GTMust Posted July 25, 2011 Posted July 25, 2011 I have a spare 1/25 scale AMT 1934 Ford 5 window coupe. As I've already built this kit previously, I thought I'd have some fun with this spare one and try to build a 1934 Ford Woodie wagon. Here's what I have in mind: I managed to aquire a line drawing and will scale it up on the computer to create templates for the bodywork. I started by painting and weathering the underside of the chassis and removing the firewall from the rest of the coupe body. I scaled up the line drawing on the computer and made a couple of prints. Then I cut out the shape of the left side wall and transferred that to some .040 styrene sheet. I then cut the styrene wall out, trimmed it to make sure it fitted the model, and made the right side wall using the first as a template. I also used the printed cut out to transfer the wood trim lines to the body. Some fine trimming, a back panel added, and I can sit the body assembly on the fenders to check that it all fits. (The fenders, chassis and firewall were all taped together first to make sure everything was in alignment.) I still have to contour the roof line over the driver's door to slope to the windshield, and then cut out the window openings. A new windshield frame will be made from stryene strips. But I think I may have bitten off more than I can chew with this one! I have been working on the body panelling now for three days and I'm not 100% satisfied with the way it's turning out. Wood panelling has to be the most difficult thing to duplicate with all those thin framing strips. My normal technique to paint wood works fine for small areas, but to try to get consistency of colour, grain and pattern over a complete body is almost impossible. So I have resorted to the adhesive, wood grained shelf paper technique. This is great for the flat surfaces, but the small framing strips are giving me problems. I tried painting these to match the adhesive paper grain, but my artistic talents (or lack of!) just aren't working for me either. I also tried using thin strip basswood for the framing strips, but they are so thin that it's almost impossible to stain and finish them without breaking! Hopefully I'll get this resolved somehow, but if anyone has any ideas, please let me know. Here are a few pictures of the progress I've made so far on the wood panelling. The steps should be self explanatory. I still have a way to go and those tiny strips (check the line drawing an the prototype photo), are going to be the biggest problem. I've sanded the filler over the widened rear fenders and I've wrapped the running boards with tape to prevent overspray. Then applied a couple of coats of primer. I'll sand this down with 1,000 grit and apply one more coat before applying the finish color coat and a gloss clearcoat to the complete body (if all goes well!).
Foxer Posted July 26, 2011 Posted July 26, 2011 I think it's looking good. Woodworking is surely different than that nice easy cutting plastic, but it sure looks good from here!
Jairus Posted July 26, 2011 Posted July 26, 2011 Very nice start! I have built 7 woodies using real wood boxes in my time. Some with opening doors even. If you have any questions please feel free to ask. One of the most recent can be found here at MCM forums. (Just click the link) So far you are on the right track and I am watching the progress with interest.
crazyjim Posted July 26, 2011 Posted July 26, 2011 Very interesting project. Looks like you're doing very well with it.
GTMust Posted July 26, 2011 Author Posted July 26, 2011 Thanks for the positive comments so far folks. Jairus.... I just read your Woodie build up and wish I'd seen it before I started this project. Beautiful work. I can only hope that mine comes anywhere close to yours! Many thanks for the reference. Now I'm wondering if I should abandon the styrene/shelf paper idea and start the body again with wood as you had done. It certainly looks a lot more realistic, especially being real wood. Our LHS has very limited supplies and I'm not even sure that Michaels has the thin material that I "wood" (sic) need, so it may come down to a question of availabilty. Unfortunately small towns like mine (42,000 pop.) don't have enough scale modellers to make a full service hobby shop viable. But I'll check and see what I can come up with. Tony
paul alflen Posted July 26, 2011 Posted July 26, 2011 NICE JOB TONY, YOU WILL HAVE A UNIQUE MODEL THAT NO ONE ELSE HAS DONE!
Romell R Posted July 26, 2011 Posted July 26, 2011 Boy this is gonna be good , cant wait for the next update!
Jairus Posted July 26, 2011 Posted July 26, 2011 Tony, The wood I have always used is sold to Model Railroaders under a couple different names. It is 'Basswood'for the most part and sometimes 'Spruce' for the larger stuff. Of course the sizes that are called out are in 1/64th scale or what ever HO scale is. But I usually buy a large range of wood so I can have it around. The plywood is generally faced with something nice - with cheap wood in-between, 5ply for the most part. The ply is a model aircraft item. Most all that can be found on Tower Hobbies web site, whom will deliver direct to your door! Normally I advocate buying from the local hobby shop... but if they don't carry what you need, go to Tower Hobbies. (Just click the links)
GTMust Posted July 26, 2011 Author Posted July 26, 2011 Tony, The wood I have always used is sold to Model Railroaders under a couple different names. It is 'Basswood'for the most part and sometimes 'Spruce' for the larger stuff. Of course the sizes that are called out are in 1/64th scale or what ever HO scale is. But I usually buy a large range of wood so I can have it around. The plywood is generally faced with something nice - with cheap wood in-between, 5ply for the most part. The ply is a model aircraft item. Most all that can be found on Tower Hobbies web site, whom will deliver direct to your door! Normally I advocate buying from the local hobby shop... but if they don't carry what you need, go to Tower Hobbies. (Just click the links) The "basswood" I'm familiar with.... have used it on a number of projects, including model railway building (BTW HO scale is 1/87), but didn't realize it's spruce! I too have a large number of basswood sheets in 1/32", 1/16" etc. by 3" and 4" wide and a number of various size strips. I didn't use it on this project as I didn't know how well it would finish with stain and because it has a tendency to split off when working with the grain on intricate shapes. But now I've seen what you can do with it, I'll give it a try. I can use my styrene walls as a template for the basswood, before I go any further. I'll also check out Tower Hobbies. Thanks for the info. Tony
charlie8575 Posted July 26, 2011 Posted July 26, 2011 You now have my attention! This will be very interesting to see what comes out. Charlie Larkin
GTMust Posted July 27, 2011 Author Posted July 27, 2011 ......... This will be very interesting to see what comes out. Charlie Larkin My feelings exactly Charlie....!
W-409 Posted July 27, 2011 Posted July 27, 2011 Like it, keep going! This is truly something different, I haven't seen '34 Ford Woodie Wagon yet, which is built like this. Like the idea, and how it looks now. Great job with the wood, I'm watching this one.
David G. Posted July 28, 2011 Posted July 28, 2011 Looks like it's coming along nicely! Keep up the good work. David G.
GTMust Posted July 28, 2011 Author Posted July 28, 2011 I've got the first color coat on the body and the "woodwork" is slowly getting done!
charlie8575 Posted July 28, 2011 Posted July 28, 2011 Very nice, Tony. What did you use for the color on the metal part of the body? Charlie Larkin
charlie8575 Posted July 28, 2011 Posted July 28, 2011 Very nice, Tony. What did you use for the color on the metal part of the body? Charlie Larkin
pepperdrumstix Posted July 29, 2011 Posted July 29, 2011 For some reason I can't click on the photos to see this WIP. I would like to see the build in progress as I have thought about building a '34 woody too from the AMT kits. I will try again tonight but if it doesn't click I won't know what to do. Patrick
GTMust Posted July 29, 2011 Author Posted July 29, 2011 Very nice, Tony. What did you use for the color on the metal part of the body? Charlie Larkin Hi Charlie. The paint is Krylon "indoor/outdoor" Hunter Green over Krylon grey primer. I think it's laquer based (although they never say on the cans) as, by itself it can etch the plastic. It does have some slight orage peel, which I hope will disappear after a light sand and a couple of clear coats. Tony
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