TRaKable? ZZ Top's 33 Ford Eliminator?

[Deleted]

I don't know if this has already been asked, but would building a Replica '33 Ford of the Famous "ZZ Top Band" car would fall in the guide lines of the Forum?

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[Deleted]

No, it was built in the 80's with some of that periods billet parts, not the least of which would be the wheels. I'm sure the ancient kit itself could be back dated to fit here though.

It would be very welcome as The Eliminator over on DPMCC,

drasticplastics.proboards.com/

[Deleted]

Thanks Ron. I'll give it some thought. Also have a Lil' John Buttera's '33 Ford 3-Window Coupe kit, but it probable falls into the same time frame.

[dodgefever]

The Monogram 1/24 glue kit is based on much older tooling, so at least it has buggy spring suspension and an early Ford closed driveline. The Pontiac engine was doctored to look something like a small block Chevy (didn't work) and I think the interior was modernised, so that's no good. I'm not familiar with the 1/32 snap kit, but I guess that would be harder to correct with the relative dearth of 1/32 kits to swap parts with.

The Buttera '34 is a terrible kit. The body is shrunk to fit the Buttera T chassis, so it's all out of proportion. The chassis itself is not TRaKable either, being a '70s build with IFS and IRS.

[Deleted]

Yeh, the box says it was made between 76 and 78. Okay. my Eliminator kit is a 1:24 Monogram kit and not the 1:32 one pictured. Don't have the kit yet.

[Bernard Kron]

In 2014 I bought an original issue Monogram '34 Ford 3-window coupe/roadster kit and 2 ZZ Top kits., My plan had been to use the chopped top on the ZZ Top kit along with parts from the original kit to make a proper non-billet chopped coupe.

I soon learned that the original kit isn't really necessary for what I want to do. The only real problem I would have is with the hood side panels. Otherwise the parts I want to use, the main body shell, the chopped top and, to some degree, the chassis, are all adequate using only the ZZ Top kits exclusively. The motor is pretty sad and will not be used. The front suspension, which, from what I can tell dates from the original kit, is somewhat crude but will work. I've gotten as far as cutting up the chassis, z-ing the frame, and fiddling with the stance in order to determine the channel and the suspension mods. I have the rear suspension roughed in and a plan for the front end worked out. I suspect I'll use some sort of flathead in it.

Overall my impression is it will take a lot of work to get beyond the crude ZZ Top representation that's at the heart of this version. I think it's important to realize that this has nothing to do with backdating the kit in order to be TRaKable, and everything to do with the basic Monogram architecture of the kit and my desire to make a decent chopped fenderless channeled coupe out of the thing. In many ways it's the same problem you would have with any of these early vintage Monogram fendered hot rods. Generally speaking  the simplest approach is to use the body parts and ditch everything else, IMHO.

Regarding the Buttera '33, the body on this kit is radically underscale, and of course it has the Buttera space-frame IRS chassis. As-is it's supremely non-TRaKable. But the little scaled-down chopped top body would make the basis for a pretty neat lakes car placed over a scratch built chassis. I have one of those kits, too, and that's been my plan for what to do with it - i.e. work with the body and ditch the rest into the parts box...

Overall, buying all of these kits were probably "mistakes" because working with them is far from straightforward. But the original Monogram kit is in great shape and is 100% complete so it's pretty cool to have this old kit in my collection. I'm definitely not a collector so having this true vintage kit in the stash is a rarity for me. The ZZ Top kits are commonly available if somewhat overpriced. I was able to pick up the 60's kit for under $35.00 and the two ZZ Top kits for $10.00 and $15.00. As far as I'm concerned the ZZ Top kits were Born To Be Butchered so I'm good with what I paid. The Buttera '33 was an early purchase when I first got back into modeling and, having sat untouched in my stash for many years, rates, in every way, as a Big Mistake!

[Deleted]

Thanks guys! I'm getting some real good insight on these kits.  I also picked up a few,  years back and they have been sitting on the shelf, waiting to be built. Looks like they may wait a bit longer.

[Dennis]

I'll add that in the mid-late 90's the ZZ Top kit was revised into the Thom Taylor '34 Cabriolet which featured a very chopped windshield and up-top along with some hideous modern wheels.

The big revision was the chassis as they modified the floor pans and finally did away with the molded in single exhaust pipes and muffler leftover from the original 60's version of the kit that Bernard referenced. Far easier to work with than the ZZ Top frame.

They also replaced the front axle assembly with a dropped tube, 4-bar and disc brakes very similar to Revell's '32 Ford series. The leftover stock rear axle was also replaced by a Ford 9" with disc brakes.

For someone looking to do a better ZZ Top car the Thom Taylor chassis gets you a lot closer to the Pete & Jake's chassis under the real car. Well, far more passable at a glance anyways...

[Deleted]

Thanks. Hadn't realized the extent of modifications over the years.

[Bernard Kron]

Dennis, I didn't realize the Thom Taylor version was based on the ZZ Top kit and that it was so extensively updated. I'll have to look out for one for my long-range chopped '34 coupe project I described above. Modifying the XX Top chassis involved a lot of plastic surgery!

[Deleted]

Speaking of the devil, my kit arrived today. Even though I can't show the build on the TRaK, you have given me great ideas as to how I can make this a better Tribute build to a rare band of which all the original members are still playing music together. Also have 3 resin figures of the band members.
 

[Deleted]

Sounds like a good project Bruce. I remember the videos the car was in a they were great for the time. Be sure to post over on DPMCC!