Longbox55

The long bed Stepsides lasted all the way to '87, though they were uncommon due to the popularity of the Fleetside. Most of them went to commercial use trucks as a delete option. The sheetmetal shop my dad used to work for had about a dozen of them, ranging from 1/2 ton to the '84 1 ton that also had the HD emissions system delete (dual exhaust) option. The Cameo ran to mid '58, the GMC version ran all the way to '59.

Are you using the rattle can version or the bottle version? I ask because they are different colors, wit the spray version being much heavier on the flake than the bottle version. I've noticed that they've even changed the name on the cans from "burgundy" to "metallic purple". To answer you're question, though, it seems to do better over a darker basecoat. I've used Steel and dark gray Derusto brand primer with good results. It it will come out a Raspberry (think late '90s S10 Raspberry) color. Black might be ok under it too. I've never tried it with the regular Burgundy, but black works well with the MM Dark Burgundy. which is what i used on this GMC.

Sweet build. For anyone interested in the AG '55, here's a site about it and it's current whereabouts.American Graffiti '55 Chevy

By the way, anyone interested in some good reference pictures for the Koach and Drag-U-La, check this site out. Munsterkoach.com

Glad to hear that this is coming out. I've been hoping AMT would do these in a double for quite some time, ever since I missed an origial at the local K-Mart for $5! I would like to point something out, though. It mentions "movie markings" for Drag-U-La. Unfortunatly, you actually can't build a movie accurate Drag-U-La out of the box with that kit, there are many differences. That's OK, though, I'l just have to get 2 of them so I can modify it (after all, that's what we builder do!) into the correct version.

Yes, it would. With the old style cheaters, the tires had 2, sometimes 3, grooves around the circumference of the tread. Otherwise, there was no tread. So they were much closer to a racing slick than the minimal tread drag radials they use these days.

Whitewall slicks, prehaps cheater slicks from Coker or M&H (yes, they're still around), as noted, mounted ona wheel far too wide. Tires look to be a 10.00-15. I can think of 3 current sources for them, Double Dragster, Double T, and the '62 Catalina, all from AMT. Also, the old Roth kits, original opening doors SWC '41 Willys, Orange Crate '32 Ford, and their assorted variants will have slicks similar to that. On a side note, the truck in the picture is a GMC, rather than a Chevy.

For transmissions, you've got 4 choices, SM420 4 speed (MPC '67-'72 Chevy trucks have these), New Process 5 speed, Spicer 5 speed (AMT semis seem to have these, particularly the Kenworths), and the Powermatic. You'll also need to fab up a power divider, I beleive the transfer case from an AMT monster truck, like the destroyer Ford, Thunderbolt 1 Blazer, or USA 1 could be adapted to this use. A note on the manual I linked, the GMC Tandem is similar to the Chevrolet, but the Chevrolet used a frame mounted power divider, with separate driveshafts to each axle, rather than the axle mounted version that the GMC has.

For reference for a '59, you would need the '58 manual, as the '59 is ony suppliment that covers the changes from the model years, which isn't much. Unfortunatly, at this time, the '58 manual isn't available online, only the '55 (which had no tandem option) and the '59 suppliment are available. However, the '55-'59 GMC manual is available, and will get you pretty close to what the Chevy would be like. GMC Maintanance Manual. I do have all of the manuals for Chevrolet, '55-'60, if you need to see anything specific, I could scan it in and post for you.

The Fleetside actually came out in mid '58, in both short and long beds. The only model it was not available on was 1 ton, which used a longer wheelbase than the long bed 1/2 and 3/4 tons. One note about the early Fleetsides, the tailgate and front bedpanel are the same through '66. This is a pic of my buddy Sqeeze's '58 3200 (longbed 1/2 ton) from Stovebolt.com.

Model Roundup has them, about $33 not counting shipping. It incluses not only the engine and body you're looking for, but a chassis as well as the other engines from the old AMT Parts Packs, a Smallblock Chevy, a Pontiac, 392 Hemi, and a Corvair engine. I've spotted them at Hobbytown, too.

