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traditional

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    Clifford Read

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  1. I bought this Gunze Sangyo Rikuo motorcycle 'High-Tech Model' kit as well as their similarly produced Indian motorcycle kit in the late '80s when a local camera/hobby store was going out of business. It had originally been a fairly expensive highly detailed multimedia kit, but it and the Indian kit were being cleared for around $10 each. Although they were both intimidating kits, I had built the Indian kit a long time ago and it's taken me until now to build the Rikuo motorcycle. Rikuo was a Japanese manufacturer who until the early '60s was building Harley Davidson cruising motorcycles under licence. This particular Rikuo RT II depicts a 1957 version, and internet searching indicates that most of them were probably done in metallic blue. This Gunze Sangyo kit is, quite frankly, a somewhat confusing and a very difficult build....the instructions are often ambiguous and out of sequence and they expect you to be able to drill into the ends of 1 millimeter diameter rods and other very fine metal parts. The drivetrain is mostly cast in relatively heavy soft metal, while the body parts are generally styrene. Anyhow, after many days of assembling, painting, and lots of head-scratching the model is finally completed and I'm really pleased with the results. A couple of the pics show the Rikuo alongside my previously built Indian Motorcycle.
  2. 2023 was an enjoyable year, and my model building included a bit of most of my favorite things.........traditional hot rods, sedan deliveries, and trucks. Chopped deuce sedan....modified from the Revell Orange Crate sedan body Deuce roadster pickup hiboy....modified from the Revell/Monogram deuce roadster Mostly box stock from an Aoshima FUSO T951 kit (1/32 scale) Stock'41 Chevy sedan delivery ....heavily modified and detailed from the Galaxie postwar chevy kit Stock '48 Chevy sedan delivery..... reproportioned and modified from the Galaxie kit
  3. I'm just finishing this one as a stock detailed '48 Chevy sedan delivery after previously making a pre-war version a few weeks ago from the same Galaxie post-war kit. Poseable steering has been added and all the window proportions are now adjusted as well as the SD side indent and front fender wheel openings. The three doors have been cut open and hinged, including making the fade-away panels on the doors swing inward as they should . The front and rear window gaskets have been formed in black wire and the vent windows formed in plated wire. The cargo interior is modified to include the spare wheel access and the Standard sedan delivery seats have been formed from Renshape. I chose the only '48 Chevy non metallic paint colour...done in my usual basecoat/clearcoat. Galaxie made a nicely done chassis and the 'stovebolt' six motor has now been detailed with plug wires as well as fuel and vacuum lines. The under-floor now includes the sedan delivery spare wheel well shape instead of the kit's supplied sedan floor which used a fuel tank in the same spot. The front bumper has been shorn of all the added accessory bling and replated with Molotow. Finished '48 (postwar version) displayed alongside my previous '41 (prewar version) detailed and kitbashed from the same Galaxie kit
  4. Many Asian countries employ exceptionally long straight trucks for strictly 'city to city' highway transport. They'd have a difficult time manoeuvring within an urban area. I've just completed this long, early '70s Mitsubishi Fuso T951 straight truck from a nicely manufactured Aoshima 1/32 scale kit. Other than paint and one added detail, it was built almost totally box-stock. Aoshima truck kits, while quite finicky with tiny details and a plethora of parts, are beautifully planned and finished....everything fits as it should and the parts are all beautifully molded. Not typical on Aoshima truck kits, this kit included a nicely done motor and under floor detail but, for some reason, didn't include the ability to tilt the cab. My only modification to the kit was to remedy that omission and create the front tilt hinge detail.
  5. There are just under 1000 parts...all nicely molded and finished. The body, engine block, hinges, suspension, and wheels are all diecast as are many of the smaller details. This model kit seems expensive at almost US$1000, but quite honestly, when you factor in the sheer number of well finished parts and the probable limited sales quantity, I don't know how they manage it. Almost everything fastens together with a myriad of tiny screws and the complete assembly took me around 5 full days time.The horn, lights, and engine sound all work, although I learned long ago, it's best to never leave batteries in any toys too long.
