Chariots of Fire

Steven G: You do some fantastic work! Absolutely the way a well used but well taken care of ride should look like.

Agree with above. Black or dark gray washes are best. A little oil drip where it would typically happen, rusty exhaust manifold where it gets hot, things like that. Here's a Hercules RXC engine that was done for a Diamond T truck.

Ladders look good as well and you didn't forget the lanyard! Good work!

Wrap the hard suction hoses in masking tape; either 1/2" or 3/4" wide. Do it on a diagonal. This will represent the reinforcement that was used on the hard suction. Paint them flat black. Here's what they should look like when they are done. If you look close at the photo you can see the diagonal lines of the masking tape wrap. They are the same hard suction pieces you are using. Here's another pic that shows the hard suction a little better. Smaller tubing but same masking tape covering. This model was not finished at the time but you get the idea.

I do the same thing, John. I save every little piece. It glues up so nice; if I make a mistake I take a scrap, glue it on and reshape what ever I messed up. Fenders, engine blocks and details, cowls; comes in handy for all sorts of things. I was fortunate enough a few years back to get a 4"x2"x24" piece of it and it has been a wonderful medium to use.

Looks like it to me. I use it quite a bit.

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Got a good stance on the rig. Cab and body in a nice straight line. Keep on truckin'!

Must be for short hauls or short people!?

I'd start by gathering photos of the real thing and see of there is a photo of the plumbing. Use the photo as a relative measuring tool to get the size tubing you need. Remember that it has to be in scale. If you are doing 1/25 building, use a metric scale since 1 millimeter is close enough to be one inch in that scale.

Scratch building can be a lot of fun. It is about all that I do now, not because I don't like kits. It's just that what I like to build, they don't generally make in kit form. Give us a bit more information on what you would like to do. Scratch building a part or two is one thing. Scratch building a complete model is something else. How far do you feel comfortable in going right now and where would you like to head? Makes a big difference.

Among the variety of trucks used during World War II for hauling good and equipment to service areas was the Autocar cabover tractor. It hauled a variety of trailers including fuel, open general cargo, vans, and wrecking units. This new build will carry on the theme of the Red Ball Express and will be the final military build before returning to fire service vehicles. Here is a look at the first few pieces for the build. Not included are the front springs and rear springs which I am having done by a 3D printer. The supply of strip brass of the size needed has basically run out and KS is not making it anymore. So I'm glad there is a good alternative. They should be ready in a week or two.

Supply problem or delivery problem??

Don't bother with it. Not a good model paint by any standard.

I have 2 barristers' bookcases that have glassed in fronts that lift up. Models can be seen but the dust is kept out. When I ran out of space on the 4 shelves, I added some intermediate ones using pre-finished shelving. Some have been there for over 20 years and are nearly as clean as when they were put there. Short of that a very fine brush can be used to remove dust from time to time along with a little mild soap and lukewarm water. (That's if your decals are sealed).

I saw a couple of things that I do myself! Not to the extend that they were displayed here but similar. Extraordinary skill with that Xacto knife in making the radiator louvers. I would have either slit my fingers or some other feat of disaster! I love the tool that he used to turn the steering wheel and the elongated sanding disk. The latter makes sanding long lines so much easier. Thanks for sharing that with us!!

Looking very nice, Justin! Clean and neat for sure!

Too bad they put FOOSE on the tailgate! Some nice aftermarket FORD decals would go better!

I agree with all of the comments here. I've been building since I was about 12. Not so much in late teens and into my 20's but now that I am an octogenarian I can say that I have been doing model work for most of my life. It came back in my mid 40's. Being mostly a scratch builder now, it does take some additional thinking about how to begin a project and how it will advance toward being complete. Plenty of research and working out little things along the way. Always searching for new materials to build with. The process seems to be a bit like climbing a mountain; a strain to get started, a steady pull toward the top of the hill and then a bit of relief as the end of the build comes into view. Also a little like the story of the Little Engine That Could. A real childhood favorite of mine. I think I can..I think I can, I think I can.......................I thought I could! I thought I could! I thought I could!?

Mark out where you want the slot to be and get the general opening done with a dremel and cutting disc. Stay clear of the ends and edges. Use small flat and rat tail files to finish off the opening. When I do mine I cut the slots and other openings before I cut it away from the sheet. Much easier to handle that way. You can still do yours with what you have done already. They look nice and clean. Make sure the slots in the flashing are smaller than the openings in the panel you have. You don't want the red to show.

Got the same truck as a built up, just as you did. Took it apart, cut the bed from the cab, cleaned it up and repainted. I separated the front bumper from the grill and cast the grill and headlights in resin. The headlights were opened up and new clear lenses were cast. Wish the chrome trim was in better shape but it is what it is after a lot of years.

I like what you are doing! But I don't think I'd lower it too much. Some boat ramps are quite steep!?

Any lumber yard should carry it.

That would be aluminum flashing. It shines up quite well with some steel wool.

Jeff: Have you ever worked with aluminum flashing? It makes good trim for around the gate valve handles, etc.