Internet Modeler : Features : Automotive

R&D Unique 1/24 Falcon Sedan Delivery

By Dave Lawniczak

(Photos by the author and Dick Messner)

This project, like so many of mine, evolved during the build into something that was very different than what I had initially started building. I decided early on that I was going to make this into a street machine, which created a few interesting situations that I needed to resolve as I went along. Just like always…

Engine

The first thing to go was the kit engine from the Ranchero kit. This can actually be built into a nice engine – if one is looking for big block CHEVY. My idea was to take the Ford 429 from the Comet kit, and this is where my next change came about. I purchased the Comet kit new about 15 years ago and it has been on my shelf the entire time, still sealed. So I ripped it open like a kid at Christmas and realized almost immediately that there was no chrome tree in the box. ACK! The immediate impact was that the valve covers for the engine were on that missing tree. So I did what any modeler would do: I scrounged around in my parts box until I found a few covers, but it turned out that none of them were the right size.

I then decided that I would try something really unique. I noticed while scrounging that I had a set of Chrysler hemi heads and valve covers, and that they DID fit on the Ford block just fine and actually looked pretty decent. After thinking about it for a couple of days I decided to go ahead and use them. Now I can hear some of you shaking your heads, but this is not as far-fetched as it seems. It turns out that during the '60s, drag racer, off-roader and land speed icon Mickey Thompson, with the support of Ford, built a couple of 427 drag engines that had Hemi heads on them. One of those engines ended up in Thunderbolt #10. Rumor says that they only ran that car a few times as it was never able to hook up (get adequate traction), even with Mickey’s special compound racing tires.

The rest of the engine was built per instructions except that I used the big block Chevy exhaust manifolds as the headers from the Comet kit would not fit and I did not have any other Ford headers that I liked. I painted the engine Ford blue, then wired and plumbed it, including the linkages to and between the carburetors. This is a detail that I have only recently started adding to my builds and I am happy with the increase in realism it provides.

Chassis

The chassis from the Ranchero is a one-piece chassis that utilizes wire axles for the front and rear wheels. I was originally going to scratch build a new chassis with full suspension, but decided against doing that. So in order to step up the realism I did a few little things. First I took my Dremel tool and ground off all of the exhaust system after the mufflers. Then I bent up two pieces of 1/8th inch aluminum tubing, inserting one end into holes drilled in the mufflers and the other end to dump out at the rear bumper.

I like the look of aluminum tubing for exhausts after it is polished up, except for the tubing wall thickness. My solution is to take a drill bit the next size down from the tubing and ream out the tip by hand for about a quarter of an inch. I have tried this with my Dremel and a small drill press, but the tube gets so thin and the drill bit is spinning so fast that it is hard to keep it straight on the outside. After I am done reaming it out, I paint the inside of the tube flat black and it makes it look much closer to scale thickness and hides the step where I stopped reaming.

I next added set of traction bars from my parts box, and a set of 19” CL wheels and tires from Pegasus Hobbies. I decided to use these wheels because they are not see-through, which hides a lot of the wheel well. Even though they cannot be seen from many angles, I also added a set of disk brakes from Pegasus. By mixing and matching I was able to come up with a set of lower profile tires for the front and rear, to give it just that “look”. The tread patterns are different, but with the car on display at home I can tell you that it’s not noticeable at all. Other than these few things, the rest of the chassis is only paint-detailed.

Interior

The R&D Uniquekit comes with an interior insert that mounts behind the Ranchero interior. I was initially going to use that setup. I don’t remember when I decided that I wanted to use bucket seats instead of the bench seat that is cast into the original Ranchero interior, but that was when I realized that I would have to come up with a different interior solution.

Since I was parting things out of the Comet kit, I checked to see if I could use any part of that interior. I was relieved when I discovered that the Falcon dash fit into the Comet interior with little modification other than using a little styrene to pick it up higher in the mounting slots, and that it was the perfect width to use in the Falcon. I chopped the Comet interior off right after the door panels, taped it in place on the chassis and scratch built the entire rear section out of various stock and sheet styrene pieces. The wheel wells were cut out of a pickup project that no longer needed the bed. The entire interior tub was then painted a semi-gloss black. The steering wheel, bucket seats, shifter and console all came from my parts box. The seats, console, steering wheel rim and dash were painted body color and then flat clear. Seat belts were made from paper tape strips and photo-etched buckles from Arrowhead Aluminum Accessories. I added a little foil trim and detail painting and the interior assembly was complete.

Body

The body was very well cast. I had to fill in a couple of small pinholes and do a bit of reshaping in the rear for the bumper mounts, but beyond that it was just normal body prep stuff. I removed the wing window frames, as I wanted a more modern look. I wash my resin bodies in warm soapy water and then sand and fill as required to prepare for paint. I rescribed the door and panel lines to makes sure they did not disappear under paint and finally I spent some time smoothing the inside of the body as well. Once I was satisfied with it I primed and painted it with Dupli-color primer, Tamiya TS-58, Light Blue Pearl, and then finished with two coats of Dupli-color Acrylic Enamel Clear.

Since I removed the wing windows, I needed to modify the Ranchero windshield to fit the new look. I simply took my Dremel to it and slowly removed the wings until test fitting revealed that it fit correctly. The R&D Unique kit includes a pair of very nice red resin taillights, which I installed with silver paint behind them. I used black The Detailer liquid in the body panel and door lines and a very small amount of Baremetal foil and I was done with the body. The hood is also resin, picked up on eBay. I performed the same steps with it that I did with the main body and set them aside until I was ready for final assembly.

Final Assembly

Assembly of the various subsections went very quickly. The chassis and interior were joined together earlier, so this was simply a matter of installing the body, finish wiring the engine and installing the front and rear bumpers. I am very pleased with the final results. If you have not tried resin yet, don’t be afraid to give it a try. There are a lot of subjects available in resin that you won’t ever find in styrene.

Happy Modeling !

R&D Unique 1/24 Falcon Sedan Delivery

By Dave Lawniczak

Digg this story! Email this article Printable page

Digg this story!
Email this article
Printable page