The Hornet's Nest: Hudson Hornet Build Madness!

[wgflatliner]

I got to work on mine a bit. I picked up two of them and plan on doing a his and hers fully detailed. This means one in blue hues throughout and the other in girls colors like pinks and such. The paint jobs on them will both be custom with patterns matching each other in their corresponding colors. The end result will be a single display with both of them together at a car show.

I am nearly done with the first engine. I just need to finish the air cleaners and get in line for the non disappearing decals.

There were some general questions and comments about the kit that I have. I compared both of my kits along with three other kits from my local club and they all have the same "issues."

First: if you look at the frame dead on from the front, the driver side a-arm is thicker than the passenger side and it's flat whereas the passenger side is rounded. It won't affect how the kingpin goes in but may be an aesthetic thing to work on should anybody desire.

Second: what's the faint line that's above the driver side door handle? It runs parallel with the handle.

Third: I see where the heater hose runs from the water pump to the firewall. Where does the return heater go from the firewall?

I'm enjoying watching these builds and will take pics of mine tomorrow/later today.

[wgflatliner]

Here's where i stand on the "his" 53 hudson hornet.

what i've added:

throttle linkages

spark plugs, boots, wires

fuel lines

a fuel filter (100% scratch built) with the filter element

heater hose

drilled out the end of the crank case ventilation tube

choke heater lines from the carbs to the exhaust manifold

vacuum advance from the distributor to the carb

and also put in a little wire on the starter to simulate the starter solenoid.

what's next:

touch up painting

wire the generator

wire the starter

fabricate a throttle linkage return spring (i have to figure out where it goes first)

figure out where the other heater hose goes

once i get the engine completely built, then i'll work on the chassis, which is going to include routing fuel lines, brake lines, and putting the engine and drivetrain in.

keep in mind i'm building two of these at once, and will attempt to obtain the same level of realism with both builds.

thanks for looking!

[Olskoolrodder]

Now that's an engine!!! :D

[Chuck Most]

Third: I see where the heater hose runs from the water pump to the firewall. Where does the return heater go from the firewall?

MCM 162 shows how they're routed- they had kind of a weird setup for the heater hoses.

[Chuck Most]

By the way- that engine looks INCREDIBLE!

[wgflatliner]

thanks guys, i'll have to gander at the magazine and see what they did.

[tabsscale1]

Trying to make some tuck and roll on mine. Going to use the pattern in the seats and added some in the package tray. the doors i cut out te panel and now setting up thetuck on them. will be doing the backs of the interior when i get the front done.

[Olskoolrodder]

SWEEEET!!! :D

[Dominik]

A small update of mine.

I painted the body black, wet sanded the body and won the BMF-battle for this round to give him the first clearcoat:

Next i finished the Frame and underbody, made a little weathering:

I panted the interieur...

...finished the dashboard (because of missing decals i had to paint the instruments)...

...and put it all together:

Thats it till today. Now is folowing my favorite job - the bodywork to finish it. Love it.

Thanks buddies for attention

[spkgibson]

What gold are you guys using on the engines? I still need to go out and pick up the kit myself. The more I see these, The more I want afew of them, Gray-Blue and White will be the combonation I'll be doing once I get my hands on one, I can't find them here at the hobbyshops , Everytime I go to them, Sorry were sold out, And are back ordered.

[Chuck Most]

Todd- I hate you for beating me to making up tuck and roll interior panels!

Dominik- I think yours is the first Hornet kit I've seen painted black. The metal trim looks great.

[Chuck Most]

Krylon gold might be a close match- I plan on trying some to see how it looks applied on the engine.

[Aaronw]

Here's where i stand on the "his" 53 hudson hornet.

I was going to detail the motor on this (not something I usually do). If you guys are going to cheat and post photos of real motors I quit.

Edited November 22, 2011 by Aaronw

[Harry P.]

You guys are really doing this kit proud! And those detailed engines... holy bleep! They look fantastic!

And Dominik... black with the white roof and all that chrome... yeah, baby!

[wgflatliner]

lol Aaron - thanks for the compliment. what's more interesting is i'll be making two. eek.

thanks for the comment, harry

[Chuck Most]

I'm going to bankrupt myself buying these... never mind the upcoming '50 Olds!

[wgflatliner]

just waiting for the corrected decals now.

[Olskoolrodder]

That thing looks SWEET in Black!

[wgflatliner]

Anybody else have to do a lot of clean up on the frame?

[Chuck Most]

The frame castings on a lot of the kits seem a bit rough, yes. Nothing major on any of mine though.

[Aaronw]

Nope, my kit has been pretty clean, the worst was the mold lines on the body and that took less than 15 min to fix.

The frame just took a pass or two with an emery board.

[Chuck Most]

The Hornet- striped ex-coupe of mine is inching ever closer to finish (should be in Under Glass tomorrow, if my luck holds...) and a few observations-

1. If you want to install a V8 engine, you will need to trim the battery tray back- I ended up trimming mine to about half its original width. This isn't so it will clear once assembled (the battery will fit) but so you can get the completed chassis with engine up into the body.

2. The decals lay down beautifully, with no setting solutions needed, but they like to hunker down and stay in place once off the backer- take your time, be careful, and apply them exactly where you want them!

3. Watch the mounting holes- particularly on the engine, and on the mirrors- the holes seem a bit undersized.

4. Chase out the wheel bosses by twisting a drill bit into them to clear out any plating residue before inserting the metal axle (rear) or plastic stubs (front).

5. On the other project (more on that later) I think cutting the rear window unit into its three separate panes will help the rear quarter glass fit better.

6. I can't get enough of this kit.

[Greg Pugh]

Wow! There is some fantastic work being done in here! Nice work!

[sobpinstriping]

I got mine yesterday! I have a custom 1950 chevy truck to finish (hopefully tonight) and I'm gonna jump on the hudson.

A guy I know has a 49 which is close (diffrent grill, dash, taillights, rear window etc....) so I'm gonna build it for him. I'm so exited to get started!

[Chuck Most]

Second one's done. (You'll be seeing the first shortly enough.)

http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=50425&pid=560856&st=0&#entry560856