Surplus - gas turbine powered '50 Ford F1

[Karl LaFong]

I recently picked up a Revell Experimental Turbine engine - I found that it fit well on the Revell '40 Ford frame and that the Revell '50 Ford F1 looked good  on that frame.  So far, I've shortened the bed to fit the frame, dechromed some AMT Phantom Vicky wheels and painted them Tamiya gunmetal, and modified the rear axle to fit the wheels.

 

The engine was dechromed and painted with various shades of Testor's Metalizer paints.  I only used the {ambiguous} instructions as a guide for assembling the engine.  I hope Atlantis finds the molds for this mill; while it doesn't represent an actual gas turbine engine, it's still a cool sci-fi/diesel punk engine.

[crossfire 2004]

Great concept Keith, will be watching this build as I have one of those turbine engines that I plan to use in a Corvette C1 ‘concept ‘ car with a Beatnik Bandit bubble top. You are right about the instructions being somewhat vague but they may be the least of my problems come the day.

 

[espo]

I like what you're building here. The problem is now I have to find one of these engines just because. 

[Karl LaFong]

2 hours ago, crossfire 2004 said:

Great concept Keith, will be watching this build as I have one of those turbine engines that I plan to use in a Corvette C1 ‘concept ‘ car with a Beatnik Bandit bubble top. You are right about the instructions being somewhat vague but they may be the least of my problems come the day.

 

Shades of Model Car Science, circa 1963!  And that is a good thing.  One thing about the engine is that it's fairly wide (1.18"), so shoe horning it into a passenger car engine compartment will be a challenge.  The combustion chamber makes for a very asymmetrical unit.

[crossfire 2004]

30 minutes ago, Karl LaFong said:

Shades of Model Car Science, circa 1963!  And that is a good thing.  One thing about the engine is that it's fairly wide (1.18"), so shoe horning it into a passenger car engine compartment will be a challenge.  The combustion chamber makes for a very asymmetrical unit.

Where there’s a will there’s a way.... 

Thanks for pointing that out, now I’m thinking about canting it over like Chrysler’s leaning tower of power.

what are you doing about drive to the axle ?

[Goose1957]

Cool project. Can't wait to see the progress on this one. So that's what it is. I have a parts tree with a few of the parts on it including the front intake, but it's not complete. I wasn't sure

[Karl LaFong]

5 hours ago, crossfire 2004 said:

Where there’s a will there’s a way.... 

Thanks for pointing that out, now I’m thinking about canting it over like Chrysler’s leaning tower of power.

what are you doing about drive to the axle ?

I'm using the turbine "torque reducer" - I had to shim the rear engine support to raise it to the level of the drive shaft.  I don't see the need for the turbine "drive line" part.

[crossfire 2004]

7 hours ago, Karl LaFong said:

I'm using the turbine "torque reducer" - I had to shim the rear engine support to raise it to the level of the drive shaft.  I don't see the need for the turbine "drive line" part.

Thanks for that Keith,  that shot from the rear shows just how wide the turbine really is overall. My corvette plan may just be a pipe dream.

[Karl LaFong]

I got some work done on the interior of the truck.

I wanted aircraft-type seats, so I started with the custom seats from the AMT '66 Thunderbird:

 

I filed off the sides, added drilled side pieces from .02 Evergreen styrene and channel stock to the bottom of the seat.  I also needed to make a shelf for these seats; I used Evergreen channel and styrene sheet:

 

The seats were painted with Testor's Aluminum Plate metalizer, with the cushions painted with Testor's Acrylic Leather.  The floor and interior of the cab was painted Testor's Flat Medium Green:

 

The dashboard has Model Car Garage gauges and switches made from solder and photoetched washers:

That's it for tonight!

[Modelbuilder Mark]

very nice touches

[Karl LaFong]

I finally have the vehicle up on 4 tires, and it received a Tamiya Gloss Aluminum paint job.

[Tom Geiger]

I like it!  Let's keep on movin' forward!

I've had in my mind to create an odd engine from parts that nobody would recognize... didn't realize there was a kit of one!  ?

[Karl LaFong]

16 hours ago, Tom Geiger said:

 

I've had in my mind to create an odd engine from parts that nobody would recognize... didn't realize there was a kit of one!  ?

Yup, it's a golden oldie - if  you check out '63-65 era Model Car Science or Car Modeler, there were plenty of cars featured with this engine.  The one thing about this mill, which was pointed out elsewhere in the Forum, is that it isn't based on an actual turbine engine, so you could call it a steam, atomic, matter/antimatter, or what have you, and you would still have a completely accurate engine ?. (Somewhere a rivet-counter is gnashing his/her teeth...).  I hope I can find anther one at a reasonable price, I have a steam powered vehicle in mind.

[Karl LaFong]

I have the interior completed and installed.  The steering wheel is a Model Car Garage banjo steering wheel item with an AMT 1936 Ford rim.  I didn't like the looks of the dashboard switches; they were replaced with MCG dashboard details.  Since there's no transmission, there's no need for a shift lever.

 

The bed contains a fuel cell from a MPC stock car kit, painted Tamiya NATO green.  I'll install the filler later.  O gauge diamond plate sheet painted Testor's magnesium replaces the original wood grain floor.

Various wires, bits, and bobs have been added to the engine.

I hope to wrap this up in the next week or so.

[Karl LaFong]

In the homestretch (I hope).  The front looked naked without a grill, so I used the grill from the '50 F1, and added an alternator and other details , including a Replicas and Miniatures oil cooler mounted behind the grill.

 

When my dad was stationed in the Southwest Pacific during World War II, he took several pictures of plane nose art, including the B-24 "Hangover Haven II".  I had planned to build a model of it, but lost interest, so I used the decal (minus the "II") on the truck.

[Belugawrx]

I like it !.. not a hangover,.. I meant the truck

Keep it going Keith ? 

[Karl LaFong]

All done!  Completed pictures in the Under Glass section.

[89AKurt]

On 11/10/2019 at 11:02 AM, espo said:

I like what you're building here. The problem is now I have to find one of these engines just because. 

Don't you hate that? ?

[MINIARE DELUXE]

Wicked Kool Build and so much detail!!