BK9300

Very fine job stitching your roof back together. Sure like the stance - hope you can get the rear end to cooperate!

Didn't get back to your earlier posts - got too wrapped up in figuring out the cooler! (I think the cooler figured me out instead, so had to change direction) - thanks for your comments!

Well, good idea - poor execution! Drilling the little vanes did not go well, overall. My little jig cutout wasn't the good idea I thought it was, and the drilled hole alignment wasn't acceptable. Also had trouble with using CA glue to bind together the little bit that I did drill ok. So, decided to make the vanes out of 0.25 styrene strips that I scraped and sanded to get them a little thinner. Made another small jig to glue the alternating different size vanes, compacting them in the jig as more were added. So, some progress today, just not what I had hoped for at the start! Poor job of drilling and hole alignment; CA glue wouldn't hold together the few pieces I did get right. Another jig to align the different length styrene strips in place while gluing them together, along with a bit of compression every so often! Need to clean up between the vanes with a micro saw, drill 6 holes (instead of 120!) to insert the coolant tubes, trim the ends of the coolant manifold to length and add the plumbing fittings to attach the hydraulic lines. Not what I had envisioned achieving today, but it will be acceptable once it is cleaned up, plumbed and painted, then hidden behind the truck's grill! As always, appreciate you looking in - thanks!

Spectacular work, François - simply amazing!

Super detailed reefer, Steve - looks great!

Your engine looks great in place - from the looks of it, I imagine mechanics didn't like working on them very much!

I watched you do a different kind of fender repair on one of your previous builds and all turned out fine - this will too, I'm sure!

Looks awesome, Jürgen!

Been a slow week, waiting for decals for the sander. However, once the decals are here and the sander finished, it needs to get on the truck. So, I also need to finish up some loose ends underneath the truck and get it up on it's wheels. Need to mount fuel tank, get fuel lines hooked up to tank, and make a transmission cooler to finish part of the plumbing to the front of the truck. Out of all that, I decided to attempt the transmission cooler first. Laying out the pieces of cooling system made to date, to better determine layout for cooler (black rubber is basic size and location of the version of cooler that was on the real truck) Started cutting cooling vanes from 0.2mm aluminum - a bit thick for scale, but hoping it will look ok Fashioned part of the cooler manifold and one of the mounting blocks to bolt it to rad frame (will have to trim the end of the manifold to size later) Long bench day ahead today! Made a little jig - cutouts at bottom left will hold vanes in place while I do my best to drill three, 0.7mm holes in each one (going to stack three or four and drill at same time to minimize screw ups in spacing the holes!). I have two widths of vanes, to hopefully provide a better relief when detailed. A few alternating widths of vanes in place, and one ready to go on - once I get several more on, I will compress them and put a bit of CA glue on from behind, and move on to adding another group Not sure how it will turn out in the end but giving it a go! Your thoughts and comments are always welcome. I'll see how the day goes - maybe more pics later. Thanks for looking in.

Jeff, that's quite the trick with tooth paste as an abrasive - it sure seems to work. Will definitely make touch ups less of an issue. I admire you and Ron for doing two tone paint jobs - a single colour can sometimes be a handful for me, never mind two!

Yes - suspenseful!

I've had bleed through when taping on a flat surface, so I can imagine how difficult to get a good seal when masking across rivets and along drip rails. Like Steve said, you're sounding very patient - hope your repairs go well.

Great use of some extra parts!

you can download them at this site https://www.scalemates.com/kits/amt-amt1158-06-hideout-truck--1278272 or I can PM you the pdf file if you like

Very clean build, Lee - will be good looking addition to any display area!

That must be very frustrating - any idea why the paint didn't stick to the primer?

Really like the idea of using a tape line.

Coming along beautifully, Gary

Funny, when you said 'Resto rod .. with modern turbo engine', I first thought about the Tyrone Malone 1,200 hp, dual turbo Detroit Diesel! I guess that would be way too much for a daily driver

It’s amazing what’s available out there these days - I couldn’t find an Airliner suspension in Feb/23 when I started looking for parts. I wonder if it’s available in 1/24. What type of engine have you settled on? Will be quite the build!

Astonishing handiwork - just a marvel to check in on from time to time and incredible detail to go over each time

I agree with you, Donald - magnifying desk lamp is indispensable for me too! The rivets look great.

The hood seams look great and the primer sure ties it all together, and it is good to see an update on your build!

Great progress, Paul!

Hi Gary - never used these rivets before. Can they be applied over primer or do they need to be applied over a clear coat like regular decals? In any event, lots of fiddly placement ahead of you and going to look great!