  6. Hi Pete, the basecoat is a darkish orange.....bright orange mixed with a bit of dark brown tint. It isn't from a paint chart, I just mixed it by eye.
  7. The frame rails were fabricated using relatively thick sheet styrene. Each side is made of two laminated strips of the styrene.....gives the impression of boxed frame rails. The lower rib and indents were added using a thin strip of styrene and a little filler (see the 6th pic from the top). The styrene bends relatively easily to achieve the various side curves.
  8. I thought I'd have this model completed by New Years eve, but It took an extra day.....instead of my last build of 2022, it's now my first build of 2023. Almost all of this build is from modifying parts languishing in my parts bin , with lots of scratchbuilding thrown into the mix. The starting material was a couple of Revell '32 Ford street rod roadster bodies modified to be a roadster pickup, as well as a now shortened pickup box from a Revell '29 Ford pickup kit. The chrome wheels are also from the Revell 32 Ford kit mounted with mystery tires from my parts bin. The doors have been cut open and hinged with the interior mostly scratchbuilt. All the suspension is done from aluminum strips (semi-eliptic springs) as well as various sizes of tubing and jewelry wire. The front axle (fabricated brass and aluminum) now has poseable steering and the rear axle is a Halibrand quick-change from an AMT Willys gasser kit (parts bin). The gasser kit also supplied the basic Oldsmobile engine which was modified and detailed to be a more 'streetable' carbureted motor. The headlight/shock-mount bracket was formed in aluminum, as was the bed mounted fuel tank. The radiator was formed in polished brass and the paint is custom-mixed automotive basecoat/clearcoat. The photo-etched grille and instrument panel is from Model Car Garage.
  9. Jurgen, you've done it again! An absolutely stunning model shown with gorgeous photography. What a superb model.
  10. I've always admired dual rear wheeled trucks, but my taste has often been offbeat ....sometimes leading to the accumulation of information on vehicles that are not typically seen in North America.Before Putin destroyed Russia's reputation, I enjoyed watching Russians taking pride in their automotive history, restoring vehicles, and even producing many outstanding 1/43 , 1/24, and 1/8 scale models.Russian ZIL 130 trucks, produced from the mid '60s until the mid '90s had a good deal of Western design influence...wrap around windshields, V8 motors, etc. Over the last few years, I collected copious reference material of those Zil 130 trucks ...including careful dimensions, specifications, and photos, etc.Just before the Covid 'pandemic', and long before the upsetting current Russian aggression, I'd purchased a KingKong large ZIL rock-climbing Radio Controlled toy, minus all of its electrical and mechanical RC components, with the intention of converting it into a high detail static model. Using my previously acquired dimensional reference, I was able to easily adjust the toy's proportions to 1/12 scale and, using SOLDERED BRASS, proceeded to fabricate that iconic Russian dump body... with posable dump hydraulics, working tailgate with its actuating gate-locking mechanism, and including its chassis support cross members. Using a laminated STYRENE plastic block and my rotary tool, I carved a simulated engine and formed its copious accessories. The 100% scratch-built engine and engine compartment include a STYRENE firewall with all its simulated electrical components. BRASS was used for simulated wiring, inner fender wells, operating hood hinges, radiator, etc. The bell housing, transmission, power take-off (PTO), and drive-shaft safety brake are also scratchbuilt in STYRENE, as are the rear axle air-brake housings.The interior is 100% fabricated, using STYRENE for seats, inner door panels, dashboard with gauge panel, defroster vents, etc. The fabricated STYRENE floor has the simulated raised seat mount, ribbed floor mat, pedals, gear shift and safety brake leavers. BRASS was used for the opening glove box door, passenger side dash grab-handle, knobs, and steering column, etc.The cab exterior features BRASS operable roof vents, opening door vent windows, and hood hinges, etc. STYRENE was used for the engine hood's inner ducting form, attached trumpet horns, and embossed front 'logo' graphics.Beyond the previously noted BRASS cross members, the chassis additionally now features many fabricated BRASS accessories.... including air pressure reservoir tanks, all air and hydraulic plumbing (lines), a hydraulic fluid reservoir, battery box, dual exhaust headers funneling into a single muffler/tail pipe assembly, and a functioning steering wheel activated steering box with prototypical universal joints, pitman-arm, and drag-link. Paint is mostly Tamiya flat blue base-coat and automotive two part clear-coat, Tamiya semi gloss black (chassis), and Dupli-color silver (engine, transmission, etc.). Further small details are picked out using assorted Tamiya, Testors and Humbrol brush paints, etc.Materials used include STYRENE and ABS plastics, ALUMINUM (frame rails and polished door handles), SOLDERED BRASS (dump body, cab roof vents, and assorted chassis components), RUBBER (tires), POLYCARBONATE (windows), STEEL (fasteners and axles), EPOXY (tail light lenses), etc. Glove box closed Glove box opened
  11. Thank-you for the kind words, Scott. But actually, That White 3400TD Tractor/trailer model was done by my twin brother, Larry.
