Chuck Most

I haven't built a full-blown, cartoony rat rod in quite a while, and I've always wanted to do an "updated" version of the '53 I built in 2010, so... once again, I rounded up some incomplete parts-donor kits, some scratchbuilding materials, and some mind-altering substances, and came up with this...

I would say "This is going to be good", but it already is pretty good. Loadstars are badly needed in scale!

This started out with the Moebius '72 Sport Custom F100. I used the front axle, springs, and swing arms from the AMT '78 F350, along with that kit's divorced transfer case. I used the wheels and tires from Revell's Build and Play Jeep Wrangler, in hindsight I wish I'd at least upgraded the wheels. The engine is the big block (backed by the C6 auto) from the '71 kit... in fact, I just switched engines with this and the '71 I posted earlier. The engine uses old machined aluminum valve covers from Arrowhead. It was also adorned with a prewired distributor from MAD. I upgraded the truck from a Sport Custom to a Ranger XLT using side spears (cut down for the bed sides obviously), tailgate, and decals from the '71. I also pirated some bed rails from the Revell '77 GMC. But, other than that? Totally box stock. I may lift it just a tad more, and foil the bead locks... or maybe try out one of those Molotov chrome pens on them. Other than that, I'm actually pretty happy with how this one came out. That's a pretty rare outcome for my projects anymore.

This is a crusty build up of the F100 by Moebius. I used some wide whitewalls from one of the Hornet kits, sagged the rear suspension, and added a tube grille and roll pan with '65-'66 Mustang taillights. The small block from the '72 kit was used, and treated to an EFI swap... I think the intake is from the Revell Deuce 5-window. The home-built camper top was made from various scraps of plastic.

This is a '69 F100 kit I bought for parts, set up on a spare AMT '78 frame. It's built to resemble a weird old wrecker I remember seeing as a kid- a regular cab short bed pickup set up on a crew cab chassis, with a semi sleeper stuck between the cab and bed. I used a Mercury from one of the AMT White/DR kits. The wrecker boom is from the MPC Datsun monster truck, built mostly box stock. The rear bumper was made from diamond-plate pattern plastic, and I used a rear step bumper on the front after seeing an old pickup in a junkyard with a similar setup. I think the hitch on it came from the '84 GMC kit.

I never did, I'd just recommend watching one of Dr. Cranky's tutorials on YouTube. He explains it better than I can, and what I'm doing pretty much isn't any different from what he does. He just does it better.

I know some of you have seen the first two versions of this, but I built this seven long years ago, so I'll post the original pics too because we've gotten quite few new people during that time, and it might be a refresher for people who liked the model the first time around. Please, don't ask me where I got these parts, I don't remember at this point. The model was basically just a fun way of getting rid of cast-off spare parts. Here's the completed model, as it appeared in the summer of 2010... About a year later, after a little "transport damage" had happened, and after I'd gotten a little bored, I did this... I replaced the front wheels and tires, as well as the air cleaner. I also made up a sling for the wrecker boom. After all of that, some wide whites were spray-bombed onto the rear tires, so that they'd kinda/sorta match the new fronts. And that's where the model stood until last weekend, when it underwent a few other changes, and a general cleanup. This time around, I added some cab clearance lights, as well as some front turn signals from an AMT Ford L-Series. I replaced the air cleaner yet again... I think I nabbed it from the Moebius Comet. Finally, I swapped the headers side-for-side so they'd face down instead of up. And after seven years of faithful service, the rag gas cap was replaced with an actual gas cap. A fresh coat of Testors dull clear was then slathered over the entire mess. I guess some projects are never really done.

This is the American Industrial Truck Models conversion kit, installed on a frame that's a hodge-podge of leftover Transtar and Fleetstar parts.

Looks great! I'd definitely be interested in the set once it's ready.

