Large Scale Project Dilemma

I'm putting this here for discussion on where to start, as well as what direction to take with whichever one we figure out should be the easiest to start with. Clear as mud, I know.

Story behind all this 1/8 '32 Ford as well as T parts and projects is this. I bought it all through a friend, who was helping the widow of his friend, find a new home for everything, and we made a deal.

This gentleman's habit was to mock up a build so he could make sure his idea would work...with superglue, and then build it with a fresh kit. Expensive with 1/8, I know. So there are many mocked up projects that I will need to separate, clean up, and figure out how to make various repairs to, so I can then build it. I will start with the '32s first, and the two resin bodies will kick it off.

The first is a roughly chopped five window. As you can tell, it needs major work. Cracks, a-pillar (have the part), fix all misaligned panels and re-scribe everything. Only positive I see is that it is a fairly thin mold. Second one is a chopped three window. As you can see, it has been mounted to a frame, that has some nice modifications, and its trunk opened up, or rumble seat, whichever direction I want to go. Chop is much cleaner and should finish up easier.

Third is an example of what there is as far as engines and parts. This is the most complete one.

20230521_194312 by Sam Grabenhorst, on Flickr

20230521_194351 by Sam Grabenhorst, on Flickr

20230521_194321 by Sam Grabenhorst, on Flickr

20230521_194340 by Sam Grabenhorst, on Flickr

20230521_200335 by Sam Grabenhorst, on Flickr

20230521_200415 by Sam Grabenhorst, on Flickr

20230521_200356 by Sam Grabenhorst, on Flickr

20230521_200426 by Sam Grabenhorst, on Flickr

20230521_200643 by Sam Grabenhorst, on Flickr

20230521_200701 by Sam Grabenhorst, on Flickr

That will be it for tonight, or whatever time it is. I fought these pics for hours.

First off, I hope no-one thinks I am showing off. I fully realize how extensive the bunch of stuff is, as you will soon see. What I am, is completely overwhelmed, to the point that my anxiety is really kicking in. Hence the needing as much input as I can get. I will be loading each subject as a separate post to make it easier on me.

Here is the first plastic one. This looks like it would be the easiest to take apart. Also appears to be slightly channeled, with a boxed frame.

20230521_194128 by Sam Grabenhorst, on Flickr

20230521_194140 by Sam Grabenhorst, on Flickr

20230521_194221 by Sam Grabenhorst, on Flickr

The second one has the driver door opened up and what looks like inner structure started. One thing I have found, is that he only opens the driver door, all I can think is that it is for structural integrity. Also, sometimes the door is not in the parts boxes, fortunately this one is.

20230521_195340 by Sam Grabenhorst, on Flickr

20230521_195349 by Sam Grabenhorst, on Flickr

20230521_195357 by Sam Grabenhorst, on Flickr

Third one has extensive work done. As you can see, everything smoothed out, custom dash, floor, tunnel, X-member, etc. I think the rest of the frame is in the parts box. I do not think I can get this one apart, so will need to get creative on body and paint.

20230521_195446 by Sam Grabenhorst, on Flickr

20230521_195500 by Sam Grabenhorst, on Flickr

20230521_195521 by Sam Grabenhorst, on Flickr

20230521_195551 by Sam Grabenhorst, on Flickr

20230521_195559 by Sam Grabenhorst, on Flickr

Fourth one is obviously a pickup cab. I believe the door is in the parts box. It needs some more buildup and shaping to the rear of the cab.

20230521_195622 by Sam Grabenhorst, on Flickr

20230521_195628 by Sam Grabenhorst, on Flickr

Fifth, and last one is just a chassis. The suspension obviously is not functional. How much work, and how, to make it functional without loosing stance? Maybe build it with full fenders?

20230521_195715 by Sam Grabenhorst, on Flickr

20230521_195723 by Sam Grabenhorst, on Flickr

So give me your feedback please.

Those will keep you amused for a couple of years !
Best idea is to pick on one model you want to concentrate on, and pop the others into a box,
All saveable, but need steady work, filling, sanding, filling, sanding, etc.

Having had time to check out your 1/8th’s, may I suggest that you just build two - the easier plastic roadster and the resin three window coupe.
You can build them side by side, and when one gives you problems, set it aside for a while and onto the other.
It reduces any pressure by leaving the most problematic models until the urge takes you, or when the first two are complete.
I presume you have a box of parts, wheels, etc. .???

Ron234 wrote:

I presume you have a box of parts, wheels, etc. .???

Picture the size of box that the 32 Ford came in. I have six of those full of parts, which I roughly sorted out and bagged. One and two gallon zip lock bags. There are Model T parts mixed in, but the vast majority are 32. There is a seventh box that is full of chrome trees. An eighth box has a complete kit minus frame and body. I have a smaller box that is tires, plus two smaller plastic trays. I just haven't bothered to find a box that will hold all the tires. I will post pics later.

I like your recommendations. Once I have figured out the look I want for them, then we crack open the parts boxes.

I cannot remember what the style of steering is called on the coupe, it's like what you see on T buckets. I am sure it would be easy to put it back to stock. I am trying to picture what they might look like with fenders....
I guess first up will be separating bodies from frames, and checking if the frames are square and flat.

Oh, and Ron. Still waiting on the pics of the blue roadster and especially the Woody. That one intrigues me. Don't forget the Ts either. Oh heck, just post pics of each of your 1/8 builds.

No pressure.

