Rolls Royce Rat Rod

[Leighbo]

Hi Guys, time for another car project!

I picked up this old Monogram kit of a 1931 Rolls Phantom 2 convertible on Ebay, which I think was waiting for me to save. The box is battered and bent, the kit has been started (badly) and a couple of little bits have been damaged, but should be ideal for what I plan for it!

I fancied building a Rat Rod but thought rather than the standard car I would use this kit as the starting point!

So it will get the usual rod treatment, dropped, chopped and rusted, but I will keep the famous grille and probably the wire wheels.

This is my first Rat Rod so if anyone has any pointers they would be much appreciated

Thanks for looking

 

[Chris S]

Cool ;D I'll be watching this one ! First time I have seen a RR Rat ;D Keep it lower than a snakes belly with gravel rash ,and tatty ...really tatty ;D ;D Have a google at ratrods ,there's loads of pics for inspiration ....or FB lol

I'll get back to mine very soon

Chris.

 

[Leighbo]

Cheers Chris

I've already started cutting the chassis to pieces (gulp!) to get the body to hit the ground!

 

[noname]

That is soooo weird. I kid you not I was thinking of a similar thing this morning. But where it was Halloween I was thinnking of an evil Rolls Royce. I have an Italeri 1/24 Rolls Royce Phantom II someone gave me a few years back that had only the engine assembled. I probably won't use this idea but I thought I'd share as it was a funny coincidence.

 

[Leighbo]

You should definitely do an evil Rolls, that I would like to see!

 

[noname]

It would be neat and unique but I have umpteen builds to do. Soooo many ideas, soooo little time. I thought it funny that you had a similar idea.

 

[TRM]

Looking like a fun one you have planned!! I'm in! ;D

 

[lotno249]

Can't wait to see how this one turns out. Super cool.
DJ

 

[KenCalgary]

While not as old a car as your model you might want to check out this real life 1959 Rolls.

http://www.rodauthority.com/features/car-features/rod-authoritys-top-10-picks-from-goodguys-west-coast-nats/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rod-authoritys-top-10-picks-from-goodguys-west-coast-nats

 

[struschie]

Will you leave the front fenders?
Great subject to start with Rad Rrods! I can imagine this with a super low flat roof...
Keep it coming!

 

[Leighbo]

Thanks for the interest guys, I especially love the custom Rolls pictures Ken, thanks for that!

As this is a custom job its all a bit of trial and error, it doesn't help that a lot of the parts have already beenj glued together.

My first thought was to cut the frame to lower the body...

...and cut into the tub to make room for the transmission

After some serious thought and lots of dry fitting I re thought the structure and decided to make a ladder chassis from plastic to be a bit stronger

I then built up the body as per the instructions and fixed to the tub. I will leave off the front and rear fenders which gives the Rat Rod look and also takes off some height so I can slam it to the ground.
I was hoping to keep the rumble seat functional, but dropping the body means the rear axle and drive shaft end up where the seat is, but never mind!

I then did some more fiddling to get the engine at the right height, and made some engine mounts to suit

and a quick mock up with the wheels

Thanks for looking, should have some more progress in a few days

 

[TRM]

Ended up building a frame myself!!! Nice work on this part!! Keep it coming!!!

 

[Leighbo]

Cheers T!

 

[struschie]

That's the direction I hoped it will go - great!

 

[Chris S]

Yeah I'm digging it ;D ;D looks like a T bucket .... Cool

Chris.

 

[noname]

Cool, looks like a stretched 32 with a tall six.

 

[Ohm]

This is looking super tuff 8)

 

[Leighbo]

Thanks for the interest Guys

Gotg on with a bit more, I've done loads of little things to fettle this machine into shape including de-chroming the wire wheels with bleach and then spraying them baby blue, filling the rear arches with sheet plastic and getting the axels and wheels re-mounted to give a low stance.
One thing I love about Rat Rods is the mix of painted wheels, perfect white wall tyres and the rusty bodywork!

I also fitted the bench seat and re-used what was the original gas tank to cover where the transmission tunnel now enters the cab

I also got the engine mounted and ditched the original manifold and went for straight out pipes

The rear door was a pain as the hinges had broken off so I covered with plastic sheet

The original windscreen had a cool shape to it but was way to high for a rod...

...so I stripped the chrome off, thinned the bottom of the frame with a sanding stick and cut the uprights down to sort that out!

With all the bodywork about there I airbrushed with various browns after a dark grey undercoat to start the rusting process off. I have tried to make the doors different shades to give some variation as if they have rusted differently

I will next work on the rust some more and work out a way to show the last remnants of paint on there.

Any comments welcome, thanks for stopping by!

 

[struschie]

Whow- you're fast!
Productive weekend - and it's not over (at least here in germany...)
I really like what you show with this latest update! Wheels will look great on that slammed classic ;D

 

[CTspeedshop]

This is gonna be Super Wicked!!! Excellent scratchbuilding!!! The last three post I've commented on are yours Leighbo. You're keeping me busy. LOL!!!