Scale model car and truck projects

27 Model T sedan created by combining body from Revell 27 Sedan Delivery with AMT 27 T Touring. Pictures were taken during construction to finish
(February to July 2001)

These are pics of a '29 A Roadster, being built as a traditional flathead-powered hot rod from the late-40's-early-50's.

All referencing is being done from the book "How To Build A Tradtional Ford-Based Hot Rod" (MBI)

Ford-Based Hot Rod" (MBI)

These are some old built up models I did YEARS ago, as a teenager, now completely restored

Models of General Motors cars I've built over the years

Some pics of models of Chrysler products

This is my project to build a correct Jeep CJ-2A from the Hogan's Heroes Jeep kit from RCE/AMT

Revell's 1956 Chevrolet Del Ray Coupe. More popularly known as a 2-door sedan, GM's Harley Earl preferred traditional body names.

AMT 1953 Studebaker Commander Starliner, completed April 19, 2003

Model was built from a kit I've had since 1992, painted in Duplicolor touchup colors, don't know which ones, they just looked so right.

right.

Some pics of odd-ball foreign cars

Ferrari's

Real engines, for enjoyment, reference, whatever

1940 Ford Standard Coupe project in progress

This project, while it will look terribly complicated, is actually quite a simple process, as you will see in viewing the album. While I know that most consider fiberglass used to create a scale model body shell is "high tech", it's the same process that Ed "Big Daddy" Roth used to create such masterpieces as "Outlaw", "Beatnik Bandit", "Mysterion" and many others back in the 1960's. Roth used ordinary styrofoam, then a fairly new product, to create the shapes of his custom cars,then laid the fiberglass cloth and resin on the carved bucks. I first tried this idea in miniature back in the late 1970's, when lightweight fiberglass cloth became available for model airplane builders. While I built several 1:25 scale race car bodies this way, this is by far the largest project I've done, and the first fiberglass body I've attempted since 1983. Take a look at the pictures, feel free to jot down any of the information. You are welcome to print off the photo's for your own use, but note they are copyrighted. Be sure to stop back, early and often, as this project is really beginning to move right along.

Update: 2/18/04. Over the past weekend, I was able to add create, by use of styrene strip stock, and catalyzed putty, the "framing" for the sheet metal panels that Airstream used to blend the sides and roof (which were standard on all their trailers, regardless of length) to the end panels. Airstream had yet to adopt deeply drawn aluminum stampings beyond the edges and corners of their trademark streamlined belly pan, and the technology of welding aluminum sheet in mass production hadn't yet reached down to the RV industry at the time the prototypes of this trailer were manufactured, so every bit of the aluminum sheeting, above the belly pan was flat sheet, gently curved to fit the "hat-section" aluminum framing (which does appear from pictures to have been heli-arc welded together) and riveted in place with exposed head rivets. This all presents a challenge for the modeler, in order to create the look of flat sheet aluminum, bent over the corners of the body, as these sheets begin, curved to fit the roof, then become flat panels, curved over the framing which attaches the flat end panels. Another challenge, but more one of perseverance than one of technique, will be the rivet detail. My reading tells me that this particular Airstream was assembled with nearly 4000 rivets, but of course, not all of these are exposed on the outside. I do believe, though, that it is the exposed rivets that give this unit a great part of its character, so I have done a preliminary estimate, and it seems as though there could be as few as 1200 rivets, and as many as 1500 rivets visible on the actual exterior, so I guess there will be a "whole lot of riveting going on"! I expect to have this process well underway by this coming weekend.

