(NEW Update! 6/19/15) IN progress, ICM '13 Model T For

[TFchronos]

Very nice work.

[Art Anderson]

I guess I am showing my lack of knowledge of Model T's I am a bit surprised by your choice to clear coat the paint. Are you going for a high gloss finish after you polish?

The reason for the clear coat is simple enough: Yes, I wanted to rub out the finish at least some (even Ford workers did that in the early years of Model T), but the tight corners between the turtledeck trunk and the rear of the body, along with all the rather sharply raised moldings on body and fender meant a considerable risk of polishing through the color, to bare plastic (in order to avoid extra paint buildup, this is painted with Tamiya lacquers over bare, polished plastic). So, clear coat it got.

Of course, in the daily use in real life back in 1913, the factory shine probably didn't last all that long--enamel paint back then was rather primitive compared to what is used today, and sprayable lacquer was still nearly 10 years into the future.

Art

[Art Anderson]

A couple more subassemblies ready for final assembly of the T: The wooden dashboard is now ready to install, and I decided I simply had to make an Aeromore Exhaust Whistle for it, even though I'm not at all sure that Aeromore was around in 1913 but what the hey?

[afx]

I'm learning a lot about Model T's from your build Art - thanks. Had to Google the exhaust whistle.

[Art Anderson]

Starting final assembly. Wheels and tires are on, engine and exhaust system are in (still trying to finesse getting a fuel line installed!):

Won't take much longer now.

Art

[Ramfins59]

Art, this is really looking great.

[mopar_guy1]

That is truely beautiful.

[Roadrunner]

OK, now you've done it; I now need to add a Model T to my "to do" pile!

[Eric Macleod]

Art is doing a wonderful job on this one. It really looks the part. I particularly like the exhaust whistle. Neat. If anyone is even thinking about doing a Model T, this is the kit do it with.

[misterNNL]

I am enjoying following this build.There is a wealth of information concerning what is correct and what is not.

[Art Anderson]

Art is doing a wonderful job on this one. It really looks the part. I particularly like the exhaust whistle. Neat. If anyone is even thinking about doing a Model T, this is the kit do it with.

Yeah, after I saw pics of a real brass one, and listened to the Youtube Video of one on a Model A Phaeton at speed, I just HAD to build it!

Art

[misterNNL]

So what you are proposing is that we whistle while we work?

[Art Anderson]

So what you are proposing is that we whistle while we work?

More like whistle for crossroads? (Or, just for the h*ll of it!)

[dragzz]

vary nice work that do keep it comming

[misterNNL]

I'll admit I hadn't thought of those exhaust whistles as safety features.Same as those freight trains sounding off at every little town they pass through and at every crossroad in the middle of nowhere.Those undoubtely prevented a lot of accidents in their day.

[crazyrichard]

stunning

[Art Anderson]

A problem I encountered with the T is the fragility of the front tie rods--both sides broke with almost no prompting from me--most likely due to temperature control in the molding process--weak spot where the molten styrene had to flow together in the middle of each side. So, what to do?

I decided to make my own set from 1/32" K&S Brass rod stock, so the first thing was to build a jig, using my unbuilt second kit as a resource:

[Art Anderson]

Next, a rough start:

[Art Anderson]

Test fitted into the car. It still needs to be trimmed at the axle, but that's no big problem!

[Art Anderson]

On another note, I managed to ruin the wood dashboard--drilled a locating hole in the wrong place--can't be hidden with anything, so new one is in the works.

[Del Austin]

Great build. Putting one together myself. No where near your detail as mine will be dusty and sitting on my desk on a "dirt road" base when done.

[Eric Macleod]

You have to be getting close Art. Let's see the newest updates!

E-

[Art Anderson]

You have to be getting close Art. Let's see the newest updates!

E-

Eric,

It is getting very close---but some details just take seemingly forever to do. Got the replacement dashboard finished (and I got the angled hole in it for the choke rod in the right place this time. I also made a much better looking coil box (from pictures I found), this time in 1/32" birch plywood, stained and finished the same way as the dash--couple details on the face of that and it's ready to install.

It's gonna be fun hooking up the throttle linkage--my T will have the revolutionary ACME Gas Mizer thottle control (Made by the W.E.C Company out of New Mexico--guarranteed to put gasoline back in the tank! .

Pics probably tomorrow afternoon!

Art

[Art Anderson]

The dashboard is done, ready to install on the model! For those who haven't followed this, I replicated (and corrected slightly) the kit dashboard (on a Model T, the dash is what most would call a firewall, but the correct styling term for years for what we call a firewall is "Dashboard"--that panel inside with instruments is correctly termed the "Instrument Panel. Anyway, here it is, in all its glory:

[Art Anderson]

To elaborate, the top four posts are for the ignition wires from the "timer", in order 1 through 4: Black, Red, Blue, Green, just as Ford made them. The lower left-hand wire is from the flywheel magneto, and is red. The lower right hand terminal is for a battery, for starting an early T which had no storage battery.

Art