AmericanMuscleFan

Well Tim, I think you are right on target (I'm not sure if it's the right expression but you should see what I mean...)! These small bike fenders are exactly in line with your goal to show the engine and they are very cool with a more "racing" look. You have great taste and great skills my friend!!! ?

Very nice work Sergey despite your little misfortunes with the paint. The interior is very nice and looks really comfortable, the choice of colors is perfect. ? As for the side molding, I never had success with the BMF black chrome (in fact all the other colors except the original chrome). Maybe it would be possible to mask the edge and lightly sand the area to be foiled to have a smooth surface before covering it with chrome BMF?

Hi Steve, thank you so much for your support and the very kind words, I really appreciate it! I will soon celebrate the second year of my presence and this project on this forum although I had started this project several months before, I think it's high time to end it and move on! I'm going to move on to painting in the next few days and finish the last few pieces while the paint cures completely. I only hope that I can do my painting with the same success (good taste too...) and the great skill that you have always shown us in your subjects. As for seeing the finished product in person, I hope it will happen one day because I would also be happy to put a face on the man behind all the great work you keep showing us in each of your new threads! ? Francis

Sorry to intrude on the discussion, but perfection is not of this world but I would like to add that beauty is in the eye of the beholder! I would also like to add: ... Hours of fun with styrene... and brass AND good mates!!! This community would have no reason to exist without the contribution of passionate people like you and all those who support their colleagues and take the time to bring their knowledge on the countless topics discussed on this forum! ? Thanks for that, Francis

Thanks Ian! Unfortunately not, everything I did on this project was based on photos found on the internet and as for the other parts of the body, I just assumed their sizes and transferred my measurements to their actual sizes to figure out if it made sense. Sometimes, some of the adjacent objects are everyday objects whose real size is well known and it helps to interpret the size of the piece I want to reproduce. There is probably nothing on my truck with exact measurements but when the whole thing makes sense, I think we can say mission accomplished... ? By the way, you mention: "I've been a bit absent in our local cardiology department", I hope everything is going well for you or your loved ones? Francis

Hello Everyone, As I mentioned in one of my last posts (or replies...), I am close to finishing all the parts for this project and am now in the final details before painting it. The ''100'' badge on the grille was for me a kind of must-have because it is very distinctive and I had in mind another typical detail of this model, the refrigerator type door handles. Most of the work was done by hand with many hours of filing and sanding and although they are not perfect replicas, I think they are convincing enough for those who are familiar with these trucks. You are the judges so don't hesitate to send me your comments! Next, I will work on the interior door handles, window cranks and then probably the exterior side mirror. See you next time, Francis Base of the door handle after some hours of work, one done one to go... The two little brothers together. The ''refrigerator type'' handle in the milling chuck at early stage of machining. After some hours of work, one done one to go (a well-known refrain...). The two brothers at final stage. Different view. Test fit with the lock barrel in place, not bad I think... certainly better than nothing. ?

Another good proof of your great talent Mark, your weathering technique is a reference on this forum and you prove it once again! A rare beauty too! ?

Thanks for the superlative Chris but let's just say it's unfinished business at the moment... Even though this is by far the most complicated project I've been involved in so far, I will work hard to get it to the finish line, believe me! ?

Nice! I really like them, they give a completely different look and I really like how they fit this concept. They are not too massive, just right in my opinion.... ?

Another great build Claude! You have an impressive (and constantly evolving...) catalog my friend. Don't stay too long because you are very productive and talented dear colleague! I remember having a good discussion with a real hot rod builder during my last presence at a live show (it seems so far away...) and he told me that he could do everything he wanted on a real vehicle but that he could not do the same on his scale models. You, you can do it brilliantly on any scale which makes you a very talented man, this is another good example! I love it!!! You probably forgot the license plate but I notice that the air valves on the wheels are there! ?

Thanks Scott! I'm almost done with the fabrication of the components. I will soon move on to the body preparation for painting and it will be a bit more complicated than usual due to the way I built the cab among other things... A lot of masking and manipulation in sight, it won't be a single airbrush session to put color on this truck! Thank you for your continued support, I really appreciate it! ?

