426-Hemi

Guys, A little story behind this build. (I know Like I needed to start another build....) BUT, The feeling struck me as I recently lost this Uncle and having the time of year Family has been a lot on my mind.... (I've lost several "close" family members in the past 2 or 3 years) And this one trailer, will wind up going between 2 different builds.... My uncles Dodge Van, and my Dad's Dodge Truck.... (I haven't got the Uncles Van yet, BUT I am building Dad's truck in my "Father & Son Dodge Truck build thread.... SO with that, the story as to why this one trailer can go between the 2 vehicles. Well it all started with my Uncle, he bought the trailer in need of so upkeep for a decent price, and with that, it needed all the rust removed, and repainted.... I was a Teenager when he got this trailer, all it was, basically a frame, a deck, and a set of ramps.... The ramps were later on replaced (As I'll get into during the build.) But anyway, he got the lights replaced, and put on new electric brakes, and then had me running a wire wheel on a 6 inch grinder removing rust & scale. and then when that was all done, to take it to the garage I then was working at to be painted gloss black, as at this time, it was just a metal frame and the metal decking supports. NOTHING else! Once this was all painted, he was going to replace the wood planking that went into the deck of the trailer. WELL we got all that done and went on to add in the new replacement lights and wiring and electric brakes, and then was headed for DOT inspection, and the day came to go to the DMV for this and it FAILED! It failed because it had NO "fenders"..... SO, he took it home, on another trailer he had, as he had to drop it from the Van, and then go pick up the other trailer (a much bigger trailer) already DOT legal, and get the failed one.... So he got it back to the house, and put it in his garage for about 2 or 3 weeks as in that time he asked EVERYONE if they knew of, or had a set of fenders he could buy, no family members that he had asked had anything so. It turns out because we re-did the lighting and repainted the trailer, we had to "update" the trailer as it originally was made without fenders and we thought it would pass without them but had we not "updated the lights and trailer brakes, we had to add in fenders too NOT knowing then!) but anyway, 3 weeks to a month pass and my Dad goes up to visit, and the Uncle asked him if he had any fenders and my Dad being well........ my Dad, YES, I do he says to the Uncle, why? And then he got into the story I just spelt out on the issue with the inspection of the trailer and it failing! SO.... They agree'd on something (I have no idea what!) As I didn't hear it all I just know, Dad had brought the Uncle a set of Fenders..... Those fenders? Off a '77 or '78 Dodge Step-Side truck! The bed to that truck from what I understand was junk and replaced with another one.... On one of the many trucks my Dad had over the years but Dad being Dad, kept ANY and EVERYTHING "good" from the old bed! And the fenders happened to be one of some such parts he held onto.... They got to the Uncle and he got them on the trailer, and solid as a rock. I might add, was an interesting single axle trailer too.... SO, with that, the 2 of them, got that trailer looking pretty good! I had done the wood working on the planks to go in the deck of the trailer, while those 2 worked on the fenders and the trailer sides! (At this point), I didn't know that this trailer was going to have "sides" BUT I guess foraging in the Uncles garage and shed they found some metal to make sides from.... And then it went on that these sides were made to look like the original Dodge sides! (I THINK there had to have been some bed sides for a Dodge Step-Side bed truck there or something, thats part of the history that is unclear WHY they did this. And now? I can't ask either one of them, their both gone! I just know it was a Utility Trailer as the Uncle did many things, one of them being a Carpenter, (hence the Van he had) and then he and I hauled in a LOT of scrap metal..... And in the winter, he worked in his Garage as I was working in the garage of another family friend..... But would go between the 2 garages as there were times I'd be all caught up at Klink's Garage, and then give me some time with the Uncle in his! Which the 2 garages helped each other, one would buy cars do a little body work and ship it across the street to Klink's garage for painting...... Klink's tho, did EVERYTHING mechanical's, customs, you name it... My Uncles home garage was just a "tinker shop" really.... And got the Uncle some side work when Carpentry was slow..... So then I had this idea on modeling this trailer, and to that, I seeked out extra Dodge Little Red Express Truck Step-Side beds to do this! I took and split the bed down as close as I could with a band-saw..... Removing the "center" of the bed floor/decking. I then took and cut the sides completely off around the fenders, and then got out the 1/25th scale ruler to begin making the sides, to fit the fenders once they were all cleaned up. The sides? OMG guys those were difficult! The flat sides were OK but the part of getting the contours of a factory Dodge Step-Side bed to fit the fenders and all the curves and contours was a real task! Took a night on each side to get them done! -I even made larger "stake pockets" just like the uncle did (I THINK he used 3x5 steel tubing), an odd size, that he just so happened to have a little of it, what it was for I have no idea but it welded to the out-sides of the bed sides nicely!!!! There ya see both the sides that I made.... I tell ya, this was a FUN 3 days task before your very eyes! (I thought it be an evening or so!) But you guys know How I get with details! Then the inside? WELL that was a good design of my own, I used the inside of the factory fenders that would have been the trucks inside Bed sides.... I used them to glue the new 10 foot sides too..... Letting the inner-fenders attached to the outer-fenders!!!! (I just had to fit what I was to build around these! -Idea worked out really good! I think I may add something between the black inner-fenders and the white bed sides! Almost like a Welting, or a weld! -We'll see! Then I went to get the bottom done. this was a task too. took a whole night to complete! This is the "top"...... Will have the wooden deck panels in it! This being the bottom, and also will have the wooden planks in it! BUT thats a whole other "trick" I'm gonna pull off..... I'll leave the planks a "secret" for now! Thanks for looking, and as all my builds comments welcome! ~ENJOY!

