impcon

I think that I have this phot thing figured out so here are the pictures of the truck before I took it apart and after I got the paint off of it late today. It cleaned up pretty good but as you can see in the photos, the tailgate is somewhat goofed. I'll start off by cleaning up the glue damage and fixing any little things that are wrong over the next day or so. I have to go out to where the real truck is sitting and get the paint codes off of it and take some photos fopr reference - especially the interior. I'll also have to scratch build a rear bumper as her truck has an aftermarket rear bumper on it. More pictures to come...

That sure is purdy!!!!!!!! I really like that colour! So what colour is the interior going to be? Black? White? Burgundy? Or blue? A vinyl top would really be befitting of that car.. It's looking REALLY good! I'll be watching this one.

At last, I have started work on what will be my first complete build in over 15 years. It's an old SMP annual - a '60 Chevy pickup and trailer that I bought off Ebay awhile back for $16.00. The truck was disassembled using the deep freeze method that worked like a champ partly I think because the original builder seems to have painted the truck and then assembled it. There is VERY little glue damage on the little truck - the worst is from what I am thinking was the accessory fender skirts that the truck must have worn at one time. There is also evidence that a couple of things were glued to the bed floor of the box at one time but that should clean up. Probably the worst glue damage is on the tailgate where the builder glued those wretched louvers across the "Chevrolet" lettering. That will be a challenge to try to bring that lettering back. The truck will be built bone stock but I will be sustituting the V8 for a 235 six cylinder and a three speed manual transmission ( column shift )from a newer AMT short box kit just like the real truck has. The real 1:1 truck that this is being built to replicate was my Mom's truck which I now own - although her's is a '61. There are several differences between a '60 and a '61 - a very slight difference in the grilles, the hub caps and the fender scripts that on the '60 say "Chevrolet" and on the '61 they say "Apache". I am not into paying $200.00 for an unbuilt kit and built ups of the '61's are few and far between so I'll live with this I guess. The truck will be painted two tone green and white like my Mom's and it will getting the six cylinder engine as mentioned. I'll be ordering new chrome from the Modelhause just to spruce the old gal up a bit.. I may substitute '61 bumpers and grille for the '60 - I have to decide on that yet. Also, I am not sure what the old annual hub caps were like.. I'd sure appreciate some photos if anyone has any of the '60 hub caps and the '61 caps. These were small dog dish caps - not full wheel covers by the way. If I could find a scrap '61 fender or cab to try to get a casting of the "Apache" script, I'd do it in a heart beat and replace the Chevrolet script with the proper '61 script. My mom's truck had the full chrome package - bumper, grille, hub caps and deluxe side trim - it sure was a pretty little truck. It has been apart for many years since my brother started working on it and then gave up - plans are to refurbish the truck in the next couple of years. it wont get a ground up restoration but i will reassemble it, clean it up, paint it and get it driving again. This will be a lengthy build as I am limited in time but I'll post as I go along.. I welcome constructive criticism and helpful hints. The little truck will be primed and painted with autoimotive paints - probably a urethane enamel.. wish me luck.

Just wondering if you could please post pictures of the "poverty" hub caps? Thanks in advance.

I think that we can all benefit from your knowledge and you are to be commended for being so willing to share it. Thank you. I'd really like to see a very detailed and simply written tutorial on casting parts - both from scratch and reproducing hard to find pieces from available and obsolete kits. Perhaps it may be important to include in detail the methods used to scratch build as well as what materials are and may be used to cast parts. I am sure that there are many different techniques.. and maybe others can contribute their experience and knowledge. One thing I would like to know for example is say for instance, how to duplicate the side trim from a '57 Fairlane hardtop so that it could be used to build a phantom '57 Ranchero with Fairlane 500 side trim. Also, casting tail light lenses - how is it done and what materials would be used? Sources for these materials ( online ) would be good to know as well as many of do not live near a major center where there is an abundance of hobby and craft stores. Many of these questions are probably pretty triviall to the seasoned scratch builders but to many of us, it is all new knowledge. I'm in and appreciative of anything that you post. Gary

That little truck is going to be an AWESOME one of a kind build!!! I love those old Ford cab overs - the local packing house had a fleet of them when I moved here to this area and they were only driven in the summer! Talk about rust free!!! I admire your craftsmanship and determination - and creativity.. this will be one sweet build! Hang in there - don't lose focus and please keep postingthose pictures for the rest of us who do not share your talent or abilities. Guys like you inspire and challenge the rest of us! Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge and experttise.

