highway

So far I only have two finished, and that is a major accomplishment to me since they are also the first two I've finished in about five years! Community Build projects have really fired my building back up, and these were for Jairus' Race Plane CBP earlier this summer.

I believe that is for Capitol One.

Yes, Skip, that's the one. I'm not 100% sure, but I believe it's for The Traveler's Insurance Company. I'll try to make sure the next time I see it. I think the commerical I just replied to Skip also applies with what you said, Harry. If I remember correctly, the baby rattle on the rattlesnake is symbolizing not to accept cheap replacement parts on your car. Again, next time I see the commerical, I'll try to check to make sure.

These rank pretty far up on my favorite list, but I think the funniest commerical of the year so far in my book is the one with the rattlesnake with the baby rattle tail!

That must be why I don't think the one part Bondo smells, I can't smell!

HEY! I resemble that remark!!

I would just take a guess, just like you said about the 1:1s, and say that parts from a Trans Am/Firebird would work. I know from long ago, the engine in the K.I.T.T. model from AMT had the Crossram Fuel Injected small block corporate GM engine, which should probably be the one for that Z-28 kit, too.

Ben, I might be able to help give you some suggestions! First, as far as I know, (and I will say I'm not an expert on 33 and 34 Fords, so if I'm wrong, someone feel free to correct me), but I don't think there is any real difference between a 33 and 34 Ford, so the Revell 34 Ford would be a great start. The Revell 34 Ford also has a small block Chevy engine, which I think was what was in Tim's hot rod. As for the roadster body, you need this kit, the Thom Taylor Cabriolet in the top of the pic, not the "ZZ Top" car. This is what the body of the Cabriolet version looks like. There is also a resin roadster body made by Jimmy Flintstone, I'm not sure if it is still in production or not, but here is a pic of the box and body to help you in your search. The Jimmy Flintstone body will work for either kit in my first picture. I hope this helps you out. P.S.: If I didn't already have plans for both the Cabriolet (which is obvious from the pic) or the resin body, I would have been more than happy to help you out.

Welcome back to the hobby, Brian. As for your putty question, I use Bondo Glazing and Spot putty with good results, and it will not stink up the house or be "smelly" as your wife would say. You can find it in the automotive section with the paint and body repair items at Walmart or any auto parts store. There is also another "Professional" Bondo Glazing and Spot putty that comes in two parts that I have read here works good, as well as Evercoat two part putty, but I'm not sure about the "smelly" factor of those. I've also used regular Bondo with good results, but it also ranks very high on the "smelly" list, don't ask how I know this! I will tell you it involved a February day with an outside temperature of about 10 above 0 and every window in the house open!

Round!!! I'm sorry, I just couldn't resist! Seriously though, I like both the rubber tires in some of the Japanese kits and vinyl tires in the American manufactures' as well, I've never really had problems with either style.

Welcome Ernie! I'm also a trucker and hang around the truck section of the forum, among other places, and will be watching for your work.

Usually I would say go to the Drastic Plastics Model Car Club's instruction site, but I checked there and they do not have them. Here is a link for the site anyway for your future reference: http://www.thedpmcc.com/instructionsintro.html I know one of the members here, Bluesman Mark, is currently working on that kit. Maybe you could send him a PM and see if he could scan them for you. P.S.: Mark, if you read this, maybe get in touch with Bob Black and help out the Drastic Plastics site out, too!

Bradley, I did a quick "Bing" search for Wilson Livestock Trailers, and for some strange reason, all they show in new trailers are goosenecks for pickups. http://www.wilsontrailer.com/gooseneck/index.html# I checked the used trailers link and did find some used ones and did find the big rigs. These are both from truckpaper.com. This one is listed as a 53' long 102" wide 2009 model. Here is the link to this one: http://www.truckpaper.com/listingsdetail/detail.aspx?OHID=2440713&dlr=1 This one is a 2004 model 48' long 102" wide. This is the 48 footer: http://www.truckpaper.com/listingsdetail/detail.aspx?OHID=2488320&dlr=1 I included the links because there are some nice detail pics underneath the main pic. One thing to keep in mind, though, as you can see with Jim's pics, the AMT kit is based off the older 70s style trailers, not the modern "punch style" trailers like these examples. I'm not sure when the designs changed, but the "punch style" trailers are the common trailer on the road today. I'm not saying the older style may not have been available in 48 and 53 foot models, and there may be a company still making them in the older style, so I'd say go for it.

I don't know if it would work, Dan, but I like that idea. Another good but smaller brush to try might be one of those fingernail scrubbing brushes.

Looking good Brian! How about a battery box somewhere on the inside of the framerail right behind the middle crossmember? If the interior interferes there, how about in the corner where the frame and rear crossmember meet under the bed?

