Raul_Perez

Thanks, Dennis! Yes, that perfectly vertical and flat back just didn't fit with the rest of the build. I though of adding a small extension to the trailing edge, kind of like a wing, but I didn't like the look of it. Leaning it in was the answer I was looking for. I went with the side opening lids because this truck is being built to typically have a trailer behind it. The side opening lids make everything easier to get to. That's also why there's no tailgate. BTW: I like your idea about rounding the back edge of the hood. This thing is still in the early primer stages, so I might just go ahead and make that change. Thanks, Bernard! I may not always know what looks good and right, but I seem to be pretty good at spotting something that's way wrong! Later,

Thanks, Bernard!! I like the idea of the custom tool boxes to fit over the tubs!! Hopefully I'll have time to build a set for it before the NNL West. But, the more I looked at the back of the bed, the less I like how perfectly vertical and flat it was. It just didn't fit with the rest of the model...so, out came the trusty Zona!! I pie cut a 0.15" wedge out of it to slant the upper portion of the rear forward. If you look at the base of the cut you'll see the 1/16" hole I drilled to help relieve the stress of the bend. Then... Now... Now the profile the rear edge of the bed more closely matches the profile of the back edge of the rear fender. While I was at it, I also rounded off the top rear edge of the bed a lot more. I like this a lot better... The area in the back is still pretty big, but now it's not just flat and plain. I still need to reshape the slant of the rear fin to align it with the one on the roof...but that'll have to wait until tomorrow... Later,

Thanks, Ed. Here are a few more pics, otherwise know as "what did you do this weekend while you were home with a nasty cold..." The basic bodywork on the bed is finished. A little putty here and there, another prime coat and this one will be headed to the paint booth. Since this one will have a trailer behind it most of the time, I went with side opening covers for the decklid. Those big tubs sure chew up a lot of space in the bed. Here are a couple of pics of the Raptor and the hauler together. Well, time to let the primer dry for a while and get to building an engine, finishing the chassis and figuring out what to do with the interior... Later,

Very nicely weathered!! You did a GREAT job applying the mud without making it look "placed". Thanks for sharing,

Very authentically detailed!! I sure am glad that they've improved gasket technology since the days when engines like that 427 sat proudly in the engine bay of someone's Vette!! Thanks for sharing,

Ed, That's one of my favorite colors on a really cool car!! I've used that kit in the past for parts on other projects, but seeing yours makes me want to buy another kit and build it straight from the box!! It really is a GREAT kit right from the box!! Thanks for sharing,

Evil, wicked, mean and nasty!! Just how it should be!!

That is just too cool for words, Dave!! Here's one that Gregg will let us use: WOW!!! Thanks for sharing the entire build!!

Yep...another cool build from the bench of the geezer... Thanks for sharing,

Another cool rat from the bench of the Geezerman!! Given the level of detail that you put into your builds, I am a little surprised that you left the lug nuts on the front wheels red...maybe the guy periodically sprays a little red on the wheels to keep them looking good...lug nuts and all... Keep up the GREAT work!!

Back on duty? Boo!

Looking good, Bernard!! What color interior are you going to use?

Probably flip forward, but I have thought of a side flip... I copied that pic from my post when I finished the Raptor: http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.p...t=0&start=0 No, I'm not planning on building a belly pan for the truck like the one on the Raptor or making a removable hardtop! This is being built as the truck Ed would have used to haul the show car around to the local events...

Actually, I want the back of the truck to look something like the back of the Raptor, but I like your ideas, too! Maybe I could move and turn the lights I plan on using like you suggest! We'll see soon!! Thanks, Rudy! Yes, moving the front wheel openings forward really gives it a more modern look, and makes the overall shape and wheel placement of the front fenders look more like the rear fenders. Yes, that's exactly why I'm leaving the bed as a separate piece until after I paint it!! Later,

Well, having built all three, (Revell, AMT and Lindberg), 40 Ford kits, I have to agree with Geezerman that the Lindberg is the least favorable to build of the bunch. When a good friend of mine won the Lindberg 40 Ford kit in a raffle, I told him to do himself a favor and drop it directly into the trash can when he got home. Now with all of that said, yours looks really nice, especially the excellent paint job you put on it!! I can guarantee you that yours is the best representation of the Lindberg '40 Ford kit that I've ever seen built. I guess you've proven that given enough, (as you said), "stubborn determination", you really can make a silk purse from a sow's ear! It is certainly a model worth being very proud of!! Both of you; keep up the GREAT work!! Later,

Oh yeah, Bernard!! That little Model A body looks right at home sitting on top of those pinched '32 frame rails!! Those wheels definately hit the mark you're aiming for and time warp this little late night street cruiser right back to the early 50's!! I can't wait to see pics of the other roadster that you're working on!! Keep up the GREAT work, my friend!! Later,

Clay, For this modification, I first took a picture of the side of the truck: I then used MS Office Picture Manager to crop out and save a picture of just the wheel opening: That image of the wheel opening was then pasted on top of the original, full sized picture in MS PowerPoint, but moved forward to where I liked the "look". Here are the original pic and the modified pic on top of each other from PowerPoint. Here I used the same method to see how it would look with a chopped top: It's a lot easier to change your mind in the computer than it is AFTER you've taken your favorite saw to an expensive or rare model kit... No, I'm not going to chop the top...Ed Roth was a tall man and this is meant to be his hauler for the Raptor. Many other people use software packages like PhotoShop to do the same type of work. I hope this helps. It's a pretty short trip for me...fortunately my memory is so bad that each time I go there, it seems like a new place! Later,

Nice details where the vinyl top gets attached to the body!! Yeah...the 32 2DR needs a bit of "Geezerizing". Thanks for sharing,

Bob, One picture just doesn't get it done!! Show us MORE!! Thanks for sharing,

Yep...start 'em young!! That gives them more time to enjoy the hobby!! Later,

I'll second that!! You don't see too many side-draft carb setups anymore... Thanks for sharing,

Yeah...I too was surprised to see a 6 under the hood, but the side-draft carbs sell the concept!! I also like the concept of painting the trim black. That makes it look more sinister! Thanks for sharing,

I don't know that I'd take that bet...but thanks for the compliment! Yes, since they're both built on the same chassis, have the same engine, drivetrain, color...they would look GREAT sitting together!! As far as colors go, RED wins!! Period. Later,

Either way, it's a GREAT looking build!! I can't wait to see it sitting next to my '57 Cameo at the NNL West in March!!

It couldn't have been said any better!! Thanks to all of you!!