Chuck Most

This is, of course, based on the new-ish Revell kit. I lowered it by filing off the top few leaf springs in the front pack, and by cutting a coil from each coil over -after removing the tabs the axle is meant to attach to on the chassis rails. Power is a 2.0 Ztec engine from a Focus SVT, fitted with side-draft carbs and a four-speed from a Ford Courier. The grille shell was cut from an Anglia tilt hood. Other than all of that it's alarmingly close to box stock. I left off the roof insert to show more of the interior. Next time I build one I think I'll drill out the holes in the bomber seats. This was built over the course of a slow Sunday, with the exhaust (dual straight pipes) added this afternoon- it looks decent for a 24 hour build. Next one I build I'll give a little more time and attention to detail and see what I can get out of it.

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee-HAW!!!!

http://round2corp.com/product/1969-mercury-semi-chrome-sleeper/

Thanks guys! Leith- that's the 36" toolbox. Dave also does a 24" and (I believe) a 48" version, with or without the diamond-plate pattern on the door.

They're in the future, when there's a trailer for this model to worry about...

This was just a basic buildup of the reissued AMT kit, with an old AITM hood and bumper. I accessorized it a bit with a custom grille, plated 10 hole wheels from a White Freightliner Dual Drive, and the chromed deck plate. The exhaust stacks and mufflers came from a Revell snap KW, and I updated the door handles to a push button type by stealing a pair from a Revell '64 Chevy pickup. The paint is Chrysler Intense Blue Pearl. The hood binds a bit when I try to open it, so I'm leaving it alone until the clear fully cures, at which time I'll add the intake pipe and the remainder of the exhaust. Other than that, the fact that the driver's side door decal silvered on me a bit, and the annoying little BMF touchups you don't even notice until after you've photographed it, I'm fairly pleased with how it came out.

Danbury models, especially the later ones, were state of the art and quite impressive. And, for me, a tad depressing. I'd check one out and think "Jeez... some little old lady in China built this, at work, and it looks ten times better and has about twenty times the detail of anything I've ever been able to manage."

Just to clarify- the round headlights weren't early '78. The Custom (base model) used round headlights that year, while the XLT Ranger used rectangular lights. That was for the full model year. All '79's had rectangular lights regardless of trim level.

Wheels most certainly are incorrect for a first-gen Expedition, which had five-bolt wheels. The wheels the kit includes are later style F-150 units, which have six (or seven with the heavy GVWR) bolts. Only one minor fit issue- and it's mostly due to an instruction error. Install the radar gun to the dash opposite of how it's shown in the diagram. Otherwise, the interior tub will not slip up into the body, and you may crack the windshield in the process. Ask me how I know... They may have revised the instruction sheet since the initial run, but just something to watch out for.

I checked out this model earlier, but didn't comment, because I was actually speechless. There are scale modelers, and there are scale magicians. You, Mr. Rowley, are the latter.

Usually, when kit is reissued, the "vintage" versions tank, value-wise. There will always be collector types who are willing to pay more for an original kit, but my guess would be they aren't the majority.

AMT '62 T-Bird would be the best choice- the 1:1 cars shared many of their unibody components. Obviously the T-Bird chassis would need to be stretched. Retain the Lincoln's 430 engine- the MEL was an entirely different design than the FE used in the T-Bird. In 1965 the MEL was exclusive to Lincoln and was the sole available engine. You could adapt some of the FE's engine-driven components though, such as the air conditioning compressor. The "Prestige" series '65 kit actually comes with a booklet with a decent undercarriage shot, so you could use that to guide you in modifying the T-Bird floor pan. I haven't done a proper "stock" '65, but I did use a (mostly) unaltered T-Bird chassis under a '65 Lincoln body. The body was shortened to match the T-Bird wheelbase and done in a phantom roadster style.

Give me 70 bucks and I could throw an evening's worth of entertainment for 70 people. All depends on who you know, and possibly how far you want to dive into the weird end of craigslist. Not that I'd know. A guy at work told me. Yeah... that's it.

