lmtdconnectivity

So not really an update but I am out of primer and most of my body work is finished. Friday I should be able to get to the big city to get primer and other supplies. I think I'm going to make a paint booth(/box?) for my airbrush since I'm working in the basement and not outside really anymore. Also might make one or two 2' x 4' workbenches soon. I think I can make them for around $20 each. Anyway, I'll have pics of whatever it is I get done this weekend.

The original color was a rattle can plum but I wanted to try my hand at airbrushing some nail polish and my daughter had this stuff and wasn't going to use it so I grabbed it. I just need to get a primer for it. I have to drive 40 miles for the primer I want but it'll be worth it. Yeah it has that feel to it but I think the surf board thing is too typical. I was thinking maybe a hawaiian shirt pattern on the bed cover and for the seats/interior in places. something like this: I'll figure that out when I am closer to that point.

I was also able to get the front suspension cut out to get a closer look at what it will take to lower this thing. Not sure how I am going to get this lower with the way it's designed. The front needs to come up quite a bit to get it as low as I want it. The rear suspension I can probably get to drop 2-3 scale inches fairly easily. It's just the front that is going to be irritating. I've lowered a car before but this is designed funky. The spindles would be a pain to cut out. If cutting them out and extending them is the only way then that's what I have to do. If anyone has any ideas on lowering the front, I'd appreciate the input.

I was able to get the area behind the windshield sanded down where it needs to be. Here it is mocked up. I really need to find a cowl for the hood. Here's the engine together. It is the 283 from my 65 Chevy Pickup. I'm thinking I might tape off the tranny and paint it silver/aluminum instead of purple. Not sure yet. Pretty sure I'm going to do a wired distributor on it. Something new to do. Got the dash, radiator, and firewall detail cut out as well.

I was able to get a little body work done today. I got the both driver and passenger sides emblems and locks shaved. Also sanded down behind the door. I still need to take a little more off the passenger side. Here is the tailgate with the handle and Chevrolet logo shaved. I think I am going to use these seats in it. I like how the headrest comes up and are visible above the door. I'll do some more body work tomorrow. I'll finish off the passenger side and get the windshield area down to where I want it and sand down the edge a little so it's not as thick there. I will probably start dechroming parts tomorrow as well. I am also thinking about doing a wired distributor on this build. I read that Ethernet cables inner wire is a good size for it and I have tons of it around and a couple cables that don't work to scavenge the wires from. I'm going to start looking for a tutorial on it. I've worked on cars and rebuilt engines a long time ago so I've got a basic idea what to look for to make it look somewhat right. I think I am going to go with a bed cover that lifts up with a speaker box in the bed. I would still need to get some parts to do that though which is fine since it will be a week until I can get to the hobby shop next. I've been looking at the dodge charger srt8 to scavenge the electronics, wheels, and dash/console from. I could also just order what i need from scale dreams except the dash/console. I don't know. Let's see.... anything else while I'm rambling... Suspension! I have no idea yet what I will be doing with it. I'm not sure how much I need to lower it yet. I'm thinking I might have to C notch the frame in back. And I for sure know I have to lower the front some how just looking at where the frame is in the pics. Again, (sigh) I don't know. I haven't really thought that far yet. I've just been focused on the body so far. Anyway, I should have more pics tomorrow night.

Got the top chopped today. Just need to sand it down to where it needs to be. I am also going to shave the door locks and all emblems on it. Here are some pics.

Thanks Michael!

I have finished my 41 chevy pickup and now have officially started this project. I am going to use the 283 engine out of my 65 chevy pickup for this. (I want the 396 for the pickup) Besides you don't need a huge engine to cruise. I am up in the air about what I am going to do with the bed. I might throw a bench seat in there or I might make it a speaker enclosure with clear bed cover. I would need to buy some stuff from scaledreams for the latter. I'm leaning toward the bench seat for cruising. I might make some spots in the bed for speakers as well. Anyway, here are some pics: Here are angles of where I am going to cut the top off. I made the lines farther out than I need just so I can work it down to the correct spot. Hood size is way different. I'm not sure if I can get the cut-out to fit the original hood right. I need to find somewhere I can buy a resin cowl or maybe another type of scoop. More updates when I can get back to the bench.

Here it is completed. This was a great build for me. Loved the kit and wouldn't mind doing a custom version with fenders in the future. On to the next build and see what i can push myself with on it.

Ok so I got a lot done today and finished it up. On to the pics: I totally forgot about the gas cap on the cab. Had to strip and paint it. Finally decided on these exhaust pipes. I didn't have the parts to build headers with solder so I found these in a double dragster kit. I wanted to use the longer pipes in that kit but the last pipe hit the cab on both sides. Here's the engine mounted along with the drive shaft. Another angle.

Thanks Richard!

So I got to the hobby shop today and got the square rod i needed for the motor mounts. I also picked up a new needle for my airbrush and a couple of paint jars. Hopefully I'll be able to get the engine mounted tomorrow or sunday. Hopefully tomorrow, then I can make the push to finish.

