gasser59

Love following this one...the decision process on the frame, wheel/tire combos, radiator, etc has been interesting to say the least. Lots of possibilities. Cool stuff.

Here's a better shot of the engine. Guess the halogen light affects the color in the previous pix. Also a picture of the progress on the functioning steering. Still need to fabricate functioning U-joints inside the turnbuckles.

Thanks for your comments Chris and Rodney. Currently working on making the front axle steer and have U joints. I've done this on another build and just need to replicate them again. Stay tuned...

Finally a bunch of concentrated bench time this three day weekend. Got the replacement engine plumbed and wired with still a few items left to do on it. The pictures don't show the Chevy Hugger Orange very well and wants to turn the color either pink or magenta. I can assure you its not either of those colors. For the belt, I cut the molded in one with the pulleys as one piece and notched the pulleys by turning them with my Dremel Stylus. I then made a belt out of black hollow insulation and used a small piece of wire for connecting the two ends together. Quite simple actually and looks so much better. Also got the transfer case done up and mounted and still need to get the functioning steering done up before painting the chassis. Here's a few pics of the engine. Thanks for your inteest and following along. Comments welcome.

This came out awesome. Incredible detail and paint. Definately a reference thread for me. Nicely done Mark.

This is one I've wanted to build for a long time and so this thread is perfect inspiration. I'll be following along.

Ditto that. There's just too much good stuff here not to see it completed.

Although I don't have any photos to share at the moment, I have picked up a new smaller 6 cylinder from Danno that actually fits the stock engine bay and its got a coat of paint and dullcoat. I always wear the paint off when I handle them to wire and plumb them. Photos to follow when I get a bit more done.

Glad to hear of your pet's good fortune and he's lucky to have a caring owner like you. The update looks awesome and I look forward to the next one.

Although I never thought it was possible, your builds improve with each one you do. I can't fathom how you pull it off. Loving this one

Thanks Sven - glad you've tuned in.

This is really starting to take shape and its looking great. Looks like you're going to have some fun with grafting on the nose piece but I know you're up to the task. Nicely done so far.

Holy cr*p John. I know this is an old thread but I've not seen this Beebe and Mulligan build of yours and it is flat out stunning. Did you ever get those reference sheets to Mooneyz? I have this kit too and would love to get my hands on those reference pics but on second thought, I could just use the posted pics of your build. Spectacular work my friend.

I bought that ET issue for the same reason so this is a great thread. The bodies in the two picures in the first post a have different grills and I'm not knowledgeable enought to know which cars and body styles are which. I'll be watching this thread too. Thanks for posting.

That's awesome Danno and delivery too. I just wonder what I can repay you with?

Thanks for your comments guys. They're really appriciated. Got the front shocks done and mounted as well as the U bolts. Now I need to find a Chevy in-line 6 cylinder that'll fit the engine bay as the one I have from the '53 Chevy is too large and would require moving the firewall back and that's not something I really want to do. The holdup on finishing up the frame is where and how to mount the transfer case and that is held up on sourcing the engine. Pix of the front axle later today. Its yard work time before the temps get unbearable outside.

Oh Yay, this is going be a good one to follow along Joe. I'm in the front row on this one.

A bunch of bench time in this weekend and was able to get the chassis extended, axle height adjusted/mounted and rear shocks made and installed. Its currently sitting on four wheels although the front axle needs to made to steer. This chassis is a combination of three chassis from the same kit. Here's a couple of pictures. This shows an original frame next to the 'adjusted' one. Here's the aluminum tubing shocks and showing a bit of putty yet to be sanded. Next is to work on the functioning steering on the front axle. Comments welcome and thanks for your interest.

This is a really nice piece and all of the details and weathering are very nicely done. Bet your dad loves it.

I have this kit too and will be following this one for sure. Your work so far looks great.

Great googly-moogly...that is one sweet looking Ford engine. You're work is so clean, I love it Charlie.

Thanks Rodney. Funny you should post those pictures. I build that for PeeWee a few years ago and its what got me back into the hobby. I used the incorrect year for the cab since I didn't know a correct resin one was available. This one's going to get rivets from Scale Hardware so they won't be so big. The aluminum was from a roll of flashing from one of the big box stores. This one I'll be keeping for myself.

Thanks Tom. Yes it was in a National Geographic because it was a Nat'l Geographic photographer that went along on the trip.

OK, so why didn't the photos show up? I followed the same procedures I've done hundred's of times.

A friend of mine was the Advance Scout for the Airstream Caravan that traveled from Capetown, South Africa to Cairo, Egypt in 1959. Wally Byam, the founder of Airstream travel trailers, undertook a never-before-attempted feat of a caravan of over 100 people from ages 4 to 80 on a caravan of the Dark Continent in 1959. Often times, there weren't any roads, Wally's gold colored Airstream trailer had a military escort through one of the countries because the natives thought it was actual gold, vehicles would have three and four flat tires a day, not to mention other more severe breakdowns such as broken axles. The stories go on and on. My friend, PeeWee, is Wally's nephew and was hired by Wally to be one of the two advanced scouts for this extended caravan. Wally bought two 1959 Chevy Apache, six cylinder, 4WD trucks without the truck bed and shipped them to the Airstream factory for the camper to be custom made to fit on the back. One truck was for the two advance scouts and the other was for the mechanic who also traveled with the caravan. This is such a fascinating story and one I'd like to tell by building a replica of of PeeWee's living quarters for over 10 months while traveling the African continent in 1959. Here are a few photos of the truck and the reference material I have been given from PeeWee. Here's the truck waiting to be loaded onto the ship. Being hoisted onto the ship, headed for Capetown. [http://i437.photobucket.com/albums/qq96/flyfshr/Scale%20Auto%20Builds/Scout%20Truck/Airborn_zpsd625c1f1.jpg] Here Peewee is playing music with a battery powered record player for the African native children. Peewee is sporting his new on-the-road haircut given by one of the Caravanners along side the Scout Truck. I've started with two of the AMT mid-50's pickups because I needed to lengthen the chassis and needed another drive axle for the front to make it 4WD. Also have the '58 Chevy cab from Modelhaus which is very well done. Thanks for your interest and any comments.