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

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

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.

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. 

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

Spectacular build, congratulations!

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.

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

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. 

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 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.

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.

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.

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

 

 

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

"Thanks for your further explanation, Steve.

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

You are welcome and THANKS, Greg.

mustang1989

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.

 

Thanks Joe, I appreciate the feedback. 

Bakster

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

Thanks for the link, Steve.

Your Model T is really looking great. I don't know what I like better, the attention to detail or that beautiful green color!!!

Backster that is a great piece of work. Great job on the detailing.

Greg

Thanks for the link, Steve.

Greg

Your Model T is really looking great. I don't know what I like better, the attention to detail or that beautiful green color!!!

Thanks, Greg! It has been a learning experience. Going into this I expected the build to be a somewhat easier. In some ways, it is, other ways, not so easy. Just glad I am at the finish line and hopefully--I can check this one off as completed.

Thanks for following!

lurch

Backster that is a great piece of work. Great job on the detailing.

 

Thanks, Lurch! And thanks for following.

Very nice looks great.

oldermodelguy

Very nice looks great.

 

 Dave, thanks!  I finished the model last night. Overall, I am happy with the outcome. There are some things I could have done better, but they are lessons learned.

To finish this project out I must make the base for it. With luck, I will have pics by the weekend.

Thanks for following the project. I do appreciate it...

Still tormenting me...

Project is complete.  For the terrain I found that AK Interactive sells it premade as mats. It saved me a lot of time. Cut and glue... I like it.

https://ak-interactive.com/product-category/textures-dioramas-building-material/dioramas-vegetation/grass-tufts/

Like with all my projects I have a vision for it and here I envision a Model T period woman taking her beau on a picnic. Much to the chagrin of her beau-- she pays more attention to the Speedster than to him.  And by the way... she won't let him drive it. She tells him, "you will put it in a ditch!"

And that is that. Any questions--let me know. If not-- thanks for following, contributing, and enjoying the journey with me.

Steve 

Absolutley brilliant Steve!  Great base and photos as well.  An thanks for sharing the build, it's been a fun journey.

HEY !!!

How did the Apes get to 1913 Earth ???

Being this far back in time creates a whole host of questions.

Did they use Ford technology  to infiltrate NASA, and influence the creation of Icrus???

If so, ...what was the spark setting for Icrus???

And,...

If the Icrus  is based on a 1913 Ford, why did Taylor crash it ?? ( wouldn't an advanced human understand the basics of driving... I mean, the Apes obviously  figured it out ... )

Now my head hurts ......

Awesome  job by the way !!!!

keavdog

Absolutley brilliant Steve!  Great base and photos as well.  An thanks for sharing the build, it's been a fun journey.

 

Hey Thanks, John. Thanks for following and posting too.

littletimmy

HEY !!!

How did the Apes get to 1913 Earth ???

Being this far back in time creates a whole host of questions.

Did they use Ford technology  to infiltrate NASA, and influence the creation of Icrus???

If so, ...what was the spark setting for Icrus???

And,...

If the Icrus  is based on a 1913 Ford, why did Taylor crash it ?? ( wouldn't an advanced human understand the basics of driving... I mean, the Apes obviously  figured it out ... )

Now my head hurts ......

 

Awesome  job by the way !!!!

 

 

Hehe. Yes mystifying time travel development.

Thanks Timmy.

Hi, Steve -

That's one seriously fine model, beautiful work top to bottom, front to back. Not only did you turn out an example that will inspire others, your posted details were among the best I've seen as a tutorial.

I learned several things for adding to my bag of modeling tricks, ya done good mate. Thanks a whole heapin' gob.

Patrick

patrick206

That's one seriously fine model, beautiful work top to bottom, front to back. Not only did you turn out an example that will inspire others, your posted details were among the best I've seen as a tutorial.

I can't think of anything that expresses my feelings about this one than what Patrick said, aside from mentioning your attention to detail, which sort of goes along with a fine model.

I'm blown away by the round windshield. First I've ever been made aware of it, it is so cool.

This is one of those rare builds I've seen online which I'd be proud to have on my shelf, even though I didn't build it.

patrick206

Hi, Steve -

That's one seriously fine model, beautiful work top to bottom, front to back. Not only did you turn out an example that will inspire others, your posted details were among the best I've seen as a tutorial.

I learned several things for adding to my bag of modeling tricks, ya done good mate. Thanks a whole heapin' gob.

Patrick

 

Hey, Patrick, Wow! What you wrote is the ultimate compliment. I take your kind words to heart. Knowing that you benefited from and enjoyed the project makes the work of my documenting things completely worth it.

I have to say that towards the end of this build I scaled back my step by steps. I began to feel that I might be overdoing it. It's a fine line to walk sometimes. I don't want to insult people or come across as a know it all. That is never my intent. I don't know it all, and for me, it's just about my journey to discovery. And along the way, just maybe my journey will help someone.

Thanks again for enjoying this build with me!

PS: In another thread we talked about using craft paints. I am a stickler to AB everything, but on this build, I brush painted some things. Items such as the steering column and foot pedals. They turned out great, though the paint is more delicate. On the foot pedals I followed up with a dry brushing of Tamiya silver. I wanted the pedals to show some wear. The point is, as your pointed out, craft paint is good for some things. It is yet another discovery that you helped to inspire and solidify.