  12. Years ago , my twin brother, Larry, built a stock White 3400 (diesel version of the 3000) using mostly brass and some modified diecast body parts. He had a service manual to reference all the parts and proportions, etc. Even the 35 foot trailer was mostly hand fabricated brass. The model and build were featured in MCM #187
  13. I'm just completing this detailed stock '51 Chevy Sedan Delivery based on two plastic model kits of relatively questionable proportion...the Revell '54 sedan delivery, and AMT's '51 Chevy two door fastback sedan. I've cut open and tight-hinged all the doors, added poseable steering and, using lots of reference, detailed the basic '51 SD interior, including headliner with dome light, and opening spare wheel access at the rear floor. Brass wire was then used as reinforcement to keep the body structurally sound once all the various parts were cut open. The '51 Chevy windshield has been corrected and most of the car's trim is done using stainless wire. Window glazing is clear polycarbonate which can be curved without showing whitish stress marks. The standard equipment 216" Chevy '6' is now detailed with plug wires, vacuum and fuel lines, heater hoses, etc, and the hood now has simulated hood hinges that are visible when the hood is open and disappear into the fenders/firewall when the hood is closed. The underside now has the correct spare wheel floor-pan and the correct SD/wagon fuel tank (Renshape tank with aluminum strip hold-downs cut from a pop can). The sedan deliveries folding commercial bucket seats are also fabricated in Renshape. In order to avoid the 'metalflake' look of automotive metallic paint on a 1/25 model, I chose automotive DupliColor touchup to simulate the available 'Moonlight Cream' non-metallic color.
  14. I'm just completing this detailed stock '51 Chevy Sedan Delivery based on two plastic model kits of relatively questionable proportion...the Revell '54 sedan delivery, and AMT's '51 Chevy two door fastback sedan. I've cut open and tight-hinged all the doors, added poseable steering and, using lots of reference, detailed the basic '51 SD interior, including headliner with dome light, and opening spare wheel access at the rear floor. Brass wire was then used as reinforcement to keep the body structurally sound once all the various parts were cut open. The '51 Chevy windshield has been corrected and most of the car's trim is done using stainless wire. Window glazing is clear polycarbonate which can be curved without showing whitish stress marks. The standard equipment 216" Chevy '6' is now detailed with plug wires, vacuum and fuel lines, heater hoses, etc, and the hood now has simulated hood hinges that are visible when the hood is open and disappear into the fenders/firewall when the hood is closed. The underside now has the correct spare wheel floor-pan and the correct SD/wagon fuel tank (Renshape tank with aluminum strip hold-downs cut from a pop can). The sedan deliveries standard folding commercial bucket seats are also fabricated in Renshape. In order to avoid the 'metalflake' look of automotive metallic paint on a 1/25 model, I chose automotive DupliColor touchup to simulate the available 'Moonlight Cream' non-metallic color.
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