I don't know who made the parts - but d'ya wanna sell those hubcaps? I'm right now in the process of trying to get an old SMP '60 Chevy pickup apart to redo and I need hubcaps! Seriously, though - that was a good score!

Now THAT has class, charisma, character and it's oh so sweet!!!!!!!!!! It should be left just as it is - preserved, cherished and loved as a piece of history! Personally, I wouldn't change a thing - I'd just maintain it and drive it! Hopefully it goes to a good home. there really is something quaint and real about an old car in it's natural state. They really do lose their charm and character once they have felt sandpaper and wear new paint.. This little truck is a veteran - a survivor.. and should be kept just as it is. To change anything would rob it of it's identity and uniqueness and make it just another hot rod. Just my opinion...

A local guy who does all of my towing uses the name Eagle Towing - he has a black outline of an eagle on the side of his truck which is painted yellow. It's really decent looking.. and I like the name. I know it's pretty mundane when compared to "Get Toad", but I thought I'd throw it in.

I was on a road trip on the week end and when my wife and I stopped for lunch, there was a pretty sharp looking forest fire fighting truck on the parking lot. It was a 2005 F500 4x4 with the fire fighting box and equipment.. Our son fights forest fire here in B.C. during the summer months so the truck is of interest to me.. The owner was kind enough to let me photograph his truck in detail and I would like to test my scratch building by attempting to build a replica of that truck. But I need a new style F350/F500 extended cab and a four wheel drive chassis for a newer heavy duty "small" truck.. Does anyone resin cast a cab and interior for such a truck or is there a kit on the market? I can post a photo or two of the unit if that would help..

I should have mentioned that the '63 that I bought is an annual convertible with the year stamped bumpers - not the hardtop. And it is CLEAN!!!!!!!!!!! I am totally thrilled with it!!!

Just wondering what techniques you guys use to take an old glued model apart? i have heard some say thatthey put the model in the freezer ad the glue becomes brittle.. any suggestions will be appreciated. I know that heavily glued styrene fuses itself together making disassembly a real problem.. just wondering how you guys do it.. Thanks in advance..

Thanks. I'll check the site and watch for the kits/ Respectfully, Gary

You all make valid points in your posts and honestly, there were a couple of things mentioned that i had not thought of. Still, I think that the economy has brought the prices of a lot of kits down - especially old built ups. Some people are still looking at the moon with their starting prices. I recently bought an old annual for $31.00 that had been previously listed with a buy it now of $47.50. Like was said - "good for the buyer - not so for the seller".I am managing to gradually replace many of the kits at affordable prices that I have had and lost over the years.. and that pleases me to no end.

All I can say is.......... I don't know what to say except that your workmanship is beyond any edifying and uplifting words that I can think of! The feelings of accomplishment and achievment for you must be incredibly intense! I for one, cannot begin to imagine the time and the love that you put into that model.. I have a hard time grasping that it is all scratch built! I'd sure like to see that in person and shake your hand! COngratulations on a job .. the words "well done" just are not sufficient.. AWE INSPIRING!!!!!!!!!!!

Nice build and choice of colours. Too me, the wheels detract somewhat from a beautiful build.. but that's just my opinion. I am not fond of those "baby buggy wheels" as I call them on any older car.. but having said that, you did a marvelous job! The colour is righteous and attractive and the gold stripe really does compliment the car. Sweet car!

AT $35.00, they seem somewhat - uh - pricey??? Maybe I'll just buy a dually kit.. Wow! Sticker shock... Maybe I'm just out of touch but the price does seem a bit extreme. Just my opinion.. Edited Comment Hmmmmmmmmm.. My appologies.. I went back to the site and I looked at the information again and it seems that $35.00 buys the entire conversion kit to create a dually including the box parts. This is all lwell and good but all that i want is the wheels and ties.. thank you for posting the link though. I think that I'll email him and see if he will sell just tires and wheels..

