"Rat Rod" your kit, or Daryl's Departing Topic

[Daryl J.]

Some 20-something young men went by the house today in a slammed, rusty, heavy patina'ed VW Bug.   It had meticulously clean white wall tires and the perfect, new leather cases on top were obviously designer (they looked like they were from Coach), and the clothing they wore matched the type.    It ran perfectly and they were some of the few who drove safely through the neighborhood.   It was cool.

As this is nearly my last post for some time now, it just seemed appropriate to bow out with a thread involving something fading away yet somehow in a more durable than ever condition.

So, if you had to ''Rat Rod'' a couple of kits what would they be and what would you do?   



Here's mine:

Lindberg's rereleased Jenny rigged up with a Thule or Yakima cargo container under the belly (form fit to the Jenny undersides), impeccable linen but intentionally painted up like it had been oil stained, exhausted over, wiped down, rained on (Portland, OR is going to have a permanent memory of precipitation methinks), cooked in the sun and let out to pasture far too long.   Areas would get a real wood veneer but the outer 3 layers would be peeling for visual effect.    The tail empennage would get reprofiled as would wing tips to make a custom look, yet still be flyable.   The exhaust may have to have 'Corsa' or 'Borla' imbossed into it somewhere too.    Faded markings that just make out U.S. Air Mail.

Hasegawa's early 1960's VW Bus in 1/24 scale converted to a tow truck, rusted and busted accordingly in pale yellow and brown.   Wide whites, red rims...spotless.   HID headlamps/LED tail lights.     

An Elco 80' might get a nod too.........


Daryl J.

[Edit:  to the Mods....I'd hoped to keep this a general topic thread but if it's more appropriate down below, feel free to move it]

[Weaver]

There's quite a tradition of doing this to motorbikes.

Look here for it's spiritual home:

http://ratbike.org/

Or just put "rat bike" into google images and prepare to be flubbergasted......