T bucket
Starting by washing the parts.
I decided to paint the T yellow, so I primed the body white.
One reason I chose yellow was to suit the small yellow to red fading flame decal supplied.
I assembled both engines for this two car project together.
The T comes with a Lincoln V8, a popular ohv upgrade from the Ford flathead often fitted to early US hot rods. Not at all common in the UK. This is provided with optional induction systems but I went with the Latham blower. This is an axial supercharger built like the compressor section of a jet engine. Really complicated to make and really expensive, only around 600 pcs were ever made so not common even in the US.
The gold painted engine is a small block Chevy. This engine is well known to UK rodders and although more often used on cars with exposed engines is not out of place under a 'Pop's hood.
The T comes with a Lincoln V8, a popular ohv upgrade from the Ford flathead often fitted to early US hot rods. Not at all common in the UK. This is provided with optional induction systems but I went with the Latham blower. This is an axial supercharger built like the compressor section of a jet engine. Really complicated to make and really expensive, only around 600 pcs were ever made so not common even in the US.
The gold painted engine is a small block Chevy. This engine is well known to UK rodders and although more often used on cars with exposed engines is not out of place under a 'Pop's hood.
And it was all going so well....The suspension components were a real pain to fit! Perhaps its just me, but juggling all these chromed parts was a nightmare. Each end was a pain with seemingly too much tension, but the killer is the radius arms at each end share a bracket that has to be glued to the chassis rails. I was using a medium CA glue which got onto my fingers a couple of times. I ended up doing the front end, fixing the rear radius arms and fixing the rear shocks at one end and then leaving it to set. The next morning I could finish the assembly of the rear shocks. Perhaps modifying a Jaguar IRS and fitting it wouldn't be that much more difficult...
The box illustration of the finished model is very toy-like. The metal front axle, tons of bright chrome and overly thick windscreen stays and the terrible horn all conspire to detract from a nice basic design. I decided to tone down some of the chrome by going with a retro wood and brass theme. The kit includes a wooden barrel gas tank which is not referred to anywhere but which I prefer to the longer than rod-standard pickup bed or the turtle deck.
Just a quick check of the stance ?
Stance looks fine. I don't like the way the metal axle adds clutter to the front but I needed to use it to set up the pesky suspension. This kit includes parts to make either a stock or a custom version and I decided to use some of the stock parts like the steering wheel to add character. (I also want the custom steering wheel from this kit for the Ford 'Pop')
I bought some poly strip, rods and tubes to use on the Ford 'Pop' and one of the rods is the same dia. as the metal axle. I decided to make two short 'axles' to fix each front wheel without running the full width and open up the view of the dropped axle and transverse leaf spring. Not fully realistic but better than stock.
There is no proper mount for the barrel. I glued the rear lights to a couple of lanterns and sprayed them brass to fit the theme.
Radiator and headlights mounted
The finished result.
At least for now.
Windscreen mounted. The glass was too wide and I sawed off a thin sliver at one end.The lghts below screen have intake trumpets from the triple carb option repurposed as lens shrouds and all sprayed brass.
Steering linkage and exhausts fitted.
Barrel fuel tank completed and simply glued in place where it touched.
I found four chrome air filters for the carbs at the front of the blower, not shown nor mentioned in the instructions. They do look like ones on real Latham blowers I googled however and improve the looks.
I chose the yellow paint scheme to match the supplied flame decals, but I think I prefer it flameless. I'm considering fitting windscreen stays (thinner than those included in the kit), but I'm happy with it as it is for now.
Kommentare
5 12 February 2023, 16:11
Christian WThis reminds me on my T-Bucket. I built it decads ago ([img1]) and restorated it a couple years ago ([img2]). Nice to see your with this barrel as fuel tank.
14 February 2023, 06:02
David SmithHi Christian, I see what you mean - mine is closer in style to your original build. I'm new to these very American kits, but it seems that with serial updates and reissues over many years it is not uncommon to find bonus parts lurking on the sprues. Ideal for hot rods and it makes for really fun builds when there is no right or wrong way to finish the kit. I thought I was being clever with the front axle but you had already done exactly the same thing! One question though: did you find assembling the suspension as much of a pain as I did?
14 February 2023, 10:31
Christian WTo answer the question: yes. The chassis is kind a tricky somehow. I was glad, that I restored the whole thing and didn't have to take the chassis apart.
I'm a big fan of the old kits. Mostly they have a lot of parts to built your individual model kit. Tis kit is great. There are a lot of possibilities included.
And: the parts can be used on other model kits. You can change the engines how you like it. That is so cool. My kit also had this barrel but I wanted to have the "short" rear end instead. I laid the barrel on the side to use it somewhere else.
Yours looks great. I like the fresh color and how it works together with the chromed and golden parts. Very nice.
14 February 2023, 10:47
