Chuck Most

While the plastic kit manufacturers continue to ignore the modern light truck market (for the most part), a few die cast manufacturers have picked up the slack. This is both good and bad. Maisto offers a 2009 Hummer H3 SUT (GM-speak for 'Sport Utility Truck') in it's odd 1/26 scale. It's a pretty decent kit, if you can get past the little hiccups common to die casts. For instance- 1. The front doors and hood open, but on fat, clumsy dogleg-type hinges. Much of the detail on the areas these opening panels expose is molded in, as well. Detail on the die cast body is chunky at best, but then, on a 1:1 Hummer, the detail is clunky at best as well, so what we have here may be the perfect candidate for a die-cast kit! 2. The factory applied paint (in this case, a bloody-vomit-like metallic burgundy) is poorly applied and splotchy, and sprayed right over any jagged mold lines that may be on the body. 3. The engine is a simple 'pancake' plastic design. However, in this case, there are printed logos and decals already on the part, and what is visible at least looks decent. 4. The front portion of the chassis (where the engine would go on a full detail kit) is wide open, giving the model a 'see through' look when viewed from the side. Moving on, what exactly does the kit consist of? Well, you get the aformentioned pre-painted body, which has the glass, bumpers, grille, mirrors, and charcoal-plastic-hood-scoop-dealie attached. Essentially, all one needs to do to build it is attach the dash, seats, chassis, and wheels, making it a great kit for a newbie, or, for a more experienced modeler, a great way to kill boredom for an afternoon. The only optional parts are the wheels- both stock style, in chrome or silver finish. I decided to disassemble the body on mine, strip it, and repaint it (Testors Lime Ice). I also got rid of the nasty mold lines. Be sure to use an etching primer on die cast metal! I also added the wheels, tires, and brake rotors from a Revell 'Uptown' Charger SRT8. I used aluminum tubing to replace the kit axle stubs. There you have it- a 'Donked Out' shelf model of a Hummer that's a bit different from the Revell H2 version, in less than two hours!

Thanks for digging it guys! To cover some of what you pointed out- My model was built from the '95 reissue, which had a 2wd chassis and the non-stock Flareside bed. There were four versions of this kit- this one, the original 2wd/Styleside 'Monroe Magnum' truck, the 4wd Flareside 'Bush Baby, and the '70's van style 'Cruisin' Van'. Truth be told, I see the Monroe and Bush baby versions of this kit more than this '95 reissue, and you can usually score a cherry, sealed example of any for less than $20. (The '95 issue goes for about half that.) Andy- there was also a guy who ran a Flattie in a second-gen RX-7 at Bonneville a few years back. 'Aerodynamic advantage' was his logic. And, yeah, I'm not a huge fan of stepside beds on 'late model' trucks, (I've turned down a number of this very kit, waiting on a Styleside bed version), but with the whitewalls, the flat black, and the Flattie, this build seemed to cry out for one! Once again, thanks for enjoying it, wasn't so sure I could pull it off!

Alrightie, folks... got her finished up Sunday evening... I used the headlamps and bar from a '32 Phaeton kit with the V8 insignia chopped off (I used it on the Flathead Courier I wrapped up earlier in the weekend). The 170 is on full display in this shot! I used the ever-popular '39 'Teardrop' tails, laid on their sides on the turtle deck. The smiley face decal is from a '32 Ford Tudor sedan (new Revell kit). And here's the inside- the shifter came from the same Phaeton that coughed up its headlamps. I also grunged up the '41 Woody seat a bit, and cut a windshield off a spare Ala Kart dash. I made the 'glass' from .010" styrene. And here it is- my first ever On the Workbench project is a done deal! Sheesh- next one's gonna have to be a bit more involved, I guess!

