The F-tub

[mrm]

This is going to be my first major project for 2012. The idea started probably years ago and it was simple. Build a nice modern Phaeton with clean lines. The inspiration was the Boyd Coddington Built car for Bob Kolmos. So even these years ago some things were clear. It was going to be yellow, two door, clean, low, fenderless and with modern high performance drivetrain. Some things were started back then, like the frame and even believe I had some sort of engine picked up for it. And then.........it was forgotten in some box.

Recently during some crazy decision of organizing the dusty pile of kits in the garage it was redescovered. And then new ideas flew and one things led to another and so on and so forth. So now I am picking up the project for like the third or fourth time.

It is still going to have all the elements of the original idea, but just a little more complicated.

The body is from the old AMT phaeton kit, but the doors have been filled in and new ones have been scraped. Then the firewall and cowl from the much newer AMT Phantom Vicky have been grafted on. The top is just slightly modified from the same kit as the body.

The entire floor and interior will be most likely scratchbuild

The frame so far is thefront portion of the Phantom Vicky one whith highly modified rear section from a prowler with elements from a Ferrari 612. Most likely the front suspention of the Vicky will give way to a new more high tech one, which will have to be scratchbuild too. I can try to see if I like soldering stuff as I am not familiar with it.

Things got kind of complicated when I decided that it would be totally fine to fit the Ferrari V12 from the 612 Scaglieti together with the rear transaxle.

There is still more work on this chassis alone than I would like to even think about, but so far I managed to fit everything quite well actually

Thank you for looking and stay tuned

[CorvairJim]

Ooh, I'm gonna LIKE this one!

[Dr. Cranky]

It might be complicated but the results are very good, and cool, and you are going to end up with a highly original and creative model. Please keep it going.

[crazyjim]

This is one to watch.

[Greg Pugh]

I'll be watching!

[PARTSMARTY]

This looks like it's gonna be a wonderful project!

[george 53]

Put this same chassis under a chopped 32 sedan. Worked GREAT. The Ferrari engine an transaxle are also a GREAT idea!!! and they fit beautifully inside the framerails. This is gonna be cool as all get out!!!

[mrm]

Glad you like it guys. I need some advice here. I want to tackle the suspension next, but I am undecided because the ideas I have all involve methods I have never tried before. I need to make a new entire front suspention. This means scratchbuilding upper and lower controll arms and shocks, with corresponding attachment points on the frame. The Vicky's front setup would be fine for a full fendered rod, but I don't like it for a fenderless car. Scratchbuilding tubular Aarms is not really hard, but I want to have them in chrome. So here is the issue I need an advice with, which goes for both front and rear components.

OPTION I - weld the pieces from brass tubing, but I have no experience with soldering. It will be strong, but there is still issue with chrome finish, which can be either sent to Chrome tech USA or painted with Alclad. It gets pricey tho.

OPTION II - make all the pieces from styrene tubing. It will be way easier and faster and I have experience with it. The chrome solutions are identical to option I but parts will not be as strong and is going to be just as pricey.

OPTION III - make the parts from whatever and then make molds (I have experience with that) and cast them from white metal. This way they can be strong and polished to look like aluminum. The issue is that it is going to be hell to polish the little bits and is also pricey. The good part is that this way I would be able to use the same front end on other projects in the future.

The other issue I need a second opinion on is the front setup itself. The way it is now there is not much space left between the engine and the radiator. That is not a problem as on this engine all the pulleys are enclosed. But I was thinking that if this car is inspired by Boyd's creation and has all modern look, then it could be set up with inboard shocks to keep the outside clean. As far as making components for it, there is no problem any different than the ones already mentioned. The issue is the space. I can stretch the front a little, which would mean making new hoods. Firs off I am not sure if it is not going to mess up the look of the car if I stretch the nose and then do you guys think it is worth the trouble just to clean up the front end from the shocks.

Please, all opinions are welcome and if you had experience with any of the described operations, please share them.

Thank you

Edited January 5, 2012 by mrm