1957 Battlebird

I was looking for some reference material for some of my Nascar models when by accident I came across this beauty. I loved it right away and knew it would be my next project.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/quadzero/overview.jpg

It's a racing 1957 Thunderbird made by Ford called the Battlebird to compete with the Corvettes that were regularly beating the 1956 Thunderbirds. I knew I had a body and some parts and I always wanted to do a conversion altho there was a kit out there of the Battlebird at one time. I dug through my parts box and sure enought I had a '57.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/quadzero/start.jpg

I would be building alot from scratch for this starting with the frame.
Michelangelo said (or was it Gio?) "Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it." and with that in mind I went and cut out a useable chassis.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/quadzero/chassis.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/quadzero/chassis2.jpg
I made some crossmembers from sprue and scrap plastic and started filling some holes and took some measurements for some brackets.
The front of the chassis is scratch and could not be salvaged from the one-piece kit chassis. Here I started on the upper control arm mounts.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/quadzero/chassis4.jpg
Inset-lower control arm in rough form from some scrap plastic

Lots to go still, rear axle and leaf springs are from the scrap box and have yet to be modified.
Thanks for looking,
Les

Nice project!
R&D UNIQUE (Mini Exotics) also makes a conversion kit of this car!

Very cool car, I saw it in person at Amelia Island Concours.

Great job on the chassis Les. Incredible: it's a thrue barchetta!

That looks very promising again! :grinyes:
Can´t wait to see more!

Get out of here Les, do you normally go the hard route? Fantastic start.

Les,

I just love your projects, completely unique and extremely refreshing. Wherever you get your ideas from it is a sound place, fascinated in following this one progress.

Quadzero, come on dooooooown!! :D

WTG, Les! I'm looking forward to this :thumbsup:


(what about the 4-engined monster? :()

Wow, Les,

another restoring project.

I guess you make it look cool, I´ll follow this one ;-))

Thank you everyone.
I wanted to go further on the chassis but realized that I needed wheels for the placement of the suspension parts. Well, I didn't have the wheels yet, specifically these Halibrand rims,
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/quadzero/rimcr.jpg

I decided to make my own when I looked though my parts box and had nothing even close. But I had 4 of these rims which had the 5 holes I needed. I ground them out and the bottom is flat althou it's hard to tell from the picture. The disc is the part I will make the raised relief part like the Halibrand units.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/quadzero/rim1.jpg

Even thou these kits parts had the 5 holes I needed to copy to my homemade rims, there was no way I could do it without the holes being lopsided and crooked. They were just too small. So I made a little gauge to help me with the spacings.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/quadzero/gauge2.jpg

Here is a rim with the "spokes" ready to be added and the final product with some aluminum just for show. I still have to do some clean-up and decide on the final colour. In some of my ref pictures it looks more like silver paint. I will do the final colour when I have all 4 rims completed.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/quadzero/rim3.jpg

Klutz- I have done a bit of work and have some body parts painted on the Challenger but I would like to have more done before I post an update.

Thanks for looking gang,
Les

Dang, just plain old :sunglasse

Sweet! :thumbsup:

Remember to make resin casts before you stick 'em on the car ;)

Excellent! I'm always in awe of your skills. Your ability to scratch and modify things to look like they came out of a great kit is just astonishing. Can't wait to see this develop!

Very interesting subject! And your chassis work makes me want to tear apart my near-complete Firebird and try again! You're off to a great start. I'm sure I'll learn a lot and get some great ideas from this build.

Alex

Where you been, quad? :p

This is one of my favourite racecars from the 50s. This should be cool.

Very interesting subject! And your chassis work makes me want to tear apart my near-complete Firebird and try again! You're off to a great start. I'm sure I'll learn a lot and get some great ideas from this build.

Alex
Thanks! Please don't start over thou, you have put in way too much work in that project already for a tear down.
Where you been, quad? :p

This is one of my favourite racecars from the 50s. This should be cool.
Well, super busy with the house, chasing our 2 pigs around all day long and learning about tattooing, which is pretty exciting.

