Model T 1913 Speedster WIP ( Done 4/30/22)

Greg

 

 

Bakster

Maybe I should strap some water kegs, like the Beverly Hillbilies car. For just in case. Don't tell Granny I am taking some of her rheumatism medicine.

 

 

A tad off-topic, but I saw the old AMT kit for sale (straight retail, i'm not willing to pay the scalper prices) some time ago and put it on my want-list. Haven't seen it anywhere since. Not buying it when I saw it was a mistake.

 

 

Greg, I see one available on Ebay. Not too late. That would be a fun one and a cool WIP if so inclined.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/284642615254?hash=item4246059fd6:g:-6IAAOSw9QBiAJB8

Bakster

Maybe I should strap some water kegs, like the Beverly Hillbilies car. For just in case. Don't tell Granny I am taking some of her rheumatism medicine.

A tad off-topic, but I saw the old AMT kit for sale (straight retail, i'm not willing to pay the scalper prices) some time ago and put it on my want-list. Haven't seen it anywhere since. Not buying it when I saw it was a mistake.

Bakster

Hey there, Greg. Your question sparked another thought I have. This was the process I used on these:

1. Primer, in this case Gunze GSI followed by a light sanding.

2. Sprayed a layer of Testors Glosscote. I do this to smooth out the piece even further. I draw out the gloss, so no sanding is required. If a spec gets  onto the piece, I lightly sand.

3. Spray Alclad Brass.

4. Add a final seal coat of Testors Glosscote. Mainly to protect the paint because is somewhat delicate.

5. Apply a wash.

Step 4 is where it got interesting. I didn't do that this time. Either the hot lacquer melted the clear underneath or, the spray issue I mentioned added a sealant to the Alclad. As I mentioned at times it was spraying clear. So either that was lacquer coming through, or some type of suspension in the paint. The brass paint mixed together with the clear making them one. I didn't have to apply the final sealant. I got a high gloss out of this. It was kind of cool it worked out that way but a person has to be careful that the piece doesn't lose too much detail.

None of this is here nor there but I thought interesting to note. Is it a fluke? Maybe. 

 

Thanks for your further explanation, Steve.

I am truly interested in these details because you're radiator (including the nameplate) looks so good.

Been out of pocket for a few days but am glad I popped back in on this build Steve. You never disappoint pal. Beautiful work going on in here.

I pretty much have all the remaining parts painted and ready for install.

Something I want to share with you is shown below. I have talked about this process before but with this recent application it struck me how well this works. 

On the left is the steering column that I painted, and on the right is the holder it was attached to while painting. Out of the bottle the paint on the right is how it looks after spraying. It is bright and almost garish. Once when I applied the wash, the color transformed to what is shown on the left. It blows me away at how close to brass that it transforms to. Of course, the Testors Gloss adds to it's depth but the wash is the magic bullet with it's ability to tone it down. Both are needed though.

Thought you might be interested.

Below: The steering wheel. I found some 1:1 T images where the wood has a high gloss to it. I liked the richness of it so I tried to duplicate it. I probably applied a little too much clear but overall I am happy with it.

End of update.

Rear lantern is installed. To spruce up the lantern I fabricated lenses. One red, one blue, and one clear. Searching on the net, and the best I can tell, those are probably the colors used.  

Below: This is all that is left to assemble, paint, and install. Pretty much the steering column, wheel, levers, windscreen, and foot pedals. Once done with that the model is complete. Though, I am thinking a base for the model as well.

End of update.

I have the headlights on and except for the rear lantern, lanterns are on too.

Regarding the second issue with this kit-- it was with the two lanterns. They came with clear inserts that had large, tapered gaps when installed, and they are unusable as provided. It would have taken major work to correct that hot mess. I went rogue in my approach to them. Even how I mounted them is not technically correct. So-- potential builders-- don't look to my model for the correct answer. And btw-- my earlier confusion about the glass sides whether painted or unpainted would have easily been answered if I had looked at the back cover of the instruction sheet. A painting key is provided there. For some reason, I did not expect to find that on the back cover. Brain, lapse, I guess. In my case it would not have mattered either way because of the gap issue.

Anyway--in retrospect, and if I could do this over-- I would have left them off entirely. I would have filled the mounting notches on the firewall and moved on. The firewall assembly was already painted, so that was not an option. I had to press forwarded.

I made lenses for those lanterns using a punch, and some thicker plastic taken from clear packaging material. Using the gold marker I painted the edge, and I used Future to set them in place.

Mounting the main lights is a challenge because orientation is loosey goosey. You need to adjust them as the glue begins to set. I used 5 minute epoxy to accomplish this. Later, I flowed CA on the connection for added strength.

My goal for this weekend is to finish the rear lantern, and to possibly get that mounted. 

