How I Won The Daddy of The Year Award!

How I Won The Daddy of The Year Award from my wife and son:

My son just turned 2 this past October 2015. He’s really into “vroom vrooms” so I decided that I had to create something special for him for his birthday. I saw a similar project from a picture shared through a hot rod site and the “My Cool Daddy” site, and had to make one for Aidan.

Here’s how I created it: It took about 8 months total working on it here and there in the afternoons and on some weekends. In true hot rod fashion, I repurposed as many wagon pieces as possible. The rear wagon was an old one I had, shortened to about 1/3 lengthwise and reinforced underneath. The front wagon is normal length, but with 4 inches cut out the center. It was donated by friends Debby and Lester when I described the project in passing. The curved front is the factory front steering axle turned and trimmed to fit; the trimmings became the gray scoop on the carburetor and the side pieces between the two wagons. The original looking F100 ornament was a wall decoration from Hobby Lobby, a really lucky find.

The Carb with working choke and the movable piston shifter are from a worn out leaf blower. LED flash lights pinned in pieces of conduit were any easy solution to wanting working headlights, and Aidan enjoys turning them on and off. The “cab” was sliced and raised with sheetmetal added, and additional pieces folded in the window openings. The visor was a side section cut from shortening the rear section. The dragster style steering wheel spins freely, and was the two wagons’ handles welded with a bolt through the middle and a lock nut secured through conduit welded under the visor. The metal wheels are from the older wagon, fronts are mounted on gate hinges.

The little license plate is from a small car case I kept from when I was a kid myself. The removable seat is remnants thrown together until I decide what style I want permanent. I’m hoping to have someone do some “custom” upholstery.  A handle to push with was the original two handles welded together. The steering handle for me is not finished yet, but will either be two connecting rods welded together or some more wagon remnants. Either way, it’s removable with one pin.

I rattle can painted satin blue, then told my friend “Tank” what ideas I liked before giving him free reign on the graphics and “hot rod gingerbread.” He even added a little “13” above the license plate (the year Aidan was born). It rolls easy at 1 1/2 inches clearance with truck bed coating underneath for when it scrapes. And of course, it’s not a radio flyer anymore, but a HIFI Flyer, get it?!

We took it out for Halloween, can you guess what we dressed as?!?

 

 

Happy Halloween from The Lee Family!

A very special thanks to my buddy Aulton “Tank” Quave at Slaughterhouse Garage for the custom painted graphics.

Please do not crop or edit our photographs in any way.

For more information or to contact Rob you can use the Contact page on this site or directly at robert@redfishinventions.com.