Thanks for all the comments, gang. Sorry for the tiny update here as I have hurt my hand so progress is very limited.

One reason I wanted to cut out the frame was because this car had a Halibrand quick change rear-end and I happened to have one in my parts box. The inner rims are cut down pieces from the parts bin and the backing plates are some scrap pieces with some relief on them. The stock Thunderbird had 4 wheel drums but I don't know if this car would have disc's or not so I'm going with super simple backing plates representing drum brakes. I dont know where the leaf's are from but they fit perfectly, like it was part of the original kit itself.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/quadzero/axle.jpg

This car had leaf spring mounts that I had never seen before but I could tell they would be way too delicate to make accurately so I added some material on the end of the spring and glued on some shackles to make it look a bit better. It's not perfect but I was happy with them. Under the weight of the car, the shackles tuck into the curved part of the mount.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/quadzero/axle33.jpg

A quick test fit and final measurement for height and the chassis is almost ready for black paint.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/quadzero/axle2.jpg

Thanks for looking everyone,
Les

Not only the Sprue King but now also the Parts Box King! ;)

Nice work buddy! :thumbsup:

Your stands look...sweet :lol:

Anything new? Love this!! I remember in one of the Scale Auto mag annuals, someone had done the newer Tbird setup just like this.

Progress has been really slow althou I work on it everyday. I hope to have a small update tomorrow, thanks for looking.
Les

Les,

I just love your projects, really different and original. They are just a joy to watch un fold too.

I know what you mean about time restrictions as I'm in the same boat, keep it up my friend

Sean

Thank you, Sean.
Hey gang, tiny update here. I can only manage about 30 minutes on this a day if I'm lucky.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/quadzero/suspension3.jpg
The rear end finally installed. I only guessed for the colour but I'm pretty sure only the diff housing is aluminum with the axle shafts being black. It would have been a very tricky mask thou. I based the colour of the shocks (turned sprue) on another Battlebird model I saw on the net althou all the '57 Thunderbird shocks I have seen were white.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/quadzero/suspension1.jpg
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/quadzero/suspension2.jpg
Test fit of the upper control arm. I'm stalled here at this point until I find more wire of the same thickness for the other coil spring.
Note to self: keep pet pig away from work area

Sorry for the tiny update. I know I'm a slow modeller but this is just getting ridiculas
Cheers,
Les

I can only manage about 30 minutes on this a day if I'm lucky.
You put it to good use, though :D

The suspension looks great.
With all those pins in there, you'll need to be careful you don't puncture a tire! ;)

What about that 4-engined beast? Are you working on that too?

P.S. Happy belated birthday nr 62! :D

Looks cool, Les

you are a restoring master

Hi,

very interesting project, great work on the chassis and suspension.

Greetings, Jens

Very nice job Les on those chassis and fantastic sunspensions/geometry. Isn't for all an effort of this level on something that would be covered then: great.

Great egineering on the suspension, that´s the way it has to be! :)

Nice scratchbuilding there Les, cool car.

AE just posted this cool image of the Battlebird at Daytona Speedweeks in '57:

http://www.autoextremist.com/cars/december2007/hist4.jpg

Hey thanks for the interest guys, but I have a question. In my rooting around for a bit of history of this car, I have found out that the transmission is of a British type. Some articles say it's a Jag tranny and I'm not sure but the name Moss(?) came up. That was far as I could go but I found numerous pics of different Jag transmissions. Could anyone give me some insight or direction here? 100% accuracy isnt critical at all but it would be nice to replace the stock Ford transmission.
Thanks for the picture, John. I had a lot of trouble with painting the rims. The front rim appears to have a shiney rim and flat coloured center while the rear is of a more uniforn sheen. Also this pic clearly shows a much lower car then in my reference pics. I just might be making a freak of nature here:uhoh:

