1932 Ford Model B Woody Wagon.....in 1/8th. ????

1932 Ford Model B Woody Wagon in 1/8th scale
More scratchbuilding !
This was the main project for buying an unbuilt Revell ‘32 Street Rod kit a few years ago.
Using the kit parts and extra plastic extrusions I built up a beefy chassis with stronger front / rear axle, semi elliptic springs and raised ride height - using aftermarket RC steel wheels and knobbly tyres, and a modified engine to run a single quad carb and desert air cleaner.
A complete front cowl / screen and firewall was constructed in plasticard, then the chassis, wings, hood and grille were painted in Fiat Capri blue.

...and onto the body !
After research, I did drawings to scale - but with an English twist. Woodys were never officially imported to the UK, with ‘Shooting Brakes’ being Individually built by hand on a car/truck chassis’.
Although Ford GB had the capability and tooling to build Model B cars, few were produced in 1932, as Britain was still in deep financial Depression. Only the wealthy could afford to run a large car and they would rather choose another British car manufacturer (Humber/Alvis/Lagonda, etc), than a Ford - also most British ‘B’’s were built with the 4cyl. engine for taxation reasons, and because the plant to produce the V8 didn’t come online until 1935.
Also in 1932, Ford GB announced the Ford Model Y - to become the first £100 car, to be produced in Dagenham and Cork, and output was concentrated on this little car rather than the larger Model B. This Model Y had all the styling cues of the US 1933/4 model, but a year earlier. Our Model B plodded on until 1935/36 with most production going to Commercial vehicles. Only two car models were produced, the Tudor and Fordor, which were significantly different by having suicide doors, unlike US models. Any other body type had to be coachbuilt - as with my Woody, or imported from Canada - because they were a member of the British Commonwealth and the import tariffs were lower than the US.




[url=https://servimg.com/view/20492927/236][img]https://i.servimg.com/u/f64/20/49/29/27/cbba
[url=https://servimg.com/view/20492927/237]

I think I’ve broken the forum again with too much information.

I wanted my Woody to have double rear doors, and a lowered roof height, compared to the usual US spec. Plasticard was again used to make the doors first to fit in a frame, then slowly expanded on the build by adding the roof strips. The doors were hung on small hinges made from plastic tube and strip, and small metal bolts. The sheet roof was finally fitted and filler used to curve the edges, and sanded back. The roof was then stippled with a bristle brush in Satin Black to recreate a leather roof, and the body was painstakingly wood-grained, and stained. A pair of comfortable front seats and a bench seat were made from plastic sheet, as well as door cards, painted in satin red/brown.
Maybe the green tinted ‘glass’ was a step too far, but it’s finished.

Hi Ron,

Absolutely STUNNING Sir, the woodgrain is most impressive and if you hadn't of shown the build process, I would have argued that it was "real" wood...



Andy...

Wow! That's a great build!

Oh...my...
You do very impressive work, and this was quite the undertaking. That body built up like the real thing.

Thanks guys,
I hope nobody thinks that I’m posting my scratchbuilds simply for praise - okay a little bit of me does, it’s only natural, but I’m astounded on what is capable if we try. A few years ago, I thought it was an art only professionals could perform. Like most scale modellers I can see every little mistake and the huge errors in every model I build, to the point I think twice on posting pictures - and I have a long list of things I would change if I ever built another one. In fact, I’m thinking whether I should tear this model apart and readdress the faults now. Life isn’t perfect, and it’s too short. I had fun building it at the time, and I think if I did pull it apart, it would end up as just a bunch of parts. So, for now, I’m just going to leave it as it is, complete with the faults and errors, and all.

Fabulous work Ron.

Don't forget to post the Model T builds.

I’m working on them Sam.
It’s first finding the right photos. Then sending them to myself, to load on a computer to resize them.
....then posting them back to myself and save to photos
...then post them to the forum via my ipad....maybe you know the routine.?

I definitely resemble that remark.

This is fantastic work Ron, so don't you even think of tearing it down or I'll send it the Styrene Control Squad!!!

"I hope nobody thinks that I’m posting my scratchbuilds simply for praise"

We all do that to some extent Ron, so don't worry on that score. I just love to see everybody's techniques, it is after all how we learn.

Thanks Al. One of my 1/8th builds I’m very tempted to turn back to spare parts, which you haven’t seen yet.
Someday I’ll get around to posting the pics - and you can give me your honest opinion and ideas, please.

Send them via PM now Ron.

......I’ll do it for all to see - pointing out all the errors, and questioning my sanity. 🥴