ModelcarJR Posted August 9, 2022 Share Posted August 9, 2022 (edited) I'm going to try this one, although I have heard that getting the front end to open and close properly may be problematic. Next years' contest here in Houston will have a theme of "Anything you can eat or drink". So I found some Steak and Shake stickers that my grandchildren had for one of the little cars that they were giving away with a meal one year. They weren't interested in the stickers so I kept them. I think they might make a good sponsor for this truck and the round stickers should work on the doors. I'll add some other race sponsor decals and it should all work. I'm going with black and white which are the Steak and Shake colors. I started by mocking up the hinging for the cab and front hood/fender unit. Looks like it should work to me but lets see after paint. Today, I got everything painted except I might add some black once I figure out where. Everything else will be box stock, no wiring, etc. Just a quick build, I hope. Thanks for looking! 😎 Edited August 9, 2022 by ModelcarJR grammar 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gasser59 Posted August 9, 2022 Share Posted August 9, 2022 You're off to a good start. I love the Willys pickups so I'll be following along. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ModelcarJR Posted August 10, 2022 Author Share Posted August 10, 2022 Thanks, Brad! I appreciate your comment! i built the bed box and that turned out pretty well considering that there were no pins or slots. But I wanted to add one more paint detail to help with the Steak and Shake theme. Now I can finish building the truck since everything is painted. If you are familiar with Steak and Shake restaurants what does the top remind you of? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ModelcarJR Posted August 12, 2022 Author Share Posted August 12, 2022 So I finished the interior and installed it. I didn't spend any time on it as it is a real piece of art. Then I mocked it up again with the hood and couldn't get everything to line up. Normally happens in the middle of getting the build together. So, I'm no engineer, but I've built a few hinges before and I thought there must be an easier way to hinge the hood than what the model manufacturer dreamed up. I taped the hood to the cab and held it together with the frame and bed. turned it upside down and marked where I thought hinge arms should go. Then I scratched on the frame through the grill opening where the hinge keeper should go. Then I cut three pieces of 3/32" plastic tube and one piece of .032" brass rod. The brass rod was about 1 3/4" long. The plastic tube keeper is about 3/4" long that mounts on the frame and the other two tubes were about 1/2" long each, hence the 1/3/4" length of brass rod. I superglued the 1/2" tubes where I had marked on the inner fenders. Inserted the brass rod in the other piece of tube, bent it at equal lengths on each side and glued the tube to the front of the frame. Here are the photos. Hopefully it will go together better once the chassis is complete and everything is glued together. I may not have room for the moon tank but I'll just have to live with it. Thanks for looking! 😎 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zippi Posted August 12, 2022 Share Posted August 12, 2022 Looking pretty kewl. I built one a while back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TarheelRick Posted August 12, 2022 Share Posted August 12, 2022 When I built mine several years ago, I did my hinge just as you did, except, I reversed the process. I glued the two pieces to the top of the frame rails and the single piece on the lower edge of the nose piece just below the grille opening. Either way is much better than the AMT way. Looking forward to more progress on your Willys. I have three kits with various parts missing but sufficient pieces to build at least three more versions of this kit - one of my favorite kits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TransAmMike Posted August 12, 2022 Share Posted August 12, 2022 Lookin' good John. When I did mine I had the brilliant idea of not having the tilt front so I cut off the hood (big mistake) and fitting the fenders to the body. Didn't go so wellbut finally came out pretty nice. You're doing great on yours, I'm a wtching. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slusher Posted August 13, 2022 Share Posted August 13, 2022 I have not built one of these but thinking about it. Real nice work out the gate John.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ModelcarJR Posted August 13, 2022 Author Share Posted August 13, 2022 Thanks, Bob, Ricky, Mike and Carl! I appreciate your comments! I got the hood closure about as tight as I could on the hinge but it still needed something to line it up better on both sides. So I added some strip plastic to the edge of the fender bulge on the body. That way I could make sure it lines up on both sides. Then I glued the hinge uprights to the body so that it won't move and I won't be able to take it off either. To finish, I added the Steak and Shake stickers and made a decal for the hood with their motto "In sight it must be right". Their grill in visible to the counter at each restaurant , thus the motto. The decal is on white decal paper and the black ink rubbed or flaked off a bit but it will have to do. I left the taillights off as I didn't like them and don't think they are necessary. I added some other racing sponsor decals and its done! Thanks for looking! 😎 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nitrobarry Posted August 13, 2022 Share Posted August 13, 2022 Like it a lot! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bytownshaker Posted August 14, 2022 Share Posted August 14, 2022 Looks great Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TransAmMike Posted August 14, 2022 Share Posted August 14, 2022 Very cool John, great job👌 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slusher Posted August 14, 2022 Share Posted August 14, 2022 Looks fantastic John! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluestringer Posted August 20, 2022 Share Posted August 20, 2022 (edited) That is really nice. I'll be starting one of these soon, this is some good inspiration. Edited August 20, 2022 by bluestringer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David G. Posted August 20, 2022 Share Posted August 20, 2022 Excellent work on this! A cool theme well executed. David G. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ModelcarJR Posted August 21, 2022 Author Share Posted August 21, 2022 Thanks, All! I appreciate your comments! 😎 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deuces wild Posted August 23, 2022 Share Posted August 23, 2022 😎👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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