Ford Model T 1/16 scale by Revell

[mitchy]

The Model T

The grand daddy of modern cars. Not the obvious modellers choice on this forum, but when I saw I knew I had to have it.

It soon became apparent, however, that this little big-scale car needed some tweaks to make it on to my shelf.

Catalogue picture as per box and instructions:

Although an attractive model (if you like this kind of thing) it is inaccurate in so many ways, so I shall strive to correct these glaring errors and build something a little more precise and aesthetically more to my liking.

Something like this:

Today I have been able to get it out of the box, and carve up a few major parts to give it the vintage look:

The front wheel arch fenders have been raised 5mm to bring them to the correct height and angle.

The body bucket has been chopped out at the back- ready for a scratch-build pickup bed, much preferable to the guilded dickie seat museum piece offered in the kit.

The bucket sides and doors are undergoing some reshaping and ‘contouring’ - the kit provides flat slab-sided parts which do nothing for the looks and accuracy. The front bulkhead has also received some of the same treatment. -This is a good project to practice scratch building, as the curvature and panel fit can be a bit off, yet still appear authentic.

so that is about all for the moment, and a few hours work I am already much happier.

Thanks for looking

[bbowser]

Following with interest.  I like your choice of a pickup bed.

[mitchy]

Thank you.

Today I have made a little more progress.

I am experimenting with a more subdued brass finish on the radiator shroud and other parts, thanks to Vallejo Model Color Brass which I diluted, misted then wetted on the bare grey plastic. Then I brushed very lightly a metalizer powder by C1 over parts of the now touch-dry paint and buffed softly.

It looks like clean but not over polished brass, and is much more acceptable than the bright plated finish as supplied. It could be a little smoother, but I reckon a few coats of lacquer and sanding could fix that if necessary.

Next up are the transmission, suspension and steering assemblies, now built and ready for some paint. Black, of course.

As expected, every part removed from its tree so far has been, or shall be, modified somehow!

The bodywork mods are now filled, ready for sanding.

Thanks for looking.

[bbowser]

I really like your treatment of the brass.  Out of the box it is way too shiny, yours looks just right.

[mitchy]

Yeah I totally agree, there will be none of the original guilded finish left when I am done. Even the wheels are guilded- it does nothing for the looks.

I have done a little more on the bucket, given the doors more or less the correct shape, fine-tuned the front bulkhead and given it all an authentic brushed-on black. It will need some polishing, but the finish is already quite authentic. 

This is one model on which I don’t mind showing some ‘tool marks’, hehehe.

The interior will sport some worn wooden floorboards and other details, the main floorboard is actually upside-down, as it comes with a weird texture- So I scribed my own boards on the reverse, this solved another problem; the hand brake lever was on the right, oddly enough this model is RHD! I’m changing that.

The differential pumpkin was very naked, so I added some pieces of poly rod to mimic the bolt housings around the joint.,., painted vallejo Premium black by brush, as the rest of this model, then finished with a gentle rub with C1 metalizer powder. I love this stuff, it really transforms a dull plain black plastic part into something that looks like weighty cast metal.

Other than that, I have completed the pickup bed, all poly sheet, painted and glued to look like real, knarly hardwood,

Yellow ochre base:

Finger-applied woodgrain (acrylic paint):

Add a few wood knots, chrome beading added. A pale grey wash to back-off and unify the strong wood colours. Adding a heavy black wash in the seams and interior corners helps the final effect.

The whole assembly just slips in:

that’s all for now folks, thanks for looking.

 

[mitchy]

Adding a few vintage style build  pics,,,

Still missing the glassware, that’ll be the last on the list:

underside with added hand-brake mechanism:

“In good used condition”... converted from right to left-hand-drive:

Thanks for lookin’

[mitchy]

Not much progress made on any of my models over christmas and new year, but all that is left to complete the Tin Lizzie is add a few interior details, running boards, windscreen glass, spare tyre, and strip the gold chrome off the wheels and paint them. - I am undecided if they will be full utility black or black rim and hub with wooden spokes... I think the wooden spoke idea wins.

pics courtesy of the ‘net:

[f1ford48]

Very nicely done, the wear on floorboards is perfect!  wood box looks authentic also, you really improved on this ''so so'' kit!

[milo1303s]

Ahh the model T you could have it in any color as long as it's black !!

 

[mitchy]

Yep, and hand-painted black at that!

[Gramps46]

I  am very impressed with what you have done with this T.  Looking forward to seeing more.

[mitchy]

Thank you. I’m stalling whilst getting another model moving, but I shall soon have this one under glass...

[LaughingIndian]

 

Great job! The only criticism is the giant clothespins in the vintage-look pics ... 

[mitchy]

Haha you got me!

 

[mitchy]

At last I got around to remove the blingy gold chrome off the rims, trim the tyre locating flange off the outside edge, and have a little play with some paint.

The tyre is in fact an o-ring, the kit tires are a bit too chunky for the front, and treadless tyres (!) were available back when.

I have gone for the natural wooden spokes with some staining/weathering to go with the used maintained look of the model..

[mitchy]

Wheels painted and test fitted, the rear axle is too wide, and the wheels themselves are too chunky, but it will do. It is reasonably close to my reference photo.

Now to add the final details and get it ‘under glass’...

thanks for looking

ref. photo:

[Deuces]

Wow, nice!!! ☺️

[mitchy]

17 hours ago, Deuces said:

Wow, nice!!! ☺️

Thanks!

I should really get on with the final touches and get this under glass!

[sjordan2]

Outstanding.

[the goon]

Very cool.

 

Mark

[Casey]

Nice work, especially the wooden bed. 

[gray07]

great build I been following, but whats funny is, they drove these thru the winter some had no roofs or windows, here when I go outside if its 35 I turn my heated seats on, heated steering wheel, the heat on and roll my windows up, nope couldn't drive one of those, oh yeh a hot coffee in my drink holder. lol

[Brudda]

Really nice!!!!!!!

[DumpyDan]

Outstanding work, love it.

[dino246gt]

I don't think I've ever seen painted plastic look SO much like real wood, excellent, and it's a VERY unusual model subject, um, I don't think I've ever seen another one! Great workmanship, (workpersonship?)