Here's my latest build, a Flathead powered Courier. I can't say that it's an original idea- I saw one in SAE centuries ago. Feel free to check out the WIP shots on my Fotki page: http://public.fotki.com/ChuckMost/77-ford-courier-fla/

Thanks for the encouragement, guys! Billy- check out the second photo- that should answer your question! The ol' workbench was a blur of activity last night... You might have noticed a few changes to the frame. The axle is now butted right up to the frame, and not on a hanger out in front of it. I also robbed the tie rod, as well as a pitman arm and drag link, from an old Watson roadster kit. I also redid the rear suspension- still the '29 Model A piece, but I replaced the spring with a less-flimsy MPC/AMT piece. I also replaced the split 'bones with short ladder-type bars from an AMT '51 Chevy hardtop. I also employed a carrier bearing in the driveshaft, so I wouldn't need to worry about a driveshaft flopping about directly underneath the driver's buttocks! Here ya go- Billy! I used the good old Ford steelies and whitewalls from a Revell '29 Model A pickup... but not the same one that donated it's axles. (Model A spares? I got 'em!) I'll paint detail the nuts and grease caps later. This was the first test-fit of the body to the completed chassis, at this point I still haven't fabricated a lower firewall to hold the front of the tub up. The grille/radiator is a cut down AMT part, I think it's from a Phaeton or Vicky. A little black wash to the grille and some metallic black paint finish her off. Why metallic black, when the car has a rusty yellow/black body and green wheels? I'm going for a 'built-from-cast-off-junk' kind of vibe since, well, this model is actually being built from cast off junk! Here's why it's 'not so much a roadster pickup anymore'. I'd originally thought of adding a shortened, T-bucket style pickup box, but for whatever reason, a turtle deck seemed to make more and more sense whenever it popped into my head. This one is from the AMT competition T body. I cut open the trunklid, added a floor, and installed the battery in the opening. I may add some other stuff to the trunk (wrenches, a toolbox, or something like that), but I'm not putting the lid back on! Some purists may scoff at a Deuce grille and T-turtle deck sandwiching a hybrid Model A/Model T body, but I like it! The Deuce grille has graced many a Model A, and a few Model As have had T decks grafted on. Why not both on one car? And here's the inside. The dash is just a slab of .030" styrene with foil copied gauges (the first time I've ever foil copied gauges, by the way!) The seat is a cut-down '41 Ford Woody piece, the gas pedal is a double ended open end wrench, and the steering column is from a Revell Lil' John (RIP) '26 Model T street rod kit, capped off with a '77 Ford Courier steering wheel. Still need to cough up a shifter (and possibly a hand-brake lever) and a windshield, but we're inching ever closer!

I nabbed a couple more damaged AMT Prestige series kits from a local guy- two '65 Lincoln Continentals. Five bucks for both, when sealed pristine kits of same sell for around twenty! Both have crushed boxes, and one kit has a bent and broken windshield frame, but they're both complete. I also got an extra Honda chopper (from the MPC Class Action Monte Carlo) from the same guy.

Here's hoping! Made a little progress last night: I scratchbuilt a simple little box chassis for the truck from Plastruct strips. I'll be running a (somewhat) traditional early Ford type buggy spring setup. I made up an "A-Bucket" style tub, using the cowl and doors from a '29 Roadster, and the back from an AMT Ala Kart cab. I'd originally planned to use the MPC/AMT '29 open cab, then thought about using the Ala Kart cab right out of the box, but finally decided to Frankenstein this cab together, since I liked the overall look of the Ala Kart tub, but thought the detail on the cowl and doors was a bit sterile. Here, my scratchbuilt chassis has sprouted the axle from a Revell '29 Model A pickup, and the four link bars from a Revell Deuce will come a bit later. I'm pretty sure I'll need to rethink that steering link, though. The chassis was basically built around the engine. I painted the roadster portion of the body in a pale yellow, and the Ala Kart piece black, to make it look like the cab was constructed from parts of two different cars. Once joined and painted, the whole cab was weathered. The gas cap is an old wire wheel knock-off nut. Yep, I'll be keeping the Model A gas tank in the cowl! And here I've added the rear axle from the same Revell '29 chrome sprue. I split the stock radius rod and connected each side to the frame. I also mounted the spring in front of and even with the axle tube, as opposed to the stock location where the spring is directly above the axle. This pushes the axle out toward the back of the car a bit, and lowers it a couple of scale inches. You'll also note the aformentioned Revell Deuce 4-link setup at the front axle now, as well. Starting to look like something, anyway!

