"Well, I have finally dug into the deep pool of hot-roddery fog and dug out a couple of V8 Coupes.

For a group focusing on hot rods and modified vehicles, most model presented are pretty stock.

Here I present two modified 1932 V8 Ford Coupes:

Lime: a recreation of Lego Nr. 8302 'Rod Riders'
Orange: a recreation of Lego Nr. 8641 'Flame Glider'

Both models in Lego are substantially the same, as are their minland recreations shown here. The cars wear the circa early 1930's Ford 2-door coupe body, chopped (reducing the roof height) and channeled (lowering the car on its chassis rails). The wheelbase has been increased at the front, and the radiator cowl moved forward. A colouring of the curved windscreen part provides a lovely rear fender form.

Both cars are fitted with the vee-four lego piston engine (replicating the V8 package), driving the rear axle. As with the Lego Racre set, both Rods are fitted with massively oversized Supercharger cowls. The engines differ in their head treatment.

I think the form still needs some development, but its not too bad for an early try.

This Lego model had been created in Lego Digital Designer for Flickr LUGNuts 54th Build Challenge - ""LEGO Set Overhaulin"" - celebrating all things Lego with recreations of original sets.

Hot Rods Ahoy!!"

Tags:   Lego 8302 8641 Rod Rider Flame Glider racers Hot rod auto car moc model miniland lego911 ldd render cad LUGNuts Lego Set Overhaulin V8 engine supercharge coupe custom classic mod modified tudor challenge 54th

© All Rights Reserved

One of the sets of the Indiana Jones Lego Themes was Nr. 7682 Shanghai Chase.

Identifying the models in the movie was somewhat difficult though. The lead car, shown here was pretty straight forward. There were not very many Boat Tail Speedsters built during the 1930's, and the archetype was the Auburn 851.

The chase car is harder to track down though. As a movie 'The Temple of Doom' was released long before the internet and digital media - and hence 'doesn't exist before the internet'. I will endevour to identify it one day and build it also.

Back to the Auburn. Part of the exclusive Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg company, the Auburn was the lower of the marques, though its cars were stll glamourous and highly sought after. Unfortunately the combine did not survive the great depression intact and folded prior to WWII, in 1937.

The 851 Speedster was one of the last models. The architecture was conventional. Straight-eight engines, separate chassis and rear-wheel-drive. The Speedster body was the highlight of the range that included more sedate styles.

This Lego model recreation is created in miniland scale. This is not the first time I have drafted this car. For this model the chassis includes steering, rear suspension, and a straight-four (equivalent to straight-8 package) lego piston engine.

This Lego model had been created in Lego Digital Designer for Flickr LUGNuts 54th Build Challenge - "LEGO Set Overhaulin" - celebrating all things Lego with recreations of original sets.

Tags:   Lego Indiana Jones Shanghai Chase 7682 Auburn 851 boat tail boattail speedster auto car moc model miniland lego911 render LDD classisc USA Cord Duesenberg LUGNuts challenge 54th engine steering recreation Lego Set Overhaulin

© All Rights Reserved

Based on the Lego Group's set Nr. 5893 Offroad Power. This model is created in miniland scale, with a 2012 Ford Global T6 Ranger in Single Cab form.

Lots of added trim, including bullbar, rollhoop, winch and spotlamps add to the four-wheel-drive, piston engine, and front and rear suspension. The Pickup tows a miniland scale trailer, upon which a miniland scale ATV rides. The ATV unit includes steering with lots of other detailing.

This recreation has been modelled in Lego Digital Designer for Flickr LUGNuts 53th Build Challenge - "LEGO Set Overhaulin" - celebrating all things Lego with recreations of older sets.

Tags:   Ford Ranger ute pickup offroad auto car T6 global moc model miniland lego lego911 LDD render cad ATV 2012 quadbike trailer LUGNuts challenge overhaulin Lego set overhaullin

© All Rights Reserved

One of the sets of the Indiana Jones Lego Themes was Nr. 7682 Shanghai Chase.

Identifying the models in the movie was somewhat difficult though. The lead car, shown here was pretty straight forward. There were not very many Boat Tail Speedsters built during the 1930's, and the archetype was the Auburn 851.

The chase car was harder to track down though. As a movie 'The Temple of Doom' was released long before the internet and digital media - and hence 'doesn't exist before the internet'. I will endevour to identify it one day and build it also.

Fortunately our eager-eyed readers identified the car for me as the 1927-31 REO Flying Cloud. REO was a car company founded by Ransom E. Olds (who earlier founded Oldsmobile - later part of General Motors) in 1905. Car production ensued, through to 1935. The form continued, by manufacturing trucks and busses through the Second World War. The company struggled postwar, and was reorganised in bankruptcy in 1954.

The 1927-31 Flying Cloud and 1931 Royale were the zenith of REO's automobile quality and production, but like many firms of high-class automobiles in the US, the stock market crash and Great Depression left a fatal blow to the company's fortunes (capital, facility and manpower).

This Lego model recreation is created in miniland scale. For this model the chassis includes steering, rear suspension, and a straight-three (equivalent to straight-6 package) lego piston engine.

This Lego model had been created in Lego Digital Designer for Flickr LUGNuts 54th Build Challenge - "LEGO Set Overhaulin" - celebrating all things Lego with recreations of original sets. The REO model has been created later to accompany the earlier Auburn 851 Speedster

Tags:   Lego Indiana Jones 7682 Shanghai Chase REO Flying Cloud 1927 1931 Auburn 851 Speedster auto car moc model vehicle LUGNuts lego911 sedan challenge ldd render cad foitsop

© All Rights Reserved

One of the limited number of Model Team stes was Nr. 5581 Magic Flash. Modelled as a van towing a speedboat on a trailer, 5581 shared its van body design with 5550 and 5561 though each model had unique undercarriage.

The Lego Digital Designer model shown here recreates the set, with new Lego parts and an updated body design in the style of the Ford Transit Van. Additional features have been built into the model (which can be retrofitted to the original, including a two cylinder, front mounted engine and a sprung, live axle at the rear. Updating the interior includes new, more comfortable seats, airbag steering wheel, and new clamsheel opening twin rear doors.

Model Team was a geat theme, running from 1986 to 1999 and included some of the largest and most sophisticated Lego models from that period. The added realism of the models looks, over that of technic, made them very popular with Lego builders.

Sadly, the theme seems to have dissappeared for now, though some of the larger Lego Creator sets share the theme's values, though with thes realistic looks.

Model Team is one of the strong early influences on my own Lego building, and is the closest theme to the genre of Lego Miniland modelling.

Lastly, thanks to Jonathan Derksen for his inspiration front nudgebar modelled to his version of the similar Lego Model Team Nr. 5550 Custom Rally Van.

Tags:   Lego Model Team 5581 Magic Flash van auto car moc model miniland lego911 5550 boat lego set overhaulin LUGNuts challenge 54th render cad Jonathan Derksen

© All Rights Reserved