How to build the Druid Princess?

[JollySipper]

I've been obsessed with this car since I was a kid. I am thinking about trying to build it. I believe the body will be easy enough to make out of card stock.

As for the embossing, what material could I use to carve a mold into to pour maybe acrylic paint in to get that effect?

And the frame... is there maybe an old show rod's chassis that would work, or would it have to be scratch built?

Any help is greatly appreciated...

[Ace-Garageguy]

One of the tried-and-true but old-school materials for carving fine detail for a mold like you suggest is clay. Pattern makers, industrial designers, special-effects people, modelers, artists and styling studios all use the stuff. It comes in various hardnesses. One well known source is Chavant....

http://www.chavant.com/chavant_ob/index.shtml

I think you'll probably end up having to scratch a frame, if you want accuracy.

[JollySipper]

Thanks for the info and the link, Bill... the frame is suspended on each end by huge coil springs, kinda like the Tijuana Taxi. I was hoping I could use it as a guide for making a frame...

As for the clay, would I need some sort of release agent to keep the acrylic from sticking to it?

[Casey]

I don't know how accurate you wan the model to be, but the scroll work (which was wood on the 1:1 IIRC) will probably be the most difficult part to replicate. I would suggest looking at Victorian era dollhouse stuff, but then you may have to change to a scale other than 1/25...not sure which scale you plan to build it in, though.

I could see it in 1/20 scale, and the MPC Popcorn Wagon kit could supply the Cragar S/S wheels and some less fancy scrollwork, too:

[Fat Brian]

You might could also use a Munsters Koach kit but you would have to lower it.

Edited December 1, 2012 by Fat Brian