Wagoneer81

Update on the Bondo... Evidently, I am an idiot. There is another Bondo spot putty on the market that is packaged in a similar container as the red, single component spot putty. The difference is that the "other" putty is a 2-component putty and has a small tube of hardner included in the package. In my haste, I did not see the smaller tube... Sooo... After having scraped the uncured, still soft white putty off of BOTH trailer sides AND the back of the sleeper I am on my way to smooth, pinkish in color, properly cured trailer sides. Let this be a lesson (especially to me); If one is on pain medicine (ruptured disk, lower back) one needs to pay closer attention to what one is doing... We now return you to your regularly scheduled madness...

WHOOOWEEE!!! Ok, word of warning here... I just got back from the parts store where I picked up paint, primer, Bondo putty and brakefluid. The engine is taking a bath as we speak and I opened the putty and started working on the trailer sides. (I'm cheating... I'm smoothing them to make decal placement easier. See, told you it wouldn't be an exact replica... ) For putty I use the Bondo scratch putty in the tube and have used said putty for the past few years. In the past, it was a dark red putty with little odor. The new stuff (in the same type of tube, BTW) is off-white, thinner and finer grained and STINKS TO HIGH HEAVEN!!!... I'm working on this project on my kitchen table and after I got the sides puttied, had to open the kitchen door for ventilation and place the trailer sides in the paint booth with the fan on... I've never had to do that with this putty before, evidently Bondo has changed the formula of its scratch putty... My house smells like a body shop!!! If I were still married, my wife would be cursing and kicking me right now! More updates as they become available...

A couple of friends and I were drinking coffee, listening to music and tellin' lies one afternoon when "East Bound and Down" came up on the playlist. I mentioned that I'd like to build a model of "That Truck". One friend, who's a fellow truck driver, his eyes lit up and after a short conversation about the truck and the logistics involved in building said truck and trailer, hands me a properly sized wad of cash and says, "Build me Snowmans rig." So, without further adeiu, here's where we are so far... The tractor is the venerable old Revell W900 Aerodyne that's had it sleeper cut off, the back of the cab filled and the box from the Revell Pete 359 kit transplanted onto it. Power for this model will be an 8v71 Detroit from the parts box since at least one of the trucks used in the movie was powered by a Detroit. The truck decals are from Model Truckin'. Thanks, Jerry!!! The trailer decals, I got a few years ago in a trade and put them aside for just this project... I started modifying a Great Dane Dry goods trailer to represent the reefer pulled in the movie and will post pics in this thread when I have something to show... This won't be an exact replica but I'll get it as close as I can with what I have to work with... Stay tuned, more to come...

From where I'm sitting, I don't think you're going to get any closer than that! I think you've nailed it.

Well, this may be the reason that this kit didn't sell when I put it on eBay... Might give me an excuse to work this pair in after I finish a few other projects...

WOW!!! That is an aggressive looking rig! Nice job shoehorning that Detroit into that tractor! What was the basis for the trailer? Did you start with the AMT kit? With two AMT kits??? I have a Tri-axle gravel trailer kit and have been wanting to build either an Autocar or R model Mack to go with it... I think I need to build an Autocar as this is one FINE looking combo!

OK, first let me say that I am in the presence of Greatness!!! This is a wonderful, totally awesome build. Romell, you are a master builder, among the best I've ever seen! You, like many others here make me look like a rank amatuer! This is not a bad thing as it inspires me to push the envelope and try new things! I have learned several new techniques from this thread that I am eager to try out on my upcoming builds. Kev0, evidently you're not a bodyman : I'm from the Midwest, home of snow, mud and car eating roadsalts. We here dream of finding California car bodies that are in that good of shape. Yes, I'm the son of a mechanic/bodyman and a pretty decent bodyman myself and have to say that that 1:1 body is a rock solid beauty (compared to some that I've resurrected) that needs only a bit of TLC to make it a real showstopper. I see greatness lurking under that tired old sheetmetal... Wait until Romells' bodyman finishes massaging it and gets it under a coat of primer, you'll see... Top shelf work, I can't wait to see both of them finished.

These are great videos! I love watching them and hadn't seen the Datsun series yet. Thanks for posting this!

OK, John, like a brick upside the head, you now have my undivided attention... I love Salt-Flat racers of any kind and class, the technology and ingenuity fascinates me! Wow! Absolutely fascinating subject and wonderful execution. I've been building for over thirty years and you make me look like a rank amatuer!!! FYI, I love these in progress shots that show HOW a specific part or system was fabricated, before everything's hidden by paint. Very educational, thank you so much for posting this. I'm looking forward to seeing more of this!!!

I've built a little bit of everything, ships armor, aircraft, sci-fi... I'm building 1/25 scale right now because I am able to, and I really enjoy it... I suffer from a muscle disease that has robbed me of a good bit of my fine manual dexterity and the parts are big enough for me to work with. I used to build 1/700 and 1/350 scale warships. Several years ago I built a 1/700 scale CV-6 USS Enterprise WWII aircraft carrier, with a complete airwing for a friend. I can't build that small anymore... but yes, I would like to see an "Other Models" section to showcase other Genre models...

