LongRoofNut

Lookin reeeeeal good!

Thanks guys! So far little by little its coming along.

I worked for a place like this in Laramie, Wyoming back when I was in tech school. Only thing the building was dark red but pretty darn close to what you built there. LOVE IT!

So I finally made the plunge of building a big rig. Bought a hand full of cabs and trailers from the '70s era (I build factory stock cars from the same era). I don't know the first thing about these kits but went over the instructions and looked over a good amount of pictures on the web to get the idea what I wanted. This kit has been nothing short of a nightmare, from warped parts, alignment pins off, and various issues that show the toolings age. But in the end of the day the rig is still a good looking work truck and it's testing my skills as a modeler.

He had a nice set of U-haul decals to.......wish I would have nabbed them when I saw them.

Thanks for all the kind words guys!

Thanks guys! I had been reading on some of the trucks guys have been building on here and reading the wonky issues they seem to have. I opened up the box on one, saw the frame has be be built and went OMG! If that frame isn't square, it's going to shove everything off. I would like to figure out a jig to keep it square while it's being built. The tanker seems to have a legacy that's not a great one. But I really think if all these are done right, they will look right at home with all the little "four wheelers" around them.

Harry, Excellent question and good eye. On my '77 the trim surrounds were pealing (think snake skin shedding) . So it was pulled, cleaned, preped, painted all in my college apt. Originally it was darker in color but faded even with clear coat and waxing once a week (weather permitting). The wheel covers I had on my '77 were correct as well but I switched to the '71 to '72 full size not wanting to loose the original wheel covers I have. As for the roof rack. Pretty simple. I used the truck bed rails off the Monogram Chevy plow truck that had been reissued (mine were original). Cut the ends and supports off, use them as the "feet". Used L angle plastic trips for the rack, then used strip plastic that I carefully sanded to fit just above the edge of the L. The rear air foil was simple plastic strip. The inner luggage bars are round stock just drilled and glued in. I wish I had it chromed but I was not to hot on the idea of it making it in tact to the chrome place. So I just painted it bright silver, chrome foiled the back air BLAH_BLAH_BLAH_BLAH, and added wood where it was on mine. In all odds I will make another few Ford wagons but this time lot more progress pictures, notes and accuracy. My '77 was far from perfect from being abandoned for 9 years. But she was a great automobile, wonderful ol gal to have in college and building this took me back to that time of camping trips, tailgating, kegers..........

So after about 15-20 years of wanting to do a diorama of a late '70s Exxon station I am finally starting......slooooooowly. But I want to add a period correct tanker and tractor. Found a few local, bought a few and some even gave me some. Here is the thing. I got pretty much the cabs and trailers I want (will also do a highway diorama in the same era) but I want to make sure the trucks I build are pretty much correct. Since I am going into new territory, is there any tips, tricks, ideas, or even web sites that have collections of pictures to these giant workers? Watching these threads on here is what pushed me to finally take the plunge.

Mike, Modelhaus provided the decals from RedBear for the '70 CS. They are nice but a tad thick and they did not match the woodgrain I used to restore my '77. Wish I can find the plastic sleeve the waterslide decals I used, think they were out of the military section. Just like the real wagons, finding the right or close woodgrain is an art in itself. LOL.

What kit is this? Looks great!

Really like that blue!

Thanks everyone! It was a great kit overall and I will be buying another to match the green '78 I have now.

Really like how this is coming out.

Thank you everyone! Yup Sam that is a Modelhaus resin kit.

Just beautiful!

Well after six years of bad paint, finding the wood grain and various other road blocks my '70 Country Squire is done. This is a loose replica of my '77 Country Squire I restored in college between 2005 to 2008. I hand made the roof rack, God only knows where I picked up the water slide decals for the wood grain and the wheel covers are off the reissued AMT van kit. Paint was Testors lacquer flame red with three coats of clear, wet sanded and hand polished. Other than adding an antenna and a few items to match my '77, shes 99% done.

Perfect! The best Ford mirrors I have found so far are in the '67 Ford Mustang AMT kits issued in the '90s.

We work on these time to time at the shop I am at. This little guy nails exactly what the 1:1 are. AWESOME work!

Thank you for the 411 on the truck Jonathan. I was kinda sorta thinking about it until I read reviews and everyone seems to like it......think I am gona jump in and buy one to. Great work!

Great work!

Your work is truly inspirational. Bravo, this Elco is really looking spot on.

Beautiful!

The '75 to '78 full size Ford has been some of the most loyal cars I have ever owned. First being a '76 Brougham in that tan/yellow then later a '77 and a '78 LTD Country Squire. I can safely say the LTD from Missing Link is spot on to the 1:1. I was so impressed by the care, I bought two. One to make into my '76 and when my skills are up to it, my '78 Country Squire. I also have bought parts, a '71 Ford and '73 Chevelle from them. Again the quality is setting the bar higher, never have to worry about getting a mystery in a box.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW! I can hear her going "ohhhh lawd why doncha buy me a Mercedes Benz.............."