Warren D

Thanks. I worked for a local town in the 80's and we had a dozen of these things. They always had an off-color orange that seemed to fade after just a year, yet seemed to keep it's shine. I've decided that I'm going to have to sacrifice the tail gate on the dump body to be able to install a sander. I was hoping I could make a few neat cuts and remove it intact but it doesn't seem likely that I can get it off in one piece. I'm seeing it with the sander and plow anyway and if I really want a tailgate in the future, I guess I could build one.

I have a plow for it and am trying to convince myself that I should take the extra effort to modify the dump body to accept a sander, which would have to be built from scratch.

This build is well under way. Took an old ERTL kit and shortened the frame, redid the rear suspension and moved some tanks around. I still have details to add to the cab and started working on the dump body.

Looks fun!

If it's NOS in the box, unbuilt then some would say it has value. If it's already been built up and you want to rebuild it, I say go for it! (Heck, if it's your kit, do with it what you want!) I took an old Autocar A64B tractor that I had built up 30+ years ago and rebuilt it recently and couldn't be happier with the way it turned out. I was never happy with the original build and almost threwit in the trash on many occasions.

I learned that long ago. I built a 1/72 model of a 1929 D25 New Standard (big ol' biplane) like the one I rode in frequently. I went to my first and last IPMS monthly meeting where it was ripped to shreds (figuratively). I stopped building models for the better part of 30 years. I have a different perspective on it lately and on life in general. Do I wish I had the skills and patience to do better? Yes, and no. I admire the skills and dedication of many I see here but it wouldn't be fun for me to reach for that level. I have much too much stress in daily life to want to add stress with a hobby. Heck, I do it now anyway, but I stop when I reach a certain level.

One of the biggest reasons is that it will never be seen unless someone breaks the sleeper off of the cab. For that matter, the entire seat is unrealistic and should have had a back fabbed. I'm NOT an award-winning model builder and this build won't win any awards anywhere. That's not the point. The point of this is for the fun (and in this case to give a truck driver friend a gift). My photography isn't the best in the world, either but it's something I love to do (artistic expression and all that). I think we all have different skill sets and for the most part, we do our best, some better than others. My paint jobs aren't the best either! Heck, I can pick apart my own work better than most anyone but there comes a point when it sucks the fun right out it and when that happens, there isn't any point to going on.

Classic!

Very well done, sir!

I'd find a new supplier. I got mine at NAPA a few months ago.

Great job, like the weathering.

You will also have to relocate the window pillars, but I agree that this should be a relatively easy conversion.

Great looking build so far, look forward to seeing it completed.

Thank you all for the kind words. I'm looking for a display case for it, looks like the case will cost as much as the truck!

That looks great!

Finally done though I may need to make a few corrections based on potential flaws revealed by the camera! A friend bought a 1993 Pete 379 new in 93. It was black cherry, basically black that had a hint of dark red under certain lighting. I did my best to replicate the look, and from what I can see, I'm satisfied with how it came out. He sold the truck a few years later and I'll be giving him the model for his retirement later this year.

Very nice!

Nice looking rig!

Nice looking build.

Looks great, I like the colors.

I tried one once, many years ago. Never again!

Looks good so far, Mayflower for sure!

Thought about it but never did it. The model RR world has some very small leds.

It's coming along nicely.

The interior is done: As is the sleeper: I'm happy with the color, under very bright light it has just a hint of dark red which is exactly what the black cherry looked liked.