|
|
Post by Bernard Kron on Jul 29, 2021 20:19:23 GMT -5
 Radically chopped& channeled ’32 Ford 3-window coupe, done late 50’s show car styleI was looking over my stash of Revell ’32 Ford kits and I thought it would be fun to build a radically chopped channeled Deuce coupe. I chose the 3-window style because that’s the classic “Little Deuce Coupe”. I also decided to save as many of the kitr parts that I knew I could use for future hot rod projects as I could. With so many of us being home bound under the current difficulties model kit prices have skyrocketed and I decided that the kit chassis, in particular, would be best saved for a highboy build since the chassis on a lowboy channeled rod is virtually invisible except for the front hald of the frame. As a result I landed up tracing the shape of the Revell Deuce frame rales and scratch building my own deeply z’d and dropped frame. This set the tone for the rest of the build which features a lot of scratch building and kit bashing. Here’s a breakdown of what I did. Modifications to Revell 3-window Coupe donor kit: Top chopped 3 ½ scale inches, windshield chopped to fit. Grill shell chopped 4 scale inches with customized grill. Dashboard modified for custom gauges. Interior re-skinned with styrene sheet to simulated diamond quilted and tuck and roll interior. Rear suspension adapted to fit scratch built frame (see below). Kit headlights and taillights and front shock mounts used. All other parts either kit bashed or scratch built. Scratch built parts: Chassis with 4 scale inch rear “z”, replicated Ford ’32 Ford shaped front frame rails, scratch built floor pan and k-member, all made with styrene sheet and styrene strip. Visible interior surfaces made from styrene sheet. Kit sourced parts: Hemi V8 from Revell ’32 Ford 5-window coupe with carburetion from Revell Stacy David Rat Roaster, exhausts from AMT ’25-T kit. Chromed reversed wheels and ’40 Ford brakes from Monogram 1/24th scale ’32 Ford Roadster. Hairpin wishbones from Revell 5-window. Aftermarket parts: 4” dropped axle and wide-white big ‘n little tires by ThePartsBox.com. Bucket seats of unknown origin from my parts stash. Paint and decals: Tamiya TS-52 Candy Lime Green over white primer with Tamiya TS-7 racing white accents. Decals adapted from Revell ’32 Ford 5-window coupe. Frame finished in Racing White. Interior in Tamiya Racing White and Titanium Gold. Thanx for lookin’, B.       |
|
|
|
Post by BigPappaJ on Jul 30, 2021 8:32:56 GMT -5
Damn fine, Bernard
|
|
|
|
Post by Bernard Kron on Jul 31, 2021 12:20:57 GMT -5
Thanks Jim, I'm glad you like it.
|
|
|
|
Post by spex84 on Aug 1, 2021 17:10:02 GMT -5
That thing's wild, Bernard! I like the panel-outline paint job, very 60s. I can think of a couple cars done that way, but I feel like it wasn't very common until guys started building neo-60s rods again (or maybe it's still uncommon?).
This is probably one of the few builds where I can tolerate the Revell '32 flame decals...I don't know why they bug me (too "box stock" maybe??) but here they look pretty rad with the green base. I'll remember that...
This is making me itch to start another project but I can NOT do that, lol.
|
|
|
|
Post by Bernard Kron on Aug 1, 2021 18:08:51 GMT -5
...I can think of a couple cars done that way, but I feel like it wasn't very common until guys started building neo-60s rods again (or maybe it's still uncommon?). ... Thanx Chris! This radical style with the Krazy Kreature figures combined with paneled or flamed paint jobs really wasn't around for very long, maybe '56-'61, tops. I think of the Roth shop truck and the Kopper Kart, the Hilborn Fuel Injection and Cirello Frannkenstein magneto logos, and of course Fred Allen's Satan, the famous "Devil Deuce" coupe that Revell used for the 5-window's decal sheet and kit details. The Krazy Kreatures were the first thing to go, then the flames which were replaced by panel paint jobs and eventually the monocolor approach that emerged with the hi-tech and billet movements. It's the post-modern punk-rockabilly/rats & tats aesthetic that drove the revival, led by high art figure Robert Williams and by Keith Weesner. I think you're right, there probably have been far more paint jobs in this style created over the past 30 years that in the brief 4-5 year window the first time around. And the Krazy Kreatures remain just as rare as ever. The interesting thing to me is that, since I first posted the completed car on Thursday it's been kind of a slow burner with a steady trickle of comments rather than the usual burst of responses. Here on TRaK, a kustom kulture kind of site, things have been even quieter. Maybe it's because the finished model is a bit rough around the edges or maybe just a bit too korny... But for me it was Big Fun to do something this "loose". |
|
|
|
Post by lo51merc on Aug 1, 2021 21:26:05 GMT -5
Rad dad!
|
|
|
|
Post by Bernard Kron on Aug 2, 2021 14:54:17 GMT -5
I'm glad you dig it, man!  |
|
|
|
Post by chepp on Aug 2, 2021 15:14:21 GMT -5
It is a bit rough but it makes a great impression. All of those mods work together well. I like it!
|
|
|
|
Post by Bernard Kron on Aug 2, 2021 15:29:54 GMT -5
It is a bit rough but it makes a great impression. All of those mods work together well. I like it! Thanks Charley! Yeah, I learned a few things about using really narrow masking tape in particular. It's important to plan for a place where you can grab the tape without harming the surrounding paint. No amount of touch up will save those things. And of course the usual last minute handling issues like the driver's side door handle that got moved while photographing it. Closeups are cruel, really cruel... The truly sanitary build remains the holy grail no matter how good you think your concept may be. Flaws will always detract. |
|