Hey thanks for the interest guys, but I have a question. In my rooting around for a bit of history of this car, I have found out that the transmission is of a British type. Some articles say it's a Jag tranny and I'm not sure but the name Moss(?) came up. That was far as I could go but I found numerous pics of different Jag transmissions. Could anyone give me some insight or direction here? 100% accuracy isnt critical at all but it would be nice to replace the stock Ford transmission.
Thanks for the picture, John. I had a lot of trouble with painting the rims. The front rim appears to have a shiney rim and flat coloured center while the rear is of a more uniforn sheen. Also this pic clearly shows a much lower car then in my reference pics. I just might be making a freak of nature here:uhoh:

Not at all. I suspect it has that ride height because it's racing at Daytona, which is a land speeed race. It hit 205 mph, btw. I have a feeling around road courses they jacked it back up for a bit more clearance.

Well, after losing my internet for over a month, I managed to catch up a little.

This is the start of the 312 engine, (it would eventually end up as a 348 cid).
I'm quite impressed with the detail for such a simple kit. The valve covers are almost perfect as a starting point. I did decide to redo the water pump and the cam chain cover and add some basic casting marks on the block. The fuel pump had to go also.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/quadzero/pre-engine1.jpg

Here are the major parts, cleaned up and almost ready for assembly. I cut the oil filter off and made a new one so I could tilt it down a few degrees.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/quadzero/pre-engine2.jpg

I also had to make the motor mount that sits under the pulleys, which are still being worked on. The new water pump is made from scrap glued and sanded to shape.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/quadzero/pre-engine3.jpg

This engine has no intake manifold so I had to make a new valley cover. Naturally some stretched spruce comes to the rescue again. I also made a new oil cap.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/quadzero/pre-engine3a.jpg

Here is a basic mock-up. The front wheels are not glued on yet as I have some work to do there still.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/quadzero/pre-engine4.jpg
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/quadzero/pre-engine4a.jpg

*Klutz, no progress on the Challenger. Due to renovations I have no place to work on it just yet. I work on this on the kitchen floor for the time being.:sunglasse

Thanks for looking gang,
Les

How do you make the stretched sprue. Every time I try I either catch it on fire or melt it in half.

Great job, Les.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/SMILEYS/sprue.gif

:)

Wow, as the usual. Whether it's four engines or just one, you've always got something clever, elegant, and... awesome to share with us. And you make it look so easy! Great work, as always. I do have a question (which you've probably answered in a thread somewhere), you use a green plastic material in your scratchbuilding (like toward the top of the cam chain cover). What is it?

How do you make the stretched sprue. Every time I try I either catch it on fire or melt it in half.

I don't know exactly how he does it, but I'm sure it's similar: I hold the sprue over a candle probably... 4-6 inches above the flame, and roll it between my fingers so that the flame heats the plastic evenly around the entire sprue. When the plastic starts to swell right above the flame, I get ready and at the instant that it begins to droop, I take it away from the flame while stretching it. I typically am stretching sprue just to use it to fill holes in the bumper of a kit or something, so I don't bother over uniform thickness and it's a very easy and quick process. To get the uniform thickness like was used above takes some practice; but basically you just don't pull as hard and the tricky part is keeping it straight while you do so.

Just practice a lot, lord knows if you're like me you've got more sprue than you could melt and stretch for the rest of your life.

Nice project! Excellent!

Superb job Les! I need a lot more knowledge on american's V8 for my next project, great place here!

Nice to see some progress here

How do you make the stretched sprue. Every time I try I either catch it on fire or melt it in half.
Exactly how Willimo says, he said it better then I could ever do.
I do have a question (which you've probably answered in a thread somewhere), you use a green plastic material in your scratchbuilding (like toward the top of the cam chain cover). What is it?
Actually, you're the first to ask. It's just those little plastic thingys that come on bread bags. I have been using them for years. And thanks for the kind words.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/quadzero/ties.jpg

