Post by Bernard Kron on Sept 13, 2022 19:03:34 GMT -5
At Last! Louvered Hoods for the Revell ’32 Ford series.
One of the Great Mysteries of Hot Rod Modeling is the lack of aftermarket louvered hoods for the 1/25th scale Revell ’32 Fords. After all, Revell themselves started the ball rolling with the louvered side panels on the original ’32 Ford Roadster Street Rod release of 1998. Then in 2011 they added the louvered deck with the release of their 5-window coupe variant. At that point it should have been obvious that matching louvered hoods were a logical complement to the series. So, besides wondering why Revell never offered louvered hoods (which would have helped drive sales of “parts kits” for Deuce modelers), one has to wonder why we’ve never seen them from the aftermarket.
At last there is hope. The other week I was reading the most recent posts on a thread on the MCM board discussing the superb chopped Deuce 5-window coupe offered by Ed Fluck’s Drag City Casting from a master created by Dennis Lacy. When Dennis first announced the advent of the Drag City chopped 5-window he also showed a nice louvered hood. That was in 2019 and unfortunately it was never produced in resin. Recently some members inquired about this. This prompted MCM forum member Jason Lookabill (68shortfleet) to mention that he had “three different louvered hood for the Revell 32 Ford available”. Well it didn’t take much to get me to PM Jason asking about their availability. He sent me some pictures of three beautifully proportioned variations based on the Revell louvers – 3 row, 4 row with the stock center hinge, and 5 row. I arranged to have Jason send me one of each and was delighted to see that the photos did not deceive. The casting are absolutely top grade, the louver placements dead even and symmetric with each row of a proper length, and the fit identically to the styrene Revell kit hoods.
I have several Deuces that are crying out for louvered hoods and I chose 3 roadsters where paint matching would not pose a problem. Each example was also chosen for their suitability to one of the 3 styles.
First off here are 2 composites of the photos Jason sent me:
Next up the 3 row hood applied to a 50’s style channeled roadster with the Revell louvered side panels. I think the symmetry and simplicity of the 3 row complements the side panels perfectly.
Then the 4 row as applied to a matte black highboy. The hinge down the middle sets off the stock hood side panels and shows that this style should be particularly useful for resto-rods and street machines.
And finally a Hemi powered bare metal highboy with an aggressive louvered deck treatment that has just been crying out for this full-dress 5 louver hood!
Also – A work in progress
Jason also sent me this tasty 6-row rood panel for the Revell ’30 Ford coupe. I don’t have a donor car for it (yet…) but I finished it in bare metal steel for this photo. Those of you with a discerning eye will notice the louvers were installed backwards, one of the many challenges facing those who take on grafting louvers. Jason also told me he’s still working at getting these to mold to a consistently high level of quality. So, consider this a work in progress.
Jason has molded a small series of the louvered hoods he is making available and will mold more if there is sufficient interest. Inquiries should be sent to his email him at Lookabillj@gmail.com.
One of the Great Mysteries of Hot Rod Modeling is the lack of aftermarket louvered hoods for the 1/25th scale Revell ’32 Fords. After all, Revell themselves started the ball rolling with the louvered side panels on the original ’32 Ford Roadster Street Rod release of 1998. Then in 2011 they added the louvered deck with the release of their 5-window coupe variant. At that point it should have been obvious that matching louvered hoods were a logical complement to the series. So, besides wondering why Revell never offered louvered hoods (which would have helped drive sales of “parts kits” for Deuce modelers), one has to wonder why we’ve never seen them from the aftermarket.
At last there is hope. The other week I was reading the most recent posts on a thread on the MCM board discussing the superb chopped Deuce 5-window coupe offered by Ed Fluck’s Drag City Casting from a master created by Dennis Lacy. When Dennis first announced the advent of the Drag City chopped 5-window he also showed a nice louvered hood. That was in 2019 and unfortunately it was never produced in resin. Recently some members inquired about this. This prompted MCM forum member Jason Lookabill (68shortfleet) to mention that he had “three different louvered hood for the Revell 32 Ford available”. Well it didn’t take much to get me to PM Jason asking about their availability. He sent me some pictures of three beautifully proportioned variations based on the Revell louvers – 3 row, 4 row with the stock center hinge, and 5 row. I arranged to have Jason send me one of each and was delighted to see that the photos did not deceive. The casting are absolutely top grade, the louver placements dead even and symmetric with each row of a proper length, and the fit identically to the styrene Revell kit hoods.
I have several Deuces that are crying out for louvered hoods and I chose 3 roadsters where paint matching would not pose a problem. Each example was also chosen for their suitability to one of the 3 styles.
First off here are 2 composites of the photos Jason sent me:
Next up the 3 row hood applied to a 50’s style channeled roadster with the Revell louvered side panels. I think the symmetry and simplicity of the 3 row complements the side panels perfectly.
Then the 4 row as applied to a matte black highboy. The hinge down the middle sets off the stock hood side panels and shows that this style should be particularly useful for resto-rods and street machines.
And finally a Hemi powered bare metal highboy with an aggressive louvered deck treatment that has just been crying out for this full-dress 5 louver hood!
Also – A work in progress
Jason also sent me this tasty 6-row rood panel for the Revell ’30 Ford coupe. I don’t have a donor car for it (yet…) but I finished it in bare metal steel for this photo. Those of you with a discerning eye will notice the louvers were installed backwards, one of the many challenges facing those who take on grafting louvers. Jason also told me he’s still working at getting these to mold to a consistently high level of quality. So, consider this a work in progress.
Jason has molded a small series of the louvered hoods he is making available and will mold more if there is sufficient interest. Inquiries should be sent to his email him at Lookabillj@gmail.com.
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