Mad Rat

Big B Customs

$89.00 $99.00

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Material: 100% Metal
Dimensions: 6.2" tall x 5.5" long x 1.25” wide
Weight: 0.88 lbs.

BEHIND THE DESIGN

The inspiration for Mad Rat came from a comment on one of my posts, comparing a unique Trojan warrior sculpture to an old car hood ornament. It was a quarter-inch wide but six inches tall, with a mohawk helmet and swinging sword. Intrigued, I challenged myself to create something similar. I initially tried 3D sculpting but couldn't replicate the original style, so I asked a friend for advice. He suggested going the traditional route with clay. Inspired by this, I decided to craft a hood ornament animal in a sleek style—thin but full of depth and shadow.

I sketched a rat leaning forward, wielding a wrench overhead to smash a car. After several iterations, I finalized the illustration, enlarged it, and used it as a template to layer clay and carve out depths. The design needed to be symmetrical, so I carefully merged features like elbows and hands. Once satisfied with the clay model, I had it digitized and refined through digital sculpting. After adding finishing touches and 3D printing a master model, I sanded and molded it for the final cast. Mad Rat became a testament to creativity and craftsmanship, showcasing my passion for unique designs.

*Wood Base Blocks Sold Separately*

Meet the Artist

My story starts in the fast lane of childhood, where I was revving up my days with Hot Wheels at every chance I got. I remember this sweet '34 five-window coupe I had—open engine, fenders, and all. It was baby blue with red, white, and yellow flames licking the sides. I even sketched that beauty and took it to the county fair, and guess what? It snagged a red ribbon. I still have that drawing.

My old man always had a junkyard full of beat-up cars scattered around the farm. I'd spend hours in those rust buckets, dreaming about fixing them up. Pops had this killer hood ornament of a Spanish explorer from his DeSoto dump truck. He'd slap that thing on every new Chevy he got, and over the years, it rode on four different rides. One day, he bought my brother a '39 Dodge coupe for busting his chops on the farm. Naturally, I asked if he'd do the same for me. And he did—hooked me up with a '47 Plymouth coupe. I tried tinkering with it in high school, but I didn't have a clue about building hot rods back then and ended up selling it off.

Life cruised on. I got hitched and had a rad son. It wasn't until the last decade that I got back into hot rods. Mom's estate gave me the green light to snag a derelict '29 Ford coupe, a dead ringer for the five-window I used to play with as a kid. As I started piecing this ride together, I wanted to pay homage to Pops' Spanish explorer hood ornament. I hit up a few car swap meets and found one, but it just didn't jive with the '29's vibe. So, being a 3D designer, I sculpted my own Spanish explorer head for the hood, but it still didn't sit right.

So I switched gears and sculpted something for myself, something Pops would dig. I created a female figure back-diving off the front of my radiator grill. I posted it on a few social media groups, and it blew up. Folks were clamoring to buy one. That back-dive gal sparked Big B Customs, and it just took off from there.

Fans and customers started asking for different sculpts—Rod the Rat series, Grease Monkey series, Slim series, and now the V8Girl. The journey's been a wild ride, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Design Process

I start by digitally sculpting each ornament, meticulously refining every detail until it embodies the essence of vintage car culture. Once I'm satisfied with the digital form, I bring it to life through professional 3D printing. From there, I meticulously sand each print up to a smooth 1200-grit finish, ensuring every curve and contour is flawless.

Next, the ornament makes its journey to my trusted foundry, where the real magic happens. Here, skilled craftsmen create a complex casting mold, capturing every nuance of the design. Molten metal is then carefully poured into the mold, giving birth to the metal version of the ornament.

Once the raw metal emerges from its mold, it undergoes a meticulous process to refine its finish. Any excess material is expertly removed, and the ornament is subjected to a series of polishing grits, each one bringing out its shine.

This dedication to craftsmanship ensures that each hood ornament not only captures the spirit of vintage car culture but also stands as a testament to the artistry and passion behind every piece.