Hey thanks, Joe, Dave, Willys, and Duster for the encouragement!

Holy schmokes Steve. Sounds like you went through the wringer to get where you are at with this build. This is sure turning out to be a labor of love despite all the setbacks. Looks sharp.......really sharp.

Spectacular build, congratulations!

I admire your enthusiast and stamina with this build, not to mention workmanship. It's paying off .

Bakster. Great Job. The progress is well worth your preplaning time.

Sorry I missed out on your updates and to answer your further question on metal leafing.  That said, I did have a good reason, I was helping "the little old lady" next door cleanout her carburetor in her new Testla- quite a job I can tell you. 

Again, very well done. 

keavdog

It's looking really sharp.  You can see the finish line I bet.

 

Thanks, John. Yes indeed. I have the timing lever in one hand, trying not to stall it, no hills please, and steering in the other hand. Almost to the finish line.

It's looking really sharp.  You can see the finish line I bet.

So far there are two things with this model that I was not crazy about. That said, two out many done right is not terrible. The first is noted below, the second I will note at another time.

The tires had a lot of flash and I tell ya, it was a bear to clean them up. I had an extra tire in the kit so I was able to practice on that. That was a blessing because I needed a sacrificial lamb. I destroyed the thing finding the best method.

I tried cutting the flash off, which it does not cut easily. And when it does cut-- you end up slicing more than you wanted to. Ultimately-- sanding them off with a sanding stick worked best. But-- not just any sanding stick-- the one shown in the image. I tried various sticks and/or including sanding paper, and they all tore at the rubber. It looked like H E L L. For some reason this stick had the right stuff and it didn't destroy it. 

The tires are mounted. Some things to note:

1. You can't see it in the images much because of how cameras alter images-- but-- I dirtied them up some using brown weathering power. If you look at the spare tire you can see how white that is in comparison. I didn't weather the spare. A Seinfeld reference.. Can you spare a square? 

2. The tires were sticky from the get-go, so--I sealed them in Testors Dullcote. This sealed in the weathering power and blended things some too. They look better after. How the Dullcote fares on rubber long term-- I do not know. I suppose I will find out over time. I don't expect an issue, but one never knows. I didn't overdo it so that might help.

3. The tires fit loosely on the rims and unless I wanted them moving around -- I needed to secure them. With the tires installed and from the backside-- I applied small amounts of super thin CA glue to the rim join. Capillary action channeled it around some and I used gravity to help by holding the tire vertically.

I did try matching the camber shown in the instruction. This is not a great angle to see that, but in future posts you will.

Probably more than you wanted to know.

End of update.

Bakster

Something needs to be sanded, and at this stage, it is a scary prospect with things being so delicate.

I guess I will share this with you all.

You have no idea how true this came to be and how close the project came to nuclear fist annihilation. As feared-- sanding created the perfect storm of destruction. It started with one end of the axile coming loose and ended with the entire front end coming off. The axile, radiator, steering linkages, even the fan blade laid bare. I was amazed at how quickly it happened. And--let me tell you-- I was being extremely careful. In retrospect-- I should have just tried filing out the wheel hubs. I didn't start there because I was afraid of damaging paint on the hubs/rims.

There was some damage in all this because the glue pulled some paint. Fortunately, it happened in areas not visable and I was able to repair the whole mess. It is back to near where it was. Phew. That was a really close call. 

Thanks John, TB, and Willys for responding. 

As the saying goes-- you learn something new everyday. I was not epecting this. It's cool ICM built that into the kit. 

WillysMB

I love the saying today that old cars came with instructions on how to grind valves, today's cars tell you not to drink the battery acid.

Lol. So true. 

Excellent insight you are provinding on the T, Willys. Thank you! 

The T's had a pronounced camber very visible from the front and set by the angle of the king pins, hence not adjustable. Depending on the point of observation, a turning T can look very strange.

The slight toe-in was set by twisting the tie rod. Because so much of the tire is visible from the front, pictures often look like toe-out.

They also had a slight positive caster which was set by the the position of the front wishbone and adjusted by bending the axle for which a special tool (basically a massive wrench whose fingers wrapped around the axle) was provided to service departments, if you could find one. Everybody was a shade tree mechanic then and the cars came with quite a few tools to do so.

I love the saying today that old cars came with instructions on how to grind valves, today's cars tell you not to drink the battery acid.

The service manual for the T, not the owners manual, is what owners call the black book. With it one could completely take the car to pieces and reassemble it. Most of the T restoration shops carry reprints.

Hi!

 Yes! I think,(Don't quote Me) they had the noticeable camber because that actually made steering and tracking work better. On a horse drawn vehicle you didn't need that cause if anything the critters would just pull it around behind them no matter what.

