Chuck Most

Just for the record- the decal lays down beautifully over the letters. That's not the problem. The problem is a common one with decal graphics... that is, the lettering on the decal isn't quite the same size/spacing as the lettering on the surface it covers. If you're really good with such things- you could foil the tailgate panel, then paint over the foil in a drybrush wood grain pattern, then scrape the paint off the lettering with a toothpick. I'd planned to at least try that on this one, but then I got the production kit with the decal... so... there went that idea (thankfully, as I'm not great at painting wood patterns).

Nice! I've got a bunch of 1:16 Ertl diecasts, but the only thing I hate about them are the engines with everything molded onto them. If I were better at working with diecast metal I'd love to give one the full detail treatment.

For me it was Ford Friday...

Review, you said? http://chuckmost.wix.com/madhouse-miniatures#!Moebius-71-Ford-F100-Ranger-XLT/ccly/555500860cf248741732db65

Stephen King is to Maine what Ted Nugent is to Michigan... seems like everyone has a sighting to report.

RC2 is no longer involved... but Round 2 might at least look into such a project.

True, but on the real truck you didn't need to worry about a decal settling smoothly over raised lettering.

I'm a Ford guy... but if Round2 reissued that Chevrolet wrecker I'd be all over it.

^Now, that's the good kind of weird.

A couple I saw this weekend...

They should play Maximum Overdrive at that theater... Bangor Maine, Stephen King's hometown and all. I'd actually consider going all the way there to see it.

Very nice! Where did you get the wheels? I have that exact set in resin somewhere, but I have no idea where they came from.

I, for one, am stoked that this one is coming back. All the ingredients are there to make a Michigan gravel train. I already have one tractor nearly finished to pair up to such a setup, and a couple more planned.

That's the solid Dana 44- it's broken down so you can build it as a driver or passenger's side drop. The '95-96 F-150 was never offered from the factory with a solid front axle.

I've been digging into these little bikes... and thanks again to everyone who helped point me in the right direction... and it appears that the "Roadster" here might actually be a Goat. Everything I've been able to find states that the Roadster had a headlight and taillight, while the Goat did not. And to further muddy the waters, the Goat was also sold under the Ram name. Anyway, I think I've got more than enough info to do something with this thing.

Nice! Makes me want to tear into the police version I have.

Bingo.

Is it on his site? I know he makes a solid-axle Dana axle and some radius arms, but I've never seen a TTB setup from Calnaga.

Great stuff, guys.

I once asked my great uncle why he got an aftermarket bumper for his '68 when he bought it new. He said for about a third of the cost of what Ford would have charged for their factory bumper, he could go to Tractor Supply and get a better-quality step bumper. That bumper outlasted three trucks, and it's been ages since I've seen an unrestored Bump with a factory rear fender that wasn't mangled or rusted out... so he must have been onto something with that line of thinking.

On the subject of rear bumpers... keep in mind that they still weren't standard equipment back then. Of course there was a factory Ford rear bumper available as an option (I want to say it came standard with the Ranger XLT trim but don't quote me on that), but quite a few of these trucks had (and still have) aftermarket bumpers. Even in cases where the pickup came with a rear bumper, a lot of guys would replace the dainty factory piece with a heavier-duty step bumper. Basically, that means pretty much anything could be considered "correct" if you don't like either the chrome Ford bumper or the plain step bumper.

I can vouch for Fireball, though I believe all the tires he sells are BF Goodrich. They are very nicely done, though, and should fit pretty much all the Revell/Monogram truck wheels.

I'm more and more convinced it's a Rupp, especially after seeing this (while doing an online image search for 1969 Rupp Roadster. Looks like there was a similar 1:1 model to the Roadster called a "Goat' as well.