Kustom Steve Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 Back in the mid eighties I started to heavily build and collect model cars and it coincided with getting my drivers license and greater interest in all things automotive. I also started to read very carefully all of the model car mags I could get my hands on. I received my first Dremel tool for Xmas of '88 and I just finished my first semester in design school at college. I was itching to use my new Dremel tool on a more difficult build. build a more advanced model beyond some simple wheel swaps. I remembered seeing in my collection of model car mags a build up of a Phantom 40 Ford Roadster Pickup with a removable hardtop roof. So with my Xmas money on December 26th my Dad and I drove out to our favorite Hobby shop with money burning in my pocket and I purchased a Monogram 40 Ford Pickup and a Monogram Chevy Camaro 3 in 1 kit for the engine and other parts. I wanted the Chevelle for the Rat motor as used in the article but the shop was out of stock and went for the SBC with a blower. I also remember getting the Firebird as well because it had some of the other engine hop up parts I wanted as well. I also wanted to try out the Dremel and I used it to grind out the floor boards and other molded in "stuff" on the chassis that I did not need. It was an aurdous task for me then to clean up the chassis, grind off the texture on the inside of the roof and remove all of the louvers from the hood and tailgate. This was the era of ultra smooth cars with little chrome and all billet.. I started using Squadron Green stuff and moved to an automotive spot putty at this time for filling. Also I made some more work for me using the Dremel. I didn't have a foot control to slow it down nor a flex shaft to have better hand control. I made a lot of divots in the roof and chassis. I also went a few steps further and I made the doors stay working and scracth built the door panels and added and extended the trim around the cabin. I also used Detail Master photo etched speakers. I used mostly Testors paints, Model Master Engine red over a Silver rattle can base. I also used for the first time Testors Metalizer paints and fell in love with the look. I do have a roof but that took some serious damage and I need to restore that part. Otherwise I only needed to fix a few parts that feel off over the past 25 years. My main problem was that I was not able to get as glossy of a finish with the airbrushed red paint. I was running it too dry and I did not gloss coat the paint. I was running out of time and finished it the night before I entered it into a model contest. I got a second place with it if memory serves me correct. So now I say it is Suede, lol Here is the list of parts I stole from different kits Monogram 40 Ford Pickup Body Chassis Front Suspension Dash Floorboard & seat riser Monogram Camaro and Firebird Engine and rear suspension Seats Arm rests Shifter Monogram 37 Ford Sedan Rims and Tires Dash Insert - Foil Cast copy AMT 39 Ford Sedan Head Lights and Bezels I did not get to work on the model much during college, but I did work on it heavily during my summer break and finished it before I went back in the fall. So sometime I think in late July or early August I completed the model. I learned a lot from reading Tim Boyds articles and I stuck through it and got it done. As I like to call it I "T Boyded" the suspension to get the right ride height and ground away until it was just right. Tim always was able to do that and the viewer would never be able to see and of the trimming away he did to get things to fit. Thanks Tim for all of your articles and inspiration over the years! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1 bad55 stan Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 Very cool! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1930fordpickup Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 This is cool. Fit the eighties style to a tee. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bpletcher55 Posted December 22, 2014 Share Posted December 22, 2014 nice job ,looks sweet . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeBoyle Posted December 22, 2014 Share Posted December 22, 2014 Great build! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danno Posted December 22, 2014 Share Posted December 22, 2014 kewl! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Geiger Posted December 26, 2014 Share Posted December 26, 2014 Nice truck and story! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thatz4u Posted December 26, 2014 Share Posted December 26, 2014 kewl, Ford's answer to the SSR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobthehobbyguy Posted December 27, 2014 Share Posted December 27, 2014 Great model cool story. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slusher Posted January 1, 2015 Share Posted January 1, 2015 Awesome model and story.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxicoop Posted January 1, 2015 Share Posted January 1, 2015 fantastic job !!!!!! I really like it ......very clean and a very cool build !!!fantastic job !!!!!! I really like it ......very clean and a very cool build !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kustom Steve Posted January 1, 2015 Author Share Posted January 1, 2015 Thanks for your support! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1972coronet Posted January 1, 2015 Share Posted January 1, 2015 That is excellent , Steve ! I've always enjoyed Tim Boyd's buildups ; even his OOB builds rule ! It's nice to see this customised roadster-truck in practise , especially after 27 years Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tim boyd Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 Steve...just saw your post tonight. Loved your story. Your model looks great, especially considering the time that has elapsed over the years. Thanks so much for posting this, and thanks to you back for your kudos on my articles. Best regards....TIM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kustom Steve Posted January 5, 2015 Author Share Posted January 5, 2015 Thank you all for your comments and suport. Thank you Tim, glad you got to see this. I had it at the Toledo NNLor the Spring Toledo contest way back in Fall 1989 or Spring of 1990 and in a group shot there is a tiny picture of the model in SAE. I will have to find the old article. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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