One night, I was doing an online image search and stumbled across some vintage GATR (Great American Truck Race) photos. I immediately wanted to try to build something like what I was seeing in the pics, and I had an incomplete Diamond Reo kit, so I decided to put two and two together. This was basically a quick, two-weekend project, and I used whatever I had on hand. The paint was done outside with rattle cans, so it would intentionally be a bit on the rough side... I actually wish it looked a little shabbier than it does. It appears that GATR racers tended to favor disc wheels, but a few did run spoke wheels, so that's what I went with on this. The exhaust, roll bar, rear bumper, and side guards are scratchbuilt, while the fuel tank and batteries have been moved behind the cab. The parts box coughed up various doodads, such as the side-view mirrors and the single racing seat. I have absolutely no idea how accurate it is, as I was basically going only by pictures and what little info I could glean from various online articles. But, it was a fun little project and it's an interesting shelf-filler, so I'd call it a win.

I remember a first-gen Hemi in a '68 or '69 Chevelle. It was featured in the Reader's Rides section of Hot Rod many years back. As a fan of oddball engine swaps, I naturally dug it.

Those are hardly the worst styling offense you can inflict upon a Mustang. Grab your barf bag and feast your eyes on some true visual carnage...

I got one a few years ago (1996 reissue) for about 45 bucks, factory sealed. So don't give up hope, they are out there, and you can nab one for a reasonable price. I'm really hoping Round 2 will bring this one back.

Thanks guys. Still need to throw together another one for the White, but I'm not in any big hurry.

Thanks guys! Yep- weedburner exhaust, Marc- I just used the modified kit piece. I made the day cab panel from .030" styrene sheet.

In before "Wonder if HL will get them so I can use the coupon"...

It is lowered. I wouldn't say the frame is stretched- it's just a sleeper-cab chassis used with a day cab. The rear section of frame came from a junked KW snap kit.

Since the majority of custom semi tractor models seem to be based on "traditional" styled rigs, I decided to see what I could do with an aero tractor. I had a partially-built AMT Anteater, a box full of spares, and some photos of '30's-era Kenworth trucks, so I decided to go with a kind of retro-modern theme. I didn't want a lot of brightwork or loud colors, so it's painted in Ford Cayman Green with a basic black chassis and gray wheels. I may add some skirts to the cab to minimize the gap between the rocker panels and side steps, and I might paint those side steps to match the chassis, in the future. I may also fix the hood- despite the fact that it opened wide enough to view the engine in every test fit, on the finished model it only opens about 1/4" before the hinges bind on something. So... the hood is staying closed for now. At least until I'm sure that the clear has fully cured.

Not a truck, but it would make an interesting load for a lowboy. The full e-mail I received this morning... Good afternoon all, This is a general e mail to all customers with a KFS Michigan L190 kit on reserve & is to let you know that production casting has just begun. The kits are expected to start becoming available at the end of June with production of the entire run completed by the end of July. As the kits become available all reserved customers will be contacted in numbered order, by e mail, to arrange payment. The kit is priced @ £195.00 for UK & EU countries including vat & £162.50 ex-vat for export outside the EU (Australia, NZ, Canada, USA, Norway, switzerland etc) Shipping will be Signed For or Tracked Air in all cases. Shipping costs will be notified once the first phase of production is complete & the kit can be weighed & priced accurately. The usual credit card or PayPal fees will apply. There is no need to reply to this e mail unless you wish to CANCEL your reservation or have ANY QUERIES about your kit reservation or the kit itself. Best regards & thanks......Howard @ KFS Kit Form Services, 7 Horbling Lane, Stickney, Boston, Lincs, PE22-8DG, England. Tel / Fax 01205 480766 (UK) 011 44 1205 480766 or 0044 1205 480766 (Overseas) kfs1@btinternet.com

Love all of them! It's especially nice to see a Payhauler painted in a color besides industrial yellow.

This one sure was- easily the worst-fitting kit I've ever worked with up to this point. On the plus side, if I ever build another one I'll know exactly what to do differently and where to improve.