Miller 91 rear drive Doucette kit

[raceparke]

I got a 1927 Jynx special kit from big*small*scale*. He is reissuing Gary Doucette kits and has an ever changing lineup. Gary had done a series of Millers and now this version. I don’t see it in the current lineup but previously it appeared then disappeared then reappeared so hopefully it’ll be back. I plan to make the gold 1928 Mayer winner. It looks close to the EtZel kit I have. Some comments can be seen in the 1928 Miller thread in Sale section here.
Here are some photos comparing the two kits.









I built my own front axle the resin parts were not of use



I’m using a steering wheel from a Revell Kurtis midget and I built the crank.



Sporadic progress to come- I’m told I have a full list of do-ties this week.

[jimhamill]

Look forward to watching your build - bought the same kit & debating what car to build

Can definitely relate to modeling taking a back seat (way, way back!) to the job jar

Jim

[pje]

As I said in my thread I had decided to purchase this same kit with the idea of converting it to the 1928 winner. Since at the moment I’m very uneducated in regards to these cars, I’ll be very happy that you are doing the heavy lifting on this conversion and I can sit back and learn from you experience.
First up, I’ll be interested in how you create the two scoops on the left side engine cover.

Paul Erlendson

[raceparke]

I cheated. The EtZel kit came with two side panels. Years ago I decided to use the other one, leaving the two-scooper for this build. Pretty god planning ahead, eh?
Dan

[raceparke]

The EtZel panel was shorter than the Doucette opening. I placed it in pushed forward then filled at the rear. In hindsight I probably should have centered it and filled a bit at each end. The scoops are centered top to bottom.

[pje]

Thanks Dan!

Paul

[raceparke]

I pinned a glued the front frame members in place. The two crosspieces are wire. When I drilled the right frame the hole broke- I wrapped a piece of wine metal around the pin. The inner crosspiece will be the crank mount. Again the resin piece is too chunky.

[raceparke]

I placed some plastic tube buttons on the rear frame to support the springs. There won’t be any weight on the springs- the axle fits snugly in a hole in the body. The buttons are to space the springs away from the body to allow mounting the friction shocks.

[raceparke]

Usually a Doucette kit representing a racer of this vintage includes the shocks. Not this one. So I made them

[jimhamill]

Nice work & thanks for sharing it

Jim

[1961redlegs]

I’m watching this closely, what a nice effort!

[raceparke]

Another look at the front axle and also the dash. The PE dash in the kit is, to me, too deep. It would hit the drivers legs.

[raceparke]

Crank mount

[raceparke]

With crank

[raceparke]

Here is a page from the Etzel Miller directions that may be of use.

[raceparke]

The restored ca shows a louver-less right side engine panel, so I’ve filled it and will sand fill sand fill sand for a while.







I feel both engine panels are similar dimensions so will scribe the upper edge.

[Calvin]

I love seeing a good ol fashioned WIP.

NICE work, like always

[raceparke]

Another question is about the steering wheel. Several articles mention that aa arc between the two lower spokes was removed and lots of diecasts ( I know not a good source) show this. The only contemporary photo I could find almost looks like a complete wheel ( Louie, please move your left hand. . .) and the wheel is wrapped.



Any thoughts appreciated.

[pje]

If you zoom in it looks to me like there is a bit of the wrapped wheel showing between his hands Looks like a full wheel to me.

Paul Erlendson

[raceparke]

Paul, looks that way ro me too. Now to confirm this is a photo of the winner On race day. The article this photo was in was in USA Today may 8 2016. It is marked “APFile photo”
Dan

[jj66]

Good improvements in the Doucette kit!

[raceparke]

www.roadandtrack.com/motorsports/a28594/vintage-indy-500-race-cars/#

This fascinating article has Miller and other useful info.

According to it, the IMS 1928 winner is not the original car but painted to resemble it. The IMS car has the cut out wheel, maybe the original did not? Anyway the research sometimes is as much fun as the modeling. Right?

Dan

[BalmyLight]

Sept 6, 2020 12:58:20 GMT -5 raceparke said:

www.roadandtrack.com/motorsports/a28594/vintage-indy-500-race-cars/#

This fascinating article has Miller and other useful info.

According to it, the IMS 1928 winner is not the original car but painted to resemble it. The IMS car has the cut out wheel, maybe the original did not? Anyway the research sometimes is as much fun as the modeling. Right?

Dan

What a great article!!!

Thanks for posting it, so glad I clicked on it. The author of the article had a day that dreams are made of.

[raceparke]

Quick note
I’m working on a modification to the shape of the nose. I had glued the radiator into that but now had to remove it. Better not to glue it right away. More to come once we clean up from a weekend party (10 people properly distanced).
Dan

[bobbyc]

That photo definitely shows a full steering wheel. The spokes are at 12 and 6 and 3 and 9 o'clock. Not only can you see the lower part of the wheel, but there would not be a spoke from the center to 6 o'clock if the lower part was cut out.

[raceparke]

Doing more research trying to understand. . .



This winners photo definitely shows 4 spokes, and seems to show an entire wheel

[raceparke]

And my attempt at the wheel.

[raceparke]

I drilled into the frame and will use a thin wire to represent the edge of the firewall, ala other Doucette kits of this vintage.

[raceparke]

I’m leaning to the idea that the Doucette kit represents an early 1920s Miller, having some slight differences to the later Mayer version. The noses of the cars are quite different the earlier car had a pointed aspect with a taller grille, the later car nose reminds me of a Roman helmet with a more rounded “fore head” appearance. The Doucette kit has a more flared body section in front of the steering wheel. I’ll probably try something with the nose, but leave the body work alone. The IMS museum car is chromed all over the place. I intend a more subdued finish on the metal parts.

[bobbyc]

I tell you what- Anyone who does one of Gary's kits has his work cut out for him. I think you're doing a great job getting all the subtle nuances included in your build. Also- I agree with you about the chrome. I don't see any chrome on the car in the photo taken from the right rear while the car is in the pits. I'm sure the radiator shell is chrome or polished aluminum, but it doesn't seem like the exhaust is chrome, unless it got really toned down by the heat. If you do want to have a chrome finish on any of the parts I recommend either Alclad or the Molotow product. I've used both and they both look realistic, in my opinion.