Thread: 1st Build - '58 Chevy Step-Side Ute

Geoff,

You are very welcome. From the first post I made on this forum 2 years ago I have had nothing but positive and support of my work. I can only hope to return the favor to anyone who needs it.

And you are right this is a very special forum with "Top blokes" as Crowie says you don't find anywhere else on the internet. Encouragement is sometimes all one needs to be pushed over the edge and do something great.

Bret

Hi Geoff, got to say I'm loving this build!
And I'm really looking forward to seeing what you do with the engine!
I've only been a forum member for a very short time.
But I it's great seeing this type of work, and the detail produced in timber
on such a small scale.
The cars I build are 2/3 scale, quite a bit larger than yours.
But in many ways their the same, and I'm finding that theres alot of cross over
from one to the other.
The idea put forward of using a scale model, is exactly what I did to make a large scale engine.
So if you don't mind, I'll be pinching some of your idea's, as the build goes along.
Congratulations on the work so far.
Can't wait to see more!
Trevor

So I thought I would jump in to building the engine next since I had those excellent plans and WIP photos from Bret (which I referenced heavily ), and I recieved a lovely piece of Silver Ash from Hermit so I really didn't have any excuses not to.

I have basically followed Brett's WIP photos to the letter up to this point except for the crazy level of detail in his build mainly because I am working at 1:17 scale instead of 1:10 and I really don't think i would get the precision I know I would require of myself at that small scale. Now that I've finished the block, I think I will be deviating from Bret's build as I will now have a supercharger to build as well.

I'm pretty happy with how it has turned out so far. I am obviously planning on building the supercharger and intake air filters on top, then it will be the timing belt assembly, the exhaust system, battery, radiator etc . So much left to do!

P.S. Sorry for the bad quality in the photos... I'll try and get some better ones. My camera doesn't seem to be able to focus on it very well. I have put a 5c coin in the photos as well for size reference.

Boy, that is small. Looking pretty good, Geoff.

Looking Good Geoff. Can't wait to see the supercharger.


Bret

Originally Posted by Hermit

Boy, that is small. Looking pretty good, Geoff.

keep up the good work Geoff.... Cheers crowie

PS - For Bret - our 5cents is the same size coin as your 1cent.....

Here is my progress so far on the engine. Most of the main pieces of the supercharger are now done except for the timing belt assembly. I still want to add a bit more detail to the supercharger though to make it look right. Overall though I'm happy with how the final dimensions have turned out... seems to fit inside the engine bay about the same way as the real one in the photo.

I know it's not perfect but it might have to do for this one. The pieces are getting more like splinters or sawdust than actual engine pieces.

It's shaping up well so far Geoff. Looks pretty fiddly. Gonna tack on a gearbox?

I was also going to ask whether you were hinging the bonnet or making it lift-off, with magnets, but I just re-read the thread and saw that you're making it lift-off.
I've thought about hinges in the past, but they're hard to implement in these scales and still look good.

Originally Posted by Hermit

It's shaping up well so far Geoff. Looks pretty fiddly. Gonna tack on a gearbox?

I was also going to ask whether you were hinging the bonnet or making it lift-off, with magnets, but I just re-read the thread and saw that you're making it lift-off.
I've thought about hinges in the past, but they're hard to implement in these scales and still look good.

Thanks Hermit. I have been thinking about the gearbox. I hadn't originally planned on adding one and as such the current structure doesn't really lend itself to adding one however I think I might add half of one on the undercarriage giving the illusion that it's all there... what do you think? do-able?

The magnet thing on the bonnet is another one I'm thinking about. My current thinking is to have a combination of magnets and hinges. I want to be able to hinge it up and let it sit there with one of those small sticks under the bonnet. If you look at the original photos of this ute, my father in law found he had to hinge the bonnet on the front of the car instead of the back near the windshield so that he could fit the supercharger underneath. So my current thinking is to put some hinges at the front, then 1 set of magnets at the back near the windshield to make it a bit more secure when it's in the down position. Still playing around with the ideas though

Magnets should work well on the roof and the tray cover though.

Originally Posted by geoffmac

Thanks Hermit. I have been thinking about the gearbox. I hadn't originally planned on adding one and as such the current structure doesn't really lend itself to adding one however I think I might add half of one on the undercarriage giving the illusion that it's all there... what do you think? do-able?

The magnet thing on the bonnet is another one I'm thinking about. My current thinking is to have a combination of magnets and hinges. I want to be able to hinge it up and let it sit there with one of those small sticks under the bonnet. If you look at the original photos of this ute, my father in law found he had to hinge the bonnet on the front of the car instead of the back near the windshield so that he could fit the supercharger underneath. So my current thinking is to put some hinges at the front, then 1 set of magnets at the back near the windshield to make it a bit more secure when it's in the down position. Still playing around with the ideas though

Magnets should work well on the roof and the tray cover though.

You'd probably get away with adding just the bell housing, so that there's no visible gap between the motor and bulkhead. Otherwise, the motor will appear to be isolated when looking straight down.

For hinges, are you thinking real hinges, or something like thin strips of leather or similar? I'm thinking ahead for my FC build, another '58 model. (I'm a 1958 model too. )
Normal brass box hinges, even small strap hinges, look a bit out of place in a way. I have a couple of the smallest strap hinges I could get my hands on, but haven't made up my mind if I'm using them yet.

These:
strap-hinges-6mm-x-35mm.jpg

The problem is that as small as they are, they're still too long, (35mm x 6mm).
Available here if you go that route: CWS Store - Strap Hinges 35x6mm pr | Carroll's Woodcraft Supplies

If you find smaller, let me know.

Edit: By the way, those strap hinges have stops at 90 degrees. Also, I guess that since they're solid brass, not plated, they could be shortened or even shaped. (I just thought of that.)

Edit: I have to correct myself, those hinges are plated, so they can't be shaped or shortened. I could have sworn they were solid brass. Sorry 'bout that

You're doing a fine job of those little parts Geoff...
Here's another supplier for you... Fine Hinges - Veneer Inlay
Cheers, crowie

Originally Posted by crowie

You're doing a fine job of those little parts Geoff...
Here's another supplier for you... Fine Hinges - Veneer Inlay
Cheers, crowie

Actually, I've done it again - I looked at the wrong page at Veneer Inlay - didn't follow your link, I had a page already open at VIA and missed these ones. The ones at VIA are solid brass, the ones at Carroll's are plated.
(I don't want to mislead anyone. I just edited my previous post AND this one. )

Posted a comment here a couple of days ago but it obviously floated off into cyber space!

This is a great build Geoff!! I am amazed by your ability to do such fine detailed work with wood!

The engine is coming up a treat! Congrats on the build so far!!

Thanks Artme. I appreciate your comments

Hermit - Thanks for those links. I'm still a few weeks away I reckon before I'll be close enough finished to start thinking about the hinges, but I'll keep those links in vault and keep my eye out till then I'm thinking a trip to Spotlight or similar might yield some cheap results too for magnets and hinges.

I have been caught reading up on all the great projects in progress in this forum over the last week or so that I haven't had the time to upload any of my own WIP shots. I have been sneaking away to the garage as much as I can working on this engine even though it might not show on how much I've actually managed to achieve.

I now think I've finished the timing belt assembly. Lots of very fiddly parts, but I'm pretty happy with how it looks. The timber used in the timing belt assembly is mainly pine dowel, some bamboo tooth picks, various types of veneer (that I have no idea what they are ), and blackwood obtained from MapleMan for the timing belt itself. Photos attached.

Next up is the exhaust system, and then I'll start thinking about how I'm going to mount it inside the car.

Thanks,

Geoff