17 replies to this topic

[Foxer]

I know, I know ... what am I doing starting another build when I have 20 sitting in the shop undone. My excuse IS, this is a quick box stock build to get my juices flowing. Of course, It's not another Little Red Wagon but a well used shop truck .. some weathering and probably a new blue paint job at some point in it's life. I have some Auto-Air acrylic Caribbean Blue coming that I want to try out.

This is my first time on the Little Red Wagon and it's been interesting cleaning it up and figuring out how all works. The door hinges look like they'll work, but I'm debating replacing the plastic pin with a brass one drilled into the plastic hinge. It might be a bit more rugged. The door hinges, tail light buckets and rear bulkhead have been fitted to the body and glued. It's sure been some work cleaning this up .. most is ready for some paint!

I also plan to cut the engine cover and hinge the top so the engine is more visible. Just the stock engine is going in. The bottom side of the seats had to be filled as they'll be visible with the cover open ... that's the ONLY real bodywork so far!

Edited by Foxer, 18 November 2011 - 11:55 AM.

[Jon Cole]

Go big, Mike!

[jeffs396]

Git-r-dun Mike!

Look who's talking

These are neat old trucks!

[Dr. Cranky]

What a beauty! Love it. Please keep it going.

[High octane]

I know very well what you mean Mike about starting another build when you have several of more already started. I've been holding myself back from starting several projects in hopes of finishing some others first. It's really tough!

[Dominik]

Thats cool - to see a WIP from the Little Red Wagon. Work on buddy!

[Foxer]

I just realized I can't edit the Title to indicate an update and the 2nd line of old is gone also. How unfortunate.

Just a small one as I keep adding things to do ... I HAVE to stop this! I kept looking at the front vents above the DODGE logo and decides the had to open. Drilled a series of small holes and will cut and sand these opening to shape.

I wanted to open and hinge the engine cover but since it tight the the rear wall of the cab there was no room to swing it open. So it will just be liftoff and added some edges to key the cover on with some .01" strips.

I also added some more parts to the body and decided to cut the door and read gate hinge pins and replace with some brass rod for strength. The front grill (and bumpers) have been stripped of chrome as this will be a cheap shop mule. Both will be painted in creme.

Edited by Foxer, 03 November 2011 - 09:22 AM.

[Casey]

I just realized I can't edit the Title to indicate an update and the 2nd line of old is gone also. How unfortunate.

You can. Click the "Edit", then the "Use Full Editor" tab at the bottom of the text box.

[Foxer]

the engine cover "lid" was a little different then how you've cut it. the lid was just that top part with a 1 1/2" flange wide or so flange and it followed that dip in the top. the whole cover was insulated but still got incredibly hot, at least it did in my A100 van. i kept a folded blanket on top to keep my elbow off the hot cover and just in case i had a third passenger.

I did have some photos of an open lid but decided to just do a straight cut on it rather than the dip in front. I AM trying to keep this simple, so I used a little artistic license. I DO appreciate the input, Dave,

I may look into an old Army blanket to lay on top!

Edited by Foxer, 04 November 2011 - 10:37 AM.

[Foxer]

All the trouble making hinges for my 85 GMC Van must have paid off. Here's the A100 door hinges with new brass pins and the hinges glues in place. I think I'll use the thin common pins I have for the final pins to get the finished look on top that will hold the bin in place and a touch of epoxy on the bottom.

I'll take whatever the door gaps I get with a "grain of shop truck".

Edited by Foxer, 04 November 2011 - 10:36 AM.

[Foxer]

I just realized I can't edit the Title to indicate an update and the 2nd line of old is gone also. How unfortunate.

You can. Click the "Edit", then the "Use Full Editor" tab at the bottom of the text box.

Dumb me ... I just realized the title can only be changed by editing the first post! I've done it a thousand times but forgot to go back to the first this time, Thanks for commenting, Casey.

[crazyjim]

I like that little truck. I tried to buy one cheap over the weekend because the kits had no seats. The guy wouldn't come down and I wouldn't go up. No sale.

[Foxer]

Bummer you couldn't get a deal on it. I always liked the look of this kit, but heard nasty things about how it fit together and never bought one, When Gregg put a bunch of kits up for sale to help fund the board I saw this and jumped ... and I'm glad I did. I do like the the job they did with it and think it will end up looking good. It's nice they included everything to make a stock A100, even the 2nd engine. The doors probably have taken the greatest hit as far as complaints but I'm impressed by them. Plastic pins I'm sure won;t last long but replacing with metal pins was pretty simple. I've been taking my time to be sure where and how everything fits together which is a must with this kit.

Next up is the gas cap on the left side .. odd they left this out, but it looks like the 1:1 Little Red Wagon had this hole welded up.

Edited by Foxer, 20 November 2011 - 04:38 AM.

[Foxer]

I've been slowly, but steadily progressing. The first shot shows the left headlight ring missing. I just sanded away the ring and put a plastic rod on the back as a pin to go thru the door hing to hold it in place. Next photo shows the headlight sitting out. I couldn't locate a photo of a 1:1 with the ring removed so I'll just fake it. It screws into something .. tabs probably.

The white thing in the 2nd photo is a piece I made to go in the trunk behind the gas intake as I've seen in 1:1 photos.
The front slotted vents were also opened. They still need a thin vertical vane at the centers. This was just another primer coat to check the bodywork.



Next is the gas cap made from a chunk of sprue with another plastic rod locator. I sanded a crown on the sprue and used a thin edge of a file to gauge around the edge for the "finger grip". I drilled a hole in the body for the rod and enlarged and dished it slightly with a twist drill.



Thanks for looking and comments are welcome.

Edited by Foxer, 11 November 2011 - 04:44 PM.

[Casey]

Next photo shows the headlight sitting out. I couldn't locate a photo of a 1:1 with the ring removed so I'll just fake it. It screws into something .. tabs probably.

Just ask. I've collected a few for my 1/43 A-100 projects, so here ya go:

[Foxer]

Fantastic reference, Casey! Thanks so much.

Looks like the body rusts at the bed line ... must trap a lot of water there.

[Foxer]

After looking more at the photos Casey supplied I decided the headlight bucket HAD to be done. I looked far and wide but could not locate a cone to use anywhere. The tip of my 3/8" twist drill looked close to the right slope and the diameter was right, so last years ice scraper donated it's blade and received a few conical dents. The area was cut out and ground down to fit the headlight opening. It looks like some more grinding to thin it so it recesses more into the bucket and the body is ready for paint!

[RodneyBad]

Very Interesting.
Neat lil Truck.