Can a Speedwagon be made TRaKable?

[zenrat]

I've been playing with this spare Speedwagon body, some styrene sheet and my parts boxes.
It's not TRaKable in it's current form but with a bit more reshaping (particularly the back of the door windows), some trim/mouldings, appropriate wheels and maybe modified '40 rear 'guards is there hope?

[RodBurNeR]

IMHO no, it still doesn't resemble anything that I know of that could be considered "traditional". I always thought it was a cool kit though.

[HotRodTom]

Dec 20, 2009 7:12:16 GMT -5 zenrat said:

... is there hope?

There is ALWAYS hope.
This particular kit (the Speedwagon kit, that is) is kind of a tough nut to crack in order to get it into the "traditional rod or kustom" realm. I like what you have done so far, and it is very creative. Nice panel work so far.
I haven't really ever looked real hard at making this particular kit into a trad-rod. What you might be able to do is turn it into a coach built style of kustom. Being that it IS a woody, and you are going for a predominately '40-ish style, then a coach built woody seems to be in order, just a short wheelbase one. As you mentioned, the rear angles seem to fight the look of the rather bulbous '40's lines. Another thing that fights the look, in terms of lines, is the hood where it meets the cowl. Going from a rather rounded front portion to a square cowl just wouldn't look right, IMHO. I am not saying that this cannot be done. A nice pancaked hood and rounded cowl would do wonders for the overall aesthetic. Putting a little "hump" to the angle in the back portion would, as well. Maybe even shaving down a set of '40 rear fenders and putting them on the rear panels would help the flow in the rear. I am picturing in my mind a basic "potato" kind of shape with this. Short, rounded, and kind of squatty in appearance.

I hope that you don't think that I am tearing your model idea apart, as I really am not. I LIKE where you are going with this. You certainly have got me thinking on ways to build it if I were to do this. I am very interested in seeing if you CAN pull this one off.

Good luck, and PLEASE keep us posted.

HRT

PS,
As you have it mocked up here, it sort of reminds me of an Austin/Bantam/Thames kind of look for a gasser. There is a thought...

[Koolkat]

Of course, what I am thinking is totally different than what you've got. In keeping with the potato shape Tom talks about,but not necessarily for this project, might be the speedwagon body (if it fits together) with an Anglia sedan roofline/windshield. A woodie sedan. Just thinking out loud. It might not be workable.

A Thames panel roofline might also work?

Just wondering....

[zenrat]

Thanks guys.
That's given me something to think on.
It's the squareness that's the problem. Rounded corners and vertical rears on the windows should improve things along with thinning out the door part of the A pillers.
And as stated, the roof needs more shape. Grafting on a complete '32 sedan roof would do the trick but then a) I waste a perfectly good body and b) why not just build a '32 sedan delivery?
I think i'll try add plastic to build it up to a very flattened teardrop shape (with the higher part at the back.
This is the second Speedwagon i've de-wooded BTW. The first one I used glazing putty and it was a complete bar steward to get smooth.
And then after i'd got it painted the ghosting appeared

[HotRodTom]

Glad to see that I didn't "come off the wrong way". I know I certainly appreciate some constructive and vreative criticism for a far-out project. I would really like to see how this comes along for you.

[zenrat]

No worries Tom.
I asked for advice and what you and Don provided has steered my thoughts in a direction it might not have gone. And it's a good direction.

[Koolkat]

One other thought is to round the rear of the roof and re-cut the side windows, perhaps on the order of the Phantom Vicky kit or 'the Mystery Wagon' (the Duvall phaeton)? Or... maybe a Ute?