Model A Wood

I think I saw on HAMB someone do it out of square metal. That looks like a cool idea too. I'll definitely keep everyone updated.

 

Thanks! I'm going to a show in August that I may look around for a kit to do the same thing. But...York is right around the corner....and in June...

 

I just logged in to Mac's website-double checking that they still had their "deliver to show free" policy and guess what?
So, I guess there are some changes with the new ownership-and not for the better. I'd stick with Bratton's-they don't hit many shows that I know of-but they do seem to be interested in customer service. Are they close enough to you to visit?

 

I had never thought of a visit to Brattons. My mentor and Walt went to high school together so Brattons is always at the top of my list. I'll have to ask him if he wants to shoot up there one day...

 

...this isn't too 'traditional' but I was thinking that what someone with some time on their hands could do is to make some molds to make the 'wood' pieces out of one of the Terocore epoxy structural foams, the stuff's basically as stiff as hardwood and a bit lighter, when bonded into place you'd have something very rigid and once the tooling's done the production cost would be...well, the material isn't dirt-cheap but at least there'd be minimal labor involved.

A related alternative might be to make some temporary forms or permanent sheet-metal half-channels that would fit into the body to allow the foam to be injected directly onto the body. These approaches only make sense if you're going to do enough of it to cover the cost of the stuff in bulk and heating/application eqiupment.

A step back from that would be to just bond wood pieces in with Terocore, much more rigid than any other fastener combo and this could be done with the body-shop two-part tubes and manual gun (but maybe too permanent...)

 

""I had never thought of a visit to Brattons. My mentor and Walt went to high school together so Brattons is always at the top of my list. I'll have to ask him if he wants to shoot up there one day... """

I see you are in Maryland, don't know where in Md. but you could pick up your stuff at Brattons and save the shipping.
They are somewhat not set up for walk in customers but you can do it. I sent the wife there one time and she came back and told me they said" we are a mail order business not set up for walk in service"
They are not open on saturday and close at 5pm i think.

 

I see you are in Maryland, don't know where in Md. but you could pick up your stuff at Brattons and save the shipping.
They are somewhat not set up for walk in customers but you can do it. I sent the wife there one time and she came back and told me they said" we are a mail order business not set up for walk in service"
They are not open on saturday and close at 5pm i think.[/QUOTE]

I don't know how far away Bratton's is from where I live, but I'm sure it can't be too far. Thanks for the info. Maybe I'll just send my wife up there too...haha. It'd be interesting to see if they'd let people walk in and look around? Who knows, I asked a friend to see if we could, hasn't gotten back to me yet.

 

This ebay listing is for body wood only. It doesn't have any of the top wood at all.
The pic below is from Mac's web sight. It shows both kits required.
I've done a fair amount of wood working in my life and have to say that making these would be a challenge even if you had copies in hand to make them from. I made some for the first 31 coupe I built. I bit the bullet and bought the wood for the coupe I'm working on now.
These kit pieces are made from glued-up pieces of knot-free ash hardwood and all bolt holes and recesses for brackes are in the right places. You really can't just use some pine 2x4's. Just something to think about.
I know it's alot of bucks. I have more in the wood than I have in the cast-off body parts I built my current project from.

 

I appreciate the information. Experience like that would save me a lot of time trying to do it myself...and thanks for the pictures, I don't really get on Mac that much...

 

Brattons is in Mt.Airy maryland, that is alittle north of rt70 east of Frederick.

I don't think they would let you "walk around the back" they just don't give that "vibe"
once, I was at the counter and had a question about the fit of a part and had to wait for someone from the back for help. he came out and it ended up he was the owner, we talked for along time and he was a good guy. not very helpfull, you know the type, he has only worked on cars that were in good shape and had NO idea about the fit of the rear patch panel.
don't get me wrong, I have spent lots of money there and will spend more.

 

I appreciate the information 46...I'm in the works on planning a trip up to Bratton's to see Walt (the owner). I guess he has a desk right in the front of the warehouse. I'll let everyone know how it goes. I'm trying to get up there before I go on a trip in August.