Scale Auto – October 2019

12 Scale Auto • OCTOBER 2019

[PART 3 OF 3]

Scratchbuilding Two Fords = one Jaguar SS

The basic shape of the

grille shell is similar to the

’32 Ford, but with a flat

bottom and extended sides.

I

started by making a backing

plate matching the hood

profile. Then I glued the ’

grille shell to the plate at the

appropriate angle and cut

the bottom flush with the

bottom of the hood unit.

Styrene shims fill the gaps at

the sides. Putty helped blend

is all together.

Reproducing the louvers

on the hood was a process.

First, I cut the side louvers

from the AMT ’34 Ford and

removed a matching

rectangle from my the

SS100’s hood. Putty hid the

joins between the parts, and

I was careful not to damage

the louvers during sanding.

Four rows of louvers

adorn the top of the hood. I

purchased resin louvers on

decal film from Archer Fine

Transfers. I cut four strips

and they adhered perfectly,

even over primer. After they

dried, I sprayed another coat

of primer to seal them in,

and the decal backing

disappeared under the paint.

A length of wire along the

centerline made the hinges.

Aluminum mesh cut to

shape and folded along the

centerline made the grille. I

used the same mesh to make

headlight covers. The

headlights came from the

’32 Ford kit. I mounted

them on a copper-wire

bracket with styrene

endcaps. The twin horns in

front came from the AMT

’34 Ford. The taillights are

WE COMPLETED THE BODY and fenders in the August 2019 installment.

Now let’s button it up with a with a radiator grille, details, and some paint.

ALUMINUM MESH

CUT TO SHAPE

AND FOLDED

ALONG THE

CENTERLINE

MADE THE GRILLE.

BENCH RACER

The grille shell from a modified

’32 Ford unit, truncated and

mounted at an angle on a

backing plate. The holes will be

filled and smoothed with putty.

by Andy Kellock

After adding in the final details, my

SS100 is complete. By breaking down

the construction into a series of

steps I made a seemingly

overwhelming task easier.