Is it the green twin turbo one? But, to answer your question- I don't think anyone is casting one anymore. Tom Coolidge of Promolite 2000 did a couple of them- a four door and a Fury Hardtop. I think Modelhaus did one as well. Neither one is in production currently, Tom is having health issues and Modelhaus is closed, but there are '61 Plymouth kits out there.

Would be cool if Revell did a Gladiator-era J-Truck as a new tool kit. You could have the old Jeep pickup and *maybe* not as many "proportional eccentricities" going on with the body, like the 1980-vintage kit.

Really nice! Was Shirley just a common woman's name back then, or did destiny itself dictate that two of the best known early female drag racers were both named Shirley?

^The other problem I see with that is paint building up in the smaller crevices. The paint itself would be a limiting factor.

Perfect! Careful now- these kits can be addictive

He's a tough guy to miss... But seriously, welcome to the forum.

Very cool! Sure wish they'd reissue this one.

Must be your settings- I can make out the calipers and slot pattern on the rotors. It's barely-there but I can see it

Just search the forum for posts about Perry's Resin... should tell you all you need to know. That being said, if you want something from Perry's, look for a secondhand piece online or at a sale, see if another caster is making it or something similar, or try making your own. That would seem like less of a headache to me.

I don't get what you mean- I can see the rotors and calipers just fine in the pics....

Silly question.... know an officer named Alex Murphy, by chance?

This thread makes me think of a couple of things... observations I've had for years regarding our hobby and 1:1 vehicles. First, in the scale world, if you want that Hemi-powered two door hardtop, finding one in scale kit form is no problem, and a cheap proposition. Real life? Not so much. Even a two-door hardtop with a wheezy straight six is going to command a price premium over a four-door, or even a two-door post. Now, when you want to build a model of that four or two door sedan? You need to buy the existing hardtop, and then either buy the scratchbuilding supplies to convert it, or spring for a resin transkit... that is, IF one exists. So, you're spending more money to build what would be the cheaper car to buy in 1:1. Second, and I'll state it kind of bluntly for effect.... coupes are the "old fart" cars of today. Yes, I know that younger people still buy coupes. And when it comes to ponycar buyers they're all over the place. Even then I think it skews more to the Boomer market, because they remember the Mustang, Camaro, and Challenger from "back in the day", but even then, a lot of younger people want them and buy them because they're desirable cars. But, seems like most of the time I see a two-door car, some crusty, Clint Eastwood looking guy is at the wheel. Other than roadsters and two-seaters, think about modern performance cars. Seems like the majority are all four-doors. You have the Subaru WRX, Ford Fiesta and Focus ST, Mitsubishi Evo, and so on. Hell, even Porsche is in the sedan market now. BMW still makes coupes in the M series, but how often do you see those compared to the four-doors? Simple fact is, it's a different time now. People's expectations and perceptions have changed. That being said, I don't know how well any of this will rub off on the scale model market, or onto subjects more than about 20 years old or so. I do indeed think there are a few so-far-unkitted four-doors and posts that would be decent sellers, but as a general rule, all I can say that as much as I like the idea I'm not holding my breath for this to be the next hot topic in the scale modeling world.

Best buildup of this kit. Ever. Period.

I'm hoping this one won't suffer from the now-traditional Revell body proportion eccentricities we've come to know and love. On the other hand, the '62-vintage '56 kit was always a bit misshappen, too. Meh- I'm probably going to end up with a caseload of 'em either way.

This is why I prefer purchasing from the caster directly (or a trusted vendor such as STAR Models), rather than via eBay. Yes, I have ordered resin parts via eBay, but in those cases it was "used" examples of castings from reputable casters, or from the eBay store of a known and trustworthy caster. If I buy one of Joseph's parts FROM Joseph, I know it's legit, right? Knockoffs are one thing, but when you see just how awful some of these fly-by-night casters' quality can be, it really makes you cringe.

Very cool! I've got one of these set aside for a rework project, but I think I'm more intrigued by what I can do with the trailer.