Scratch build '29 Model A Tudor Sedan Ratrod

[Hoosierdady]

next should be the headers!

I've got a couple of things to wrap up first but they're definitely on the list.

Definitely NAILED It!!

Thanks man!

Outstanding! "thumbsup"

Thanks Mike.

Rear tires and wheels came out great. Like the grill work. Can't wait until you install the rear end to see what the stance is going to look like.

Thanks. The stance you see is what it'll be, lol. It'll lay frame via a servo to control the ride height and throw sparks once I get the flint/spark wheel installed under the frame. Running rear ride height will be right at 1/2" in the back and damn near dragging in the front. I plan on raising the front end with the leaf spring right at 1/4" if even that much.

Small parts update!! I just ordered 2 disc brake and caliper kits for a transmitter. The way they're designed I should be able to fit the rotor on the back of the wheel and make a bracket to hold the caliper in place up front so that the rotor spins freely inside the caliper like the VP kits. I plan on using a couple of bottle caps to simulate rear brake drums.

 

[rerebuilder]

I saw on the show Counting Cars they had a rat rod that the top of the roof was lower then the top of the motor. They also used a bomb as a gas tank. (just a idea)

 

[Hoosierdady]

I got the radiator shell and insert finished. I used piano wire for the insert and coated it all in Model Masters Aluminum Metalizer paint. Same process, spray, dry and then buff. I'll take my Dremel to it tonight to get a little more shine out of it yet.

 

[SwampDawg]

Dude I so want this rat. This rat is lookin ill.

Step in line...me 1st lmao

Arrma Raider assault buggy

 

[Hoosierdady]

The chassis is starting to take shape. I welded in the motor/trans mount. It's not as clean of a job as the frame rails, but it's what I had to work with at the moment and it should clean up nice.


I hacked up some Vaterra trailing arms to get my rear links. They're more like swing arms but will give just a touch of articulation for the ride.



It should look like this in the back.



This should be the ride height. Right at 1/2" in the rear and very little up front.

 

[Hoosierdady]

I got some more work done on the Model A over the past few days. I made a rear servo mount to raise and lower the rear end. I notched out the links and also notched out the servo so it fit very tight in the notches.



It sits low to say the least...




I wanted some disc brakes up front and in the true spirit of a rat rod I didn't want to break the bank to get them. So I ordered a couple of disc brake kits for a transmitter from YR for roughly $6.


I was in for a surprise when I removed the caliper :roll:. Cheap skates didn't drill and slot the whole thing. Try as I might I couldn't get in there to make the rest of the rotor match so I drew the slots and hole on for now.


I ground out the center of the rotors until they fit snuggly onto the back of the front Traxxas wheels. Then a little G2 glue held them in place.


Then I used the same glue and some rubberized CA glue to hold this small piece of aluminum tube onto the calipers. Believe it or not the bond is very strong. I've got to grind out the slot a litter wider to allow for some play.


I think they turned out great and the scale is spot on.


Next up is to figure out how to use these leaf springs up front. I also got some Losi Micro shocks to use on the front too. I'm thinking about making some small aluminum tubes to glue over the plastic shock bodies so I can have a polished look to them, if not I'll use the Metallizer paint.

 

[rerebuilder]

That servo to raise and lower the rearend will look cool like having airbags installed. The discs brakes are a very nice touch also. Are you going to be mounting the leaf spring on the front axle?

 

[Mike Flea]

If you want to keep the low front ride height, you may have to cut one spring in half and make quarter elliptical springs. The other choice is torsion springs or friction springs.

I'll remove these pics if you don't want them here.

 

[Hoosierdady]

That servo to raise and lower the rearend will look cool like having airbags installed. The discs brakes are a very nice touch also. Are you going to be mounting the leaf spring on the front axle?

Thanks. I'll use a speed module for landing gear on airplanes to slow down the servo so that it acts like bags too. Yes, the leaf goes up front too.

If you want to keep the low front ride height, you may have to cut one spring in half and make quarter elliptical springs. The other choice is torsion springs or friction springs.

I'll remove these pics if you don't want them here.

No problem on the pics bub. I have the front end figured out already. I was looking into doing the 1/4 springs as you have shown, but I'm trying to eliminate having to run links up front so I came up with another idea that will work perfectly.

