Leica007

Here's photos of the van after using Testor's rattle-can lacquer, before polishing. This 3 coats so I can polish, then apply some graphics. I got the engine finished, and wanted to test fit to see how the chassis fit into the body with motor in place. It looked good, so I installed and mounted the radiator and the hose. Also added the transmission/oil dipsticks. Had to make a distributor because the kit part wouldn't fit with the cleaner. This shows how little can be seen through the front. Anyway, after getting the engine, radiator & hose, and the battery installed, I decided to follow the suggestions on the instruction sheet and completed the drive train assembly which worked well. So I thought now the wheels can be mounted and I can do another test fit. That's when I ran into problems. The radiator wouldn't clear the front end, knocked it loose so had to cut the hose and take it out of the way. Then the battery was about 2mm too far off, so it had to come out (I'll put in in from the outside). I also found out the the inside front of the wheel wells need to be trimmed to clear the custom front grille shell (it fit fine during the other 2 or 3 times I did a mock up). After this, decided to concentrate on the body for awhile again. Polished the base coats of clear. I'll upload and post them tomorrow after transfer from my phone. Got a good bit done on the interior also, but need to transfer those pics too. Thanks for looking.

Good job, thanks for sharing. I enjoyed your video and showing by class was appreciated. Nice photography and composing.

Welcome back to the hobby and to the forum. Hope you enjoy and share some of your work.

Nice work, it's builds like this that sparks creativity for others. Thanks for sharing.

Really impressed with your detail work in all areas and the no-chrome treatment looks great.

Nicely done, really like your wheel choice.

Nice color choice for the interior with the black, well detailed.

Thank you Ray, I try to get better each build. Thanks, Espo. I've seen some of your good work. The hood was easy, the door is practice for a 1/20 Ford van that I want to build of my first van. I appreciate that, I've seen several of your builds here and on SAM forum. Thank you, nice to hear from far away. I appreciate your comment, I've viewed your work too. Again thank you all! Lei

Thanks A.J., were you a vanner back in the 70's? My ex was from east KY and we were at Bowling Green in 76 for the 4th Natls.

I'd mentioned the decals included in this kit; here's a photo I started on the engine, tried to age it with blackwash (maybe a little too much?). I know on most of our street vans, we had a hard time trying to wash the engine. I finished the interior except for the door cards, wall upholstery, and the ceiling. Not sure whether to use wood panel on the ceiling or use a styrofoam panel painted to match the seats/door cards. Suggestions welcome. I'm covering the walls in the fabric used on the bed and seat inserts.

Thank you all for the positive comments. I will learn how to respond individually. It's been a rough week, and when I tried sanding the clear coat (1000/2000/6000 grits) some of the lacquer & paint came off; so I had to try to touch up and waiting for curing before reapplying the clear. Hope it works. Started in the engine and worked more on the interior.

With what I've seen on the forum, videos, and experience with using craft paints I wanted to get color on the body early so it would have plenty of time to cure before clear coating. Still not sure whether to use lacquer, Testor or Rust-O 2x acrylic; test shot on spoon had no adverse reaction to the base color. Anyway here are couple more pics. This after 3-4 lite coats of Anita's craft wine color with 5mm airbrush at 18lbs. Here's after 2-3 heavier coats. I noticed that red colors especially show uneven application. You can see the darker areas that need additional work (that's where the airbrush really helps). Since the frame is gloss black, I used Testor Ext Laq graphite dust on the bottom of the chassis. Engine bay is done in body color. While waiting for the body to cure, started on the interior. Using Caramel craft acrylic (over Rusto white primer) for the vinyl and metal, tan flocking for the carpeting in the cab. Made these door panels from styrofoam plate and the door pulls/door handles from 18ga craft wire; its soft so the handles could be flattened. The rings under the handles are plastic tubing cut thin. I use testor window glue on the styrofoam panels, doesn't melt the foam. Here's the snack tray made with the 18ga wire and wood from the separating tray in cigar boxes that I get from my tobacco dealer (for free) More to follow, thanks for viewing and commenting.

Thanks Rusty and Bill, appreciate your following. I requested this be moved to the WIP Model trucks section.

I got motivated by the other two recent van builds posted in this section, so I pulled out the 75 Chev Vantasy kit. First attempt at posting a model on the forum, hope it works. Body in the kit was good, sprues had some flash, frame and chassis were good (a little bend the straightened when put together. Kit has two sheets of graphic decals (murals, panels, and characters) by Dirty Donnie which look good, I'll include pics later. I'll be using craft acrylics thru my airbrush: Wine for exterior/interior trim and classic caramel on the interior. I'm using tan flock for carpet and some burgundy velour for walls, seat, and bed. The kit came with few interior accessories. Here's photo of the kit. First I wanted to lower the stance, and make the sliding side door operable. Also modified the grille from my parts boxes. Then had to cut and hinge the hood. Hinge had to mount to underside of the dash. Also cut sunroof in back of roof (over the bed) instead of the cab area. I created a tire carrier from evergreen tubing, instead of just gluing the spare cover to the body. I'll post more in later, comments and suggestions are welcome. Thanks for looking.

I enjoyed following your WIP, the result is a very well designed, beautifully built an and looks like it deserves to be at a truck-in show & shine. Congrats from a former vanner, you nailed it.

1st attempt at posting photo, pic of me & 62 Dart and the model.

Been following the forum for a couple of years, building off and on for many years. Finally got the nerve to share my photos due to the members' acceptance for other modelers. Many times I have logged on to look at one or two categories, and ended my session 2-3 hours later. I really enjoy the input and helpful responses shared. I tend to build mostly street rod, mild customs, with some drag vehicles from the 40's thru 60's. While I have a few OOB cars, I just can't resist adding/swapping parts to make mine a little different. Retired Army, widower, old guy with a dog, my time is my own so I can devote as much time as I choose to build. I learned from you all that building well is more satisfying than building many. Thank you all.

You're knocking it out of the park. The paint and your mods' on the decal are great. I like the faux wood, good first try, I thought you made the engine cover tray, which I had forgotten about as a basic element in vans (hope you don't mind if I borrow the idea). You are inspiring me to think outside the box on my project and to do my first WIP post. Really sharp, great ideas and execution.

Your prep and primer looks good to go.

Nice job on the top and the bed area looks great, looking forward to see more. I built the 59 and 60 kits and have some parts left, if you need any let me know.

Frequently I use the springs from ball point pens, they are different sizes and can be cut easily, and the price is right.

If your sanded edges are really feathered the pink primer should cover and the purple lacquer will cover well. Check the pink to make sure the shading matches the area over the adjoining grey and that the edges don't show any ridges/chips. Be sure your primed surface is a smooth as you can get it, metallic lacquers polish well but sanding is rough on it. Use finer grits (2000,4000,6000)with wet lite pressure if you do have to sand the purple. Your build helped me decide my next project, the Chev Vantasy kit. "Keep on truckin"

Nice save, you made it look like a real street crusin' van from the 70's. Simple but impressive. I was there.

Like the color combo, and the pin stripes really look period correct, but how did you texture the ragtop (it's great).

From the pens mentioned above I use the springs, the sizes are good for front coils and coilovers. But never thought about the other parts. Thanks! The plastic cookie trays and other bakery trays that have ribs can be used for for rolled upholstery, and I cut my headliners from styrofoam plates (only use acrylics to paint and use double side tape to attach). Medical duropore tape can be cut into 2 or 3 mm strips for seat belts/harness and painted any color (looks like real webbing material) and it's adhesive. Like the wire source from ear buds.