GrandpaMcGurk

Thanks, I wanted to get away from that "constructed from sheet plywood" look.

Let's start with some pics of the prototype body in progress....yep it's a 1/25th scale custom C-cab, just when you thought the "T" had been built every way possible......here's yet another that ( if I was a tad younger) I'd like to build full size for myself. Here's a couple of mock up shots with a loosely wired full tilt Hemi & some tires. I've made the frame long enough to accommodate just about any engine. All of the suspension pieces from the AMT double T kit simply drop in although parts box stuff etc. would work just as well with minor mods. Wotcha' think?

Happy Birthday big guy.

Okay Doc....you've peaked my interest.......I'm in with a Peterbilt 359 and probably a Huey for good measure. I'd have used my Alien Rat Killer on a trailer but that one's already built. BTW Jim...at least one of them will be shiny!

Outstanding!

Hey guys, I'll be working with an R/M Peterbilt 359 conventional tractor soon and I have been unable to find good photos of the engine compartment plumbing.....does anyone have some good reference photos or a link to a site covering what I need.....any help would be greatly appreciated.

Nice going Jim...looks great.

I've found that any sort of clear, wax, etc......will dull the shine and make it look more like aluminum than chrome. However, I've also discovered that if your (properly prepped & primed) parts are sprayed with a good even wet coat, set aside for at least 5 days before handling (a week is better) that the shiny finish holds up pretty well. Apparently the paint takes a while to completely gas out....if you can deal with the wait, the results come as close to chrome as I've come across in a rattle can.

Yeah, it's approx. 1/8th Jim.

Although I'm not particularly fond of rat bikes or cars......thought I'd build one just for giggles, my wife is considering having me commited.

Can I come out and play too Doc? If so I'm in.

You've got it made in the shade Ira........DO YOU HAVE A MAGIC FLUTE THAT MAKES PLASTIC DO EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANT IT TO? If so, do you have a spare you could let me borrow for a while? Seriously, you've been cranking out some way cool stuff...any chance you might do something in 1/12th or 1/8th just for giggles?

No need to hesitate any longer Casey....TDR now offers many of it's parts in 3 different grades. The textured or stepped parts are the least expensive. You can step up to a middle grade that has very little "stepping" and is quite a bit tougher than the less costly parts. They are perfect for most modeling as they require very little finishing. Finally there is a ultra smooth grade that is about as good as it gets...these are the most expensive but the finish is superb. So the choice is yours, depending on your hobby budget and how much finishing you care to do yourself.

This Willys makes me grin every time I see it. You gonna' put an over-sized drag chute & wheelie bars on the rear Ira?

Well it took a bit of whittling but I managed to stuff an Impala front end under the fenders of an already small vehicle. Also got the track and ride height where I wanted it. It looks right at home under this truck, a buggy spring front end looks a bit too wimpy. Found a home for the fuel cell too.

Started cobbling up a fantasy heavy duty trans-axle for the T. It started as a Ford auto trans and some bits from the parts box. I got to looking at the car and figured with all the weight from those engines it would probably be a bit much on a buggy spring front axle so I've decided to slide an IFS under the front. Pics coming soon. I'll be using the front end pieces from a '65 Chevy Impala.

Looks fantastic...nice work!

Well, the more I looked at pics and listened to input from you folks, I decided to scrap the fastback top I had mocked up and go with more of a '50's Classic Sweptline look. I dug through the parts box and came up with this 1/8th scale chunk of an XKE. I'll cut the roof off the Jag, narrow it, manipulate, twist, cuss, bend and otherwise beat it into submission. I'll also have to cut the entire "trunk" section out of the 1/12 "57 as I want the new roof to flow down to the rear pan while maintaining the distinctive Chevy fins.................. sounds voluptuous if I can pull it off.

Now it's on to fabbing up the trans-axle hood and grille........I was thinking about using a Deuce front axle but perhaps 2 leaf springs and a straight axle would be a better choice. Would you guys think a cut down Deuce grille painted to match the cab would look better than the chrome '25 T?

Here's a little more eye candy for your amusement....... I figured being I had 2 engines I just as well have 2 drag chutes also. Finished up the rear engine mounting plate and fit the floor pan, did a few mock-ups. I had no intention of putting this much effort into this build but every time I pick it up it just keeps talking to me and getting further out of the box. Great fun.

Very large thumbs up!

I always have a number of projects going at the same time, if I get burned out on one I'll work on something else and come back to it later with fresh eyes. Rather than drag everything out to paint a single car.....on the days I feel like painting I may do several. This allows me to set the painted bodies aside and allow plenty of drying time. Some days I just sand and prime projects or build engines for cars in progress, this way I never get "bored" with a single project. I keep all the parts I'm using for a single build in the box they came in so as not to misplace anything or use a part on a another build. Occasionally I'll disassemble a partially finished model for parts and consider it having been a learning build. What all this amounts to is that it allows me to rationalize myself out of the unfinished model syndrome....none of them are unfinished, they are simply in progress...LOL.

Thanks Aaron, I think those are pretty close to the ones I have (if I can ever find them). They were included in a wood model kit of an antique beer wagon. But anyway, thanks again, if I can't find the ones I have I'll know where to order them...appreciate it.

I figured if I used a metallic base coat of the orange over gold it would look a little more like "scale" metal-flake than the stuff they sell as metal-flake. The spray can paint looks way out of scale on a 1/25th model to me. I tried to get a pic of the fade but couldn't get it to show up in the photos. Anyway, the lower half of the cab is faded with candy apple red. It'll probably show up better when I paint & install the fenders as they have more of the candy on them. After looking at that small patch of black on the roof,hmmmmmmmmmmmm ..... think I'll go with a tan vinyl rather than black. I haven't finished the sanding on the cab yet, that's why that little seam shows in the paint.

Started doing a little paint test on the cab...more pics to come.