Tommy Ivo's Showboat 1/8 Scale

[Roger Zimmermann]

It's frustrating when one has to modify new parts!

[gbritnell]

Fantastic work on the tire Ken! The color is spot on.
gbritnell

[xken]

Roger, yes and the supplier offered to take them back and pay for return shipping. But they were fantastic casting with great detail and I have not seen any other even close to these as the originals. So just another problem solving exercise to keep me busy and out of trouble.

George, yes the finish and luster of the paint turned out much better than I was expecting, almost tempted to go back and repaint the Model T tires.

[xken]

Moved onto the wiring which proved a little challenging. I also decided to add the gas lines as well. First I started with the center oil pressure lines using thin copper wire that was stretched to straighten. This was the most challenging since I wanted the lines to be one piece from the sender to the gauge. First I bent the wire 90 degrees and fed it up from the base of the vertical frame member and then to the gauge with a few bends and the from the base bend down the frame rail to the sending unit. Next came the wires from the outboard temperature gauges to their sending units using 24 gauge wire with the copper core pulled out to make the wire more flexible. Then came the kill switches which were routed from the distributors to the switches across the engines and down the braces. For this I used 50 lbs casting line for fishing. It has the right size and look for wire. Finally I polished a length of 1/16" aluminum tubing for the gas lines which were routed down from the fuel pumps to T connections and then to the gas tank adding these were to trickiest part with all the different lengths and working under the car to join lines. It all looks simple but trust me there were a few descriptive adjectives used to complete these lines. Next came the spark plug lines which were easy enough once I sorted out the firing order.













Next will be the final trimming and polishing of the velocity stacks.

[MODEL A MODEL]

So so very nice!

Really excellent work! Thank you for sharing!

[Roger Zimmermann]

Adding fuel or whatever lines is usually taking much more time than the pictures may suggest. Nice work!

[xken]

Just before doing the wiring I trimmed all the velocity stacks to get rid of their fat lips. To get them all even I made two fixtures for trimming and final polishing. The tubing was polished before forming the stacks but need the final polish using the Red Rouge for the high luster. When seated against the shoulder and filed for a uniform and realistic dimension. The pictures are self explanatory.

[Roger Zimmermann]

Nice, and good idea with your special tools!

[xken]

After getting all the wiring and gas lines installed and needing a break and a little self inspiration I added the wheels with tires to have a sneak peek of what is ahead. So here are some random pictures of the Showboat on the tires for the first time.
Next will come the fuel injection linkage with adjustable ends using hex bar and rod.

[RAT23]

Man, that looks awesome ken

[MODEL A MODEL]

Your setting the bar pretty high!

[MODEL A MODEL]

Ken? Do you have a short list of projects you want to do? -and what have you done? -maybe some "family" photos? -I imagine a Mickey Thompson Challenger, and maybe some of the "Old School" Land-speed cars?

This model does qualify as a "Collection of One!" -but if "Less is more? Just think how much more is more?!"

Very well photographed!

-Don

[xken]

Don, no real list but I do need to finish up my son-in-law's ship. He is the Captain of the Maersk Detroit container ship which is his first command since being promoted to Captain. I have designed numerous model kits for Model-Expo and a couple of commissions for Fine Art Models. My first love is WWI aircraft and have built in 1/16 scale the Fokker Eiendecker, Fokker DR-I triplane and the Fokker DVII. A Sopwith Camel and Stearman (80% complete) the latter two for Fine Art Models. I started a Jaguar XKE, but with my back issue and move to California I sold it. I restored it from a rusted out hulk to a 99.97 Jag Concours average score when shown. I enjoy doing subjects that have seldom been modeled and offer a bit of a challenge. Keep in mind my model building is a form of pain management due to disintegrating discs in lower spine L3 through L5. I could probably live several lifetimes and never complete all the projects.

Here are just a few pictures to give you an idea.
Evan holding his ship model.

Penny showing size of tower.


Allerton Steam Pumper for Model Expo.


My 1962 XKE

H-13D Commission or Fine Art Models.


Sopwith Camel Commission for Fine Art Models.

[Roger Zimmermann]

Impressive replicas!

[MODEL A MODEL]

Wow! Thanks Ken!

Congratulations to your son-in-law! A pretty young captain!

Because of the economy, there are a large number of tankers and container ships at anchor here in the channel between Long Beach and Catalina Island. A good athlete could probably toss a frisbee between ships, and on foggy nights, there is an eerie chorus of fog horns!

I was also into WWI aircraft, long ago, but never thought to scratch-build any. Beautiful work!

I have shown images of your Huey to a few others, when I'm asked "Do people still make models?" -Your Huey, Rogers Continental, Olive's Birdcage Maserati, Lloyd McCaffery's miniature wooden ship models and sculptures. And other small works! . . . . -I am not so passionate about a genre, as I am about model making!

Thank you for sharing!