Thanks everyone for the interest and positive feedback,
Les

I decided to get going on the body as the modifications here will determine some detailing on the chassis.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/quadzero/firewall1.jpg
I was basically happy with the inner fenders especially the highlighted part which is exactly what should be there for a Thunderbird. Since the engine is moved back in this car, the firewall will have to go. The battery is not needed either.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/quadzero/firewall2.jpg
Some of the major structure in place, I also re-worked the fenders a bit too. Altho I tried to be as accurate as I could be, the opening in the firewall is much higher then on the real car. There was no way I could lower the engine then the way it is now.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/quadzero/firewall3.jpg
A little paint to check on my progress and find defects before I move on.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/quadzero/firewall4.jpg
This was a little detail I wanted just to fill some space. I couldn't scribe such a tiny circle so I drilled a hole and stuck in a piece of sprue.

Thanks for looking gang,
Les

This one's coming along nicely! :sunglasse

Thanks, Tonioseven
Well, a small update, althou it was a lot of work with test fitting and trial and error. I wanted to start building up the main structure of the body so I dug around and found an old chassis. I will be using the wheel arches and whatever I can salvage.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/quadzero/chassskin.jpg

More scrap plastic and the basic shape is getting there. The 2 holes will be filled eventually, they are my reference points for the floor skin and the chassis. I tried to be as accurate as possible while still allowing fitment of the frame so some angles are off, some small lengths are a bit off too, but I'm happy all the same.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/quadzero/chassskin2.jpg

A little splash of paint just to see the contours and defects better. I found that my body is really twisted so I will glue this and the future floor in to help straighten it. Not my original intention but I think it will work out well.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/quadzero/chassskin5.jpg

I intend to make a full interior so both sides have to be cleaned up with details added. Here is the bulkhead that separates the trunk from the interior. I dont know what is in this part of the Battlebird except for some fuel lines so I used stock Thunderbird pictures.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/quadzero/chassskin6.jpg

Another view of the interior clearly showing my now invisible bulkhead. :icon16: Actually, it is fairly noticeable from different angles.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a99/quadzero/chassskin8.jpg

Thanks for looking in,
Les

Excellent work, Les :thumbsup:
I really enjoy following your builds - just a shame we have to wait so long for updates :evillol: ;) :D

Les, I noticed in the last photo the "Thunderbid" script and air vent on the fender. How will you be handling this? Are you thinking that the script will be replaced with a p/e piece?

- just a shame we have to wait so long for updates :evillol: ;) :D

Well, unfortunately there probably won't be any more updates for a long long time. My new job keeps me away from home for at least 12 hours a day and there just isnt time to do any kind of modelling.

Klutz- I'd love have some kind of p/e piece for the scripts but my rims are a real weak point and eye sore for me and I don't think the p/e parts would be worth it. Maybe I will find some after-market rims in the future.
Thanks to everyone who followed along on this.
Les

This is NOT good news :(

Surely you can find a couple of hours a week? ;) :) Please....

Well, unfortunately there probably won't be any more updates for a long long time. My new job keeps me away from home for at least 12 hours a day and there just isnt time to do any kind of modelling.

Bummer! I understand when time gets tight but I do enjoy watching your builds. I'll be happy to take what I can get, though.

I've been watching the build for some time. I may have an answer to your wheels problem. RnD Unique has the Halibrand 5 hole in pewter. I believe its the wheels they include in their Battlebird transkit. Keep up the work, its an inspiration.

http://rndunique.com/rnd_displayitem.cfm?pk=32

that sucks... you ought to mail it to me so I can finish it. :p

Hey Les. Found this in a Scale Auto contest book. Still love your project.
Good luck, hope you can find some time someday. We all know how that goes.
Newer style battlebird and a panel truck expedition, I dig that;)
http://img378.imageshack.us/img378/751/battlebird2sc3.jpg

Just found this thread and I have to say that this is awesome modeling work!
Keep it up, and keep us updated, please. :)

Thanks everyone. I'm ordering paints and some supplies and also I have made some big progress with the house renovations so hopefully I will be back on the modelling bench in a couple of weeks.
Thanks for the cool pic, Blubaja.
Les