My Amt '40 Ford Custom Coupe Akmost Done

[FloridaBoy]

Fellow Modelers,

Here is one of my AMT '40 Ford Coupes I customized several years ago, and now am upgrading it for contests in the Spring of 2008, in Florida and the southeast, that is, if it turns out OK.

I did some pretty extensive modifications, including a 4" section, 4" channel, slightly shortened at wheelbase, radiused the wheel wells, fabricated new headlight housings, pancaked the hood, added operating gullwing doors, scribed the new trunk line, fabricated new taillights and added a new license plate housing. I also shortened the front axle to allow for the Arii tires and wheels to fit comfortably under the front fenders. The motor is the Ford 427 which came from an old 32 Ford Victoria kit, which is now being wired and detailed.

The color will be as follows: primer, followed by base silver. Then several coats of Testors Metalflake Red, followed by a mist of Boyd's Red, then clear coated and polished. The interior is lighter red flocking, with pearl white panels with wood trim. Every part on the car has either been painted or coated, and the otherwise stock chassis will have fuel lines and brake lines.

This model was originally built in '70, which includes the body work. and I stripped it a few months ago, so I could add my newly acquired skills and technology to this model. It is one of my favorite cars thoughout the last 30 something years. Hope you like it. It will be painted this Saturday, then will sit for a month before polishing, then assembled. More models to follow.

Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman

[mr moto]

That's really cool and has a definite authentic 60's look. I guess that's because it was done in 1970 when the 60's didn't know they were over yet! How did you do the bodywork? Whenever I strip something that's been done with conventional body putties the stripper removes the putty too. I'm guessing that it's a two-part that can withstand the stripper.

[m408]

Fellow Modelers,

Here is one of my AMT '40 Ford Coupes I customized several years ago, and now am upgrading it for contests in the Spring of 2008, in Florida and the southeast, that is, if it turns out OK.

I did some pretty extensive modifications, including a 4" section, 4" channel, slightly shortened at wheelbase, radiused the wheel wells, fabricated new headlight housings, pancaked the hood, added operating gullwing doors, scribed the new trunk line, fabricated new taillights and added a new license plate housing. I also shortened the front axle to allow for the Arii tires and wheels to fit comfortably under the front fenders. The motor is the Ford 427 which came from an old 32 Ford Victoria kit, which is now being wired and detailed.

The color will be as follows: primer, followed by base silver. Then several coats of Testors Metalflake Red, followed by a mist of Boyd's Red, then clear coated and polished. The interior is lighter red flocking, with pearl white panels with wood trim. Every part on the car has either been painted or coated, and the otherwise stock chassis will have fuel lines and brake lines.

This model was originally built in '70, which includes the body work. and I stripped it a few months ago, so I could add my newly acquired skills and technology to this model. It is one of my favorite cars thoughout the last 30 something years. Hope you like it. It will be painted this Saturday, then will sit for a month before polishing, then assembled. More models to follow.

Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman

I thought gull wing doors opened from bottom up. The reason I say that is because I'm trying to figure a way to do it.

[Guest rick r]

Fellow Modelers,

Here is one of my AMT '40 Ford Coupes I customized several years ago, and now am upgrading it for contests in the Spring of 2008, in Florida and the southeast, that is, if it turns out OK.

I did some pretty extensive modifications, including a 4" section, 4" channel, slightly shortened at wheelbase, radiused the wheel wells, fabricated new headlight housings, pancaked the hood, added operating gullwing doors, scribed the new trunk line, fabricated new taillights and added a new license plate housing. I also shortened the front axle to allow for the Arii tires and wheels to fit comfortably under the front fenders. The motor is the Ford 427 which came from an old 32 Ford Victoria kit, which is now being wired and detailed.

The color will be as follows: primer, followed by base silver. Then several coats of Testors Metalflake Red, followed by a mist of Boyd's Red, then clear coated and polished. The interior is lighter red flocking, with pearl white panels with wood trim. Every part on the car has either been painted or coated, and the otherwise stock chassis will have fuel lines and brake lines.

This model was originally built in '70, which includes the body work. and I stripped it a few months ago, so I could add my newly acquired skills and technology to this model. It is one of my favorite cars thoughout the last 30 something years. Hope you like it. It will be painted this Saturday, then will sit for a month before polishing, then assembled. More models to follow.

Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman

[FloridaBoy]

First, let me correct a typo. If it is done on a keyboard, it is called a "keyboardo"? Akmost done should read almost done.

Second, Mr. Moto, I did not use stripper just for that purpose. Way back in 70, I used AMT body putty over scrap plastic handformed headlight housings and was using primer back then, with the intent of sealing the putty, not a paint prep. Sijnce the body work held up all these years without a crack or chip, and the lines of the car do not contain any sharp edges or details, I chose to sand the car down as close to original primer and start over. Along the way, I did experience a pitfall, when I used white putty at first to smooth out some body indents, and the white putty attacked the plastic. That is when I used thin layers of Bondo (one part) and then re-primed it with DupliColor primer.

Mr m408. You are completely correct about gull wing doors opening up. But I am an old guy, and when the 63 Sting Ray came out, they referred to the upper door cut outs as gull wings. My doors are copying the style of the Corvette.

I am going to modernize the car a little. First, I am replacing the dual headlight bezels with a home made black and clear lens found on today's cars, made from a clear plastic picnic knife. Then changing out the bucket seats with more modern Corvette seats, instaling a billet steering wheel, and last adding a new EFI contemporary motor.

My Forty Fords are styled by the inspiration of the late Bill Cushenberry, who started me off on this "thing" in the early sixties with the "El Matador". I have not duplicated the El Matador yet, because once I get started I go off in a different tangent when the imagination kicks in.

Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman

[3men2s]

Hello Ken.I finally get to see what you do,

You reminded me of the old school designers

and costumizers of the 50's and 60's..

long live Ed Roth!!!!

Thank You

Danny from West Palm Beach.