mrmike

Thanks Jared and Charlie! I guess I got lucky with this one. No swirls or defects in the plastic. Just polished it!

Thanks Andy! This is a project that I have wanting to do for over 5 years! And now, I can! The only thing that has been holding me back was the wheels! And, I found them in my parts box! I don't know what kit they came from, but there they were. Staring me in the face in all of their chrome plated glory! I had the trans from the Revell '64 Ford, the shifter from the AMT '66 Fairlane, and the steering wheel from the bottom of my parts box. I quickly ordered my paint from MCW and had it within two weeks. I am so excited about this project that I have to hold myself back. I don't want to rush it for I will make a mess of it, some how, some way. It's got to be done correctly, carefully, with pride and satisfaction. It's that important to me. Currently, the alternator (generator?), master cylinder, oil pan, and carb are in the purple pond and the body is in the midst of bodywork. I am thinking of a way to lower the suspension a little bit. I don't have any red oxide primer and I am thinking about mixing Model Master Insignia Red with Model Master Leather or gray to see if I can come up with something close to it. I may just break down and go to my LHS and see what they have. And, the motor is partially assembled. And then, there is the grille which will have to be modified as the cross bars have to be removed. For the longest time I thought that Spenser's Mustang was a '66 model because of the grille, but all references call it a '65, so that's what I call it. My goal here is to create the car as most people would see it on screen (long before hi-def!), all nice and shiny! Maybe I'll put a piece of black gaffers tape on the headliner like I had noticed in one episode. How about the broken antenna and the bullet hole on the right front fender? Or a little bit of snow and salt on the rocker panels and rear fenders, or smear a little wax on the door to hide the reflection of the camera and production crew. The stance of this Mustang is an important factor for me. In many of the first season episodes, the Mustang had the hunkered down stance that I want to create. I recreated the "nose-bleed" attitude on the third season version that I made 5 years ago. That was done by leaving the suspension out-of-box stock and just adding the MRC Keystone mags and tires. I remember that Robert Urich was a frequent visitor to WROR, a local Boston radio station and that Joe Martelle, one of the radio show hosts was offered a cameo shot in the series which ended up on the edit bay floor. I also remember watching a small segment on a Boston TV station (probably an ABC affiliate) about Bob Urich's home in, IIRC, Andover, Mass. And then, the complaints from property owners in Boston having to move their cars in the early morning for the film crew to set up street scenes where Spenser would drive up in his Mustang and park at the curb. I have just finished watching the first season VHS tapes and am about to start the second season set of tapes. I keep watching this series because it is my favorite and I am looking (in standard definition) for more details about the Mustang. I have high hopes for this project and my goals are obtainable.

Thanks guys! Yes, I think a plow would look good on this truck, but I don't have a plow. This is a 2-wheel drive truck and around here, a plow truck is 4-wheel drive. I use to work with a fellow who has a 1-ton 4-wheel drive Ram pickup and it sat higher than this one would if it was a 1:1.

I started bodywork by smoothing and filling mold lines and divots. I removed the manual trans from the engine block. Then I glued the engine block halves and the auto trans halves together. I squared the engine block and the auto trans, but I noticed the large mounting hole in the trans since the engine block didn't cover it. I decided to make an "adapter plate" to cover the mounting hole. Spenser For Hire will return.....

Thanks Nick, Blake, and Dr. Cranky! Nick, I didn't forget Charlie's Angels, Magnum, or the Simon boys. Or any other PI's for that matter as naming them really wasn't important to my story. I just needed a couple of other TV PI's to set the example and Joe Mannix and Jim Rockford were already on my mind . But, I do thank you for mentioning them and for the pictures which I have already found during my research. Dr. Cranky, there will be more as I am just getting started on body work. I need to remove mold lines, fill a small divot on the passenger B-pillar, and mount the valances and rear louvers.

