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My wife spent the day at a baby shower... I got to spend the day in the shop. Finished shaping the top sheet for the tail and got it tacked on place. Hopefully tomorrow I'll finish welding and grinding.

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Well I didn't get all of the welding work finished, but I did get a good dent in it. I was able to lay out the trunk lid, start the rain troughs and cut out the inner panel for the trunk lid. Next step is to form the inner trunk panel so it matches the contour of the tail skin where it will fit. My plan is to cut out the trunk lid and use the cut out for the trunk lid skin. I know when I cut this out the metal will move out of shape, so precautions and a way to move things back in place will be needed. I will also fabricate braces from the hinges to the cab back and the latch to the trunk floor. I picked up a set of MG hinges that should work out well for the trunk lid.

Here is another example
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1934-Packard-BOATAIL-SPEEDSTER-/132149307737?hash=item1ec4b66959:g:9TMAAOSwuLZY5DAj&vxp=mtr

Hi Rodbuilder

Your boat-tail is shaping up nicely, the surface development looks great, consistent with what would have been done then. Designing in period context is the secret to success when re-bodying a Classic Era chassis.

By contrast, this example currently on eBay demonstrates how imposing later period forms produces a less-than-satisfactory result. The boat-tail deck-lid here appears to be '41 Plymouth hood repurposed for its general shape, The surrounding deck has a shape not found on cars in the period, doesn't emulate a roadster deck, to say nothing of the extended overhang.

Steve

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Thank you 58L8134

My build is very important to me... I want this car to be a 1930 boat tail speedster. I must admit, I'm not a purest and my plan is to make several mods that will make this car reliable and able to drive long distances. I've discussed the details in this blog above.

I agree that attempt to make a boat tail speedster using a hood and fenders a little hokey... but the real disappointment from my point of view is the small block Chevy. Don't get me wrong I'm a fan of the mouse motor... I have a blown 350 with a heathy dose of nitrous in my 68 Camaro convertible. But a vintage Packard should have a straight 8!

Saturday morning I was able to get 5 uninterrupted hours on my project. I cut out the trunk lid and worked on the inner trunk lid. Just as I suspected both the cut out and tail top deck lost their shape.
The top deck wasn't too bad... I was able to straighten it out as I welded in the rain gutter. The trunk lid looked like a potato chip. I'm hoping that it will take shape when I welded it to the inner trunk lid

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The rain gutter is formed and tacked into place. I am still going to make small pieces to put into the top corners. A bunch of welding and grinding lies ahead.

Here is the YouTube link to my latest video...
https://youtu.be/6wdHj-BiDOM

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dang i wish i had those skills! nice work!

Hey, that's one of my helmets! I design graphics for Hobart and Auto-Arc welding helmets. I recognize the "Rage" design I drew a few years back.

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I really like my helmet... I'm a sucker for old school flames 🔥 probably because I was already a car guy in the 60's when the faded colored flames hit the seene

You have artistic talent!