156 replies to this topic

[Custom Mike]

Roger, I'm trying to find something to use as piping, there's gotta be something around here I can snag that'll do the trick! OK, more work on the bed, courtesy of Johann's suggestion. Next time you suggest this, I'm sending it to you buddy, this was a real exercise in eye-strain!

I started out with these, I picked 'em up at Hayes Hobby House...


I carefully sanded on these until they were smooth, now they look more like the carriage bolts...


A quick coat of Tamiya Gloss Aluminum...


The second set of 25, only 15 were sanded. I've got spares, since I knew I would lose a few!


And the bed, with 28 holes drilled and awaiting it's new bolts!


And putting the new bolts into the straps. I wish I could use a magnifier without feeling like I was gonna hurl, it would have made this so much easier! But it does look much better, so it was worth it!


Another shot of the first eight...


And mocked-up with the rest of the bed...

Edited by Custom Mike, 29 December 2012 - 06:18 PM.

[Gluhead]

That's the stuff, right there. Looks great.

[Shardik]

Oh sure, blame me... oh wait, it was me wasn't it? Does that mean I get to take credit for the outstanding execution too ?

[Custom Mike]

Oh sure, blame me... oh wait, it was me wasn't it? Does that mean I get to take credit for the outstanding execution too ?

Go right ahead buddy, I wouldn't have done it without your suggestion, so take all the credit you want!

[slusher]

Awsume work so far...

[crazyjim]

The bed looks more finished now. Great work!

[Joker]

Them bolts are the rainbow sprinkles !
The Bee's Knees !

[Custom Mike]

Thanks guys, Johann was right, it really did need those bolts! Hopefully I'll have some more progress tomorrow night, long hard day at work means no bench time tonight!

[Custom Mike]

Now for the small amount of work I got in tonight. First up are the tail lights, which I'm not happy with. They'll probably be scrapped and replaced with some clear Red styrene, I just don't like the looks of 'em at all. I painted the pins that will be used for the Blue-Dots, at least they look good. Then I stripped the dash (Too many layers of paint meant it was losing it's remaining detail), re-primed it, and I'm considering making a dash pad out of the final piece of thinned leather I have laying around, what do you guys think? I also repainted the frame Semi-Gloss Black. That's all for tonight, enjoy, and let me know if the dash pad idea sounds good!

Edited by Custom Mike, 31 December 2012 - 03:24 PM.

[Rusty Sierra]

This looks fantastic! I'm building the same kit currently however I'm going in a totally different direction. The bed looks amazing and has given me a few ideas for my own project.

[Custom Mike]

Glad I could inspire you Rusty, I'm going to check out your build!

Edited by Custom Mike, 28 August 2012 - 04:08 PM.

[crazyjim]

I make rear fitting taillights by taking clear styrene, painting several coats of Testors Stop Light Red Metallic on the back side of the clear, and then cover the paint with BMF. You can then cut just about any size or shape of lens needed.

I like you idea for the blue dots. What paint did you use? I'd like to try those.

[Shardik]

Mike, this build is blowing me away! The seat and bed look like a 1:1. Amazing!
Your advice was good; I just got back onto building mine and am just having fun with it. I still find myself "competing" with you, though (it's in my nature ).
As for the dash pad, you could probably pull it off, but I wouldn't know where to terminate it. I'd save the leather for the door panels.

[Shardik]

Oh, by the way, I love the change in the thread title: Very appropriate !

[Custom Mike]

I like you idea for the blue dots. What paint did you use? I'd like to try those.

Jim, I've got some Red plastic here from an old motion detector I swapped out at work last week that will do the trick, now I just have to shape it! And the paint on the Blue Dots is Tamiya Clear Blue, beautiful stuff, ain't it?

As for the dash pad, you could probably pull it off, but I wouldn't know where to terminate it. I'd save the leather for the door panels. Oh, by the way, I love the change in the thread title: Very appropriate !

Johann, the name change came about because of the other 1950 Chevy Pickup being built by Rusty. And If I do go with the dash pad, it'll come down to the top of the trim above the glove box/speaker area which will mean it lands just above the gauge cluster, making it easy to do! And I've already started thinning more leather for the door panels, we're on the same page!

[Davewilly]

WOW! Love how this is turning out!

[Custom Mike]

Remember how I said I wasn't happy with the tail lights? Well, I did something about it!











Here's how I did it, pull up a chair. I used a piece of Clear Red plastic I got from a really old motion detector I replaced about a week ago. I started by cutting the tail light openings into one big tail light...


A bit of sanding to smooth it out...


A piece of the Clear Red plastic ready for cutting...


I smoothed out one side and added the curve at the top, now to cut it to fit side-to-side...


Now that it fits in the opening, I'll cut the bottom edge off!

Edited by Custom Mike, 29 December 2012 - 06:20 PM.

[Custom Mike]

And now for the finishing touches. I didn't like the "smooth" taillight, so I filed a groove across the lens just to break it up a bit. Once the groove was in place, I polished the lens up, drilled it out for it's "Blue Dot", and added some foil to the backside of each lens!

The new lens in place, awaiting some thinning and it's new groove...


Here's how thick the new lens was at the start, gotta knock that down a bit...


And this is how I added the groove across the lens. I taped it off to match the other lens, and went after it with a file...

Not perfect, but it'll do. Now to polish it up and add the "Blue Dot"!


And the completed new taillights. I like 'em much better already!

Edited by Custom Mike, 31 December 2012 - 03:28 PM.

[crazyjim]

Pretty cool procedure, Mike. I have to get me some of that Tamiya paint.

[Randy D]

Hi Mike. Really enjoy following along on this, cool idea on the taillights. That bed is just amazing!!!


Randy