40 ford wagon resto

hey there people, well I took Klutz's suggestion and started to work on a new kit while my challenger sits idle. I have had this kit on my shelf for about 20 years. I dont know who built it or where it came from.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/quadzero/fordwag.jpg
I always liked it and it represented the way I used to build them when I was much younger. buy it, open it, glue it all together and have it painted all in about 3 hours. but I wanted to do a custom paint job and this was the only kit I had that had room for what I wanted.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/quadzero/parts.jpg
I took it all apart and figured out what was staying and what was going. I didnt want to get carried away with the frame since I wanted to concentrate on the body.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/quadzero/chassa.jpg
I cut away the floor, re-did the front and rear suspensions and made some disc brakes.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/quadzero/chassb.jpg
almost done here and I will dig thru my parts for an engine and get cracking on the body. the rear shock mounts are pretty low as I had planned on using bigger tires but chose these instead.
thanks for looking everyone,
cheers.
Les

Wow, Les,

looks like a "little" work, especially the roof section. I´m sure you´ll manage it.

Neat project. Really nice work on the frame - especially for not getting carried away! The roof is going to be a challenge, good luck but I'm sure you can get it done just fine. I always wonder though, why restore an old kit instead of getting a new one? Is it the sentiment? Looking forward to seeing it progress.

It'll be interesting to see how you deal with the roof. Did you actually build it that way, weathered and all, or is that just from sitting in a box for 10 years? :D

I always wonder though, why restore an old kit instead of getting a new one? Is it the sentiment?
thanks all. Willimo, I think it was just to do something different and a challenge. sentimental reasons apply too I think. I dont know if I would have bought this kit new, mind you.
actually, Tigeraid, I found this model sitting in my mom's garage years ago and felt sorry for it, lol. I think my brother was using it for target practice with his pellet gun, as there is damage in the interior also.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/quadzero/rdoor.jpg
there was no door with this so I scrounged around and found this '53 chevy panel door.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/quadzero/rdoorb.jpg
I glued scrap plastic on to the panel door here and there and shaped it with some sand paper and it fits pretty well.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/quadzero/mockup.jpg
here it is with most of the body modifications and repairs. I had no headlight bezels and I wanted to some body work too so I filled in the holes for the lights and tail lights. I sanded off all the body detail and re-scribed the panel lines and a new gas cap. I airbrushed on some scrap paint to show up defects and quite a few are showing. the roof repair went quite easily but the window strut in the middle took me over 2 hours to get to look right.
to fix the roof, I glued stretched spruce on the outside of the body matching the body contours. from the inside, I superglued small bits of plastic onto the spruce until no daylite was showing. then I sanded off the spruce and shaped with a small file and wetsanded until I had the shape I was looking for. like I said, it was easy and took about 20 minutes. scribing the windshield trim took a little longer but still was an easy procedure.
thanks again for looking,
Les

Hi,

looks very good so far. Did you widen the rear fenders (just an idea when I see that seam of beige putty/old colour?)

Les, so THIS is your little project?! Cool. Seems we are both on a retro-rod bender at the moment :D

I'm dying to know what this custom paint job is going to be...but I've learned to be patient with your builds ;)

Already some streached sprue in the picture, huh? :rofl:

really nice work. That frame looks great, as do the body mods

thanks everyone,
Sportracer- no, the fenders are stock. that is just some paint that I used as a guide to get the contours more even.
Klutz- you bet there is stretched sprue in this project!
well, I spent alot of time dremeling, chipping and glueing and sanding of the interior to smooth out the cracks and heaps of old glue in there. althou from past experience I learned most of it wont be seen when it's all together, I still had visions of the topless trio interiors.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/quadzero/int.jpg
there are still a lot of battle wounds here but I had alot of fun with this. I cut out the almost useless door panels and grafted in the ones from my 53 chevy donor. I extended the pattern from the panels to the tub section, just to add a bit more life. the seats are from the parts box. this is the first model where I painted the handles instead of making them from scratch.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/quadzero/shifter.jpg
well, it's a simple interior but my secret weapon is this die shifter knob. thats gotta be at least a few points on the cool meter:naughty: . this is far from perfect, there is dust in the paint, the foil is ragged and some of the basecoat lifted here and there from the foil but it was the most enjoyable modelling I had in a long time. the dash is supposed to be there too but I had a little accident with some nail polish, :rolleyes:
cheers,
Les

my secret weapon is this die shifter knob. thats gotta be at least a few points on the cool meter:naughty:
It's off the scale, dude!! :rofl: :rofl: I love it!!!!

talk about bringing something back to life! awesome work!

