Jordan White

The one thing I love about the foreign model brands is them molding parts in the black plastic, so for builds like this where there is a lot of black pieces, you don't have to paint every single little part. It was nice only having to paint a few things and just assemble it.

Thanks so far! @Goose1957 The body panels are probably the toughest part to get aligned correctly. I wish they would have done the tub and front fenders (minus the flares) as a single piece, like what Tamiya did with their Wrangler.

This is the MENG Jeep Wrangler 10th Anniversary kit built up as a 2015 Rubicon Hard Rock edition. The Hard Rock edition featured all of the unique parts from the 10th anniversary edition, but was of course also available in all the colors offered. I decided to just build this one box stock so I could actually finish a build in a reasonable time frame! It is painted as Baja Yellow Clearcoat, and features tire decals from Joseph at Fireball. I sort of failed with them in that being the first time using non-kit supplied decals, that they aren't "separated" on the sheet. So I put all the ones that said "Mud-Terrain" in at once, and once I realized my mistake, it was hard to cut them apart. So besides that little snafu, I would say the build turned out pretty well. I do agree with some others that built this kit already that it is very finicky, and the large number of parts is a disadvantage as far as getting some stuff to line up properly. I also think the frame near the front axle is possibly warped a bit, since it appears the front end sits higher than it should. In any case, on to the pictures!

Are you thinking of Model Roundup?

Actually it sounds like vans are not allowed, based on the first link Jantrix provided. "The Classics Category does not allow trucks, pick-up trucks, ambulances, estate-cars, or what is generally regarded to be a commercial-vehicle, such as a van."

The Astro did come as an AWD model, though pushing bigger tires like that means a solid axle swap would be the way to go!

From a '66 Ford Pickup brochure

Flareside is the term that Ford used and is generally considered interchangeable with stepside for that style of bed.

I have seen a few mentions of using the F250 frame rails, so perhaps they shortened them for use on the Lightning since it was a specially modified vehicle.

That was actually the theme a few years back already. In fact, I believe it was the only one I finished a build for! Just going through the list from 2012 to now, the themes were as follows: 2012: year 1962 2013: unlimited 2014: 1979 or older, but with modern parts optional 2015: sleeperball 2016: aussieball 2017: unlimited 2018: inline engines My idea would be sort of an update of the 2014 CBP, but have it be 1989 or older and with period correct modifications (some more modern mods could be considered "experimental" though). My thinking is the 1980s is where auto manufacturers started getting back into the horsepower game with better technology, and it would be interesting to see how people would configure their cars of that time period.

Speaking of the XLS Bronco, what if you made all four stripe color sets (blue, black, silver, red) long enough for the long bed F150 and in 2 pieces, so that way you could make the XLS Bronco, F150 shortbox/stepside, or the F150 longbed. You would just need to trim them down to the length you need!

Honestly, If any company decided to make one, my bet would be on Meng since they seem to be focusing on American trucks and SUVs. It would be cool to see a full detail kit of the current Escalade, complete with the 6.0 V8 and maybe two wheel options like the F-350 had.

The Escalade ESV (suburban length) is actually a thing, and it appears they did the same as the recent version of the Impala SS and just chose an image to copy, without realizing they chose the wrong version of the Escalade.

Oh boy, unless they decided to suddenly make the Escalade ESV, then that is quite the box art blunder!

Love the color too! I've gotta ask though, what's with the candy-cane striped driveshafts?

I was going to say a George Barris-esque custom car would be the way to go!

Good luck with that one! It's not accurate as a Turbo, nor is it really accurate for the concept it is based on. Depending on how accurate you want it to be though, it is still fun to build!

It's an okay representation, while simultaneously being a detailed kit. There were some liberties taken in order to allow it to be motorized (engine proportions off, IRS molded as one lumpy piece to accommodate a working axle) and not a lot of detail on the chassis. I'm using a small block from the Revell Camaro kit, along with with IRS from the Monogram Corvette to give it some more detail. I'm also converting it to an L-82 like you did.

I like it! I'm building a 1/12 Doyusha kit the exact same way, except I'll be doing a black interior.

Does that S10/S15 sheet have for both 1st gen and 2nd gen? Also, I'm excited to see the Ram sheet when you complete it!

Eh, In my opinion the Chevy is the uglier of the two. The GMC front end is at least coherent and there is no ugly body crease running down the side.

Yeah, why again are there suddenly a bunch of threads on the same topic that cannot be combined with each other?

Nope, there are SRW utility bodies.

Before you go any further with the grille, you should flatten out the top of it (since you're trying to make the kit more accurate) since it's too rounded.

Yeah they would be the same, so at least there is a source.