I personally use brake fluid, since most of my projects that go into "Lake Brake" usually also find their way to the stalled project pile. Many use Castrol Super Clean, usually refered to as the "Purple Pond". A friend of mine uses that, and gets very nice results. Walmart also sells a cheaper version called Purple Power, if I remember correctly, that is more or less the same as the CSC.

Well, Dan, I think you have me beat for longest build!

Barry, depending on what year Sterling those trucks are, I think you might be able to modify Italeri's Ford Aeromax into the Sterling. Here are a couple earlier model Sterlings I found doing a quick "Bing" search. The second truck I found at this site: http://www.americantruckbuyer.com/index.php?mod=listings&function=show_list&id=6250# and it is listed as a 2000 Sterling AT9500. If I remember correctly, when Ford was getting out of the heavy truck market in the late part of the 90s, Freightliner bought the division (I have no idea where Volvo fits in) and to keep the trucks unique, to my knowledge all Freightliner changed on the early Sterlings was the badge in the grille. Freightliner designed the Sterling oval to specifically replace the Ford oval. I also checked Sterling's website, and from the way it looks, the heavy Sterlings were only built from 2000 to 2009, as for 2010, they were referencing which Freightliner or Western Star truck was a comparable match to the Sterling models. http://www.sterlingtrucks.com/ I also found a 2007 model at the same site as the 2000, and it even looks like you could probably use the Italeri Ford Aeromax as a good starting point.

...and it looks like there's a lot of room that needs filled in the display case, so get busy!

Jim, I'm very happy you have a better memory than I do! The C.R.S. kicked in again, and I totally forgot about it AGAIN! I wrote myself a little note this time so I don't forget again, and I will get the names gathered from both sites I have this listed on and get an email to Revell ASAP. Sorry I've been dropping the ball on this.

Thanks, Chris! It's been a little tough at times, but comments like that and all the kind words everyone has given me the inspiration to keep going! By the way, a small update, I still have a few things to paint in the interior, but I hope the interior will be installed later tonight or tomorrow. I will also have a mock up pic or two of the slightly larger front bumper, too. I want to try and get the small things out of the way before I get to the last major modification, the monster under the hood! I'm still not letting the secret out yet, but it will be reveiled later this month for sure, the community build this is in is over Dec. 1! I will give everyone one hint, it is definitely NOT a Cummins 6!

All I can say is WOW!! I definitely want to see more on the drill rig when you get back to it!

I don't know about O.C.D. or A.D.D., but I know the reason for not only many projects but some of the stalled projects on my bench is cased by C.B.P.! After years of not attending shows or even really building much, once I started posting on forums and found community builds, I've been joining almost every community build I could. It's at least made the better half happy, she was always complaining I bought and bought kits to the point she said she feels like she lives in a hobby shop, but I never worked on anything. At least now I get to the bench quite regularly! Now the issue is going to be where to put the builds when they're done! Anyway, here are just a few (if I showed you every stalled build, it would probably be easier to post a pic of my entire collection ) of some of the stalled builds I have. 2009 Dodge Challenger, I had an issue with the paint on the seats and they went for a swim in Lake Brake. I was working on this one for Bradley's Fox Chassis Ford CBP, and this is where it still sits, like probably 200 more (at least) in my collection. Oh, by the way, Bradley, I will probably be changing cars in the CBP! Of course, I'm probably the king of stalled builds with this one, and I want to see if anyone can beat this length of a stalled build. I started this one 12 YEARS AGO!!! It's a Revell 34 Ford, and yes, it has a Hemi! The supercharger even fits under the hood!

What, are you going to start hauling all the cars the scale PPA impounded!?!? Not really after one right now, I still have a Revell one to finish, but thanks and I will keep that in mind.

First, Gray, welcome to the wonderful world of scale gearjammers! Honestly, I think you might have enough room for a drom box on the Titan, I think if you went from the back if the cab to about where your mouse is in the pic I quoted, you should be fine. I've seen some during my time driving the country in the 1:1s that could double as a box on a one ton pickup, so one like that should work fine. One tip for future projects, like I did for my Ford LTL 9000 I'm working on with a stretched sleeper, figure out the size of the drom or sleeper you want first and, like mine, how much space you want between the sleeper or drom and the trailer, and that will give you a better idea of how long to stretch the frame. I had my sleeper built before I even started the frame stretch. If you want, just in case you've not seen it, you can check mine out here: http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=28849 I also have some pics that were not posted here of the beginning stages of the sleeper and frame stretch, because I started this as a community build on another site. If you would like to see some of the beginnings, just PM me, I'll be more than happy to share them with you and help anyway I can.