This is interesting! Definitely keep us updated, I can't wait to see the final outcome :cool:

wow! what a great build! looking awesome now!:sunglasse :sunglasse

thank you everyone. it's a fun project, I'm trying not to get over my head like I usually do. I looked at tons of mags and pics on the net for headlight and taillight ideas but finally decided just to leave it for a few days and let it all sink in. I'm still not sure about an engine, but I would like something in there soon. thanks for looking everyone.
Les

As a worst case scenario, you can always kidnap one of your 406.60mph engines ;)

wow! i love these old hot rods. way to bring it back to life. it looks like it was never damage after you fixed it. keep up the good work

Thanks people. Well I finally found an engine, a 25 year old blob of glue and yellow paint 428 from an old mustang kit. After prying it apart and sanding all the glue off and reworking some of the features, I finally had something that looked like something.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/quadzero/engine1.jpg
I had to sand down the huge oilpan to get it to fit in the chassis but now that the oil filter is in place it doesnt come close to being where it is supposed to be.:banghead: And following the KISS principle, I'm going with one carb and an air breather this time around.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/quadzero/gastank.jpg
Well at least the reworked kit gastank turned out pretty nice.
Klutz- I couldnt use the challenger engine, it's the wrong colour and I didnt want it to clash with the seats:lol:
cheers gang,
Les

Very nice. How'd you finish the gas tank? Is that Metallizer's?

Klutz- I couldnt use the challenger engine, it's the wrong colour and I didnt want it to clash with the seats
You're just a slave to fashion :disappoin ;)

That gas tank looks like it's real metal? Great job. Also very clean job - I'm now in teh throws of self-condemnation....

I still had visions of the topless trio interior.

Or do you mean the trio of topless (insert object here) in the interior? :naughty:

Great breathing life into a old build Les.

Mal

Lol, thanks, Klutz and Malscar. My job is making me feel like a slave so time on this is sparse.
Tigeraid-the gas tank is Tamiya chrome silver which I accidently thinned with laquer thinner which made the paint look useless but still sprayed quite nice. The straps are from a coke can, sanded with 600.
I'm working on the engine mounts right now and will move the oil filter. Raising the engine would have meant cutting up the floor in my now completed interior. Some day I'm gonna sit down and plan these things out.
cheers.

Looking great. I am amazed at your restored model that's becoming a model of a restored car. Talk about meta modeling, or something. Your work in super impressive, I can't wait to see what's next with this machine. Very cool, man, very cool.

Looks really nice so far, I would never have thought of repairing bodywork in the way you decribed . Did you not need to use any filler at all?

Very nice rebuilt.Congrads.

Thank you everyone, I dont really have the time I would like to spend on this but after a few late nites I'm slowly getting things sorted out.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/quadzero/engine2.jpg
The engine is a bit too high but it will do. I made a plate for where the oil filter was and I will connect lines to it that will hookup with the remote oil filter. The air filter is just there for looks but I will add to it and repaint it.
Willimo-curious you say that because I was spending alot of time looking thru online journals of everyday joes restoring/making hotrods.
Viccario-I didnt use any putty or primer. It's just some carefull sanding and superglue.
Cheers,
Les

Hi Les,

compared to the first pics of your thread, I must say, your restro will turn out a 100% success !!

Great job !!

the first picture here i thought this blows then i looked and its turning out fantastic

Yo! You are the man, dude! That's too sick!

(I think that means that I like it :confused: I thought I'd try a post like this since school is probably out now ;) )

awesome work man! very clean building!:sunglasse

Thanks again all, well I took the day off and spent much needed time on this today and here is what I accomplished. I added most of the brake lines, and a fuel and vacuum line on the engine.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/quadzero/engine3.jpg
Well before I added the details the 25 year old chrome was wearing off so I decided to paint those pieces black. But when I finished for the day and took the pics, I had to scratch my head and wonder why the valve covers were still chrome. :banghead: I'm just going to leave it now as it is.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/quadzero/engine4.jpg
This was what I was going after. It didnt turn out as great as I hoped, it's very ragged looking and I had to add a piece of scrap under the breather to clear the distributor and now, you guessed it. the hood won't close. DOH!!!
thanks for looking, everyone.
Les

and now, you guessed it. the hood won't close. DOH!!!
thanks for looking, everyone.
:rofl: It's catching! I have a similar problem on my Daytona

WOW! It`s great! I like the interrior!keep it up!

