Paul Payne

Exceptional build so far- looking forward to more!

This is very interesting- good info and good step by step photos! Might you be considering a V-8 hemi??

That is one gorgeous custom build!

Now THAT is creative- kit bashing at its best! Regarding is it a plane or a boat- maybe a ploat? or a boane?

He can be proud of a nice clean build and a great paint job! Model on!

Ricky D and I finished a great trade- would trade with him again any time! Even the USPS cooperated!

Does anyone know what alloy Ertl used in their 1946 Dodge power wagon models? I have disassembled mine and am in the process of removing the screw bosses. The alloy is incredibly hard- more like tool steel than diecast alloy!

Great job! Very mean looking car-oozes power and speed!

Betsy and I both share the book thing, both pleasure reading and reference- her for every aspect of the fiber arts, me for cars, ships and boats, and art- also music, glass, pottery-this list goes on!

You may be a victim of S.A.B.L.E.- or a member! Betsy, my wife, is an avid knitter, and understands my need to accumulate more model stuff. Hence, S.A.B.L.E.- stash accumulated beyond life expectancy! Betsy has as much yarn stash as many modelers have kits, and also as many unfinished projects that she will haul out occasionally. Betsy temporarily lost her fingerprints when she was five- sanding the spokes of a 1924 Chevy touring car, so I married well. Sometimes a knitting project goes a bit wrong and Betsy has to rip out a days worth of stitches and continue from there- does this experience remind anyone of a project they had to tear down and rebuild?

Truly a remarkable job! About how big is it? Can't quite picture the size. A fascinating subject!

Yesterday I continued disassembling an Ertl 1946 Dodge power wagon diecast. Cut off the big door hinges, hope to install the hemi from the AMT 1953 Studebaker. Plan on a lot of weathering.

Nobling, I just cut off the klunky hinges! The window surrounds are a work of art in themselves- the thinnest die cast sections I have ever seen, and the inner door skins exceed any kit I have come across. Ertl really outdid themselves on a fine tool. BTW, I guess I committed to the hemi, because I just disassembled the straight six engine and cut off the transmission! Now I just have to make everything fit! Another thing I will be doing is filling in the screw holes, and where they bulged out on the frame rails I will grind them down. After this one I don't think there will be any more comments about modifying diecasts! Checked my stash and discovered a brass strip and sheet- may try to fabricate door hinges from this. The inner and outer door pieces have recesses, so there is room between for the hinges to mount. We shall see!

More success! I was able to separate the inner door panels from the door skins! The inner door panels have a complete window surround including the vent windows!

Success! I was able to separate the windshield assembly from the cab. Also a picture of a gathering of hemi parts- we shall see which ones make it to the final assembly!

You are all probably wondering what the heck is going on when there is almost nothing about a truck? Well, the Dodge power wagon finally succumbed to disassembly- a daunting process with any plastic and die cast model. This model is extremely well detailed and I strongly recommend it to any pickup or Mopar fan. The first thing to be disassembled was the towing boom assembly from the bed. persistent gentle prying and suddenly it detached. So far only the front winch on the bumper broke off, looks like an easy fix- may remount it with a couple of scale carriage bolts through the bumper. Another step in the process is to investigate the front windshield and frame to see if they can be detached since I would love to have them open up like the real thing. Today I was able to detach the power train from the frame, then, with a lot of careful prying, the engine, transmission and exhaust popped off. The transmission was mounted to a big boss on the underside of the chassis, hence the resistance. From the beginning I have wanted to replace the 6 cylinder engine with a hemi, but retain the original transmission. I pirated the hemi from the AMT 53 Studebaker and have glued the block and transmission halves together as well as stripping chrome parts in the oven cleaner bath. Like most diecasts, the door hinges are really klunky and look like poop, but they did work well.... The hood hinge is actually very nice- a thin wire threaded through cast hinge sections. The doors themselves have what would be the actual door hinges molded in- nothing on the cab, just the doors. For years I have had a Trimaster hinge package I haven't had the courage to use- maybe I will try to create more realistic hinges with it. I plan on weathering the truck as well- found a picture on the internet I really like. I want to run vertical exhaust stacks through the running boards just behind the cab- not sure if I will have to move the spare tire or not to clear them. Oh, I also sanded the tire treads but need to knock down the shine on the rest of the tires as well.

The number of great vehicles never offered in any model form is astounding!

Love the surf boards and their graphics- nice twist with an iconic mid sixties family grocery getter.

I started a similar thread about cars that were never kitted but we wish were. Maybe combine?

About as believable as it gets- I would say clean build but somehow it just doesn't fit!

Beautiful model! Color looks like Testors garnet pearl metallic to me.

Ace-garageguy and I just completed a great trade- will trade with him anytime- helped him with parts for two projects.

I remember California Model Works advertised a belly tanker kit- tried ordering one and no one could get one for me. I do have a vacuum formed body that is warped with the ends touching and the center areas gapping. Came with what appears to be jenny aircraft wheels and tall skinny tires.

That is really creative and believable! Are you going to add a load for the bed?

Greg, don't know of a kit- bought an Ertl diecast and plastic one and am in the process of disassembling it. Very good detail, hope to do some weathering and drop in that hemi!