Of all of the TV private eyes, he is the one I liked the best. And still do. His show didn't last as long as Mannix or The Rockford Files, but he did have 3 seasons of intriguing cases. Being from Wyoming, he wasn't a local boy, but he did settle in Boston after his hitch in the Army. He has friends in the Boston Police Department, a beautiful girlfriend, and a friend who could be just as much an enemy when they disagree on principal. He is only known by one name...Spenser. Spenser was the creation of the late author Robert B. Parker whose novels of Spenser's adventures have been thrilling readers since the mid '70's. In 1984, a TV movie pilot was made titled Spenser For Hire and was taken from the novel Promised Land. Filmed in and around Boston, the pilot featured Robert Urich as Spenser, Barbara Stock as Susan Silverman, and Avery Brooks as Hawk. Spenser drove a beat-up '65 Mustang in the pilot and for most of the series. My goal is to recreate in model form, Spenser's '65 Mustang as shown in the first season. The kit is Revell's 1965 Ford Mustang 2+2. The paint is MCW #6531 Ivy Green Metallic. The extra parts needed for this build. Auto trans and shifter, steering wheel, and the elusive unknown brand wheels. Spenser For Hire will return.....

DW, it is from a Johan '68 Fury police car. The Story McNally shows up at the shop and starts removing the 2-way radio and light bar while Vic preps the dually for the parts. When the new parts arrive, Vic and McNally start installing everything with the precision and efficiency that they have always had, knowing what the other needs instinctively. With the radio installed and tuned, light bar installed,and the other pieces on, McNally starts to button up the dually while Vic drives the old truck out front to the lot and puts a "For Sale" sign in the window. The old truck has served the shop very well over the years and now it's time at the shop has come to an end. The Build Vic's Dodge Ram Dually is complete! My thanks to all who took the time to viewed and to comment on this project.

This is my Ram Dually shop truck made for my McNally, Boston PI storyline. Polished plastic, push bar from Maisto 2002 Dodge QuadCab, light bar, 2-way radio, antenna, and other accessories from my parts box.

Thank you David and Brian!

That is one sharp Cobra, Raoul! Sharp!!!!!

Thanks for the link DW! A lot of nice stuff there! I gave the CBP some thought and decided against it as this project is nearly finished. I'm just adding details to it. I found an antenna and 2-way radio unit in my parts box. I cut down the radio to fit under the Ram's dash. I took a piece of black wire and wound it around a nail to make a coiled microphone cord and attached it to the microphone and radio. Sorry about the lousy pictures. My good camera died and I'm using my 1.3 mega pixel back up camera and it takes lousy close up pictures. I want a new camera, but money is tight and Christmas is almost around the corner. More to come.....

I am just as guilty of posting pics of my similar model as anyone else, but lately I have taken to posting a link to the picture in my Photobucket instead. My thought was if I post only the link, it wouldn't detract from the original poster's model. Anyone else can either click on the link or bypass it. I would only post a picture on someone's WIP if it would help to demonstrate a new procedure and get them past a stumbling block on their build.

Thanks guys! The Story The following morning, Vic mapped out what is needed for his new shop truck. He'll take the light bar and the 2-way radio from the old shop truck, get a new quick connect for jumper cables, new 2-way radio antenna, and a new dual tailpipe system. He'll order the new parts shortly and when McNally arrives at the shop, he will help Vic while his other mechanics work on customer vehicles. The old shop truck will be wholesaled. The Build I have finished the hitch and receiver and mounted it to the Ram. The dual tailpipes have been installed along with custom tips made from aluminium tubing. More to come.....

Thanks Donald! While it is only a curbside, it is a good kit. Easy to build and accurate in it's shape.

Things are a little different in Boston compared to LA! LA doesn't have the potholes Boston has! This Ram will have dual tailpipes. I decided to make a hitch receiver for the Ram. I used sheet styrene for the end plates and square tubing for the receiver frame. This is the hitch mocked up on the truck. More to come.....

