John Jacobus

Built using Art Center School model-making techniques.  Surface development, blue prints, where everything has been drawn to scale and sections have been cut to aid cutting section templates and lines.   An upper half and lower half of the clay model was made with professional Chavant modelling clay.  Female “Hydrolcal” or dental plaster moulds were cast from the upper and lower clay models.  Hemp was used to strengthen the plaster moulds so they didn’t crack or break.  The inside mould surfaces were cleaned and varnished or shellaced.  Silicone spray parting compound was applied.  A thin gel coat of fiberglass resin was mixed with talcum powder was applied to the female mold surface.  This was soft for scoring the door, hood and truck lines. The fiberglass cloth was cut and fitted to the cavities and was laid-up with catalyzed resin and a disposable paint brush.   Rubber gloves were required to protect the hands.  The two halves were glued together with epoxy resin.  After 50 years the model still looks new as the lacquer and fiberglass had  the same coefficients of expansion so NO cracks or fissures, or chips, or body separations have appeared.   Fine hairline cracks have appeared. Model restoration has never been required either.