It would look more like a real hardtop if you could remove the stump from the front of your door's top. When guys leave those little parts sticking up it seems they didn't finish the job. To make it perfect, trim it flush with the rest of the door top. Just like a real hardtop does.
When I made my hardtop window frames, I started with square tube so that I could bend it without it kinking. Then once I had them shaped right, I used a mini air saw to cut out one side of the tube to create a C channel. It was pretty easy to work this way, and the bends were really clean without the waves from working it. When you cut out the one side of the tube, you can leave a little lip on the edges to hold the felt channel in place.
a few update pics...hardtopping operation well underway!....filled in some of the catwalk and sail panel,,,,found a donor roof so i can finally get that gaping hole in the roof filled in,,,,,,(don't have it yet)......if you look at my avatar, you can see i made a primitive attempt at a photoshop section job,,,two inches looked best, so that's where it'll go this time,,,,the "magic formula" of one third window, two thirds body" seems to work here....i will still be doing the stude fins,,,and some things i will keep secret for the time being,,,,,feels great to be making progress again on the car.....here are a few pics,,,,can one of you photoshop experts possibly lower the car, add wide whitewalls and 53 caddy caps, and maybe fill in that hole in the roof..
it looks absolutely spectacular james....exactly what i was looking for. thank you SO much! this confirms for me that i'm heading down the right path,,,lots of neat surprises coming up!
Looking forward to more of this build, nothing like having a go at it yourself. Nice to have the right climate to work on it outdoors.
I think you have it now. The front lower radius and the rear radius seem to match. One sharp and one rounded may not look as good. The Merc has a much heavier chop and can pull it off. Hope you get this version completed.
it's the stock amount of crown,,,maybe the angle is just weird,,james d didnt make any alterations on the roof,,he did fill it with color....basically he lowered the car for me, added wide whites, and caps....i sectioned myself via photoshop (that's ll i could manage with my limited photoshop skills)..originally i was thinking i would REMOVE some of the crown,,but i love it as is....
The amount of crown can appear to vary wildly depending onthe angle of the photo. I wouldn´t worry about changing it, as it seems to be about right on every other shoebox. Just made up some Hirohata style window frames for you. It´ll look good I think.
you did a great job on those as usual james..thank you SO much for all your help....now, and throughout the years.......now, hopefully i can duplicate them in steel..
here is a rough idea of an idea that's been brewing in my brain for the past week or so,,,i've always like the copperhead shoebox ford owned by billy gibbon, and have been trying to picture my own version of what the car would look like as a 3 window coupe. i would extend the doors 6 1/2 inches, move the jamb to compensate of course,,,mine would be a 3 window coupe HARDTOP......
Jim, I really like the straight line coming up from the bottom of the paper mock up...makes it look like a convertible top. I'd be tempted to do a two tone thing with that top. ps. When will we see the return of Misfit?
3 window coupe, reminded of billy gibbons "copperhead" ford. Very cool. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
The Jalopy Journal
