Paul Payne

Has anyone ever used tongue depressors for a starting point? Laminate 2 or 3 together for thickness, then sculp to final shape? Popsicle sticks could work, too, maybe stain them differently for contrast.

This is more of an idea in progress than an actual project at this point. Some years ago I picked up a Galaxie LTD. trailer but with no real plans for what to do with it. Not long ago I got a built PT-109 that scales out to about 28' in 1/25th scale. I have the AMT 3 in 1 boat kit, but wanted something larger based on wood speed boats of the 1920's and 30's. About a week ago I got an Ertl Collectibles 1946 Dodge Power Wagon tow truck which I had had in mind as the perfect tow vehicle. I think these a the toughest looking trucks on the planet! The front of the trailer will be for storage since I have some goodies such as scuba tanks, etc., and perhaps a motorcycle? The boat came apart easily with no damage to the hull or deck. The rest of the superstructure will be removed and cockpit and engine areas will be cut out and rebuilt. The rear of the boat will be lengthened and reshaped as well. Revell's Hemi Hydro has a nice trailer useful as reference.

Well, it's still alive- got some more work done. I began to build the v-16 using 2 Chevy small blocks from the AMT 57 Chevy. Transmissions removed, axle holes filled with sprue. The bucket seats have had backs added and the open areas beginning to be filled. Lots more to do on these. Added extension sections to the hood, but I am not really satisfied with the overall cross section- doesn't match the cowl profile or the hood front as well as it should- adjustment may be required! Decided to throw some putty on the rear section- especially around some added material for the rear fenders and the tail light area. Cut out the engine compartment opening- everything stayed nice and solid. Still working on the egg crate grille- this is a much slower process than I imagined at the start but I will continue on...............

Great workmanship and I love the channeling job- perfect stance!

John, this is a great project! I fell in love with Bugattis as a kid and I have toyed with the idea of updating the Royale engine with dual overhead cams and supercharging, as well as altering the bore and stroke. Are you planning on building an engine to display next to your streamliner? Thank you so much for sharing your design and construction techniques- this is what the forum is all about!

Gary, thank you much for the tip- I will get some and try it!

My Dodge power wagon arrived today. It's the Havoline tow truck version by Ertl Collectibles. The detailing and overall quality are excellent. I plan on using it to tow a large wood speed boat, modifying a Galaxie trailer into a boat trailer. Not sure yet if I will do some weathering on the truck, also thinking of dropping in a fifties hemi for a little extra go. Will definitely sand the tire treads. I assume the Havoline logos are tampo printed- does anyone have experience with removing tampo without messing up the base paint? The Dodge power wagon defines tough truck and I really like the simple open sheet metal fenders.

Robert, a very period speed part for the flathead was a 4 carb manifold. However, one was never kitted, and no one in the aftermarket makes one either, so you would have to scratchbuild one.

Casey, in looking through my stash, I discovered the hemi in the AMT 53 Stude. Not knowing much about mopar, do you know anything about this one?

Casey, that engine looks like what I want- looks like excellent detail.

Casey, thanks for the info- I would like the hemi to definitely be from the fifties, whatever would be large displacement back then. Maybe 330 cu. in.?

Ordered an Ertl Collectibles 1946 Dodge power wagon, the tow truck version. Plan on using it as the tow vehicle for a wood speed boat made from a smaller scale PT boat which scales out to about 28' in 125th scale. I want to rebuild the power wagon and maybe install a fifties Dodge hemi- anyone know a good large displacement donor?

Great! Love it!

You have my attention! Love your interior ideas.

After going through the obscure kits thread, I am truly amazed at what subjects the model companies actually thought would sell, and were willing to spend money on engineering and tooling. Gives me hope that a lot of the cars mentioned here might actually have a chance!

Amazing- I can't even get paint to dry in 24 hours!

I remember that one of the Pontiacs had a fifth wheel, clear fuel bottle, traffic cones, and either a clip board or dash mounted monitoring instruments- I forget if Road and Track or Motor Trend did the performance evaluations with this equipment. I also have two suit cases filled with molded in tools from the MPC Ford J car (Lemans required "luggage"). Revell offered a parts pack of display accessories in chrome with tools, creeper, engine stand, stanchions and bases, and chrome "rope" to thread through the stanchions. It was so stiff the stanchions had to be glued down or they would go every which way!

I wish Ertl Collectibles would use the Dodge power wagon tooling to produce a kit- I know die cast tooling is different from injection molding tooling, but at least they could scan it and cut new tooling from 3D models.

I bought this one on line several years ago. It's the Monogram sport coupe and was cleanly built and who ever built it used all the decals. The front axle had broken and it was missing the left front hairpin radius rod. I repaired the axle and fabricated a hair pin using one in my parts box. The seller also included a reproduction box with great art work.

Might get a Klingon Kruizer award.

In my career as a foundry tooling engineer, I used 3d modeling to create foundry patterns. In order to 3d print a car or any part of it, you must have accurate 3d models created from drawings of each part to be included. In other words, there is a lot more preliminary work before the printer creates a model. This is pretty much the same process as the model companies and their engineers use.

This is becoming a very interesting conversation with many points of view expressed.

Plenty big enough for some radical graphics! Thinking about an engine, or just a curbside build? Looks like a cool interior, but it will be hard to see with those narrow windows. Looking forward to how this project develops!

Thought I would share a few pictures of a real one I found on line.

That is a great build- I love everything about it! So glad you saved it and it survived so well.