Oldmopars Posted February 26, 2018 Share Posted February 26, 2018 I have bee wanting to build a school bus now for a while. I found the Bonnet bus is the right size for what I am wanting to do. I love the 65 Chevy body style and wanted to do this conversion. I found the 65 Chevy is a perfect fit for the Bonnet Bus. Almost like they were made for each other. It was a curbside, so I cut out the engine/trans area and I am going to install a stock 350. The windshield is going to be easier than I had expected. so, here it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Intmd8r Posted February 26, 2018 Share Posted February 26, 2018 Nice start! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim B Posted February 26, 2018 Share Posted February 26, 2018 Nice start to your bus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldmopars Posted February 27, 2018 Author Share Posted February 27, 2018 So, this is kind of the plan for this bus. I wanted to do a smaller bus, the kind that would be used by a small district or by the special kids. However, I am not sure if I should shorten it or not. Here is the inspiration: As you can see, it is a standard 1 ton truck, not the C60 (no wide fenders, tall grill). The window on this one is a bit goofy, but the rest of it is the idea I am after. So, do I shorten it, or leave it as is? I kind of like the weathered/patina yellow, I might copy that. I can see I need to get some different wheels and tires, the kit ones just do not have the look as is. It may also help it feel more 1/25 as apposed to 1/32. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
espo Posted February 27, 2018 Share Posted February 27, 2018 What often happened in the 1:1 world with school buses was that the conversion company used the same body no matter what length they were building. They would just chop the length to meet what ever was needed. The duel rear wheels were done by tubing the floor to clear the duel wheels and kept the same tread width as the front wheels. These "Shortys" are very popular with the "Tail Gating" set. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace-Garageguy Posted February 27, 2018 Share Posted February 27, 2018 Very interesting, nice start. All the "Bonnet Bus" kits I've seen are 1/32 (which yours appears to be), but your front sheetmetal appears to be from a 1/25 kit. Am I misunderstanding something? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belugawrx Posted February 27, 2018 Share Posted February 27, 2018 Oh for sure shorten it !! The inspiration bus looks very cool... Your special..... Ed Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldmopars Posted February 27, 2018 Author Share Posted February 27, 2018 8 minutes ago, Ace-Garageguy said: Very interesting, nice start. All the "Bonnet Bus" kits I've seen are 1/32 (which yours appears to be), but your front sheetmetal appears to be from a 1/25 kit. Am I misunderstanding something? I had read on a web page that the Arii Bonnet bus was 1/25 scale and miss labeled as 1/32. No so, however if you look at the Resin buses that are being made, they all use the Arii Bonnet bus as the base for the resin body, and just stuff a Ford/Chevy/you pick frontend on it. I did not want to pay $70 for someone else's idea, I wanted a 65 Chevy bus. In the future, I will build another one, I will buy 2 and widen the body by cutting 2 part and using the 2 larger halves to make it wider. I may also do something to make it taller. But for now, this is my first attempt at using this bus body and I think it is going to turn out pretty good for a special ed style bus. Right now I am leaning toward shortening it, paint it School Bus Yellow, weathering it with some rust and dropping it down on some cool custom wheels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TarheelRick Posted February 28, 2018 Share Posted February 28, 2018 This has my attention. I drive a school bus and would like to build a model of one, although not like the one I drive - much too modern. Where did you find this body? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace-Garageguy Posted February 28, 2018 Share Posted February 28, 2018 1 hour ago, Oldmopars said: I had read on a web page that the Arii Bonnet bus was 1/25 scale and miss labeled as 1/32. No so, however if you look at the Resin buses that are being made, they all use the Arii Bonnet bus as the base for the resin body, and just stuff a Ford/Chevy/you pick frontend on it. I did not want to pay $70 for someone else's idea, I wanted a 65 Chevy bus. In the future, I will build another one, I will buy 2 and widen the body by cutting 2 part and using the 2 larger halves to make it wider. I may also do something to make it taller. But for now, this is my first attempt at using this bus body and I think it is going to turn out pretty good for a special ed style bus. Right now I am leaning toward shortening it, paint it School Bus Yellow, weathering it with some rust and dropping it down on some cool custom wheels. Thanks for your response. Much appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mchook Posted February 28, 2018 Share Posted February 28, 2018 Great start, I like it! I think if you shorten it you'll be in for a lot of work. If you take 1 window width out of the middle, then the rear will look like it has too much overhang. Then you might have to move the wheel wells back a little to make it look right. That's a lot of cutting, not to mention moving the door from one side to the other. Either way, it looks great & good luck, I'll be watching. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldmopars Posted March 2, 2018 Author Share Posted March 2, 2018 (edited) Well I did it, I removed 2 windows from the body and shortened the chassis to match. I think it looks better. I also mocked up the stock 350 in the chassis. Edited April 24, 2018 by Oldmopars Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill lanfear Posted March 2, 2018 Share Posted March 2, 2018 cool project! nice job on the mods! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DumpyDan Posted March 6, 2018 Share Posted March 6, 2018 Very cool, I like it a lot good work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belugawrx Posted March 6, 2018 Share Posted March 6, 2018 Looks Great ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldmopars Posted March 12, 2018 Author Share Posted March 12, 2018 (edited) I've made some progress. I got the door moved to the other side and some of the bodywork finished up. I still need to do some finish work on the door and the connection of the bus/truck. I really like to shorter look of it. Now to figure out the interior and modify the floor to work with the door flip. I have also been describing the body lines to make sure they don't get lost in the bodywork. Edited April 24, 2018 by Oldmopars Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
disabled modeler Posted March 12, 2018 Share Posted March 12, 2018 Very cool...!....I like it...! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fairlane1320 Posted March 12, 2018 Share Posted March 12, 2018 Thanks for the post, I'll be ordering one asap. I'm thinking Dirty Harry... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mustang1989 Posted March 13, 2018 Share Posted March 13, 2018 Coming along nicely Scott. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Classicgas Posted March 17, 2018 Share Posted March 17, 2018 Very cool. Watching this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slusher Posted March 17, 2018 Share Posted March 17, 2018 Looking great .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldmopars Posted March 20, 2018 Author Share Posted March 20, 2018 I've made some progress. I got the door moved to the other side and some of the bodywork finished up. I still need to do some finish work on the door and the connection of the bus/truck. I really like to shorter look of it. Now to figure out the interior and modify the floor to work with the door flip. I have also been describing the body lines to make sure they don't get lost in the bodywork. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldmopars Posted March 20, 2018 Author Share Posted March 20, 2018 I have the bus in primer now, it is coming along. I am working on weathering it to look kind of like the one I showed above. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldmopars Posted March 22, 2018 Author Share Posted March 22, 2018 (edited) Well, I've made some progress on it. I am working on the weathering. I plan to do a wash and dull clear. Interior is progressing too, but slowly. The grill and front bumper will be painted white after they come out of the purple pond. Edited April 24, 2018 by Oldmopars Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
espo Posted March 22, 2018 Share Posted March 22, 2018 I like how you have a hint of primer showing thru the Yellow paint. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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