Custom Mike

If you're going to duplicate that truck John, I'm all in! Got my popcorn ready, bring on the goodies!

The racer looks great Richard, I'm too into shiny stuff to do any weathering, but maybe someday....

Riley, it's not that I hate the kit rims, but they just don't fit the truck. Now I have two sets of 'em. I've had the first set for years and apparently they don't look right on anything yet! Looks like a Crager-style rim is gonna be the choice so far...

But Todd, I don't see a vote, I'm easily confused, stop messing with me like that!

OK guys, time to help me out with some rim choices, I made a new album on my Fotki page, and will post a poll here. Pick two sets and vote for 'em, we'll see which ones actually end up on it! There are 16 different sets in four groups for the poll, each set of rims has a number on the Fotki page, so check 'em out and vote! http://public.fotki....0-chevy-pickup/

Harry, I had no idea you were so talented, II can draw a mean stick-figure and that's about it. I actually thought that was a model all this time, nice work!

Nice color, I may have to grab some onf that for myself! How much more is left Chuck?

Beautiful build, and one of the nicest colors I've ever seen on this kit! I did one of these a few years back, did you have problems with getting the body over the chassis at the back end too? Thing about drove me nuts with all the mold lines and fit issues!

Bill, can you snap a pic of the nail polish, I've never heard of CQ, I want to keep my eyes open for it!

I'm not sold on the rims yet either guys, they were just one of 3 sets that fit, so I slapped 'em on. Now that I'm going to take my time finishing it off, I can select a set of rims that suit it. Thanks for all the praise, now I've gotta eat something and start digging through my rim stash!

Great work so far Gary, I'd go with the kit decals myself, that color scheme looks great on this car!

Bryan, I just went through all 30 pages of this epic, and all I can say is....dang, this is cool! Now hurry up and finish her off, I can't wait another 30 pages, my builds take long enough!

John, check out the tail lights once the whole thing is on it's wheels, they really look right now! I'd like to say it came out just like I had planned it, but I just did it, not having a clue they'd look that good once it was all said and done!

And a quick mock-up with the cab and bed in place, now I can get back to work on it at a normal pace!

Running boards painted, exhaust installed, and the lowering of the front axle. I drilled a pair of holes through the axle and leaf springs, then popped the leaf springs loose. I put the axle under the leaf springs, and used a piece of 26 gauge wire to pin it all together through the holes I had drilled. It's still drying, but it did the trick!

Finishing off the engine and a couple of shots of the tail light panel in place. I corrected the drooping oil filter after I saw it in these pics!

Interior completely assembled and tail light panel with it's license plate....

OK, now to show all the work that's been done lately. I decided to go with flocking on the door panels, I ran out of the leather I was using. In reality, I ended up thinning it out too much and ripping holes in it, but it sounds better when I say I ran out. I painted the inside of the cab Dupli-Color Desert Sand, then painted up my side mirrors. I also drilled holes in the mirrors to make mounting them easier.

Great work so far Doug, I did one of these years ago. I gave up on the wing being on the quarters and moved it to the trunk, I also shortened it so it was about the height of the roof, to me it just looked better that way. I love the engine work so far too, those valve covers and tranny pan look great!

Guys, I built one of these back around 2003/2004 using AMT's '71 Charger with the nose, fender scoops and wing from their garbage Daytona kit. It went together nicely, then I did a '71 Duster as a Superbird for a buddy of mine. Give one a shot, it's very easy to do, and makes for a very cool model for your display case! 1st paint scheme... Repainted in Red and Gunmetal... And the SuperDuster, it still hasn't been built and I finished the body for him in 2007!

It was great meeting you there today Gary, and you did a great job on the '55 too! Congrats on the People's Choice Award, you deserved it!

Thanks, I picked it up from Scale Repros Plus, they were the only people I could find selling a 6 cylinder distributor. I got a ton of work done on this baby in the last few days, but I don't have time to update right now, I've got to run to the annual contest in Fayetteville, NC this morning. Unfortunately, this one will only be shown on the display table, I wanted to enter, but don't want to compromise the build just for a plaque. It'll get entered next year, finished off the way it should be!

I've had one of these (With it's top) sitting waiting patiently for it's turn on the bench. I'll be watching Bruce, you don't see many of this kit being built!

Next up was my fuel line from the fuel pump to the carb, then from the frame to the fuel pump. I also trimmed up the starter wire and battery cable, and did a quick mock-up with the inner fender well. I also repainted the freshly stripped valve cover with some Metalizer Aluminum Plate, and re-installed it on the engine. That's all for tonight, gotta work in the morning, so enjoy the pics, and pray that I have an easy day tomorrow, I go on call, so I need all the help I can get to get this baby done by Friday night!