Hey gang. Well, except for the driveshaft, I'm ready for the body as this is as far as I go on the chassis and engine.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/quadzero/brakelines.jpg
finally got all the lines figured out, I used guitair string. I had planned on an engine with the fuel pump on the passenger side, but it ended up on the driver's side so some of my line brackets were not used as I planned.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/quadzero/engine5.jpg
I just couldn't accept the way the black air breather looked so I painted it the frame colour. I'm much happier with it now.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/quadzero/engine6.jpg
I normally loosely base the wiring on pics of the real engine but in this case I used a diagram that Klutz submitted to AF a while back. I'm glad this part of the project is done, on to the body!
Thanks for looking everyone.
Les

Fantastic chassis detail.

Les, I am continuously impressed and awed by the cleanliness, detail and inginuity of your work :worshippy

As of today you are not only the Sprue Master but also the Wire & Line King!!

I have to start thinking and picking your brains about how to do full brake lines in my next build instead of those pseudo half-assed things I do :evillol:

LOL. I wish Klutz!
thank again for the comments. Well this was the day I would have had the lower body painted and clear-coated. At the last hour I decided I really needed headlights and bore out the holes for them. At the last minute I realized that I had to make the rad support as the rad will be mounted on the body and not to the frame.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/quadzero/body1.jpg
This is automotive basecoat paint and will be cleared in the afternoon tomorrow, its too late in the day now. Just a little hint of the final look of my fun little project.
Thanks all,
Les

Please Les, a close up and more info about the wheels - sorry, rims - you are using here!!! Can you give me the dims?

Very impressive work from what you started with and what you have now!!!

Very impressive work from what you started with and what you have now!!!
:iagree: - with me it's the other way round! :rofl:

Fantastic, Les

You are right, the fenders must go down ... ;-))

Thanks again everyone, it's a real incentive to keep working on this.

Klutz, the rims and rear tires are from Monogram's Plymouth GTX with the centers painted.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/quadzero/rim.jpg

I had a small set back when one of my cats (who usually keeps me company on the table while I work) slipped on some paper and fell on the chassis. It took only a minute to fix but the plastic ripped apart and now I have a scar thats impossible to hide properly with touch ups. But still not that bad, really.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/quadzero/opps.jpg

I had no plans for a cooling fan because I figured it would be hidden anyway but when I test fit the rad, a lack of fan would be quite noticeable so I made one of spare parts just to fill that space.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/quadzero/rad-1.jpg

Finally some clear, soon this stage will be done and I will concentrate on some art work on the upper body. Althou the running boards have some peel to them, I'm reluctant to polish them out as I have never done that on a model before and dont want to paint it over in case I make a mistake.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/quadzero/clearcoat.jpg
Thanks for looking everyone.
Les

Les, I see you have the same self-imposed hurdle I have. CAT HAIR. Mine must get up on the desk next to my building area and although she has not broken anything, the fine undercoat is sometimes nearly impossible. (I also on occasion think of shaving her).

Great work on the restoration.:thumbsup: Looking forward to seeing the body done.
Mal

First of all, thanks for the photo.

Secondly, HOLY SHIT QUADMAN!!!!! :eek: THAT is looking great!

The cooler radiator doo-da whots-it is super and the paint looks to be like a mirror!. Is that green or smthg?

And OMG the wiring you put in these things! I beg you to do a blow-by-blow tutorial on how you do these things. IMHO your wiring is some of the best and most intricate here on AF (not to mention your carbs) and it's cruel to just show pics and not teach us (me) how to do it too! ;)

BTW I looked hard but can't see any cat scars :D

Thanks, and Malscar, more then anyone I'm looking forward to seeing the body done, lol. Thanks, Klutz for the very high praise too, I'm just trying to keep up with some of the fine modellers around here. No need for a tutorial really, I just drill a hole where ever I want to stick a wire. Easy Peasy. Oh, and its straight black, just the trees outside my window reflecting there.
Well, except for the exhaust, this is as far as I go and now it's on to the body and hopefully the end will be in sight. The rad, rad hose, coil, driveshaft, scratchbuilt headlites and taillites, and some final wiring are in there now.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/quadzero/body2.jpg
I had no choice to polishing the running boards because I smeared super glue onto the fenders and then I got silver paint on there somehow also. But it was a blessing in disguise because it looks alot better now, sure looks more shiney in the daytime thou. Thanks for looking, gang.
Les

God that looks good! :eek:

I admit I am jealous of our AF friends with lathes but I gotta say I really admire what some can do without 'em :D

Stop being so modest and do the Tutorial - there's a hole in the "How to" section... ;) :naughty:

wow, truely amazing!! what you started with and now, what you have, is insiring!! very nice work!!!