And sometimes the answer is right under your nose. 

Last page on the instructions. Sigh...

keavdog

That must be a race car.  Negative camber helps with cornering.  Not sure about the toe out!

 

Interesting thought. Probably it.

That must be a race car.  Negative camber helps with cornering.  Not sure about the toe out!

Or maybe it is supposed to look like this...

Here is a dumb question for someone in the know. The front wheels on this kit seem to by design slant outward like as shown below. Is that how they were? Or is this something I need to fix on the model.

WillysMB

I'm glad you enjoyed the T-tails. Both of my T's are fully functional, but the speedster is a work in process.

If I lived closer--I'd be asking to visit you. It would be a thrill to see these.

WillysMB

I'll try to figure out how to post a picture.

WillysMB

My wife collects era picnic items and we have dog carriers, trunks with fitted luggage, and extra cans of gas/oil/water to go on the running board of the T.

What's funny is that the theme of my build is a Sunday picnic. I have not revealed that until now, but that is the image I have had in my head from the start. That will get fleshed out at the end of this build.

Your and others firsthand knowledge of these cars has been a thrill. I am sure others are learning from this too.

Thanks much for posting!

As mentioned in another post I installed the radiator and front axile assembly. The install went fairly well. My pre-paint test fitting paid off here. The kit gives a good base to go by, but you'd want to check those alignments early, particularly the radiator connections and even the fan blade. The fan blade squares up to the radiator closely, and I had to make some adjustments early on. And with the final install, I made sure the engine cover was in place to minimize gaps.

With all that said, this could have been a nightmare if the kit was not designed as well as it is. Thank goodness it lived up to my expectations.

Some images:

Since taking these images I have installed the steering linkages and muffler. 

At this point I want to install the wheels. This will be a slight challenge because tight tolerances and post paint make it so the wheels won't seat. Something needs to be sanded, and at this stage, it is a scary prospect with things being so delicate.

End of update.

I'm glad you enjoyed the T-tails. Both of my T's are fully functional, but the speedster is a work in process. The Touring car has been on quite a few tours and will handle a 100 mile trip easily. They do require constant maintenance, which is why I tell prospective owners they have to like tinkering. I'll try to figure out how to post a picture.

I've never seen a manifold heater on a Model T, but we have a manifold cooker for the T which we use often and sits on the manifold. After a 50 mile tour one can enjoy a nice hot lunch. We do have a charcoal foot warmer but I'm afraid to try it out. The manifold heaters were pretty common on the Model A's and we have one in our Model A Town Sedan. Problem is they are either on or off so you either freeze or are sweating.

My Dad's first car was a Model T which he drove around the farm in Kansas. Dad was always a Buick man though.

One of our favorite side hobbies is collecting accessories for the T's and A's. The T's in particular were pretty bare bones; the bumpers, tops, windshield and spare tire (but not the wheel) were extra on the early T's. My wife collects era picnic items and we have dog carriers, trunks with fitted luggage, and extra cans of gas/oil/water to go on the running board of the T.

oldermodelguy

Back where I come from as a young kid there is a hill called Ladder Hill for obvious reasons it was steep. And it was actually my dad and mom who told me about Model Ts backing up that hill. My aunt skied those slopes back in the day ( my mothers sister). They had an unckle growing up with a Model T they called Blue Jay. It had the blue body and I assume black fenders of the day. My mom as a child contracted scarlet fever and  she rode in that T the 50+ miles to a Boston hospital in winter time. They had no heater, you could install an aftermarket shroud off the exhaust manifold that piped into the passengers area but it wasn't much use, especially with a roadster. Anyway they made it she survived till 57yo when she passed on from *** cancer. My aunt died a few years later of spinal cancer. Once diagnosed they both passed in about 3 months time.

Not many average folks had cars in the days my parents grew up in, plus the depression came along. But in my era most families had at least a used car. The first car I vaguely remember my dad having me on his lap letting me steer ( sort of) was a 35 Ford sedan. The next thing was a beast of a 1940 Oldsmobile sedan. And on it went from there.

 

I was born in 60, well past all of this. I recall my Dad had a red Lincoln, don't know the year. Shortly after was a modern Chevy station wagon to haul my parents brood. 

Goes to show how far the automobile and aircraft have come in the last century or so.

Won't be long before mankind will be declared obsolete.

WillysMB--

firstly, thanks for the kudos.  Secondly, thanks for all you wrote! As I read this-- (smiling all the way through)-- I wondered how you knew all this. Then I get to the end and there it is... you own one. Lol. What an awesome read. 

I presume the cars you have are functional? I'd love to see pics-- but I understand why you wouldn't want to post them.

And this is what I love most about WIPs; The great stories and knowledge that come through them.  It's a banner day.