Kit Basher

Doh! Oh well, I wouldn't answer if I did!

How come not all names have that little letter icon? (Like mine, for instance)

How do you do personal messages on this forum? Also, is there a "how to" section that answers this type of question?

I like it too. What program are you using?

Since they are plastic kits, then ditto! Great job on all three, Jerry.

Time to shorten the frame. I didn't trust myself to keep everything straight after I cut it, so I built this jig. The rear section of the frame can slide forward in the jig while still staying in alignment. I wanted to make a strong joint without adding reinforcements that would make the frame rails thicker, so I decided to use a half lap joint. I had to cut away some floor pan to do that. Here is the shortened frame. I think it is just as strong as the original. Comments and advice always welcome. nuff for now, more later.

Did you have a clear coat on this? If you did, then I'm full of it, but it seems to me it wouldn't work with color/clear. To get rid of the cracks you would have to dissolve both coats. The lacquer thinner might craze the enamel more, or the two coats would mix and be muddy. Also, I thought the one coat was a lacquer, which would make a difference. Curious to know if I am wrong.

Nice trailer! Are the tractor and loader die cast or plastic? You said they are kits? Thanks

Kostas, 10-4 Good Buddy, I do like your builds!

Hey, all Internationals! I like 'em all. I particularly like the Scout pickup. I am not usually a rat rod guy, but I like this one. The radiator cover looks like it came off a Farmall 400. Had a Scout (type 1) and loved it, still have a Loadstar 1600.

Thanks, Mudpit

Aftashox, I am a rookie to forums and such, and don't know how to do a private transaction. I have literally a ton of unglued veneer, and could shove a bunch in an envelope and mail it to you, if we can figure out how.

Aftashox, I have recovered from my marathon and am back in the game! Those cabinets are looking good. That veneer looks like the iron-on tape I use for making cabinets. Do you iron it on or use some other method? If you're not ironing it on, you might look into unglued veneer. It's much thinner, and comes in a lot more flavors. If it's hard to find, let me know, I'll send you a batch for the privilege of watching your builds!

I just wondered because in the pics it could pass for galvanized, and I was going to try to steal your secret for simulating galvanized!

That one is "very cherry" and "an oldie but a goodie". Surf City, here we come!

Way cool, Harry. I don't know nothin' about really old trucks, but I really like the open windshield and the wooden bed with the chains to hold the tailgate. Is the body galvanized or gray/weathered? Either way it looks great.

Thanks, Nick. I don't know what 20 years is in truck years, but I wish I aged that gracefully!

WOW Tim! My first reaction was "Where are your MODEL trucks?" Then I realized... Those are amazing, I'm going to have to spend a lot more time looking at them. Thanks

When I saw the Monogram F250 Super Duty kit, I thought "Cool, I can build a model of my 1:1 truck", like this: When I got the kit I found it is an F250 extended cab, with a V8, automatic trans, 4x2, bucket seats, power windows, body side moldings, and the wrong mirrors. My truck is none of those. Other than that, they are just the same! So I got the Lindberg Off Road 4x4, and the Monogram '80 Bronco kits. The Bronco has the right mirrors! Here's the kits: The first thing I did was sand the body side moldings off the cab, bed, and tailgate. I looked at a lot of posts, and it seems like at least half the people who use the Super Duty kit cut down the cab. But I couldn't find anybody who said how they did it. So here's how I did it. It may not be the best way, but it's one way. Turns out that 3/4" masking tape is just the right amount to remove, so I put a strip on each side, covering the back window. Then I connected them with a strip across the roof. Traced on both sides of the tape, and that gave me two parallel cut lines: I cut inside the lines with my razor saw, flat sanded the two pieces, and taped them together: Ran around the seam on the inside of the cab with liquid cement, Standard cab! nuff for now, more later.

Thanks, Aaronw. I like your builds, and those others are good too. That halftrack thing is wild!

Hey Jim, Heck yeah it counts, fire trucks are definitely working trucks. Beautiful job on it. I like your time frame too, the truck I'm considering is a '71 International Loadstar 1600.

The sections are kind of confusing, chuckyr. The pickup section says "Pickups, SUVs, Non-commercial trucks". None of those are what I'm looking for. This section just says "Model Trucks", which seems like it should cover everything but pickups etc. It's kinda a gray area. Maybe there could be a section just for "Big Rigs". Might make it easier.

Hey Jim, really nice job on the Ford.

Hey Rob, I was looking for the bigger ones, but I really like your pickup. That's obviously a truck that works for a living, I bet the driver does too. I'm also making a model of my 1:1 work pickup. Yeah, Highway, that's the ticket! Scummy, I dig the "honey dipper" and the story too! "Golden Nugget"-LOL! Yeah, golden and nuggets.

Not customs, pickups, or semis, just plain ol' workin' trucks. I'm thinking about building an 8 ton farm truck, and I'd like to see what you guys have done. Flatbeds, dumps, box trucks, concrete trucks, you get the idea. Got any?