Chuck Most

I think I can say, with complete confidence, that this is the most extreme Datsun 510 ever conceived in 1:25 scale. I'm also digging the Ford power! I have one of Scott's 9" axles- I'm still waiting to start a project worthy enough to showcase it.

Nice work, guys.

Just something I've been screwing with for the last couple of evenings...

The short story is I saw a '57 International welding truck on Bangshift.com, and wanted to try something similar in scale. Since I went a little beyond box-stock, here's a rundown of what's what- The engine is a Perkins 354 I6 diesel, scratchbuilt from plastic stock and cast-off kit parts. This engine was available in Dodge trucks as a factory option in the '60's and was swapped into other vehicles later on as well. I'm not thrilled with my fuel lines, as they look more like plug wires, but I'll know how not to do it next time. I also added some underhood bracing, heater hoses, and an ether canister to the engine bay. The chassis was stretched to match the F-350 wheelbase and 9' bed, and I also modified the suspension for increased ground clearance. The wheels are the 8-bolt Dually units from Scenes Unlimited, I modified them to a six-bolt version. I used no-name Monogram radials because I'm pretty sure the '53 bias-ply tires would have dry-rotted by now. I left the interior alone, though there is a white baseball cap with "Noah's" painted on it in red and an auction flyer on the seat. The 9' Express bed was completely scratch built from various bits of Plastruct materials, as was the headache rack, which was basically a direct copy of the '57 IH that inspired the project. The running boards were extended to match the bed length and "pockets" for the torch tanks were added to the after ends. I also made a platform for the front bumper, extending it forward, and the factory-style grille guard. A late '20's Lincoln "Greyhound" mascot was taken from a Monogram '32 Ford Roadster. The rear bumper/work platform was also scratchbuilt, and is fitted with an old R&D bench grinder and a vice from the AMT Racer's Wedge (I think). The Hobart welder was also scratchbuilt around the engine from an MPC Hogan's Heroes jeep. Oxy/Acetylene tanks from two kits were used- one set for each side. I may or may not secure them with some smaller chain or perhaps some straps later on- the chains on there now look a tad on the large side to me. The various lights were coughed up by the spares box, and since a vehicle like this is a rolling fire hazard, an old brass extinguisher adorns each flank. The "Noah's Arc Welding" decals are in the most recent reissue of the AMT kit, so I used them. The truck was done in a simple white paint job, with the fenders and bumpers done in red to tie in the lettering. Aaand... that's about it, Vern. This model sat unfinished for almost exactly a year, and then I basically wrapped it up in a coupe of evenings. Motivation... sometimes it's there and all too often it's not.

The reflection in the trailer components... (In my best hippie stoner voice)... "Colors, maaaaaaaannnn...."

Here's how it all started. I wanted to build a longbed F-100 beater, painted to match the box art to one of the kits. But I couldn't decide on the red-over-white of the '71 Ranger, the black and white of the '72, or the two-tone green of the '70. So... I decided to use all three on the same truck, along with a light blue hood and a chrome yellow/oxford white XLT tailgate. The '71 Ranger XLT was the base kit, but it was turned into a '72 SC using the grille, inner door panels, and seat from the '72 kit. Though it is an SC, the front fends and the tailgate are meant to have been from two different XLT-Rangers. The '72's step bumper was also used. The scrap in the back is a mis-mash of various aftermarket and kit-sourced pieces. I butchered the rear suspension a bit to get it to sit nice and low, as a half-ton with this much weight on the back would sit.

Step 1- Dig that '71 F-250 out of the scrap pile. Step 2- Throw in a Mustang II front suspension and a 4-link rear, with airbags at both ends. Step 3- Plug in a Cummins turbo diesel. Step 4- Swap in some cozy leather buckets from a Lexus LS400. Step 5- Chop and hack judiciously where needed. Step 6- Cruise it 'til the wheels fall off.

Yikes! No kidding...

Love it.

Didn't the Blueprinter reissue of this kit come with those tires as an option? Or am I thinking of the Buyer's Choice Opel GT? I seem to remember seeing those tires boxed with one of AMT's European car kits.

Meh. Let's face it- people in the US aren't really buying Chrysler cars anymore. No sense building something here (or anywhere, really) if it has no market. Dodge has, what, four cars in it's lineup? Two of them are "specialty" type vehicles, and nobody's buying the Dart. I've actually seen about as many Fiat 500s on the road as Darts, and I live an area with lots of UAW mooks who like to preach "Buy 'Murican" even if that means buying something laughably inferior to the competition. At any rate, the Dart is dead at the end of next year and no replacement has been announced. Same goes for the 200, so that will leave Chrysler with a whopping total of one passenger car in it's lineup. Honestly, I'm convinced I'll live to see the day that the Dodge and Chrysler nameplates are discontinued altogether.

Oh, the wheelbase isn't the only "off" thing about it. The engine in it is indeed undersized, but the worst knock against it, appearance-wise, are the valve covers. Swap some better ones on and it can become a nearly-credible looking SBF with a little detail work.

So what should we do? Go back to tri-tone pastels? Avacado greens? Remember in the '90's when every other car on the road was teal? Or not even fifteen years ago when it seemed like every manufacturer was falling over the others to offer at least a few models in yellow? Betcha a lot of those buyers were kicking themselves when resale time came, and that special-order "Strained Pea Vomit Metallic" or "Dehydrated Urine Pearl" means their car is worth about 25% less than the same thing in a more pleasing color. Honestly, with all the disgusting color choices out there, I could stand a generation or two of cars done in earthy tones. It's true that there are plenty of nice colors out there, but there are quite a few nasty ones, and more than a few people seem to want them. Then again, I don't even consider the paint color when I purchase a vehicle. Which I guess is odd, as I'm told that a car's color can be a "make or break" factor in the decision to buy it.

That's cool! I've seen their Mk V but never this one. I'm hoping they'll do a 4-door so I can build my old '81 Signature.

Nice! You're really cranking out those VW's! I don't think I've ever seen the GS Ghia built up until now, only the Tamiya. I always wondered about the soft vinyl seats and door panels myself, but I've always had good luck painting them with Duplicolor automotive paint. Most of the Testors/Model Master lacquers seem to work pretty well on them, too.

I love it. I've thought of doing the same thing to the GS kit- looks like a very workable basis for such a conversion.

Very cool!

No comment.

After the re-releases of the Pacer, Gremlin, and now the Pinto from Round 2, I also have warm, fuzzy feelings about the Vega and Chevette being brought back.

This one was the 1996-ish double kit- maybe they went with the white plastic on later runs.

Aw, shucks... You're very welcome. Kris deserves credit for the great casting quality as well. And yes, the Hudson 308 looks fantastic in open-bay and hoodless hot rods.

Thanks guys.

Thanks guys! This one wasn't. Only the canopy was molded clear- the remainder was done in bone-white plastic. Don't mind the hijack- cool story.

But... but... but... TOOLING VARIATIONS! LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY!

Thanks for that, Mike. Hopefully I'll be able to put this information to use shortly.