I got a new #1 needle for my airbrush, some jars and this:

Orange wouldn't be too bad. I could see yellow and orange pinstripes down the body maybe. I like silver myself. I was actually thinking a gray or light gray with purple accents for the interior with some minor accents in yellow. I actually didn't pick out the color. My wife picked out the car and said it should be done in purple and pink for the interior. I said no to the pink. Honestly pink goes with purple but that wasn't the look I had in mind. All I saw was the body lines of the car and thought it would look cool topless. I was okay with the purple but i think pink would have been too much of a similar color. Anyway thanks for the ideas guys!

Yeah that's what I thought. I really don't like yellow with purple though. I might do white as a main accent with yellow as a third accent color (pinstripe or something). I think for a cruiser I should go with white as a secondary color. Then maybe yellow or red as a third accent.

So I started on the engine tonight. I have the engine block together, just need to sand it a little so the heads and intake fit right. Still trying to figure out a good color to go with the purple. That's it for now.

I was able to get the bed completed tonight. It wasn't much but the bed is now complete. Here is the completed bed all together. Next update will probably be Saturday night or Sunday since I can't get to the hobby shop until Saturday. I'll probably do some work on my 66 El Camino in the meantime.

Ok so I am not going to get very far today. I am officially waiting until this weekend to go to the hobby shop and get some square rod so I can get the motor mounted properly. I can't find anything I can use in my current arsenal to mount the motor correctly. Oh well. I did get a little done today though. Got the tailgate painted. Just need to add decals to it. The bed is officially done except the tailgate being added. Here it is with the racks. I also got the license plates done. I still need to figure out what I am going to do about exhaust. Need to pick up some aluminum tubing and some solder while at the hobby store this weekend. Since I am stuck until this weekend I figured I'd throw together a mock up of my next build. Check it out here: http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=69683

Since I am stuck until I can get to the hobby shop this weekend, I decided to mock up my next build. I hope it goes here under pickups Anyway, I am going to do a 66 El Camino topless cruiser. Here is what I am starting off with: Here is the mock up. I am going to try to keep it close to that low. Not sure yet what that will entail but I want it LOW. Top will get cut off leaving the windshield and vent windows and a little of the top right behind the windshield. I want to cut out the detail of this hood and use it. If I can find a cowl somewhere I might use that. I could buy a resin cowl if I could find one. If not though, I like this hood detail anyway and think it would look good. And here is the color I'm going with. Probably white as an accent color but still debating. Need to find a good color to offset the purple. I'll probably work on this a little until I get the parts I need this weekend for my 41 chevy pickup.

Thanks Michael. It's getting there.

I didn't get as much done today as I wanted to but I got a little done. Got the decals on the cab. Got the bed painted except the floor. I got a coat on the wood rails. Also got the decals on the side of the bed. I can probably get the floor done tomorrow. I would have got more done but my son wanted me to paint a bunch of parts with my airbrush for a Caribbean Pirate Ship he is building. I had to paint the wood rails the same color he needed so what was I to do. It gave me some good practice time with my airbrush. Had problems with the motor mounts and the steering box being in the way. I'll work on that tomorrow too. I'm hoping to get the motor mounted, bed finished, bumper brackets on and the bumpers stripped and painted black tomorrow but could be next friday before I can get back to the bench. I have to say I am loving the new work area. so much more room and light. Still need more light but it's better than it was by far.

OK so it's technically sunday but its an update. All the model work I did last night. Today I did some cleaning and reorganizing of my build area. On to the pics. Finished the dash. I was able to get the cab together. Got the rear bumper brackets, side mirror, and the rear license plate painted. Got the motor mounts made and painted. I think I will use this decal set from the kit. And finally my new work area. A lot more room and somewhat better light. I really need to invest in a large florescent light that I can put above me. Working in the basement isn't the best for lighting. Tomorrow I hope to get the bed done, engine mounted, driveshaft cut to right length and painted, maybe get grill mounted, and start painting the wood racks. I've been researching airbrushing with nail polish and came across decanting spay paint. I wish I would have thought of that for this build since I hate the way the paint came out. Oh well, learn something for the next build. My next build the paint will be much better. NO more rattle cans unless decanted.

I haven't made one but I would start off with some cardstock and use it to make a "template" for the real one. Look online for some pics of toppers unless you have one in mind already for reference. Take some measurements of the bed and how tall you need it and cut out the shapes on cardstock. Then use tape to hold it together and mock it up on the bed. Make any adjustments and then trace pattern onto sheet styrene and cut it out, cut out any windows, add any details and glue it together.

Ok so a late update for what I was able to get done yesterday. Door panels are done and all I have left on dash is the instrument panel decal. Here is the engine with the breather and scoop on finally. Side view. Here is a mock up so far. sorry for crappy pics. The lights in the basement are garbage. The engine is sitting really low right now but once i get the motor mounts made it will be where it should. Next update will probably be saturday since i have to work.

Thanks Jeroen! I cut the floor board out first to get a feel for my new dremel and then went for the gusto. I really wanted to use the grill. Key is to cut farther out than you want and work it down from there. Learned that the hard way. Anyway I'll have pics in the morning or afternoon of what I got done today.