 

[rally racer #75]

are you going for the mad max style? or just badass hotrod?
btw, the car is looking great!"thumbsup"

 

[THX_138]

Not my "current" project, but it is one of my future projects kickin in the back yard.

Suicide axle set-up
Guessing that's what your thinking?

 

[rerebuilder]

This is what I was also referring to when I asked if the leafs were going on the front axle.

 

[Hoosierdady]

are you going for the mad max style? or just badass hotrod?
btw, the car is looking great!"thumbsup"

Thanks! I'm going for a badass Rat rod look. No where near MadMax. I like the movies, but not the cars.

Not my current project, just one of my "future projects" kickin in the back yard.

Suicide axle set-up
Guessing that's what your thinking?

Yessir. I've been checking in on your 1:1 build too, lol. I have a 1:1 '29 Tudor sedan that should be road worthy by the end of the year as long as my Dad gets in gear.

This is what I was also referring to when I asked if the leafs were going on the front axle.

Yup, I'm planning on doing just that...sort of :mrgreen:.

I got the chassis work finished for now. I've got a couple of things to line out yet, but for the most part the chassis is done. I used a metallic "Oil rubbed Bronze" paint as a base, then I over sprayed it with a "Hammered effect" copper paint. I dabbed the holes with some Iron ore rust paint and then hit it with the activator. Once it all dried I sprayed it all with a light coat of matte finish clear to help preserve the fresh orangish rust as well as the darker rust.


I hacked up a couple of leaf springs and used some scale hardware from Lockeduprc.com to attach them to the front axle. I drilled a couple of extra hole to help reduce the stiffness some, but mainly to give it a used look. I just can not however bring myself to distress this front axle. It being aluminum I think I'm going to get it really dirty (ashes, clay, sand and dirt) and let it sit outside for a few days. That should give it a well used look without getting away from the aluminum look I want to keep.


I mounted it to the axle so that I won't have to use links at all. It's VERY secure and the mounting design will only let it sit against the frame rails even if it does move.




It mounts like so...


The overall vibe so far is exciting to me. It's turning out EXACTLY as I had it planned in my mind. The radiator shell is just sitting there, but you get the idea.

 

[rerebuilder]

That is turning out to be one sweet ride. Yeah that would be hard distressing a nice piece like that front axle. Can't wait to see the headers that you come up with. Are you going to use metal racing seats like you see in a lot of rat rods. Need a tall stick shift sticking out the roof.

 

[Hoosierdady]

That is turning out to be one sweet ride. Yeah that would be hard distressing a nice piece like that front axle. Can't wait to see the headers that you come up with. Are you going to use metal racing seats like you see in a lot of rat rods. Need a tall stick shift sticking out the roof.

No metal seats. I have pictures of the seat Im using posted on page 2 I think. I'm keeping it mild with this Ratrod. More over a rusty Hotrod than anything. The shifter will be a normal shifter, I think Ole Rick Grimes will be driving this beast unless I can get my hands on a Negan action figure at a decent price.

 

[rerebuilder]

Yeah missed seeing the seats there. Those are perfect for the build.

 

[Mike Flea]

Since you don't want to distress that sweet front axle, and I agree, you could hit it with Testor's Dullcoat spray. It'll take away some of the shiny without destroying the beauty of the axle.

 

[Hoosierdady]

Yeah missed seeing the seats there. Those are perfect for the build.

Thanks. I'm still trying to figure out if I'll be able to make it a 4 seater like I want.

Since you don't want to distress that sweet front axle, and I agree, you could hit it with Testor's Dullcoat spray. It'll take away some of the shiny without destroying the beauty of the axle.

That's a great idea "thumbsup". That or some of this Metalizer paint. I think a matte finish would make it look like its casted.

 

[Hoosierdady]

I've done a little work to the Tudor lately. I made my drive shaft tunnel from some .20 styrene and a small piece of half round.



It sits down nice and low 8)



I also remade my rear swing arms too and used some zinc scale hardware from Lockeduprc.com.



It's all falling together real nice like.



It lays frame and has roughly a 1/2" ride height.




Now that I look at it from the rear in these pics I got the contour of the right side off a little at the top. But it's close enough for my first scratch build IMO.

 

[joe122]

Nice floor pan work! Very cool build, and that stance, awesome!