I've always wanted to build a rod with a Ford I-6. I got this 170 inline sixer in a box of parts a few years back. I originally came with either a '62 Comet or Falcon AMT annual kit. This is how it looked when I got it- except for the missing valve cover (which was my doing!) Don't worry, now that the engine is done, the valve cover is bound to show up some place! Here, I've added the Stromberg 97 from a Revell '29 Model A pickup kit. The slash-cut exhaust pipe is from a Lindberg '34 Ford pickup, and the belt/pulley casting and generator are from my spares box. I also wired the engine, detail painted it, and added the finned Offy valve cover from a Slant six. I belive it came from the old XR-6 kit, but I'm not sure. And, yes, I know a '62 170 should be black (with a red valve cover and air cleaner in stock form), but I just liked the blue better, as red/black seems to be a bit overdone on hot rods these days! Okay- first hurdle is cleared, now it's onto the other 9,000 little items that make up a rod model!

Sweet! I'm going to have to dig one of these golden oldies up now, for sure! And yeah, I like my sig picture as well!

Not quite, Ken, I did draw the line there! I did, however, go for the closest thing I had!

Yeah- the way he worded it kind of threw me at first, too, but I got what he meant!

I'm probably going to do a mold anyway, just so I don't need to scratchbuild a new one every time I want to use one on a build. I was doing it more for own projects, but figured I'd gauge any demand for such a thing while I was at it. Here's another one I just did, on a '30 International rat. This one's been filled. And here's one I did that's been 'filled then drilled' on a '41 Chevy truck The next one, I'm going for a stock Farmall piece, I'll post pics when/if I ever finish the dam thing, and get it looking halfway decent!

I visited my storage unit yesterday evening- looks like ALL of the Austin kits I have are 2003 copyrights! Funny, I could've sworn I bought a couple when I was still in high school. Long story short- it hasn't been as long as I thought! Now I wonder what kit I was thinking of...

Maybe that's why the front of a '63/'64 Dodge looks an awful lot like the back end of a '61 Galaxie...

I second the 'no crush' clause! I used to wrestle with the names, now I just call them Thing One, Thing Two, etc. It does get a little confusing once you get up to, say, 500 or so, but it's workable! I really like the wheels you're going with, and the stance is killer. Can't wait to see this one finished (NOT crushed)!

THANK YOU, ART!

Forever Blue from the good folks over at Krylon! It is a felony in Michigan, fortunately, the cops are too under-funded to enforce it!

Just had that happen on a build of mine today! Four hours building the chassis, all for naught! Oh, well, just part of the fun I guess! At least you only had to repair the axle!

Great idea for the C-cab! My only question: How's the cab going to tilt with the plow in place?

Can anyone tell me what kit these tires are from? They are two-piece plastic, and have the AMT/MPC wheel diameter. Also, are there any sources for these as resin repops? Thanks- Chuck Most

Yes, it's a '32 Chevy, powered by a small block Ford! I've been wanting to try this one out for years, and finally finished this one a few months ago! Now, I've just got to give it a go in 1/1 scale!!!!

Well, it's about time! Nice work, my man! Wish I could do stuff like that on a model that small!

I've never seen the 2004 issue of the kit, Wayne, but thanks for setting me straight! I've got several of the '99/'00-ish issues in my stash (maroon car on the box), and this is one of my all-time favorite kits!

Wartburg. They were beautiful cars... but isn't that the most unappealing name you ever heard?

I don't remember, but it's one of the new Testors One Coat colors, with the wet look clear over it. It's the darkest of the three blues in the line, and I believe it was the first to be introduced. Thanks for digging the Scout guys!