Thanks for the continuing updates, Art! I've known of you and your outstanding reputation in the industry for years and was pleased when I found out that you were on this forum so I personally, will take your word on these projects. Dave Metzner has also posted pictures of the International Lonestar mockup in the 'Model Trucks' section of this forum. Just look for 'Moebius Models 2010 International Lonestar Tractor' back on page 3. If you contact him, maybe Dave would post some teasers for you guys here?

I like that color red and the stance is right on. that's one aggressive looking little machine! I didn't even notice that by the headlight at first until I went back and looked after reading your second post I've had that happen before and I don't know what caused it... Still, this is a nice looking ride!

This is looking sweet! You're giving me ideas for my next streamliner. I built a '53 Stude Salt Flats Racer about a year ago using the stock chassis and the twin supercharged Hemi from the original kit and was thinking about doing another with a radically chopped top and a V8 sporting a front-mounted supercharger. You've got some good ideas for streamlining the body. I'll be watching this one with great interest!

I want one... just need to remember to have'em cut airholes in the shipping box this time... On to the subject at hand... Laughed myself sick when I saw the picture. Some people think that, just because it's a Jeep, it can really go anywhere...

Thank you!

Bathe that puppy and repaint it with Duplicolor! I'm working on the same trailer, to use behind my Chevy Titan so I do feel your pain. Please, NO FLYING TRAILERS!!! IF GOD HAD MEANT FOR THAT TRAILER TO FLY, HE'D HAVE GIVEN IT WINGS!!!! Sorry, Matt, I'm just trying to interject a little humor into the situation, is all. You'll hate yourself in the morning, not to mention having to buy another out of production trailer kit... Outside of the Krylon issue, this project is coming along nicely. The tractor looks great, I'm glad to see that you found a paint to your liking. Now, as far as triple-digit trucks go, When I was driving OTR, we had an owner-operator that had a beautiful, red T-600, not sure of the year, but he was running a Twin-turbo 3406 that was pushing 550+ horsepower and could run 100+MPH. When he got a mind to go, my poor 2000 International just couldn't keep up with him... and it was a runner... Keep the Faith, Brother!!!

Well Scott, seeing what you did with "Project '53" (which is an outstanding build, BTW) I know you'll do this fine old veteran justice. I had a little pang of envy when I started reading this thread, this'll be a fun one to build.

Great Scott!!! Dave, that thing is a BEAST!!! You are my new hero! I'm watching this thread, this will be amazing to watch and that truck will be a sight to behold! I'm a former firefighter/EMT and I love seeing projects like this. Being from a small-town where, in 1998, our first-out pumper was either a 1973 Ford C-900 (Town) or a '66 International L1800 (Township) this type and scope of vehicle is still mind blowing.

Nice concept! As soon as I read the title before I even opened the thread, my first thought was of that Far Side cartoon! I like the Buick style trim, it sets off the rest of the body styling nicely. It'll be interesting to watch this one emerge from its cocoon. What manner of beast is this exactly? As in; who makes the kit, what scale is it and what is the part number? Sorry about all the questions but this is the first time I've seen one of these in scale and wouldn't mind adding one or two to my collection if possible.

I'd love to have an old Mercury Turnpike Cruiser or a Ford Country Squire Station Wagon... Bring 'em on!!! I love wagons!!!

I always did like that bodystyle F-series! I especially like the modified hood. Was that a resin part or did you build it??? FYI, The square headlights would make this a '79 model, the last year of this body style which first appeared in 1973.

Those trucks bring back quite a few memories! Thanks for posting them. I used to be quite the Lego builder in my earlier years... Several years ago I handed my vast Lego collection down to a nephew and he now carries the torch. I really like the '38 Dodge concept, it's a real eyecatcher. Thanks for sharing it!

I for one have no problems (finances allowing) with shelling out $20.00 or so for a kit or $40-50.00 for a really well engineered and detailed kit or even a $100.00 or so for a good semi tractor kit. If you want real sticker shock, price a new 1/350 scale warship kit from Fujimi, Tamiya or Trumpeter. I built 1/350 warships for years and transitioned back into 1/25 scale after a muscle disease robbed me of a good bit of my manual dexterity. $250.00 to $350.00 is the going price for a 1/350 scale battleship or aircraft carrier these days with $50-100.00 being typical of a destroyer, cruiser or submarine kit. Current pricing trends were another reason that I was glad to get back into 1/25, I couldn't afford to keep building 1/350 scale warships much less accumulating any sort of a kit stash. I've run the gauntlet of model genres in my day. I started out at age 6 modeling cars and trucks and thirty years later, I think I'm back to stay .

So, do residents of Honolulu still use "Ewa" in reference to "West, and "Waikiki" for "East"? As in "Go Ewa from here?"

Thanks for appreciating, I'm glad you like it! The pictures show just one way of building a bed. Scratchbuilding is really straightforward and easy, you just break the subject down into basic shapes. You build the basic shapes and then put them together. I'm looking forward to seeing more of your build!