Been trading with gardnerpag44 for a LONG time now, and will continue to do so! Paul what we on 4th or 5th go around? LOL Looking forward with more with Paul! -Thanks man!

I'm getting a message that tells me that a thread I CAN see, that I posted but to reply to it, I get a message that the topic doesn't exist and is unavailable???? Whats going on?

VERY NICE work Lois!!!! That "Brass work" is GREAT stuff!!!!

Dang!!!!! If you sat that in snow, or on sand, you'd not know its a model!!!! NICE Work!

Just completed a trade with "Buffs Fan" Mike Barela. Thanks man! Would trade with him anytime!

Hey Chris, Any progress on this trailer? I took a little inspiration from yours here, to begin a trailer of my own thats NOT the same as this one, but the fact My Uncle had one was a lot of fuel to start this one! Heres the link to my WIP of my trailer:

That "flame work" looks KILLER man! Any neat little tricks to it? (I would NOT mind trying my hand at it..... That looks GREAT!!!!

Harry, Hang in there..... I know what your facing (YES, I at 24 went through a heart-related issue needing full blown open-heart surgery, and BEAT a heat attack! BUT that too, Drastic life-changes, and other things cropped up afterwards (I been Diabetic most my life (since I were 2) so. add them all together things had to change! And as you, way of life 20 plus years be turned upside down..... As mentioned, take one day at a time, there is hope..... And prayer to help get you through the rough times of it all!

Dang that 'Cuda turned out nice man! LOVE the color too!

Randy that turned out GREAT man! NICE color too! Blue looks GREAT on that '70 'Cuda!!!! -Put the Hemi in it? yes? (Shaker gives away to the Hemi), OR did you go with another engine of choice? LOOKS GREAT tho!!!! I have this same kit, I have yet to do anything more to it then I have.... I've just set out what hood type I am gonna use on it..... I think tho, I'm gonna go a different engine! NOT sure but I may put a 440 in mine..... As the '70 Cuda and Hemi were very rare to have in real life and to that I plan to dump a 426 Hemi in the '71 I have from Jo-Hans and have a Shaker hood on it. instead of the Pr-Street" hood the kit came with (I want the "Street" look for that one!) The '70 tho, I dunno, thinkin' about it I may go the 426 Hemi...... I ain't known as "Hemi" for nuffin'! -We'll see when I get there!!!

Randy, personally? I spray Testors Clearcoat over ALL kinda of paint! I'll spray Dullcote over Oxide Red Primer (to look like bricks, and the mortar between the bricks is the art "Craft Paint" from Micheals and I have yet to have it fisheye or flake, whatever, I've yet to have an issue, BUT that too, you did spray it from a can, so that tells me, that the amount going on was a lot at once. to cover that type paint I've found very light "mist" coats works best! I am a model railroader and have built hundreds if not thousands of scale models "weathered" with art paint from the craft stores, and put it right over either lacquer or enamel paint and have yet to have one react badly, BUT its that light mist coat, once you have one good sealer on it, then you can spray as normal.... BUT 2 light mist coats over that stuff creates a seal to keep the final coat from peeling or fisheyeing the paint! -I can show you one such project that I mixed enamel, lacquer, acrylic, and crafters water base color all on one model and then coated it with Testors lacquer dullcote clear! -Off to have a look at your 'Cuda!

That water fall scene is GORGEOUS!!!!!

Joe not as big? WELL close enough! Play hell getting anyone to fit inside it with the engine planted in the middle at its size LOL GREAT choice of engine tho! Love these "wacky" builds....

Thanks Joe..... Naturally you know how I am with detailing!!!! LOL Have ya seen the Doomz Day A100 Monster truck lately???? I am totally re-doing the engine in that ole beast!

