'70 Grande

This is a freelance project of my own design from an idea I've had in my head for several years. This will become a short-wheelbase flatbed truck used for moving graveyard plot markers for the more affluent incoming residents of the cemetery, (think tall concrete or stone markers with a family name or crest prominent on them). It is being built from a 1/25 Revell 1950 Ford Pickup kit that was incomplete, so I've had to gather parts from a variety of other kits. This shows in the chassis pic where you can see the dark-colored sections grafted-in from a 1955 Chevy Cameo pickup kit, (surprisingly the same dimensions as the '50 Ford frame/chassis). The wheels and tires will be a set of resin, medium-duty duallies from Scenes Unlimited, (incredibly good quality). I will post some more mockup pics in the near-future with more build details and a continuation of the storyline. A bit of my freelance back-story. Upon graduating from college in 1938, Clement Fairchild married his college sweetheart Cynthia on the stipulation from her parents that they live in her upstate New York hometown where Clement's new father-in-law could help him get his career off to a good start. Cynthia's father (and grandfather before that), were very successful and well-known morticians in this affluent community, and Cynthia and her father had a plan for capitalizing on the family's past success. More back-story to come... here's some project pics; comments and suggestions welcome.

That straight-8 looks gigantic in size; I wonder where that 1:1 motor came from?

I don't know, but I've always had good luck building up those chassis parts as I think they were found in a couple of other kits, too! The '67 Galaxie has been on my holy-grail list for more than two decades... would love to see it return!

This thread could potentially reach 50-pages in length now that SteveG has shared that little bit of 2023 teaser info!

FYI: I placed an order with Danny 35 days ago and it arrived yesterday. The quality of the products I ordered was excellent just as it has always been in the past! He emailed me at about 21 days to inform me my order was delayed but still in the works... you can't ask for a better customer experience than this!

I've never really been a fan of color-shifting paint but this build is probably the best 1/25-version of it that I have ever seen! All other aspects of your build are excellent as well... outstandingly done!

Well, the box art looks a bit "goofy" at the front end but that built-up looks fantastic! I wonder if this kit will be available here in the states before Santa's sleigh takes off?

If my memory is any good, (and my wife will tell you it isn't), it looks to me like that reissue of the Datsun drag pickup kit has some new and different parts in it. I don't remember a chrome pushbar in the original kit and am pretty sure those are different wheels, too.

Both are excellent builds! I'm curious about your GMC 1-ton farm truck, where did the wheels and tires you used on it come from?

I think that's some really good box art, too... guess I'm getting more "nostalgic" in my old age!

I spoke to the Store Manager at my local Hobby Lobby on Saturday. They get the shelf stickers and information on soon-to-arrive kits a few weeks before the kits actually reach their store. He has ordered a few of each of the approx. 10 kits that they have never previously carried, (so are "new" in Hobby Lobby's eyes), even tho they may not be new to our eyes. 1/25 Revell '37 Ford Pickup with Surfboard is an example of this as that kit was actually issued in January 2022, but is just now getting into the Hobby Lobby warehouse for distribution to the stores. My local store doesn't know what kits will arrive at their loading dock or when. He expects them to start showing up 2 or 3 at a time within a week or so meaning it'll be 4 to 5 weeks before all 10? new kits are on their shelves.

Steve, Thanks so much for this information; it's exactly what I was looking for. I purchased the Revell 1968 Chevelle kit, and have been quite impressed with it. I also have an AMT 1969 Chevelle project that has been "in-the-works" for more than a decade, but my frustrations with those AMT 69 Chevelle taillights brought the project to a stop. I'd rather finish the AMT project than go out and purchase the Revell 69 kit (especially since I already have the Revell 68 Chevelle kit to build). I do appreciate your insights!

Still hoping for some input here: Has anyone tried using the rear bumper/taillights piece from this '69 Revell kit to fit into the AMT '69 Chevelle body? I see earlier in this post it was mentioned that the old AMT body is narrower making the Revell kit's rear bumper piece too wide for fitting into the AMT body... can anyone confirm that for me? Was also wondering if anyone ever tried cutting just the taillights from the Revell kit's piece and dropping just the taillights into the AMT body and still using the AMT rear bumper... thoughts, anyone?

Has anyone tried using the rear bumper/taillights piece from this '69 Revell kit to fit into the AMT '69 Chevelle body? I see earlier in this post it was mentioned that the old AMT body is narrower making the Revell kit's rear bumper piece too wide for fitting into the AMT body... can anyone confirm that for me? Was also wondering if anyone ever tried cutting just the taillights from the Revell kit's piece and dropping just the taillights into the AMT body and still using the AMT rear bumper... thoughts, anyone?

Good-looking build! I can't explain why, but this kit has always been one of my favorites. I know it's inaccurate in many places, but I always like the finished look of this kit and the same goes for your build!

I really like the different mods you've accomplished in this project! I think the air scoop relocation is actually a big improvement over the original attempt... well done!

Good-looking build! I have one of the older issues of this kit, (molded in Orange styrene) in progress but packed away deep in my kit's vault. A question on your build; did you modify the taillights on your build using clear Red lenses or do they look so good due to awesome paint work?

I gotta feeling we won't see this one ready to purchase until early-Spring 2023, (at the earliest). But, after wanting this kit to return for a number of years, waiting until then is OK by me!

State of Alaska license plates on the decal sheet... I find that a bit surprising!

Very well put Stavanzer... excellent insights!

I remember seeing this great looking build when you first posted it and seeing it again now reminds me of a 1:1 question I thought of then: I'm curious if this 1:1 truck was just "stationed" at the bottom of Donner Pass when snow was in the weather forecast and how many "runs up the mountain" it would've made on a typical winter's day? Anyone have any insight?

Very clean and very wicked-looking... a great build; keep posting more of your builds and welcome to the forum!

Coming from my memory, I think the '71 Mustang was 1"-inch longer than a '71 Camaro and actually narrower in overall body width than the Camaro.

Things are sure looking good for us Mustang fans... and there's a lot of good to be seen in this upcoming kit, too!