32 Ford Ratrod/Hotrod? (updated w/ pics 6-3-12)

[JasonFL]

Hey everyone, im new here. im not big on forums but i recently got back into doing model cars and i came across this website and i cant seem to get off of here. ive looked on a lot of different forums and projects but the ones that i have seen on this site are ridiculous. the attention to detail and quality is something im looking to learn from. needless to say i thought i would try this forum out and see how everything goes. i used to build model cars as a kid and haven't touched any in over 10yrs. i started back up with one of my favorites, a 57 chevy and now i am starting this 32 ford Revell 2in1 kit. i have a build off with a friend to build a rat rod so i want to channel the body, slam it down and chop the roof, flathead, rear fenders, and maybe a tiki theme interior for some of the plans.

i mocked everything up and marked out some spots but i wasnt sure how to go about chopping the top so the roof slants downwards? i also wasnt sure how to go about slamming the front down, do i just cut all the springs off? if anyone has any suggestions i would appreciate it. thanks for looking

Edited June 3, 2012 by JasonFL

[JasonFL]

i always seem to have trouble posting photos. i loaded them all up to photobucket, read the forum topic on it and still got it wrong. if anyone could help me out with that would be great, thanks

[Foxer]

Welcome to the forum. It looks like you're getting an extra "http://" in your link. Try editing one out. Not sure how it's getting there. On Photobucket you just put the cursor over the drop down list on the IMG code link.. click on it to copy. Then just paste (ctrl V) here.

edit: I tried just copy/pasting your link and editing it here. It said I'm not allowed to use that here. I'm not sure the problem ... could be your Photobucket permissions but never seen that to happen by default.

Edited July 12, 2011 by Foxer

[JasonFL]

Thanks for your help mike. I messed with it for a while but I keep getting the same message as you. Is there any other way to load pics on the forum?

[Rick Schmidt]

I think the whole issue is the extra HTTP in your links. I think ya was on the right path with it just somehow that extra letters jumped in

Edited July 12, 2011 by Rick Schmidt

[JasonFL]

Thanks for the help Rick.

[JasonFL]

I put this build on hold for a while because I was to scared to cut into it. After a lot of brainstorming and driving myself crazy I decided to just start chopping.

My main object is just to make everything flow but give it attitude. I decided to make this build my "first for everything build" so we're better to start then the rear fenders. I've seen this done a lot, in different ways, shapes and sizes but I wanted to make mine just a little different.

I didn't want the whole running board so I cut the back halves off.

Then drew some lines and cut the fender to look like a chopper/bobber fender. I left the spike extra long until I can figure out how I want it exactly but this gave me rough idea.

I marked the body up where where the fenders are going to sit as far as I could go without messing up the body line

The way I mounted the fenders was I took the fender from the opposite side then flipped it so the the back part of the fender was facing forward. So if your looking at it from the side it would look like the air would flow right over the back wheel.

[JasonFL]

After pulling the band-aid off, I realized it wasn't so bad. So I thought I would try chopping the frame up. I found a simple way to Z the frame, I decided to just Z the rear frame for now so I can figure out the fender clearance.

[Dr. Cranky]

Jason, I love the looks of it. It's never dawned on me to cut up the fenders like that, but I love the idea. Thanks, and I hope to see more progress. Best, DC

[JasonFL]

I wanted to add some strength so I added some gussets were the 2 frame pieces meet. I still have to clean up the frame

I also shortened the back of the frame and removed the gas tank in order to get it lower. I'll mount the gas tank in the trunk later

[JasonFL]

I wanted to do something different with the grill so I thought a home made web grill would be cool. Paper clips and an old skull I had from an earring when I used to have some piercings.

I wanted the web to look like it was coming off the skull and I changed the direction of the web at the bottom because I'm thinking about bringing the web onto the body.

This is we're I stand as of right now. Tonight I'm chopping the top and hopefully tomorrow i can hing and cut the doors open. Opinions are always welcome.

[JasonFL]

Jason, I love the looks of it. It's never dawned on me to cut up the fenders like that, but I love the idea. Thanks, and I hope to see more progress. Best, DC

Thanks Doc, means a lot coming from the king of rust. Stay tuned, I'm doing the chop and doors tonight/tomorrow.

[Brendan30]

Looking good! I like your Z

[race06]

III LIKE!!! keep it up, YEAH!

[bryan_m]

love the grille!!

bryan m

[ZombieHunter26]

I'm definitely following this...

[JasonFL]

Looking good! I like your Z

Thanks, i cant take credit for the idea, this tutorial was a big help. http://cs.scaleautomag.com/SCACS/themes/sca/forums/thread.aspx?ThreadID=94528

Thanks everyone else,I'm posting more photos in a few mins.

[JasonFL]

Chopping the top. I of coarse wanted a slanted chop top so my first chop wasn't going to be as easy as just chopping and dropping. After making a post and talking to a few different members I went with the way I thought would be best to give me the slanted chop.

Thanks to Brizio and others for all the help and ideas.

http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=57448&st=0&p=679519&#entry679519

1st step I did was mark everything off in green that was being cut out.

2nd step I took the back of my blade and cut the top clean off.

[JasonFL]

3rd step I marked off my post and chopped em' down.

4th step i cut the middle of the roof out, got rid of the middle post, and cleaned it up.

5th step I realized after mocking it up (forgot to take pics) that I cut to much out of the rear post so I took the pieces I cut out, shaved them down about half the size then glued them back in place.

[JasonFL]

So while waiting for the pieces to dry on the top I wanted to get the doors cut out. The doors had to flow with everything else so that ment making a new door lines.

The first time cutting the doors out wouldn't be as easy as following the door line so I put some tape down as a guide, worked out pretty well I think.

[JasonFL]

The doors cut out clean so I started on the hinges. I found a tutorial (thanks to Romell R http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=31793) on doing hinges this way and just thought it was really clean and simple.

I took the plastic tubing that was used on an old r/c car that held up the antenna, cut a piece off then cut it in half to give it a nice tight fit.

Allows the doors to open into the body and you can take them off whenever you want with ease.

[rmvw guy]

I like where you are going with this one. I'll be following.

[JasonFL]

Next step: door panels/jams, finish bottom part of chop, hinge trunk, and finish the fenders. Then we'll see from there.

Let me know what you all think.

[sports850]

Looking great , I like the way you've made the doors longer and given them a better shape . What did you use to cut the doors out and how did you manage to keep such a thin edge on the bottom without breaking it ?

[JasonFL]

Thanks Ron and Ian. I cut the doors out with the back of my exto blade and just took my time. It took a lot of patients but it was well worth it. I'm thinking of strengthening it with some rod later.