Kustom Steve Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 After I finished my '40 Ford Roadster Pickup based on a Tim Boyd article, I was drawn to one of Tim's Street Rodder articles and making a then modern Street Rod out of the '70's vintage Revell Buttera kit. I built the inaccurate '34 3 Window by Revell and I loved the chassis. I completed this model during my summer break between May and June before I started summer classes. This model was not as heavily modified as my '40 Ford Roadster Pickup but I did do far more plumbing on this model than I ever did before. The colors I used were Krylon Popsicle Orange (OSHA Safety Orange), Model Master Ivory, Tamiya transparent Orange, Pactra Gold and Revell Metal colors in Humbrol pots and a few other odds and ends colors. The theme I chose was to make the car an Orange Creamsicle, a cool car, with a tangy orange outside and a creamy cool interior. Ah, the early '90's with all of the bright colors drilled into a young impressionable mind... I chopped the top, but unlike the article I retained the reverse angle to the sides - Tim made more of a vertical formal side panel to the roof. I stole the intake from an MPC Camaro with injectors, '36 Ford Headlights, front tires from some o;d gasser or dragster from my parts box, the turn signals and the rear taillights are from a sprue of Big Rig Trailer lights trimmed down. I used Detail Master flexible fan and used a Detail Master interior detailing kit for the speakers and the door handles. The dash was scratch built and an epoxy casting was made off of another Rod kit for the cluster. I wired the engine, added break and fuel lines to the chassis, hoses for the air conditioner and radiator. My challenges was the chopped top and molded windshield, wiring and photo-etch. I broke with the instructions flow and built the motor and wired it up and set it into the chassis to later find out how hard it is to get the fenders over the engine. The instructions show that you put the heads on after the fenders are installed, Doh! I did a lot of cussing that afternoon in the basement and my Mom yelling at me for swearing so much. I got it together and I was pleased with it and I got a shinier body after I had polished the Krylon with Automotive buffing compound (the days before Micro Mesh polishing systems). Looking back and trying to keep it together has been quite a challenge as well. The Buttera chassis is beautiful and has pose-able front wheels. The A arms keep on opening up and the front wheels pop out, various phot etch bits fall off and the rear wheels fall off and break off of the mounts. The kit was designed to originally have 2 part plastic tires and small rimmed wire wheels. By the late '80's new vinyl tires and bigger rims were a part of the kit and were heavier and then break I think I will finally have to pin the rear wheels on and glue the wheels in place. Once again thank you Tim for making interesting projects to inspire builders. After I did this model I was brow beated by a modeling friend to quit following model magazine articles and make my own rods and customs. My friend Jeff had built many models kit bashed his own way but my technique was still more advanced than his. My confidence was bolster by doing these two conversions and I took up his challenge. The model I built the following year tested by kit bashing skills and I used my first resin body as well. P.S. Yes, I was trying to get a little artsy with the composition of the photos... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mini trucker Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 I remember the article where Tim built his version. Crazy to think that was 25 years ago already, where does the time go? Your version looks very nice and has held up well over the years. I enjoyed your write up on the project along with the photos. Keep up the good work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Teresi Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 Steve........very nice !!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slusher Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 Sweet looking model. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danno Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 Nice. {But she's got a droopy right eye.} Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1930fordpickup Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 Very nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hjracing Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 Really nice build! Looks like the real thing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kustom Steve Posted January 8, 2015 Author Share Posted January 8, 2015 Nice. {But she's got a droopy right eye.} She's winking at yah! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
am73grand Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 Gorgeous build!! Very nice work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cobraman Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 Looks great ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tim boyd Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 I told Steve in a private email that I thought I remembered this model. I think I might have seen it in person at an NNL event back then???? Anyway, it sure looks sweet....and I like Steve's top treatment better than the one I did. My build, including the paint and top, was inspired by the late Brian Borden's artwork from a Revell catalog IIRC. Thanks for posting Steve - and sure glad you liked the article. Best regards...TIM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimKustom Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 (edited) Looks Kool! I built one very similar to yours about the same time. Various PE parts have fallen off mine as well... Edited January 9, 2015 by TimKustom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kustom Steve Posted January 10, 2015 Author Share Posted January 10, 2015 I am pretty sure Tim you did see the model because I remember briefly being able to speak to you at the show. I have been away so long that I didn't hear of the passing of Brian Borden. A shame, I enjoyed his artwork. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis Lacy Posted January 11, 2015 Share Posted January 11, 2015 So cool to see this model after so many years, and in color! Looks like it has held up pretty darn good, all things considered. I told Steve in a private email that I thought I remembered this model. I think I might have seen it in person at an NNL event back then???? Tim, you featured a picture and caption of this model in one of your SRM Modeler's Corner columns that covered the NNL event. I think the article was in a 1991 issue. Your caption pointed out the differences between Borden's rendering and Steve's model. No, I'm not some weirdo that remembers things like this. I've recently been reading through my Dad's old issues of SRM and came across that article a couple of weeks ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kustom Steve Posted January 11, 2015 Author Share Posted January 11, 2015 So cool to see this model after so many years, and in color! Looks like it has held up pretty darn good, all things considered. Tim, you featured a picture and caption of this model in one of your SRM Modeler's Corner columns that covered the NNL event. I think the article was in a 1991 issue. Your caption pointed out the differences between Borden's rendering and Steve's model. No, I'm not some weirdo that remembers things like this. I've recently been reading through my Dad's old issues of SRM and came across that article a couple of weeks ago. Do you remember which issue this was in Dennis? I still have all of my old Street Rodders, Most are in one place, but recently I have started to move some around and I want to be sure to keep everything together. I would like to see article again. I totally forgot about it until last night I was talking to my dad and he mentioned he remembered that it was published once back in the day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tim boyd Posted January 11, 2015 Share Posted January 11, 2015 Dennis...thanks...I thought that might have been the case. One of these days I need to go reread all those Modeler's Corner columns....TIM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TFchronos Posted January 11, 2015 Share Posted January 11, 2015 Awesome job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis Lacy Posted January 11, 2015 Share Posted January 11, 2015 Do you remember which issue this was in Dennis? I still have all of my old Street Rodders, Most are in one place, but recently I have started to move some around and I want to be sure to keep everything together. I would like to see article again. I totally forgot about it until last night I was talking to my dad and he mentioned he remembered that it was published once back in the day. We have the magazines at our business. I'll check and report back on Monday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kustom Steve Posted January 11, 2015 Author Share Posted January 11, 2015 Thanks Dennis! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis Lacy Posted January 14, 2015 Share Posted January 14, 2015 Thanks Dennis! Street Rodder Magazine - April 1992 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helix Posted January 14, 2015 Share Posted January 14, 2015 Nice work Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazyjim Posted January 14, 2015 Share Posted January 14, 2015 Gorgeous build and SHINY :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kustom Steve Posted January 14, 2015 Author Share Posted January 14, 2015 Thanks you all for your kind words. Also Thank you Dennis for finding the Issue for me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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