Plowboy

Thanx guys, I appreciate the comments! That's how I like to build my models. I always want them to be something I would want to own if they were full scale. I did another mockup to do one final check to make sure everything was going to fit the way it should. The only issue I found is either the bed floor is slightly warped or I didn’t get the rear of the frame glued back together perfectly square. The left front of the bed doesn't want to rest on the frame completely. Just maybe a half mm. It will go down by simply adding weight in the corner. So, it'll glue fine. For whatever reason, the color shows better in these photos.

So am I. That's why I'm going ahead and moving on.

The only MM Metalizer I used was stainless steel. I bought a can of Dupli Color Stainless Steel that will last me the rest of my time probably. I'm down to my last spritz of Dull Cote. I'll replace it with Tamiya Matte Clear when the time comes.

Thanx Dennis and Ray! I got the first two coats of paint on today! Can't wait until it's dry enough to handle so I can set it on the chassis! The color doesn't show very well under the lighting. It's easy to see why it's called Gray Green!

Here's something I've always wondered about concerning gas engines and I bet Bill would more than likely know the answer. Anyone who has poured gas on something and lit it knows that the vapors ignite before the gas does. So, what I'm wondering is if vapor from gas would produce the same explosion/power as droplets/mist?

If you're using F-250 hood emblems, won't you need to use eight lug wheels?

Nice project! I love the unibodies! For some reason, I picture it with a set of the old school white spoke wheels. Maybe that's what I need to do with my last '62 in the stash.

My brother in law has been a mechanic for forty plus years. He worked at a GM dealership for many of those years. He told me about a lady that bought a new mid '80s Cutlass there. It had the small V-8. She bought it on Friday and got the free full tank of gas. She said her first trip would be to Indiana. Monday, she brought it back claiming the gas gauge wasn't working right. She said she made her trip and the gauge was still showing almost 3/4 of a tank. Impossible. So, they filled the car again and the gauge worked as it should. But, it only held around 5 gallons. They told her to drive it for a week and see what happens. She brought it back again the next week saying that the gauge had barely moved. So, they hooked it up to the computer and it showed nothing. They told her to drive it another week. She came back again and told them to keep it until they had it fixed. My brother said either she or the dealer had obviously contacted GM as they were told not to touch the car until a representative arrived. A couple days later, the guy from GM shows up with a new carburetor in a box. My brother in law was told to switch the carburetors out. He said when he took the air cleaner off, it had a carburetor that he had never seen before. As soon as he took the original off, the GMC rep took it, put it back in the box and left. He said the replacement was immediately recognizable. They tested the car once again and the lady came and got it. She called in a couple days and said that it was now working like it should. He has always said that he believed that that carburetor was an experimental that got installed by mistake. I've never known of the man telling a lie even if it would have served his best interest. But, I always doubted that story. Now, this has got me thinking that maybe that story wasn't BS. The next time I talk to him, I'm going to ask him about it.

I'm not familiar with FS colors. But, they have 32 colors in the AS line and 90 in the XF line.

Exactly! I've been phasing out Testors and Model Masters products for a while. Maybe I'll put the remaining paints I have on ebay. That is if the propellant hasn't leaked out.

Thanx for the comments guys, I appreciate it! The front end has always bugged me being closed off as it is. I did a little research on it and discovered that Revell also made an XR-3. Looks like they took that kit, changed the hood, added the BBS wheels, rubber tires and called it a street machine. I'm thinking about carving a slot in the hood to improve the looks. If I mess up the paint, I'll just paint it satin or flat black.

You could also mount the bed floor higher to the bed sides since they're separate pieces. You would have to get rid of the mounting tabs on the bed floor and maybe notch it at the rear for the frame rails. But, that would allow you to put the sides and fenders right where you want them. You have the fenders on right according to the gas cap. You could switch that easily and make it look better by getting rid of the raised ring.

I got the hubcaps detail painted and glued to the wheels. I like the way they look! I did a quick mockup. The filled hood has quite a natural look to it. The underhood area came together pretty well also. Can't wait to see the engine setting in there! I really like how the interior is shaping up.

It may be molded to the glass.

Mr. Hobby Surfacer/Primer. But, I'm not worried. Tamiya will be around after I'm long gone.

I have way more confidence in Tamiya sticking around than any other brand out there. What happens when Dupli Color changes hands? Look what happened with Plasti Kote and now Testors.

If those parts are from the AMT '62 Catalina and molded in gray, they're not modern. Dupli Color is decent primer. But, as evidenced by Randy, you never know when you're going to get a bad reaction.

Me too. The more Tamiya products I try, the more I buy. I started with their tape, then paint, polishing compounds (complete game changer!), primer and now putty. Everything I've bought has been worth every penny.

Thanx Carl! I always appreciate the comments! Thanx Steve! I'm glad this project has given you some ideas! I look forward to seeing your '63! I have a '61 and '62 built. All of my stuff are shelf-sitters. I haven't been to a model show in seven or eight years.

This is a cool little project! I was literally thinking about doing the same engine swap using a Ranger just the other day! I agree with you on the bed. I think the reveal on the fenders should line up with the reveal on the cab. Also, it looks like the bed fenders should swap sides judging the shape of them and the wheel openings.

I got a few pieces in paint. I really like how the two colors look together! Looks better in person than in the photo. I also have the inside of the bed, cab interior, underside of the hood and the underhood area of the cab in paint. I was going to paint the outside today. But, I noticed that the line on the side of the hood on the driver's side doesn't line up with the line on the cowl. So, I'm going to have to rework the line on the hood and get it back in primer. I have plenty more to do while that gets worked out: the mind numbing task of removing all of the mold lines on every little remaining part! You may be right. I'm going to have to see it all together in color to make that decision. The silver isn't doing much for me at the moment. That could change once I get them detail painted.

Thanx! I actually got this idea from a local shop. The guy took an '07 Lincoln Town Car, cut the body from the floor pan and firewall. Then draped a '61 Ford unibody over it. The only thing he did that I didn't care for was he used the Lincoln dash. But, it had every amenity of the Lincoln. So, I kinda understood his thinking. The body was just as it was when he bought it from the junkyard. He said it rode and drove like a Lincoln, just looked like an old beat up '61 F-100. I wanted to buy it. But, he wouldn't even put a price on it.

That is one cool little Datsun Nigel! I really like the mismatched panels and especially the gold door with the stripe! Very cool touch!

I built this around five years ago. I started it to enter the "Sleeperball CBP". But, in the end, I didn't want to attempt making a set of wheel covers to go over the Watanabes. So, I left it out. It's the Revell kit from way back. Besides the wheels and tires, it was actually a pretty nice little kit and something way out of my normal. Most of the modifications were under the hood. I made a header to connect to the turbo, FI intake and an intercooler. I lowered it as much as possible. Then, I just added a few details, paint and done! It was a fun little kit and I always meant to build a few more FWD sub-compacts. But, never got around to it. Thanx for checking it out!

I love everything about this model!! The colors, chop, stance, wheels and tires etc. etc. Well, except for the lie on the hood. It should be "Isso Special". Killer hot rod!!