Update 5/21/04

After a too-long layoff from the project, back at it last week. Except for the occasional rivet here or there, all the rivet work is now finished. Stats: Approximately 1400 rivets were installed, consuming 29 feet of Evergreen .025" styrene rod stock. Over the past few days, I've added the louvered vent panel for the propane furnace, and the stack for it as well, although the stack still needs to have a collar made for it, where it joins the roof. In addition, the roof vent hatches are now installed. Getting closer!
Art

model body shell is "high tech", it's the same process that Ed "Big Daddy" Roth used to create such masterpieces as "Outlaw", "Beatnik Bandit", "Mysterion" and many others back in the 1960's. Roth used ordinary styrofoam, then a fairly new product, to create the shapes of his custom cars,then laid the fiberglass cloth and resin on the carved bucks. I first tried this idea in miniature back in the late 1970's, when lightweight fiberglass cloth became available for model airplane builders. While I built several 1:25 scale race car bodies this way, this is by far the largest project I've done, and the first fiberglass body I've attempted since 1983. Take a look at the pictures, feel free to jot down any of the information. You are welcome to print off the photo's for your own use, but note they are copyrighted. Be sure to stop back, early and often, as this project is really beginning to move right along.

Update: 2/18/04. Over the past weekend, I was able to add create, by use of styrene strip stock, and catalyzed putty, the "framing" for the sheet metal panels that Airstream used to blend the sides and roof (which were standard on all their trailers, regardless of length) to the end panels. Airstream had yet to adopt deeply drawn aluminum stampings beyond the edges and corners of their trademark streamlined belly pan, and the technology of welding aluminum sheet in mass production hadn't yet reached down to the RV industry at the time the prototypes of this trailer were manufactured, so every bit of the aluminum sheeting, above the belly pan was flat sheet, gently curved to fit the "hat-section" aluminum framing (which does appear from pictures to have been heli-arc welded together) and riveted in place with exposed head rivets. This all presents a challenge for the modeler, in order to create the look of flat sheet aluminum, bent over the corners of the body, as these sheets begin, curved to fit the roof, then become flat panels, curved over the framing which attaches the flat end panels. Another challenge, but more one of perseverance than one of technique, will be the rivet detail. My reading tells me that this particular Airstream was assembled with nearly 4000 rivets, but of course, not all of these are exposed on the outside. I do believe, though, that it is the exposed rivets that give this unit a great part of its character, so I have done a preliminary estimate, and it seems as though there could be as few as 1200 rivets, and as many as 1500 rivets visible on the actual exterior, so I guess there will be a "whole lot of riveting going on"! I expect to have this process well underway by this coming weekend.

Update 5/21/04

After a too-long layoff from the project, back at it last week. Except for the occasional rivet here or there, all the rivet work is now finished. Stats: Approximately 1400 rivets were installed, consuming 29 feet of Evergreen .025" styrene rod stock. Over the past few days, I've added the louvered vent panel for the propane furnace, and the stack for it as well, although the stack still needs to have a collar made for it, where it joins the roof. In addition, the roof vent hatches are now installed. Getting closer!
Art

This little '27 T Lakester is just cuter'n a button! Built almost entirely around Model A & Ford V8 parts, it really got my attention.

The engine is a virtually stock Ford V8-60, and I couldn't get a picture of it, but since no 1:25 scale models of this engine exist, I wasn't worried.

I'm thinking this car would be bitchin' with either a hopped-up Model A 4-banger, or a nice 24-stud flathead (221cid), you think?

get a picture of it, but since no 1:25 scale models of this engine exist, I wasn't worried.

I'm thinking this car would be bitchin' with either a hopped-up Model A 4-banger, or a nice 24-stud flathead (221cid), you think?

Diecast test shots, etc.

New model car kits from Polar Lights

Some neat stuff.

Pictures taken at the Gilmore Classic Car Museum, "The Red Barns"

Found this gem at the Kruse Collector Car Auction grounds in Auburn IN. This truck shows just 15,772 miles on the odometer. There is no wood rot, no tinworm here, just a well-worn patina, what rust you see is surface rust only. The tires are either original from the 20's, or replacements from that time, as tires of that era might have gone but 5-6 thousand miles before going bald.

you see is surface rust only. The tires are either original from the 20's, or replacements from that time, as tires of that era might have gone but 5-6 thousand miles before going bald.

This album is for cars that just don't fit anywhere else, but because of the way they were built, are just plain funny, yet cool

My pics of Duesenbergs, Model A, Model X, and Model J & SJ

30-ft steam launch, built in 1900

the place to see pics of items I put up on eBay

Cars that just don't seem to fit anyplace else