Rusty Sierra Posted May 12, 2012 Share Posted May 12, 2012 Recently I've built 3 clean box stock models and I feel it's finally time to risk making bad decisions by making body incisions. I picked up this 50 chevy AMT kit today and was going to do another box stock build. I got a truck kit due to the fact that I wanted to attach a trailer to it and put something cool on the trailer. But then it dawned on me. The truck looked WAY too original. I started by sanding some mold lines and chopping the top. I used a method I found in an old edition of scale auto magazine. I would really appreciate if anyone has any tips or tricks they could share with me. I'm trying to find out what kind of putty I should be using to sand and what type of glue should be used to the glue the roof back on. also if anyone has any ideas on clamping, please let me know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Cranky Posted May 12, 2012 Share Posted May 12, 2012 Nice chop in the works. Great to see another 50 Chevy Pick Up in progress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trucker_tim Posted May 12, 2012 Share Posted May 12, 2012 I would use the ambroid pro weld or the same stuff for glue. I just did the same on a l700 Coe. As far as putty I would be interested in what people use as well. (null) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Sierra Posted May 13, 2012 Author Share Posted May 13, 2012 Thanks for the tip tim, I created another thread in the how do I... section of the forum and was told regular old bondo will work well. More on this project soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psychographic Posted May 13, 2012 Share Posted May 13, 2012 As for glue, I would suggest any of the liquid cements. Be sure to make backing plates to reinforce the cuts. You shouldn't need to clamp it as the liquid cement sets very fast. Then use an automotive 2 part finishing putty. If you use a putty without a hardener it's going to shrink on you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Sierra Posted May 13, 2012 Author Share Posted May 13, 2012 The glue has set now and It looks pretty good... does the surface have to perfect before I apply the putty or can it be somewhat rough? majority of the body lines are exactly where they should be however, I'm unease as to how I'll be able to shape the ones that aren't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Sierra Posted May 13, 2012 Author Share Posted May 13, 2012 more progress Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Cranky Posted May 13, 2012 Share Posted May 13, 2012 That's looking good. Chopped and low to the ground, can't ask for better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Darkside Customs Posted May 13, 2012 Share Posted May 13, 2012 I use CA glue an accelerator to do any type of body work.... It may be a pain to sand, but you don't have to worry about shrinkage when you paint... The majority of putties may not shrink when you first paint over , but over time you will see the ghosting of your bodywork starting to show.... As far as your truck.... That is looking good and can't wait to see more progress on it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psychographic Posted May 13, 2012 Share Posted May 13, 2012 (edited) Rusty, you won't be able to get them to line up as you have it now. Cut the roof back off where your original cuts are. Make a cut (red line)from the side window side of the windshield post almost all the way through (leave enough to bend it forward without breaking it off. Then line up the back of the cab so all your lines match. Then bend the top windshield posts forward until the lines of the body line up. Now check to see if they are straight or crooked. if they are crooked you will need to make a cut from the windshield side of the post, pretty much the same as the last cut only backwards (blue line). Then play with bending the post until everything lines up. If it looks like it will line up get it as close as you can, then glue and back up the back of the cab I would use some .010 sheet as it's thin yet will give you strength. Once that dries completely, you can bend the front posts into place and glue them into place. Back it up with some .010 and filling what needs to. As for the roughness, you're going to have to sand the filler anyway, so I wouldn't worry about it. Edited May 13, 2012 by Psychographic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Sierra Posted May 14, 2012 Author Share Posted May 14, 2012 I made some relief cuts where the blue line is and bent the stub back to where it will join up the roof. I am pretty happy with how the A pillars turned out. the drivers side is a little bit off but I think it's as close as I am going to get it. I've done a lot of sanding and they're shaping up nicely. In retrospect I probably should have done it the way you suggested though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bryan_m Posted May 14, 2012 Share Posted May 14, 2012 I would use the ambroid pro weld or the same stuff for glue. I just did the same on a l700 Coe. As far as putty I would be interested in what people use as well. (null) i try not to use putty, or as little as possible.... check out this short "how to" on my site.... http://bryansmodelingcorner.synthasite.com/tip-section-1.php lemme know what ya think. i like using this technique. cheers bryan m Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonFL Posted May 14, 2012 Share Posted May 14, 2012 i try not to use putty, or as little as possible.... check out this short "how to" on my site.... http://bryansmodelingcorner.synthasite.com/tip-section-1.php lemme know what ya think. i like using this technique. cheers bryan m That seems brilliant! Although I've never seen/used glue like that out of a bottle. I've only used the testors glue out of the tube but if I ever come across that glue im going to have to try this. Btw, the way you cut that grill out was pretty cool to. This looks like a good build, I like the chop. I'm excited to see we're your going to go with this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Sierra Posted August 29, 2012 Author Share Posted August 29, 2012 I'm glad to finally say that this project is continuing.... I have found new inspiration for it and have done a bunch of stuff so far. I cut the entire front end off and will be discarding it in favour of and open engine look. I've added little bits of plastic the body so I could use the original firewall however I had to cut the firewall to get the body lower. I had to scratch build some door panels as well to get the interior to fit because I also had to cut it the interior tub down to get the body sitting lower... The frame and bed were both shortened... I glued it all together today but here it is being mocked up. I'm either going to go in this direction or this..... I'm thinking the latter. but am interested in some input. I've never done any cutting on a model so this is all very new to me but I'm having fun doing it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Custom Mike Posted August 29, 2012 Share Posted August 29, 2012 Rusty, for a first time doing body work, you're doing great! I've never chopped a top, so you're ahead of me, and yours looks like it'll take minimal amounts of filler to get ready for paint! Now about the wheels, what kind of motor do you have planned? A big beastly V-8 would suit the second pic perfectly, something more normal would fit the first pic! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcbigpaw Posted August 29, 2012 Share Posted August 29, 2012 (edited) Looking good so far, keep going! I like the look with the chop too seems like a lot of 50 Chevy trucks on the forum right now I'm glad to see someone doing something like this. I did one a while back with a military theme using the straight 6. Frame was Z'd in back n front suspension kicked out in front of the rails. Now I'm thinking I should have chopped it. Edited August 29, 2012 by jcbigpaw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Sierra Posted August 29, 2012 Author Share Posted August 29, 2012 Rusty, for a first time doing body work, you're doing great! I've never chopped a top, so you're ahead of me, and yours looks like it'll take minimal amounts of filler to get ready for paint! Now about the wheels, what kind of motor do you have planned? A big beastly V-8 would suit the second pic perfectly, something more normal would fit the first pic! I'm planning on using a blown 396 for it that is if i can get the blower intake to fit... Joe, that's a gorgeous model, very similar to what I had originally envisioned before I found the big meaty tires in my parts bin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slusher Posted August 30, 2012 Share Posted August 30, 2012 Really nice progress, nice work on the chop.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Sierra Posted August 31, 2012 Author Share Posted August 31, 2012 A small update although it took a lot of work... I wanted to try my hand at creating a Mexican blanket. I think I remember reading this technique in an old issue of scale auto. The seat The method I bought the hacky sack at the dollar store along with a wooden box I plan on using for the bed. I cut the hacky sack up for the coloured string and the placed each thread on a measured piece of masking tape then I glued it all to the painted seat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Custom Mike Posted September 1, 2012 Share Posted September 1, 2012 Nice job on the blanket Rusty, I need to try that one day! Joe, that is one nice truck you've got there, I love the pin-up on the door! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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