'32 Ford Tudor Resto-Rod - Final update 12-06

[Bernard Kron]

Like many of us, I’m certain, I often get inspired by the articles and photographs in The Rodder’s Journal for my hot rod projects. Last year I built a jet black open-wheeled ’32 Ford Tudor inspired by a feature article about George Poteet’s 2017 Street Rod of the Year winning car. While not identical, since I seem to be congenitally incapable of building true replicas, it came close. The closing 2-page spread, the traditional panel with all the detailed specs, showed the car paired alongside a stunningly handsome unchopped, full-fendered Tudor belonging to John Kokoska. It looked virtually stock excepted for some striking big ‘n’ littles based on ’37 Ford truck “artillery” wheels and a tasteful rubber rake. Even as I was building that first Tudor I already knew I would have to build a companion full-fendered version.

Inspired by the Kokoska car, I’ve made some changes. Most obvious is the two-tone maroon (Tamiya TS-11 over Duplicolor Bright Red) and black (Duplicolor Universal Black) paint scheme. Also, perhaps less obvious, is a mild 2 ½” top-chop. The wheels and front tires are from a Revellogram ’37 Ford Delivery Van and the rear tires are my go-to traditional rod rears, Herb Deeks bias ply truck tires. Most of the rest of the car is straight out of the box Revell ’32 Ford Tudor. The small block Ford V8 gets the same hop-up I did on my Poteet-inspired rod, a Cobra-Jet 3-carb setup courtesy of BNL resin. The front suspension was lowered by removing 3 leaves from the front spring, and the rear suspension lowered a like amount, so that the rake on the car will be due to the difference between the tire diameters, like on the Kokoska car.

This is a relatively simple project, although the wheel and tire swap combined with the full fenders and the lowered suspension has required a surprisingly lengthy process of fettling to get things fitting right. This w.i.p. would be very brief since I’m ready for glass, foil and final assembly. But, while I’m waiting for some custom decals for a couple of other projects this seemed like a proper candidate for some bench time.

Thanx for lookin’,
B.

Last year’s Poteet inspired fenderless Tudor:

The John Kokoska full-fendered Tudor in TRJ:

My progress so far:

 

Edited December 7, 2018 by Bernard Kron

[mk11]

Been wanting to build a likeness of Mr Poteet's delivery myself. Very nice work on that black tudor 

 

mike

[Koellefornia Kid]

Cool! The mild chop looks good!

[Bernard Kron]

Thanks guys!

After wrapping up my Trophy Series Deuce Roadster box art project I’m back to the Tudor. It’s largely an out-of-the-box build so, with the car finally up on its wheels and the main body glued in place it, it was time for a stance check. Those artillery wheels sure do fill the fenders! Now it’s ready for final assembly. In the style of 60’s Resto Rods that means lots of antique details like cowl lights and bumpers. From here on out it’s a matter of staying disciplined for a clean outcome. Shouldn’t be too long now…

Thanx for lookin’,
B.

[Phildaupho]

Another great looking Deuce

[bobthehobbyguy]

A great looking project. 

[Bernard Kron]

Thank you both!

This project is now done. Nothing much to report on the completion since any significant modifications had been completed already and the build-up was mainly out-of-the-box. But it did fight me in the final 10 percent, the culprit being all those little tiny detail parts – the cowl lights, the taillight brackets and the taillights themselves, the headlights and, surprisingly, even the bumpers. The spotlight in front of the grill had to be fabricated twice from parts of unknown origin, having been lost to the carpet monster the first time. It’s a nod to the John Kokoska full-fendered Tudor in TRJ that inspired this project. I’m seriously allergic to CA (super glue) so final assembly involves a lot of little gobs of 5-minute epoxy. Obviously, it’s a slow, laborious process. And this time those little tiny parts seemed to go flying from my tweezers and fingers and on to the carpeted floor. Miraculously, other than the spotlight, none were lost but everything seemed to need to be done at least twice. Grrrrrr… We all know this  drill at some time or other.

Below is a photo of the three Deuce Tudors I’ve built. The white one is from 2010, a Jimmy Flintstone body based on the Revell Orange Crate with a scratch built chassis and interior and a Hemi from the then-newly-introduced Revell 5-window coupe. The black middle one is from earlier this year, a low slung highboy with a 4” chop inspired by the recent George Poteet multiple award winner. The latest one, with its full fenders and mild 2 ½” chop continues the theme of three radically different hot rods. I guess I’ll have to build a stock height version to complete the set…

Thanks to all who followed along and commented. The final beauty shots are already in the camera so next up is the final editing and formal presentation Under Glass.

Thanx for lookin’,
B.