I had built this model many years ago and it was due for a good cleaning. After completing Vic's Dakota Sport, some of the items I wanted to add were left off and will be added to this one instead. I will be adding a light bar, shop signs, dual tailpipes, and a trailer hitch. The Re-build I started by disassembling the Ram by removing the three screws on the bottom of the chassis. Since I glued the interior to the cab, care was taken to break the glue joints. The light bar came from an old MPC TJ Hooker police car. Since it was painted, I covered it with Bare Metal Foil and painted it with Tamiya Clear Orange. The Story Vic was in need of a new shop truck and he didn't have the cash for a new one, so he started looking for a used 3/4 to 1 ton truck in good condition. His friend McNally, Boston PI, had told him of a truck that he had seen for sale in his neighborhood. Vic went over to check out a 14 year old Dodge Ram Dually that was used only for pulling a camper in excellent condition with only 34,000 miles on the odometer. After a little haggling, a deal was struck and Vic drove the truck back to the shop that evening. More to come.....

Thank you Jared, Charlie, and Felix!

This is the Lindberg Dodge Dakota Sport molded in red. No paint, just polished the plastic. The black case in the back seat area is Vic's Bravo-51 sniper rifle aka "Kate II".

The Story It is 9:00 PM and Vic peers through the night vision scope and sees a shadow in the alley way from the street. It is McNally with his Smith & Wesson drawn. Vic then sees a man standing in a doorway holding an AK-47, this must be Harvey . He can't hear them, but judging from Harvey's body language, he is about to kill McNally. Vic toggles off the safety on the Bravo-51 just as Harvey raises his assault rifle. Vic squeezes the trigger and the crack from the Bravo-51 echos of the building walls as Harvey clutches his shoulder, dropping the AK-47 and McNally runs over to kick the rifle away. The sound of sirens and police cars and detectives turn the quiet parking lot into a busy crime scene. Vic grabs the gun case and runs over to the fire escape, making his way down to the parking lot. He runs over to McNally. "Right on target!", says McNally. Vic says," Thanks, I'll see you later" and walks down the alley way to the street and to his Dakota. The Build Vic's Dodge Dakota Sport is complete and posted in the Under Glass section. My thanks to all who viewed and commented on my build.

Thanks Brian! It's an easy project that is also something different to do!

The Story The sun set over 30 minutes ago and the sky is dark. The cool night air feels good on Vic's skin as the roof top finally starts to cool down from baking in the afternoon sun. He checks his watch and scans the buildings and the parking lot for signs of life. All is still quiet as he continues to wait patiently. The Build The new tailpipe has been trimmed to match the original and I may trim back the hanger on the original pipe. I'll add exhaust tips made from aluminium tubing. The chassis is up on four wheels. While rummaging in my parts box for piece for another project, I found the extra lightbar from the Polar Lights Ghostbusters Ecto 1 Caddy. Maybe I can scratch together a lens for it and put on top of Vic's Dakota. More to come.....

The Story Vic returns to the warehouse after dusk and parks the Dakota on the street near the building he will use for his perch. He is now wearing a black shirt and pants as he gets the gun case out of the back of the truck. There is virtually no traffic on the street as he makes his way down the small alley between two brick buildings and stops to pull down a ladder on a fire escape. Vic makes his way up to the roof and walks along, crouching, to his chosen spot. He lies down, removes the nightscope from the case and looks through it at the surrounding buildings and the empty parking lot below. All is quiet as Vic begins to set up the Bravo-51, and then, he silently waits. The Build The interior is completed. I am thinking about making a gun case from scratch and adding it to the backseat area. I figured that the easiest way to add a dual tailpipe system was to branch off the main tailpipe after the rear axle and behind the spare tire. It's not perfect, but it's a start. More to come.....

Thanks Joe and Chris! These are fun kits to build and I am thinking about picking up a couple more.

Thank you Dave and Felix!

Thank you Steve and Dave! I had fun building this little guy! I look at it and say to myself, "Man, that's a lot of motor!"