Rockford

Impressive, looks stunning as a shelf model but I see what you mean about the simplicity of the engine etc... The '59 Caddies were rolling works of art anyway!

I saw this on YouTube, might give some ideas for paint schemes. Amazing to see some of the factory schemes that were available then. My favourite is the first one, above, makes the truck look like an old Deusenberg or suchlike. Don't think I ever saw a truck with white walls pulling a load.

Really nice to see another 1/32 kit in progress here. I'm looking forward to seeing it progress. I recall that is an AMT kit isn't it? I can understand why you're going for new wheels and tyres, the AMT ones are unacceptably small. The frame looks good on that though, better than the generic one in the Monogram Snap-Tite kits.

Couldn't resist getting them mounted on the frame. I'm rather pleased with them.

No, he had a prior engagement! He's a busy lad ?

I got the chance to do a little work on the Pete today. I decided I wanted to add the two air tanks that hang behind the fuel tanks. Here they are on the AMT instructions for the 1/25 kit I'm mimicking. I filed a groove down one side of 2.5mm square rod to represent the C-section of the brackets. Then rebated them at the top where they bolt to the frame, but left the full depth where it contacted the tank for strength. Then I used some 8mm round tube to form a pair of tanks. Rounding the ends after I'd closed them off. Then I cut two slots in the tank to accept the brackets. End result is ok. I also fitted my second fuel tank. The chassis is looking cluttered now, just the look I wanted. I'm working out a shift island in my mind now, just so that when you look at the truck from a low angle you can see it under the cab.

Got one of the fuel tanks mounted and then refitted the exhaust bracket into the forwardmost bracket. I fitted the air filter slightly forward of the kit position, level with the battery box on the other side. Using old sprue I cobbled together the intake tract from the filter to the turbo inlet. The exhaust pipe was again sprue but bent up using a bare flame. I just placed it on the chassis to make sure it fitted. I also dabbed a rough steering box with a worm and sector setup and square plates top and bottom for the closing covers and valve body. Then I added a pitman arm, drag link and track rod.

I'm sorry to hear that you're having problems with BMF, seems to have gone west. It was such a good product originally. Don't know what to do without it. Truck looks great though.

This requires dedication! Tremendous work sir!

Very clean build!

Some incredible fabrication on this build. Can't believe how you get everything so square and clean looking. Just great.

It's looking good, very nice colour combination.

Your reasoning is sound. Yes the chassis could probably stand being shorter to make the most effective use of space, the whole reason for building cabovers in the first place, but some cabovers did indeed have longer chassis for various reasons. In other words, it's up to you. I suppose you could look at examples on here and see what floats your boat. Personally, that kit looks great built either way and no one would criticise your choice.

Nice looking truck. I do like a Ford.

You're very brave taking a good model like that to pieces. I'd be terrified of doing some irreparable damage and ruining it. It was a great looking rig to begin with.

That looks great! Shame there wasn't a WIP on it, we could have learned so much from you. Any details on the chrome vinyl?

It's sitting low because it's still loose.

One thing that was missing was the cab tilt pump. I cut a bracket and then fabbed the pump body from square rod, rounding out the fluid reservoir, then added a wire pump handle. The cabs on these models are really just shells. Opening the rear of the doghouse makes this all too obvious so I fabricated a basic doghouse out of card. I had to file away the base of the footwells to get the right height. While I was feeling adventurous I made an auxiliary air tank from plastic tube. Should look ok once hidden under the cab.

Thanks for your kind comments and endurance gents. My builds always seem to turn into sagas!

I could sell my builds if I can find people who own cars where one of the wheels doesn't touch the floor!

That was not only beautiful but very advanced too, memory seats, air suspension, polished stainless roof.

Correct! I'll never be able to own the real thing so own them in a smaller size. I very much intend to.

1957 Chevy Bel Air, pillarless, hardtop, sports coupe. I'd like Rochester Ramjet Fuel Injection on it too so it was one of the "One horsepower per cubic inch!" cars. Mind you then there's the 59 Cadillac, the 455SD Firebird, the 59 Impala, the split window Corvette...... D'oh! It's never going to happen. The 57 Chevy was my first love though. I saw it in a book years ago and couldn't take my eyes off it. How could a mass producer of cars make something so beautiful? This little lad in Liverpool in the 70s was converted to American metal immediately.

Looks great, suppose some weathering on the tire sidewalls would be right. Nice Consolidated Freightways livery too. So is it going to be a barebones job with a cut-off front bumper?

It's on the list Jim. A rather long list at the moment but it's all interesting stuff. I had to remove the exhaust support and rework it so that it will fit inside the tank bracket. I'll get there.