Frankie Goes To Hollywood

[Jairus]

Items to add to the interior:

Tools

Liquor bottles

8-track tapes

pizza box (Scale Equipment Ltd.)

Beer cans

[Harry P.]

Items to add to the interior:

Tools

Liquor bottles

8-track tapes

pizza box (Scale Equipment Ltd.)

Beer cans

And a pack of Marlboros...

[mr moto]

Is the finished creation gonna be brought to life on Halloween?

[ronr]

Virg ole buddy, This beast is turning into one sweet build! You are getting my rocks in my head to rolling, May have to follow your lead and build a RAT myself.

Keep it coming MASTER CRANKY!

[Dr. Cranky]

Happy TGIF for everyone . . . well, I got up early this morning and it appears the weather is holding nicely, so there should be some more progress made on Frankie . . . I wanted to thank everyone whose comments have been the driving force behind this build . . . stay tuned in there should be some nice developments today.

Cheers and a great TGIF to everyone!!!

[Dr. Cranky]

All right, it feels like I've been working on this dashboard for two days straight, but I did take a break last night and this morning, and now I back trying to get some better details on here . . . I still have to weather the interior, paint the pedal pads, etc . . . add a few beer cans, some tools, a box of cigars (of course!)

Slow work for sure, but definitely worth it . . . I also added the windshield from a piece of HO window I had laying around, so the windshield, shall we say, came pre-weathered!

I considered opening the pizza box and adding a half-eaten pizza, but Frankie, is NOT that much a dirty Marvin!!!

The piece of papger between the seat and the pizza box is a pirate's treasure map . . . don't ask me what it is doing there . . .

Here's the dash with some better details added on . . . and Jairus, you got your wish, the broken instrument glass!!!

[Harry P.]

Where are you getting those interior bits and pieces from...like the air freshener? Are you photo-reducing scans, or are those aftermarkets items?

[BIGTRUCK]

Virgil thats coming along smooth....heres one I got a photo of at Goodguys.....

all wrapped up with this body

[Dr. Cranky]

Yeah, all of these things are photoreductions I get from Google Image, and there's also a place where you can find a lot of neat 1/2" stuff . . . here:

www.printminis.com

Thanks for the kind words . . .

Man, that rat rod is fabulous . . . yeah, lots of neat details . . . thanks for sharing.

Edited October 26, 2007 by DamnCranky

[Jairus]

Those are pieces of shopping carts being used for seat backs! Whoe....

I have one of those flashlights too..... Cool rod...

BTW, I like the dash Virgil!

[Dr. Cranky]

Thanks, J . . . yeah, man, that's exactly the kind of rat-rodding that has taken the car enthusiast world by storm . . . you get a fixer upper and you go to town in terms of using whatever parts you find . . . that's the right spirit . . . for sure . . .

In terms of model building is what keeps me coming back to building rat rods . . . it's just lots of fun to build like this . . .

All right . . . I'm now rested a bit and am ready to get back to this build . . . though don't hold me to it, I am beginning to see this one getting finished pretty soon, though I doubt I will have it wrapped up this weekend, but I hope to be done with it by the middle of next week . . . that is if all the parts come together as they should . . .

Usually, what slows me down toward the end is the detailing, the washes, the potions and lotions and powders . . . just making it look driven and rough . . . again, just in time for Holloween!!!

And one more thing: I really appreciate everyone's comments and cheerleading--it's the best way to build!

[dub]

Those are pieces of shopping carts being used for seat backs!

It took me a few seconds to make out what they were, but I caught that too.

But, what I really like is the mailbox on top of the carbs!

Keep it up Virgil! Every update just blows my mind.

[Dr. Cranky]

All right, maties . . . I have everything in parts ready for assembly . . . I mean, I still have to do quite a bit of work to the engine and bed cargo #2, but everything is coming together nicely . . .

Here's a mockup of how the frame is coming along . . . trying my best to make sure all the wheels are lined up and that they all touch the ground!

I ended up painting the frame German gray because it is pretty neutral and I don't really want the frame taking away from any of the more colorful elements like the body and these pretty wheels and tires . . .

I still have to hit up the front suspension with a wash . . . and also the break pads, etc . . . .

Just like I have done with the rear suspension, etc . . . .

You know, after all this work on the frame and suspension, I still get the uneasy feeling that this sucker is not going to ride as low to the ground as I thought . . . my next build, I promise, is not getting off the ground . . .

