405 replies to this topic

[M0par Jim]

Been sanding the glue area with something like 150 grit and used J-B Weld epoxy in the end for glue.

Just try some original epoxy glue. I'm trying to figure out what would work to kinda help you out man with that hinge problem of yours. Your doing and did one heck of a very find job on the build here as I love it alot.

[Heavy Chevy]

Wow! You've really nailed that interior. I especially like the seats, they really look right.  I find it's the seats that make it a little harder to do a very 'stock' looking van as many van kits have anything other than stock seats.......it's the first thing I see most of the time.  Your model is simply perfect, well done :

[Foxer]

The 8-lug wheels are resin by Ryan Silva who is a member here and sells on ebay, but Ryan's been missing for a month or two and no one seems to know whats happened to him.

 

The tires are from Ma's Resin. They are listed as 50's truck tires or something close. I can find exactly whet they are if you want .. just pressed for time at the moment.

[Tom Geiger]

I just invested the last hour or so in reading all 20 pages. Great work and I enjoyed the saga. It rationalizes my own insanity of getting things right and doing things over that nobody else will notice! Kudos! I look forward to the completion and seeing the finished model at NNL East. You only have like 3 months! Get cranking! BTW,we did the van theme at NNL East this year because of the recent reissue of several of the old van kits and because we see a resurgence of guys building old vans like this. Just what we are looking for!

[Foxer]

I just invested the last hour or so in reading all 20 pages. Great work and I enjoyed the saga. It rationalizes my own insanity of getting things right and doing things over that nobody else will notice! Kudos! I look forward to the completion and seeing the finished model at NNL East. You only have like 3 months! Get cranking! BTW,we did the van theme at NNL East this year because of the recent reissue of several of the old van kits and because we see a resurgence of guys building old vans like this. Just what we are looking for!

Thanks for the comments. Tom ... I'm definitely shooting to complete this for NNL East 

[Foxer]

OK ... got past a major stumbling block today and it's hell-bent-for-leather from now on!

 

The windows were being stubborn and I tried 3 glues with no success . all the standard ones. Then Micro-Marks Liquid PSA proved to be the answer. There was no rush applying it as it stays tacky forever. I applied it around the window openings on the body and stuck the windows on. Done in less than an hour!

 

 

Now it's just gluing the back door one last time and everything else will take no time. A last touch up with body paint and rust and I'M DONE! 

Edited by Foxer, 15 January 2013 - 02:48 AM.

[1972coronet]

Looking GREAT , Foxer !

 

Believe it or not , clear RTV silicone works quite well for window installation as well , especially for the windshield of convertibles . Glad to see that you've found something else that works that I can keep in mind !

 

Keep up the beautiful work !

[Edsel-Dan]

I started reading this Back when you started. I lost track of it in Aug 2012 when my modem died!!.

No 'Net til Thanksgiving week!!!

 

I do like this, but wish it were an as new project & not a rust bucket!

 

I have built a few of these vans, and cut the rear doors out of all of the,

I don't know if they offer them again, but on my Blue Rescue van I used the 

Mini Hinges from Auto World (Round2 Now) when they were still in Scranton, Pa.

 

The "L" shape of the pieces gives more gluing surface.

 

Another Idea, would have been cutting out the area of the hinge and gluing in Strip Styrene

 in a thickness to match the size of the hinge piece but wider to cross over the opening more.

Drill it for the pin, then file it to shape . Not something to do on a Finish paint though.

 

A Better idea for that would be make Short Piano hinges out of Pie Tin.

Cut pieces in a "Comb" shape and Round over the "Teeth".

Insert the Hinge pin for correct diameter of rounding.

 

I can take some pic's of a 48 Ford Woody that is still in progress.

I started with the styrene hinges but they kept breaking.

 

The Styrene version is working for my 40 Ford S-D Rescue/Ambulance project.

 

Pic's I have in Photobucket only show the 40 & Chevy van with their doors open.

I need to take a couple with them closed. 

Now I have the tin ones and they are holding better.

[Foxer]

John: silicone ... that has tenacious grip and I've used it for many things in modeling. It never dried clear enough for me, but maybe better when really thin.

 

Daniel: those are some great hinge ideas. With all the help I've gotten here I came to the conclusion that wrapping brass strip around a pin, similar to your pie tin idea, would have given a much better mounting surface.

[Foxer]

OK ... this WIP will NOT die!    The left rear door hinges came loose once more and the door was epoxied closed!  I proceeded to attach all the side lights, mirrors and antenna. All interior pieces were also glued. The rear bumper had to be in place to spread the rear body for door spacing and I put some super glue on it this time thinking it was the last time ... forgetting that the body needed to be spread even more to allow the chassis to be put in place. During that attempted operation the right door lower hings popped (!) and the chassis wouldn't go in.

 

So, the glue was dissolved and the bumper removed. The left bumper bin broke off during removal and I have to fabricate a new pin from brass and aluminum rod/tubes. This is done now as photos below show.

 

 

Now, it's just the door hinge glue ... hopefully this goes without the top hinge coming loose. Another day for the epoxy to cure and the chassis goes in and it's just paint touchup . I HOPE!

 

I think this just might make it to NNL East this year!!!!

[Foxer]

OMG! This IS the last post to this story ... the van is 99.9% done!!!!!!  .. really!  So much thanks to everyone that has viewed, commented and encouraged me on this build. There were a lot of frustrations (one rear door is glued shut... the other works) but it was a totally fun build and my daughter is overjoyed!

 

Right at the end I realized I never paid attention to the windshield wipers and the A-Team wipers were the worst I've seen an any kit ... they were half circle shapes with no definition. So, some PE wipers are on the way and will be done before final studio shots. It needs some light touch up and washes but for all practical purposes .. DONE!

 

Here's the last photos in this thread just to see a whole van! 

 

[Danno]

Good job.

 

[pharoah]

Great weathering and attention to detail.  A friend of mine had a van similar to that. 

[Nitro Neil]

Very nice. I have seen that van, full of hippies, driving through Northampton.

[Foxer]

Very nice. I have seen that van, full of hippies, driving through Northampton.

 

hahah, Neil  ...  my daughter and her van was at Stockbridge Agricultural and passed thru Northampton many times on the way home 

[Tom Geiger]

Yipee!  You finished it in plenty of time for NNL East.  As a beater fan, I've been watching this one take shape and I look forward to seeing it in person.

[Ben]

Very nice!!!!! Been waiting to see how it turned out!

[Foxer]

Yipee!  You finished it in plenty of time for NNL East.  As a beater fan, I've been watching this one take shape and I look forward to seeing it in person.

 

Having a grandson an hour further south of Wayne I got a ticket to ride! .. even the wife will be along for a visit to her brother in Wayne ... I love it when a plan comes together!

[Michigan Madman]

 

 ... I love it when a plan comes together!

 You said that... and that was Hannibal from the A-Team's line... and you started with the A-Team kit...

Seriously, though, AWESOME! I've had my eye on this one for a very long time, so great to see it so close to 100% after all this time.

[crowe-t]

Mike,

 

It's great to see this one complete!  It really looks like the actual 1:1 van.  Very well done! 

 

Mike.