Ok so dad has started on his new project, it's a 26 dodge cowl and doors, and he's going to have a fabric boat tail on it. We're just looking for inspiration, he wants to run a loooong bonet, I don't knwo how it will look. Has any one got any photos to share? Thanks.....Tyson.
Dang, just last week I visited an old-timer's garage and didn't take a camera with me! This was the most amazing trip that I have ever been on due to the old-timer himself. He was a restorer that restores cars the way he wanted to. One of his cars started out as a four door which he cut down to make a boat-tailed speedster. He already had a Stutz Bearcat speedster and wanted another, so he just up and made the entire car from the cowl back! It was absolutely amazing. I know this isn't of much help to you right now, but I will try to see if any of the other guys that went have any pics and, if so, I will post them here.
Well, here's what I'm working on. I haven't made much progress recently, and it's been even longer since I've taken pictures. I should mock the whole thing up, just so that it would look like a complete car. All of the bodywork is aluminum, not fabric. Here's an explanation of the pictures: # 1 shows a my initial rough plan laid out in Photoshop. # 2 should give you an idea on how I made the buck. I chose a curve for behind the seats, and another for the length-running "spine". I then bent 1100 welding rod until it looked good to me, and then used the welding rod to cut more buck forms from MDF. # 3 gives you some idea of the overall proportions of the 32 boat tail. # 4 shows a panel being fitted to the buck. Each panel is formed off of the buck, usually by mallet and shotbag, and then planished with an English wheel. (Actually, the pictures don't show in the order I wanted...) --Matt
tysond, Here is a quick link to a poor pic of a diamond T roadster, that has a mahogany boat tail (yes I know you can only see the corner). Shoot Steve Walker an email, I know he or my dad has more pics. http://www.closeenoughengineering.com/cars/roadster1.jpg swdobbs...
Here is a 1927 Stutz. Tail doesn't look that complicated, bet you could find some hoods or roof sections from '50's cars to make it.
In one of the last issues of a certian mag that isn't too popular around here (with the initials osr ) a guy made a boat tail and used the hood off of an old pick me up. It looked pretty cool, I would really dig an old boat tail speedster with a big ol exhaust pipe running down the side of it.
If he's intent on fabric, i guess it's over a wood carcass, so he might want to invetigate Vandenplass construction like what was on early MG's and Bentleys, or when I was contemplating building a wood boattail speedster (still on the to do list) I bought the Canoecraft paperback and found it really informative and a few years ago I caw one of the finished canoes in a yacht sales showroom in Monterrey and it was beautiful. Obviously, for a car tail you just make one end and don't turn it upright!
I have a 27 Dodge cowl and a 46 Ford (car) hood... planning that exactly... just gotta get out from under a couple non-automotive projects first. Really, the one fargoguy posted is very close to what I have planned.
I've been planning something like that for years. (Doesn't look just now like it will fit into the budget in immediate future.) Anyway, here's a few links that you might find interesting: http://www.nwvs.org/Technical/RonLimbrickSpeedster/MMSpeedster.shtml http://www.vintageknowledge.co.uk/ (see "Hints & Tips" - Coachbuilding -Fabric Bodies)'
when he's checking out fabrics,tell him to check out Stits Poly-Fiber. used on tons of light aircraft,shrinks with an iron.
Thanks guys. Fargoguy, that thing is awesome, I love it. The plan is to build a steel frame, cover it with Aluminum, padding, then cloth. Kind of like a carson top I guess. Ted, Im good. The apprenticeship I'm doing is going well, I can turn and mill just about anything now, and Ive only killed one lathe so far, hahaha. How's the whole being a dad thing going? Keep the photos coming guys.
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