[LVZ2881]

Virgil, dont sweat the "s"!!! its looks great...

rust and patina isnt prejudiced against weathering the signage, too!!

i think the "s" just gives it even more character.

[Dr. Cranky]

All right, stay tuned in for a few more pictures of how some of the cab details are turning out . . . I had a moment of panic because I thought the headlights would not fit between the grill and the tires, but that's another story . . .

Here are some smaller details . . .

I guess this "Frankie" dude has some bad habits . . . but then again, who doesn't?

I know, the beer cans appear to be hollow . . . he likes eating metal! What can I say?

[Dr. Cranky]

Of the two beds, this one seems to be the milder one . . . you know, chicks, music, and other bad habits . . .

Go figure, this cat gets into his music . . .

[Dr. Cranky]

I went back to the body and added a bit more metal paint and a spinner as gas tank cap . . . you all gave me some great tips on how to improve this and make it look closer to the illustration . . . so thanks . . .

[Dr. Cranky]

I've really been trying to get the right look and feel to the cab, both outside and inside . . .

I don't know if you can see it in the picture, but I added a few smudges to the dashboard . . . just light stuff . . . later I might be able to bring them out better with pastels . . .

[Dr. Cranky]

Here's something I almost forgot to put in . . . after all this focusing on the little details . . . the STEERING WHEEL!!! Geez . . .

I don't know why green, other than I was trying to get something to stand out from that Mexican Blanket . . . though Jairus painted his gray . . . but I have some leeway, right?

[Dr. Cranky]

All right, so here is a round of pictures of how the cab has come together . . . I'm still going to add a shop rag on top of the pizza box and maybe a half eaten slice of pizza over that . . .

I could not resist putting in the tiki head shifter . . . a few watch parts, some tools . . . etc . . . and one of the hollow cans of beer which suddenly disappers into the shadows and you can no longer tell it's hollow aluminum tubing . . . .

Cheers, this monster knows how to ride in style (I guess )

It's obvious from the short windshield that this one attended the Goodguys hot rod nationals . . . hum . . .

Oops, I just realized I did not rescribe the vent panel . . .

In this next one you can see the tiki sticking its tongue out!

[Dr. Cranky]

Also, please keep in mind that I still have to bring out my weathering lotions, potions, and pastels and give this a bit of a "BAM!ing.

This is the funnest part of building this stuff . . . those little details I hope folks will spend the time mulling over . . .

Which brings me to this point, which is that I am working this over so that when I take pictures of it from low angles, I can make the comparison to Jairus's illustration which is also why I decided to have 3 beds now . . .

1) the rock'n roll Frankie

2) a welding moster's shop truck (you'll see)

3) Jairus's original idea, which is basically a slightly dirty bed with just the moon style gas tank . . .

This way I can just play around with different attitudes for this one.

[James W]

Interior is looking good, lots of details.

One suggestion on the steering wheel...necker knob.

This build up is way cool. You are nailling the illustration.

[Dr. Cranky]

All right, the monster is still on schedule to be unveiled this Halloween . . . and it is coming together nicely, thanks Igor!!!

I brought out my stash of handy dandy watch parts and found some air valves for the wheels . . .

Man, I really was concerned the buckets would not fit between the tires, so I had to cut the grill on each side slightly, just enough to get the lights to sit right on the frame . . .

BTW--thanks for the necker knob idea, James . . . I'll have to see what I have in the parts box that would look good . . .

[Dr. Cranky]

I also got the radiator painted and washed and installed . . .

I think it looks all right . . . we'll see when some of the other details get on there . . .

The metal piece over the edge of the hood is another watch part I though would double as a machine gun style sight . . .

[Dr. Cranky]

That frame is looking too clean . . . I'll have to do something about that . . . you know I tried to reduce a picture of myself now with one of my So-Cal T-shirts on and my Mr. 666 cap I had made a while back, but it didn't work . . . it doesn't look as good as this replica of me when I was in my early twenties . . . when I weighed more than half of what I do now . . .

After I put the radiator hose connector in the radiator, I realized the hose might not fit in now . . . which means I'll have to think of another trick . . . we'll see . . .

I'm liking those panel welds more and more . . . I think they are still not exactly like J's illustration, but they are pretty close for my taste . . .