Welcome back to this fantastic hobby Jim! Like you (and many of us...), I have accumulated way too much kit that I will never finish, I hate photo shoots and I love scratch building. There are a lot of great builders active on this forum, you will certainly find a lot of satisfaction in contributing and checking out the various topics of the hobby group. By the way, I really like your builds, they are beautiful work! ?

It looks great Mark! I love it from all angles, very realistic and tasteful like everything else you do, you are a master in the art of reproducing the rust and wear of time. ?

It just keeps getting better my friend, all these nice additions only make this project more realistic! I also like the wing on the top, it's typical of this kind of vehicle. ?

I've already thought about getting some equipment to make my own photo etched parts but I already have enough toys on my workbench. Sometimes you have to stop, I don't make a living with this... ? Thanks Ian, now I have to finish it... Thanks Jerry, I think I'm up to chapter 100... ? Thanks Scott, sometimes it's not the biggest or most extravagant part that gets the most comments! I have to admit that this little grille ornament will be quite prominent when the truck is displayed. By the way, I can't wait to see your next update on your great FXI Trucking Hot Rod Peterbuilt project!

Thanks Ray! My original goal was to build all the parts by myself. Except for the seats, tires and small bolts, I can say that it will be 99% mission accomplished.... LOL. Thanks Jim! I can't go any smaller anyway, I used my smallest end mill, sometimes you just have to say enough is enough! ? Thanks Daniel! Luckily mine is not a FORD, I wouldn't be able to do these characters! Thanks Marcos, the purple is machinist's tracing dye, a common product in the machining industry, it is very useful for making sharp guide lines on surfaces to be machined. Thanks Trevor, I have fewer and fewer parts left to make but I hope I can keep your enthusiasm until the end, it's fuel for my tank! ?

Well, it's not hard to be inspired by such a beautiful car my friend! You have great taste in cars and it shows in all your subjects and this one will be another head turner. You're off to a great start, I'm already won over by the project! ?

Hi Tim, in my excitement and watery eyes at the sight of these great pictures, I forgot to ask you what thickness of brass sheet you usually use for the body panels? Also, do you heat the brass with a torch to soften it in areas where the curves are more severe? The technique (if any) should also be the same on the chassis rails?

Hello everyone! Sorry guys, but it seems like my updates are always smaller, this one is probably the smallest I can make... but I think it will have a big impact on the front view! I hope you like it, I'm very happy with the final result, I've been scratching my head since the beginning of this project to find a way to do it and even if it's not perfect, it will do the job! Feel free to comment or request more information if you wish! Take care, it seems we are not out of the woods yet with this... virus, Francis Front grille ornament in the rotary table at early stage. Ornament at an advanced stage of machining. I painted the background red and used 2-part epoxy to attach the numbers. Test fit on the front grille with the big dime!

WOW I love the rivets on the wheels (among others...) it takes a lot, it lowers an inventory...

Me too! The boots are great Daniel, good thing you had scalpel blades for that surgical job.... I am impressed, your resources are endless my friend! ?

Thanks Captain Obvious! I'm really glad to see you back my friend, just a few more small parts to make and I'll get my compressor running to put some color on this thing... wish me luck!!! Thanks Charlie! You bet winter showed up, I raked leaves on Monday of last week and shoveled a foot of snow the following Saturday! I put my rake away for the winter and my shovel is on the edge of the door, there is still snow in the forecast. I'm making slow progress on this project but it's nothing new... ?

Glad to see you back Marcos, the beast looks awesome and the printed grille is a superb touch! ?

WOW Tim! A piece of art in the making... I'm so happy to see you back on this fantastic build, it makes me regret that my main interest is in door cars where those brass panels would just add years to my endless builds! You have me drooling my friend, I'll be back to get my fix... By the way, I love the folding around the hood opening, among others... ?

I'm glad to see you back buddy and like my peers I hope things will turn around for the better, time fixes everything but sometimes traces remain... You are one of the first on this forum with whom I have been in contact and your taste for precision matches mine, you always put impressive efforts to recreate certain details and your steering wheel is still a good example! It's a good job my friend, the whole dash is awesome! ?