gotnitro?

Cool build ! Its bus season lol

Tom- thanks for the kind words ! Glad it brought back memories for ya, its having the same effect on my wife's family. Her dad drove bus for a career before retiring. Cancer took his life way too soon, so this is a tribute for them. Instead of shoveling snow after work..I masked the curbside to paint the ribs. I had concern the tape could pull the rivets off the body, but gratefully everything stayed put. You can never have enough tape lol After a few passes w my Iwata airbrush and carefully removing tape for the other side its really looking like a bus. Thanks for riding along

@Chariots of Fire thanks for the suggestion about the plastic strips. Originally I wanted a removable roof, but since decided to close it up. I'll test some ideas after the paints dry. Your M 725 is beautiful ? @Mopar - D thanks for the opinion on a metal roof. I planned using thin narrow strips about say 3 inches wide to cover the roof in separate panels like the real ones.. So many choices

Really nice builds joining up !

Nice start !

The paint is flying !!!!! I sealed the rivets under testors dullcoat, then broke out the paint. A couple even coats of Tamiya camel yellow later I had this.. The rivets still show thru the light coats, making me real happy! I can't wait to add the black paint to those ribs. I was planning to use thin plastic sheet for my roof, but several local builders suggested metal instead. Any opinions on this is welcome !

Been a busy wknd w daughters classmate bday party and general wknd errands, but started preparing the body for paint. The last box to check was adding the Archer 3d rivets around the body panels. I was surprised to find out they'd gone out of business, but found a few sets . While those dried, I tried assembling the model car garage big rig hinges set. I botched one pair cutting the fingers down like I'd seen on a yt video..so chose to cut them w photoetch scissors. Those hinges will alow the side and rear door to open! Thanks for watching

Thanks everyone for the feedback it helps keep me moving forward! We all jokingly pick on each other about what colors the build will be..usually before the 2nd post lol. Well, the paints been flying in the bus garage!!! The seats..all 22 of them...got a coat of primer followed by tamiya racing green. The bus walls were airbrushed buff, then the floor done in another shade of green. Once that dries, I'll mask the aisle walkway and spray it black. The bus garage is really working hard on this one, before the squirrels return from winter

Cant believe I missed this build! Excellent work on the fdm

Fantastic work so far Cabover wreckers are so dang cool

Anyone like RIBS??? Hmm dry or wet, Memphis style..nope just plastic ones this time ! I used a ruler taped to the bench to pair them up keeping them nice and even then attached to the bus sides. I actually ran out before finishing..figures Zoomie view These really make the sides look like a bus now! I have a pile of Archer rivets to add closer to paint...but thats gonna wait

Last night I had the opportunity to start adding the side ribs. I cut strips of 10 thou sheet, then attached them along the sides. One row marks the floor, middle is roughly seat bottom height, and the top is about shoulder height of most kids ..unless their basketball stars ! I have 60 thou half round that will go over these strips. The rubber flooring used on the aisles and steps was made using corrugated siding from Evergreen. Its thicker than I wanted but only available option. Any feedback welcome, thanks for following along

Beautiful work

Thats gonna be a stunner when your finished

Looks good so far!

My fingers are raw and wrinkled up but I've finally finished cutting and sanding all 22 seats for the bus. I didn't want clouds of resin dust from the judicious sanding, so a pool of soapy water was used. I removed a few mm off the backs and sides w a razor saw first, then rounded them off. I was averaging 4 per day before my arms got tired. I made the larger seats 36mm wide, and the jump seat is 24mm. They'll all get a coat of tamiya primer then British racing green. The etch hinges from model car garage arrived today, time to build the entry folding door.

Excellent job

Twin steer trucks rule ! Really looking forward to this Sucks about the grill though

Looking good ! Shop my step dad used to drive for had had an Eagle parked outback for yrs, actually has trees growing thru frame now. Always wanted to replicate the truck in its 3 stripe scheme

@Warren D- yep keeping it as close to specs my FIL drove. They switched to automatics around 1990 i was told, to bring in more drivers

I've been working on details for the drivers area. I used a parts box seat, channel scraps for the base then some rod and punched discs for the adjuster handles. Lastly a spare seat belt buckle w stretched sprue mount. Now the driver had a comfy place to sit while listening to the yelling kids! The dash is going together from spare parts, the transmission shifter is rectangular tube, w rod for a handle. The heater box vents came from the parts bin..their cabin fan screens from a military kit. Once the model car garage etch hinges arrive, I can start the bi folding door. Adding the rubber aisle floor will be last before painting the interior. I'm planning tan walls, w hunter green seats.

Killer looking build

Excellent job looks just like the real truck

Nice work so far

Ouch those rails skipped final QC Great looking build so far ?