You might try using Scotch Magic Tape for masking.. It's thin and easy to work with and leaves virtually no raised edge atthe edge of the newly applied paint. I have used it on models and on 1:1 vehicles for masking off decals or even painting on stripes simply because unlike conventional autobody masking tape, it leaves a super clean edge. You can often find the larger sized roles on sale at Staples and other office supply stores and it's a lot more affordable than buying the small rolls with the clear, plastic dispenser. Plus, it is readily available in drug stores and most any dollar stores so there is no waiting for an order to arrive in the mail. Also, it doesn't seem to soften the paint that it applied to causing it to lift the paint when you unmask like cheap masking tape.

For stripping the primer and paint, try using Easy Off Oven Cleaner in the spray can. I have had success with removing real 1:1 automotive paints with it but it takes more time and work then removing regular sprat bomb paints. I have used regular automotive laquer primers on many models and painted enamels over top with no issues at all. Also, putting laquer over an enamel primer should not be a problem if as said earlier, you mist the paint on lightly for the first several coats and allow lots of time ( I wait over night ) between coats for the solvents to evacuate. If you just spray a heavy coat of laquer over the enamel primer, then the solvents in the laquer will attack the enamel and you have problems. They key is to allow the solvents lots of time to come out of the paint using light coats.

Is there anyone out there who casts one ton wheels for trucks of any age? It gets expensive buying a whole kit just for the wheels.. and I want to build several one tons - a '72 Chevy to replicate my 1:1 short wheel base that was a farm truck in Alberta for most of it's life. It's got a grain box and dump on it and it has served me so well! I also want to do a '73 to '79 as a deck truck - and a 65 F350 to replicate my old car hauler. But the trick is to find the right wheels.. Any suggestions?

Oh WOW! Now THAT is pretty! I am not one for heavy modifications usually but your truck is AWESOME!!!!!!! The colour combination is so right - sharp and really classy!!! You are to be commended for this one!

Does Eric have a website? if so, can you please post an URL? I for one will try to give him some support.

So what is your opinion? Do you see a decline in the prices that some of the old kits are bringing these days? I have made some decent scores lately on old built kits - not necessarily glue bombs - but kits that may need to be redone. For example, a 1963 Galaxie convertible annual for under $20.00 that has never been painted or modified.. Now in all fairness, I see some things going for stupid prices IMHO - a built '59 Ford Galaxie annual that was converted to a Fairlane with the wrap around rear glass that sold for over $300.00! It was a nice build - no question about that but the price was sure steep! ANother Corvette promo that I watched sold for over $600.00! So what is your opinion? I know thatthe economy is in the toilet and some people are selling off their toys to live.. but let's hear what your thoughts are...

I just sent Steve at R&R an email with several ideas for resin kits.. Here's a part of the email with the list.. Maybe if enough guys lend support to some of these, he will be kind enough to consider adding them to his catalog.. What do you think? Just looked through your Ebay auctions and your website.. I have to commend you on offering an awesome assortment of kits! However, there are several kits that are not available that you mighy want to consider producing - 1959 Chevrolet 4 door station wagon - ideally the low end Brookwood and top of the line Nomad with the Impala trim. The '59 2 door wagon would be a good place to start on these.. The 4 door Brookwood would make an awesome fire chief's car or mundane grocery getter. 1959 Chevrolet four door sedan - in any trim level - Biscayne, Bel Air or Impala. Again, a prime candidate for a fire chief's car, police car or taxi.... 1959 Chevrolet ambulance. They did make them and the Ghostbuster's ambulance may yield some good ideas as to how to modify an El Camino or two door wagon.. I see many other years of GM cars as ambulances - the '59's and '60's remain largely forgoteen though. 1960 Chevy four door wagon.. 1960 Chevy four door sedan. resin alternate grilles for your '72 Ford pickup - from '67 through '71. So what would you like to see in resin form? Feel free to add to my wish list...

Sorry - wrong post.. I have moved it to the resin forum