1931 Ford ‘Stovebolt Six’ Roadster

1/8th scale 1931 Ford ‘Stovebolt Six’ Roadster.
One of the drawbacks of building in 1/8th scale is the lack of choice. Nobody makes to this scale, and all we have is the occasional reboot of an old Monogram/Revell kit, in very few numbers, every 10 years if we are lucky. If you want anything other than a V8, then you’ll have to whistle, or build your own.
I fancied a Chevy ‘Stovebolt’ Six powering this build - an engine that was used in Bedford/Opel trucks and some Vauxhall cars, as well as being a stalwart smooth powerplant in GM vehicles for decades.
Research and collecting photos, including as many dimensions as I possibly could, was the start, followed by producing drawings to scale. These drawings were then transferred to plasticard sheet, along with using tube/strip styrene to create what you see here......and an auto gearbox. Artistic license is used to some degree.

Hi Ron,

You are both a styrene artist and engineer, this is a thing of beauty, Sir...

Andy...

If I can do it Andy, anybody can, I’m not special - just enthusiastic.

Onto the rest of the car ; I managed to purchase a complete unbuilt Revell ‘32 Ford Roadster, at a price I wouldn’t normally spend, but I had my plans. Most of the kit would go on another build, however I now had a spare body to play with.
A simple ladder frame chassis was built, and a 1931 Ford grille shell, from good old plasticard sheet, rod and tubing. The rear body was cut and wheel tubs made to accommodate the big 1/10th scale RC Traxxas Goodyear Eagle slicks and wheels. Front wheels and tyres came from the kit. Interior panel work was added, a big fuel tank, and all the car’s running gear. A steering wheel was made from a plastic earring to finish off the working steering. The spaghetti exhaust manifold had to work around the steering box on the chassis.

The original kit seat and new hood was finished in tan. Interior includes pedals and pedal box, new dash layout, gear lever and handbrake. The underside got all the detail such as wiring, fuel and brake lines.....all scratchbuilt....no plans ! The car is painted in Rover Kingfsher Blue Metallic - with chequered firewall. I still have to get around to painting the aluminium mesh grille satin black, one day - but otherwise, it’s done.

.......and for those who are not really interested in Hot Rods and Americana, I have this 1/8th waiting in the wings.

Ron, that six banger is unbelievable!!!
Your detail work is crazy!!! The amount of detail that you can put into the larger scale is the one thing that really intimidates me.

Hi Ron,

Yep, I'm still going with my first statement Sir, "You are both a styrene artist and engineer"...

I will look forward to seeing what you do to the Anglia, it's one of my all time favourite cars...

Andy...

I agree Andy

If I am keeping track of things, we still need to see that blue roadster and the woody.

Thank-you guys for the comments, but nobody is more surprised than myself at the way my scratch-building comes out. I only started a few years ago when I joined the 1/24th scale Truck Forum, and some of those guys really do build great stuff out of fresh air. Building in big 1/8th means it is a bit easier - with all the extra nuts and bolts coming from Spectacle repair kits, and you definitely need a Dremel to drill all those holes.

Oh boy, Oh boy, Oh boy.....

I am looking at this for the first time on my 29in computer screen. All I can say is WoW !! I will definitely be picking your brain on a lot of your details.

Thanks all - These things are big - compared to Dinky Toys, and you may espy a 1/25th Chevy in the cabinet below to compare.
I can’t remember if I’ve featured the old Aqua rod before, or not ? ....but here it is again.

I don't think you have a complete thread devoted to this one, or the Woody. I would appreciate both please. They will help me with mine. I pulled mine out to start one, but was completely overwhelmed and put them back. You just made me pull them out again. That is why I started the thread in the General section. I will be adding more pics soon. Hopefully you can help me sort one of them out.

That deserves a ‘holy mackerel Batman’ you make it look easy.. when it isn’t at all.

Because of the size, I fully expect it to start up.