I'm thinking of leaving the seats untouched except for some trim work on the accent lines molded in to the stock units. The Plastruc looks too bulky and out of scale for the seats. Colors will be white with dark red/brown trim, '40 Ford steering wheel and floor shift.

Thanx for lookin',

B.

[Bernard Kron]

I added pleats to the seats. The interior is painted out and ready for final assembly. The pleats were made by cutting up a set of seats as shown in the pictures below. Next up is the engine and chassis, then final paint and foiling.

Thanx for lookin'

B.

[Raul_Perez]

Bernard,

It looks like you might have this one finished in time for the NNL, too!!

You and Curt are going to put me and my 4 builds for the year to shame just with your shear volume!!

Maybe I'll have you come down early and help finish up some of my stuff!!

Later,

[curt raitz]

Bernard,

It looks like you might have this one finished in time for the NNL, too!!

You and Curt are going to put me and my 4 builds for the year to shame just with your shear volume!!

Maybe I'll have you come down early and help finish up some of my stuff!!

Later,

I can loan you a couple of elves...

[Bernard Kron]

More progress has been made. The chassis and engine are nearly done. They're both modified kit pieces. To "get her in the weeds where she belongs", the front cross member was radically shaved and the rear cross member was relieved and the rear spring was shoved up into it as far as it would go. Right now the final coats of color and clear are going on the bodywork. Here's some chassis pics and the main body shell sitting in position with the final stance. Looks sinister with the windows masked out, don't it!

Thanx for lookin',

B.

Edited February 16, 2010 by gbk1

[Bernard Kron]

Paint is now done and I'm glad to say it's shiny! But it's really true about black. It is indeed a cruel taskmaster. It shows every paint flaw and surface irregularity. Smoothing things out to an acceptable degree easily added an extra week to this build. Raul Perez's advice to color sand after every coat is mandatory when trying to achieve a decent gloss black paint job. And I did (not necessarily voluntarily either). Anyway here's the result:

Now all that's left is assembling and installing the glass and interior, headlights, taillights and foiling. Since I leave for the NNL West Friday I might just make it. Then again maybe assembly and foiling may have to be completed at Raul p'lace in Cali. on Saturday... (the NNL is on Sunday this year).

Thanx for lookin',

B.

Edited February 23, 2010 by gbk1

[Bernard Kron]

Well, Ed's chopped and sectioned '40 is done and made it on to the tables at the NNL West … just barely! Thursday morning, too tired and the victim of never used but slightly oxidized (and thus dulled) 18 month old #11 blades (lesson learned on that one), I managed to totally screw up the foiling on the hood. I switched to other final details and tried to forget my little disaster. Then I packed up the ready to assemble build and headed for Raul Perez's house in Central California on Friday night. Travel weary and more than a little nervous about screwing it up again, I asked Raul to take over the reins. He foiled the hood and side trim, black washed the grill and glued it together. My bacon was saved! (Thanx Raul!)

Here's a couple of snaps of Ed's '40 on the tables in Santa Clara. I'll post some more formal pics on the Under Glass forum later. In the meantime, thanx to everyone for the comments and encouragement along the way, to Ed Fluck III for providing the beautiful "bones" for this build, and to RP for the last ditch effort on Saturday that got her done.

B.

[Raul_Perez]

No problem, Bernard!!

By the way, you left your sheet of BMF on my desk...

Later,

[Scott Colmer]

Well Bernard.

I had no idea when I met you at the NNL you were gbk1. Go figure. I've been reading your posts form some time now.

You are a great guy and from looking at this 40, an excellent model builder. It came out SWEET!

Take care, see you next year.

Scott

[Bernard Kron]

..By the way, you left your sheet of BMF on my desk...

Par for the course on the wrapup for this one! Thanx for using it to such good effect...

Well Bernard.

I had no idea when I met you at the NNL you were gbk1. Go figure. I've been reading your posts form some time now.

You are a great guy and from looking at this 40, an excellent model builder. It came out SWEET!

Take care, see you next year.

Scott

I'm flattered that you think so. Thanx for spending the time walking me through the details on the elusive 'Vette LSR car. Fingers crossed that she gets done in Oh-Ten so I can see her on the tables next year in Santa Clara!

[Foxer]

Somehow I missed the last few posts and surprised at the gloss black paint .. but, it REALLY brings out the beautiful body on this. Looking forward to the 'glass photos!

[curt raitz]

Hey Bernard

car came out great, even with Raul helping ya out

enjoyed seeing you again and your cars at the show...keep up the good work

[Raul_Perez]

Hey Bernard

car came out great, even with Raul helping ya out

enjoyed seeing you again and your cars at the show...keep up the good work

Does that qualify me as one of Bernard's elves?

Later,

[Bernard Kron]

Thanx guys! It was great hanging out with the West Coast crew at the NNL. The car is now posted Under Glass here: http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=28307&pid=271569&st=0&#entry271569. I'm not sure the more formal pictures are any better than my quick snaps taken at Santa Clara! But at least the paint turned out nice and glossy to show off Ed's slick lines!

[Raul_Perez]

Thanx guys! It was great hanging out with the West Coast crew at the NNL. ...

Yeah...Curt and I were just talking about how dazed you were last year with the whole NNL West thing, having never been to one before...

As you had mentioned, and we observed, you knew what you were in for this year and came prepared for all the fun and excitement that is the NNL West!!

I'm already getting ready for the next one!!

Later,