Randy, Nahh your 'Cuda being under glass..... Have a link to it by chance?? -I wouldn't mind seeing it! The Charger, you wouldn't have happened to mix Krylon in with a enamel or Lacquer based paint by chance? (Krylon, does NOT like to play well with others!) -I HATE it for that very reason other then it "swirls" plastic terribly too!

GAWD Joe... your motor is as big as your van! Lookin' good..............

Randy, yeah? I'll have to go look for it under glass (I don't think I've seen it yet!) Detailing, who me? Yeah, I enjoy that part of it. I've ALWAYS gotten into detail;s as far as I can..... -I have a couple cars, I'd like to finish BEFORE the end of the year, to have a couple more to go into the "Under Glass" section, as I've only gotten one model done this year!!!!

Thanks Dave!!!! Yeah thats the trick to it. I'm using Dupli-Color paint to match that of what Dad';s car was. and let me tell ya, it does come out NIICE right from a spray can no less!!!!! AND I didn't have to go any more then 1500 grit to get it to shine like that either!!!! And Only 2 coats of gloss Lacquer over it!

A little bit of an update on this model (I had pics I didn't post, and had totally forgotten on another Camera SD card!) Anyway, since my last update, I'm getting things together as far as detail for the engine compartment, and well, the firewall is in REAL need to bring, or continue bringing it up to par with the rest of my model builds for the level of detail I cram into them! SO, with that said, I got to looking, and one thing I have yet to do is get the triple valve ready on the frame, to put the brake lines to it from the Master Cylinder.... SO, I went on to make the brake lines and fittings from the master cylinder.... Made of copper wire, as you can see, but will be painted aluminum silver by Testors to look like unpolished aluminum pipe! The green parts? Those are my fittings, they will be painted Testors "brass" when I get the silver on the pipes, first! I sat this aside, to cure, and got to finishing up the "Power Bulge" hood! It needed a finish coat of gloss clear.... Looks pretty good! I tell you guys getting pics that are "good" with metal flake in the paint is VERY difficult! It looks like dust specs on the hood and there may be a little, but not nearly as much as it shows! Looks really good! Then, once the clear coat was dry to be handled I got right to adding the Power Bulge chrome parts (I'm unsure what those are even called!) NICE!!!! Those were a tad interesting to get in-place, but I managed to do it without anything going badly wrong! That looks really good! I have a little detail to the hood yet to add, but thats coming, I have that chrome hood edge to put onto the hood, and then the hood hinge parts.... (That I have yet to paint!) And it'll be complete and ready to go onto the car! -This hood however, isn't the hood that will be seen with the car a lot, that stock "flat hood" is what Dad's Dart had, so thats the builds true (hood) BUT, I did the Power Bulge hood, just to do a different look, on the same car, for the car to be ever-so-slightly changed without a lot of trouble doing so....... Thats it for now! Stay tuned MORE will come for those who are following along on this build! Thanks for looking, as always Comments welcome ENJOY!

So a short & sweet update, NO I haven't gotten any more of the shocks done...................yet! I wished! To much going on to have the time sit aside to sit my ass down and do them BUT, thats OK, I am making a little progress on the engine for this Monster Truck, if nothing else! As you can see, I got the wires on the starter for the engine for when the times comes that this will be going in-place, its all set & ready! I will have to touch up where the parts sprue was attached, when its removed (Left in-place on the part to hold it while I painted it!) Like I mentioned, short & sweet! Thats it for now till more is done..... As always comments welcome and enjoyed! Thanks for looking.

Thanks for the kudo's! Much appreciated!!!! Stay tuned, there is more coming in the next day or so.....

Thanks Dave! Actually, Nope bare eye too! I normally wear glasses for driving and such as I'm near sighted, so for up close small things I actually see 20-15!!! Thanks much my Mopar friend! Much appreciated!

Thanks Gator! I tell ya, if its not difficult, and needs a lot of work it seems I then have not much to do with it! LOL BUT I do enjoy the challenge to it if nothing else, and this is no different! I do however think, when I get one "shock" done per set of 2, I will then epoxy all the joints, just to ensure that the thing will STAY..... Allow to dry, that one shock, BEFORE I cut the factory one beside it, just to use the factory shock for a length setter on each "set" of shocks.... Boy I can see this is gonna be a LOT of work BUT then again, this whole build has been "a lot of work" so. thats OK Thanks for the kind words.... I work with what I have, and make what I don't...... Anyway, thanks for following along!

Very nice!!!! I'm going to be doing something similar some day. with the same truck! Did you make yours that the cab tilts to show the engine, or is this "Curbside" as I know a lot of guys do that with the L-700's because of the way they go together and the fitment of the p[arts.... I have to ask as this is very well done and looks GREAT so....