Wow, very cool topic. :grinyes:
I didn´t guess that you go this style, really great work!:iceslolan

Thanks again everyone.
Risko- that has to be the funniest avatar I have ever seen. :rofl:
I had wanted to make the back door hinged but until today I wasn't sure if it was worth it or not. But I know in the future I would like to make hinges so I thought some experience wouldn't hurt.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/quadzero/door1.jpg
Just the basic parts and my third attempt at the hinge using some thin rod.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/quadzero/door2.jpg
From the start I wanted to make a recessed licence plate but only remembered about it after I assembled the door so some carefull carving was in order. (note to self- cut the hole first and then glue the panel on next time).

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/quadzero/door3.jpg
All together in mock up, the door doesnt swing as nicely as I had hoped because of the hinge. the door is too thick and no matter where I experimented with the hinge geometry, it would not swing out and away but instead binds abit with the body. To solve this I have a made a bit of slack in the clamped down part so at least it works but its kinda sloppy.
Now to clean up the door and smooth it all out and I'm ready to paint the body.
Thanks for the comments, gang.
Les

Les,

I think you might find that the answer to your hinge problem is to put a "kink" or "U-bend" in the rod. If you can find my Dino thread somewhere, take a look at how I shaped the rod for that.

I can't promise it will solve your problem, but I think it might be worth trying before you get too far ahead.

S-ski

Did you attach the hinge to the plastic with super clue or epoxy?

i hope im not 2 late but i think if you paint the body purple like the chasis, then it would be sick i not trying to dictate your project but it would look cool as a 2 tone

thx

Thanks everyone,
Klutz, its too late now to change anything but I will dig it up for future reference. I hinged the trunk on my 57 Corvette and it couldn't have been easier but this wagon door gave me some problems which while not perfect will do for now, thanks all the same.
Tigeraid-its super glue
67Shelbymustang- We are thinking the same thing. Your idea was my plan from the start. I mixed the purple I wanted for the body and painted the frame so it would match. It's just that I always leave the body painting for the end.

First Class work!

i guess great minds think alike lol

Well, fell a bit behind with the problem of the hood not closing. I thought if I shaved off enuff from the inside of it, I could clear the breather but it didn't work. So after a ton of trial and error with different shapes and sizes I came up with this. Please dont laugh:frown:.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/quadzero/scoop.jpg
The top came from one of the interior door panels that I cut from the kit interior, which I thought might come in handy some day. It had just the right curve that I was looking for. It's not fully done yet but I shot some body colour on to better visualize the direction it was going. (I think it was heading for the Twilight Zone, to be honest)

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/quadzero/body4.jpg
And finally I have something that looks like a car, wohooo!
Thanks for looking,
Les

This just gets better and better Les! Really, it's a jaw-dropper the way you are turning that negelected piece of styrene into a prize winner :thumbsup:

Thanks, Klutz
Well the only reason I took on this model was to see if I could try to do a mural. I dont really like them on cars but on this I think it would look pretty good.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/quadzero/dominocard.jpg
This is my fav comic charactor and this is what I wanted to do from the start.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/quadzero/dominosketch.jpg
I didnt want to go too small and wanted to concentrate on the face mostly so I made a few sketches and this is what I liked the most. It's just done quickly with pencil crayons.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/quadzero/domino1.jpg
I reduced the image so I could get an idea for a precise placement on the body.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/quadzero/domino2.jpg
This is where I am now, tons more work to go yet as I'm just "fleshing" it out now. I had planned to do a background too but it will just take too long.
Once I finish this side, I will look for ideas for the other side.
Thanks for looking.
Les

Holy cow QuadzeroMan!!
Are you putting that on there freehand with your airbrush :eek:
Amazing skill...

I have to say that the original DC(?) Domino looks so mean she scares the s**t out of me but I'd like the phone number to your one! :lol:

To keep the theme consistant you need another version of Domino. Got these off google images. The one with a weapon was in wikipedia and the other from somewhere. Just to give you ideas. By the way, I'm with Klutz, fab work with the airbrush. Now I also know where the colour scheme came from.

http://img260.imageshack.us/img260/434/dominoog2.jpg

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/7079/domino1od3.jpg

Mal

Domino ROCKS

http://www.redsresources.com/pics/domino.jpg

I'm anxious to see how this works out, I woulda been a wuss and just used a printed decal! :p