Post by Bernard Kron on Nov 26, 2018 13:09:39 GMT -5
This is another project I’m preparing as an entry in this year’s 2018 TRaK Autorama ( see trakinscale.proboards.com/thread/18269/rules-guidelines ). With several hundred dollars’ worth of actual prizes on offer and 4 different categories (Rod, Custom, Street, and Racer) I thought I’d spread my luck and go for all four. The Rod entry is completed, the Racer entry nearly so and this one is my Street entry. While I’m pretty sure this one will be done in time for the December 31st deadline, it remains to be seen whether I can make the Custom entry happen.
I’ve always admired the ’49 Ford Shoebox for its purity of design. It was truly revolutionary in its day, banishing any vestigial trace of separate fenders once and for all. I also like its compact and balanced proportions. It doesn’t hurt that the basic AMT ’49 Ford Coupe kit is one of AMT’s greats and a delight to work with, everything fitting well and with lots of 3-in-1 customizing and hop up parts to work with. This project is designed to exploit all these attributes.
Starting with the bodywork, my first task was to completely shave any trim from the body including side trim and door handles. Fortunately AMT did some of that work for me since the nose and deck are already trim-free. Then came the signature detail, molding a set of Revell ’32 Ford Roadster hood louvers into the top of the hood. There’s still a very slight amount of cleanup left to do, but after a ton of filling and sanding, filling and sanding, filling and…., etc., etc., it looks like I ‘ll be including this feature. But just in case it fails at the 11th hour the car will be styled to run sans hood, with a contrasting color engine bay and lots of chrome engine parts. This is an Autorama entry, after all!.
But the spirit of the car is definitely as a drive-in cruiser and street racer, two of the most important functions of a Street Rod, IMHO. So the design features a radical early 60’s California rake, and big whitewall cheater slicks accommodated by the cut out rear wheel well openings. Other than the cheater slicks, these were all details included right from the original issue of this AMT classic. And, despite their less than utilitarian aspect, I’ve always admired the job AMT did with the molded grill surround and front and rear molded pans. So these were included, along with a thin bar grill cut out from the custom grill included in the AMT ’51 Chevrolet Fleetline Coupe kits.
The rolling stock once again addresses the early 60’s Autorama featuring baby moons and chromed reversed rims, sourced from the AMT ’53 Ford Pickup Truck (fronts) and AMT ’29 Ford Roadster (rears). They complement the whitewalls nicely and will be further detailed with Color-Kromed wheel centers to match the body color. The tires are the nice pad-printed whitewall Firestones included by Round 2 in many of their more recent releases (fronts), and the lovely whitewall cheater slicks are from Morgan Automotive Detail ( www.madmodeling.com/index.php?app=cms&ns=display&sid=ca9x7dz26150ds5p04k7o85rpig8xg9w ). Interestingly, Round 2 in its most recent “Gasman” re-issue of the ’49 Ford is now including similar whitewall cheater slicks. (See A below)
The interior has been modified to delete the rear seat and replace it with an angled filler panel. The car will get a full tuck ‘n’ roll treatment to complement the beautiful Stone, Woods & Cook style bucket seats I have coming from Drag City Casting ( public.fotki.com/drasticplasticsmcc/member_dealer_directory/drag-city-casting-/ ). In keeping with the street racer aspect it will also get the kit roll over bar. (See B and C below)
To keep things simple in the interests of actually getting this done in time for the Autorama I’m using the kit Cadillac engine. The 6-carb log manifold comes from the Revell Parts-Pak Cadillac motor and will remain chromed. It sits above a ribbed valley cover I made from styrene stock and chromed with my handy Molotow pen. (See D below) To add visual interest it will get a lovely set of highly detailed 3D-printed Stromberg 97s from Mapleleaf Modelworks ( www.shapeways.com/shops/maple-leaf-modelworks?section=1%2F25+Hot+Rod+Parts&s=0 )which feature the rare and exotic low-profile ovoid SP intake stacks. The carbs will be finished in their classic anodized bronze-like finish and the stacks will be chromed (see E below)
for lookin’,
B.
I’ve always admired the ’49 Ford Shoebox for its purity of design. It was truly revolutionary in its day, banishing any vestigial trace of separate fenders once and for all. I also like its compact and balanced proportions. It doesn’t hurt that the basic AMT ’49 Ford Coupe kit is one of AMT’s greats and a delight to work with, everything fitting well and with lots of 3-in-1 customizing and hop up parts to work with. This project is designed to exploit all these attributes.
Starting with the bodywork, my first task was to completely shave any trim from the body including side trim and door handles. Fortunately AMT did some of that work for me since the nose and deck are already trim-free. Then came the signature detail, molding a set of Revell ’32 Ford Roadster hood louvers into the top of the hood. There’s still a very slight amount of cleanup left to do, but after a ton of filling and sanding, filling and sanding, filling and…., etc., etc., it looks like I ‘ll be including this feature. But just in case it fails at the 11th hour the car will be styled to run sans hood, with a contrasting color engine bay and lots of chrome engine parts. This is an Autorama entry, after all!.
But the spirit of the car is definitely as a drive-in cruiser and street racer, two of the most important functions of a Street Rod, IMHO. So the design features a radical early 60’s California rake, and big whitewall cheater slicks accommodated by the cut out rear wheel well openings. Other than the cheater slicks, these were all details included right from the original issue of this AMT classic. And, despite their less than utilitarian aspect, I’ve always admired the job AMT did with the molded grill surround and front and rear molded pans. So these were included, along with a thin bar grill cut out from the custom grill included in the AMT ’51 Chevrolet Fleetline Coupe kits.
The rolling stock once again addresses the early 60’s Autorama featuring baby moons and chromed reversed rims, sourced from the AMT ’53 Ford Pickup Truck (fronts) and AMT ’29 Ford Roadster (rears). They complement the whitewalls nicely and will be further detailed with Color-Kromed wheel centers to match the body color. The tires are the nice pad-printed whitewall Firestones included by Round 2 in many of their more recent releases (fronts), and the lovely whitewall cheater slicks are from Morgan Automotive Detail ( www.madmodeling.com/index.php?app=cms&ns=display&sid=ca9x7dz26150ds5p04k7o85rpig8xg9w ). Interestingly, Round 2 in its most recent “Gasman” re-issue of the ’49 Ford is now including similar whitewall cheater slicks. (See A below)
The interior has been modified to delete the rear seat and replace it with an angled filler panel. The car will get a full tuck ‘n’ roll treatment to complement the beautiful Stone, Woods & Cook style bucket seats I have coming from Drag City Casting ( public.fotki.com/drasticplasticsmcc/member_dealer_directory/drag-city-casting-/ ). In keeping with the street racer aspect it will also get the kit roll over bar. (See B and C below)
To keep things simple in the interests of actually getting this done in time for the Autorama I’m using the kit Cadillac engine. The 6-carb log manifold comes from the Revell Parts-Pak Cadillac motor and will remain chromed. It sits above a ribbed valley cover I made from styrene stock and chromed with my handy Molotow pen. (See D below) To add visual interest it will get a lovely set of highly detailed 3D-printed Stromberg 97s from Mapleleaf Modelworks ( www.shapeways.com/shops/maple-leaf-modelworks?section=1%2F25+Hot+Rod+Parts&s=0 )which feature the rare and exotic low-profile ovoid SP intake stacks. The carbs will be finished in their classic anodized bronze-like finish and the stacks will be chromed (see E below)
for lookin’,B.
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