No problem. Actually, the basic Stepside bed is the same from '54-'87, with the main differences being the fenders, running boards, and the cross supports. There's also differences in the number of boards/skid strips depending on year and bed length, but the bedsides, front panel, and tailgate are all the same, '55 2nd-'87. '54-'55 1rst have slightly different bedsides.

What year truck are you planning on building? If you're going for a '63-'66, any of the frames suggest should work fine, though I would suggest the the AMT Diamond-Reo, which has the wheels you're looking for plus the correct tandem setup. Doing a '60-'62 could be an issue, as they used an IFS front axle, rather than the I beam on other trucks. I know of no kit with that front end, though it could be scratchbuild withough too much issue. BTW, a 348 would be accurate through '65.

Yes. The differences on the 1:1, mainly the underbed cross supports, won't show up on a model.

Cool. Thanks for the link, saved to Favorites.

I beleive we're on the same page on this. My information comes from the factory issue shop manuals, which shows the '56 having a full flow filtration. When I used the "canister" term, it was only meant the replacable cartridge style filter, rather than the 1 peice spin on used later. Not really a big deal to convert the early blocks, the only difference is the insert for the mounting pad. 6 cylinders continued to use the bypass style filtration up to '62 (ex. Chevy 2 and HD 261).

The only year 265 with no oil filter provision is the '55 265. All others have an oil filter, either canister style (through '68) or spin on ('69-current). The '55 used the same style canister as the 6 cylinder, either AC or Fram, that mounts to the intake manifold. It was strictly a bypass filtration system.

Good luck finding MV lenses. They haven't been very good about getting stock out there recently. Went to 3 different shops looking for some for a freind, only 1 even had any kind of selection at all, and they didn't have the size we were looking for. All 3 shops were well stocked shops in the Indianapolis area, with 1 being a RR specialist store. Got the same story for all 3, MV was lagging on shipments. Online may be the only reliable way to get them. I will say, though, that cabochons have 2 things over MV lenses for projection beam lights. 1, they cost far less, and 2, they actually look like projection beam lamps, which have a very pronounced dome shape to them.

You'll find that that most of the JD farm equipment from Wal Mart is 1/32 scale. Same goes for the regular Ertl farm toys. 1/25-1/24 isn't very popular in the farm toy world, 1/64, 1/50, 1/32, and 1/16 are the popular scales, with a few 1/12 and 1/8 scale replicas available as well. One thing I have found in 1/25, though, is Bobcats. Used to see them at the local farm stores, but they haven't had them for a while. You might check the Bobcat dealers or farm toy specialty stores.

You might take a look at cabochons (I think I spelled it right. They're basically like the faceted appliques they sell, exept that they are smooth and domed, not quite 1/2 a ball in shape, with a mirror backing. I've seen them in 5 and 7 mm, I beleive they might have had a 3mm as well.

I'd like to see more road courses, too. If only to shake things up. Especially since most tracks have road corses at them anyway.

Second look, you're right. don't know what made me think dodge

Very cool. If you don't mind, I have a Scout floating around here that I've been trying to come with something to do with, I'd like to perhaps do a variant on your idea. Don't want to "steal it" without asking.

Lots of different ways, in some cases it depends on what type of finish you are removing as what you would want to use. A short list of popular choices; ELO, Superclean, Purple Power, DOT3 brake fluid, oven cleaner, 91% alcohol (for hobby laquers), and aircraft stripper (for die cast). Other than ELO, any of these should be redily available at any department, hardware, auto parts, or farm stores.

#1 is a Hudson Terraplane truck, about a '47 I beleive. #3 is a Dodge, unsure of year, perhaps '33. I've actually seen that one in person myself. #4 is a '56 Ford, not sure what model it is other than LCF. Just guessing, I think the Merc in the back is a '57 or '58 #5 '42 Plymouth. Must be an early one, as it isn't a blackout version.