Hi Sam, it’s a sunny morning here in GB, and already I’m thinking about your models......
Now, if it were me, then I’d want to physically start one model - obviously the 3 window coupe, for example, by adding a bit more filler to the body to the window area - just to say that I’ve actually started, rather than just looking. .....and yes, choose how you plan to build it, and dig out those parts. Don’t bother with looking for bits for the others, because that WILL drive you mad, and you’ll make no progress at all.
You’ve got a great haul there, and although they are going to test your patience, and will be challenging, but at least they are not the same old roadster or ‘T’ that do come up for sale, now and then.
Good Luck.

I'm with Ron on this one Sam. Concentrate on two and if needed, use the others as donors.

I agree, 2 at the most, you may loose your mojo because it’s too much to do in 1 go.
We’ll be here awaiting the next instalment

Here is the collection.
Top shelf, left column. Top two boxes are '65 Corvette parts. Two below that are '32 Ford parts. Box below that is a '78 Corvette rebuilder that is missing a few parts.
Middle Column. Big T rebuilder, appears to be complete. Box full of Model T bodies. Below that are three more boxes of '32 Ford parts. Below them are two unbuilt kits, Big Tub, and Tall T.
Right column. Top box is the '32 Ford bodies, below that is a complete kit other than body and frame, that came with all the "32 Ford and T bodies and parts. Below that is a complete '32 kit, which came from a separate deal. Below that are the new reissue of the '79 Trans Am, a Golden T and Jaguar, all kits.
Below the '79 Corvette, on the second shelf, is a box of leftover Bobtail T parts. The two trays above that, and the box below it, are tires and tires with wheels. All of these tires came with the '32 and T bodies and parts.
Next shelf down are two more boxes of parts.

All the boxes of parts, boxes of bodies, and the tire/wheel boxes came in the huge lot of '32 and T stuff.

Again, very much overwhelmed.

Last pic is of the two projects  suggested to start with, right next to the bench.

20230620_154748 by Sam Grabenhorst, on Flickr

20230621_161041 by Sam Grabenhorst, on Flickr

From here on it's all discussion.

I can understand the feeling of being overwhelmed - but it’s like Christmas Day morning to me.
But is there any rush ?
There is more than enough to keep anybody happy for a long time that builds these big Rods and Americana.
....but I have to say, having a garage full of bikes that need repair, and your attention, doesn’t help.
Wait until your wife says, it’s me, or the bikes and kits !!!

That's gonna be a tough decision Ron!

It’s a double edged sword Al.
They are glad to be rid of us at times, and disappearing into the man-cave or garage has often been the only place of solice for me, and Mrs.G. .....sometimes you just can’t win.

But, yes, the haul of 1/8th scale kits is something I would dream of, and a problem that I wouldn’t mind having.
Being a methodical man, I would go through the boxes and make sure everything was there, and put together those parts to complete a kit. All the extras, and such, I would put in a big spares box. For example, If you intend to build the 3window resin body with wings, etc., just swap the bodies over. Easy for me to say, I know, but it is a dilemma that I personally wouldn’t mind having.

Ron, I don't know about a rush, but I am 55...with bifocals...
Al, it would be a real easy and quick decision for Pam...all of it, including me would go. That would also include the 35mm cameras. I have a thing about collecting older 35mm slr cameras as well.
Ron, I plan on just that, starting with the two I set aside. I just don't know if I want wings, or not, or highboy or lowboy. Just this dilemma might keep me from building them for years.

Another answer Sam, is to first build them virtually.
Assemble all the cars/parts in separate boxes, until you are happy with one model and then start the actual build.
It’s all progress.
If it is all proving too stressful - which I can quite understand, then selling them onto other scale modellers could be the only answer, because there is a market out there. But, and it is a big but, you might regret that move in the future.
I suggest that you spend a little time organising your fantastic haul, and once they are in an orderly fashion, then there is less chaos in your life too.
....and I wish I was 55 again!

If you consider that I have six complete unbuilt kits that are all different, the '65 Corvette that is missing three parts, and the Big T that should be complete,  then throw in the two '32s that I plan on building,  that should be more than enough to keep me busy for years to come.
My plan is to sell some of these along as fairly complete as I can.  
I also believe that as soon as I sell some of it, I will need some part back.
Since I have four Ts unbuilt, I really don't need to keep any of the Ts that came in this lot, except for any parts that I might want,  to modify the kits I already have. I sure wish someone made a full fenderd T kit, or at least the fenders. I really want to build that Tall T with fenders.

I will post picks of the T bodies that came with all the '32 stuff.

Ron, I wish you lived closer as well.

Hmmm...maybe I can modify a set of 32 fenders,  I have plenty of extra.

I also know I can get a resin 32 sedan delivery body, and a resin 27 T roadster body.....hmmm....

Please stop the insanity! Or at least beat some of the squirrels into submission.  

Sam wrote:Please stop the insanity! Or at least beat some of the squirrels into submission.  

Sam, we can't do that sorry or life would become really boring...

It's just going to take a bit of time and I'm sure that once you do start building, you'll get into a groove and if things do star to get too much, take a breather...

Andy...

This afternoon I sat down at the bench, and with the help of an exacto knife and razor saw, I was able to cleanly seperate the roadster and coupe bodies from their frames. Yay! First step is complete! Now for the next gazillion.

Approach it like going on a long march across undiscovered land Sam..... one step at a time. Then the journey won't seem quite so daunting.