Southgate

Exactly what I was going to say! And nice job of grafting the 2 together. Dan

Thanks for the nice replies, gents. Carl, the power train uses a 44o with auto from a LindbergDodge 330 kit The front and rear axles are scratchbuilt, with diff housings from KW and Pete models. Transfer case is from a monster truck. Power steering unit and working linkages are scratched too. The frame is from an Ertl IH transtar, flipped upside down so the frame doglegs upward over the front axle. The engine sits farther back in the frame than on a regular van. This is one of those projects the took way longer than you'd think. Glad it's getting close to done. Dan

I posted the early progress shots of this model elsewhere, but thought I'd use it to reintroduce myself here. With a very hectic spring '06, I lost this great forum in the shuffle! It features the cab made from an MPC Dodge van, Scratchbuilt utility box and crane, and lots of 'bashing and scretchbuilding on the chassis including full working suspension, posable steering. Crane is fully posable, and has a telescoping boom, not shown extended. The stabilizers are held in position with rare earth magnets and really hold the back of the truck solid. Here's an earlier shot showing how the cab tips up, true cabover style. The model still isn't finished, but it's finallygetting close. Can post more early shots if anyone wants to see 'em. Nice to have rediscovered the place! Dan

Hi Aaron This truck differs from the dump truck kit in that it has those cool round front fenders, and a curved chrome front bumper. The dump truck ones are angular. Dan

This will be an interesting build to follow. And an Ice truck is a nice alternative too. no pun intended. Dan

Well it looks like a commercially built crane, especially with the "Series 800" to make it look more official. I like the colors too. Dan

Here's the 3rd of my wreckers. Ertl IH "S" with a wrecker unit from an AMT Peterbilt wrecker. The truck features a few mods such as different gas tanks, bumper, wheels, etc. The wrecker body is mostly stock, but I made a square tube boom and a couple other small mods. I did narrow the wrecker body a little bit. Not quite finished yet, needs lettering. Family portrait

Here's the first wrecker of my little fleet. The cab is a Monogram '55, the chassis and engine are from a Monogram '90 Ford. The length of the chassis was altered for this build and the whole rear of it was modified considderably. The wrecker unit is from a Revell Midnight Cowboy, but the body (the red part) is scratchbuilt. The interior blends parts from the '55 and the '90. Finished 7-26-98. Dan

This is actually the 2nd wrecker of the fleet. It started with a Testors issue of the Dodge, the rollback unit is scratchbuilt, and the frame, cab and chassis are modified to suit. (That's the short version!) Finished 3-26-98. Dan Underside http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v727/Sou...te/PICT0162.jpg Bird's eye veiw http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v727/Sou...te/PICT0164.jpg Engine http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v727/Sou...te/PICT0166.jpg

Thanks David. Interesting suggestions, but it's purpose is already decided as already mentioned. Still room for a dog in the picture though. I dont know what you mean by paint needing something, but maybe it will look more like it as it's completed. I seldom do multicolor paint jobs, and anyway, I want it to match the scheme of my wreckers already built. Maybe I should post them so you'll see? Dan

This has been posted elsewhere, but I thought it would be appropriate here too. These are earlier shots of my Phantom L-700, The front suspension (coil spring)works, steering is posable. The rear has working leaf springs Painted finally. This is still mock up. The chassis is together but the cab and Utility box aren't permanently mounted yet. What isnt red will be black or chrome, including BMF where appropriate. links to More pics of other angles, etc: Chassis, engine. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v727/Sou...te/P3180124.jpg Tilt cab http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v727/Sou...te/P3180130.jpg Early body work, Suspension. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v727/Sou...te/IMG_2468.jpg Long way to go yet, but I know the hard parts are over. Body work isn't a strong point with me, but it's done. Now on to general assembly and interior, and scratchbuilding some more components, finishing up that Auto Crane, a project in itself. The idea is a truck for roadside and offroad assistance and repair. Not an actual wrecker, but still a part of my little "Southgate Towing" fleet. Dan

Thats cool, cuz I want to do a Ford C based FWD also. Can't decide which one, they have rather a variety. One is a cement mixer with what appears to be an 8x6 setup. The front axle appears to be driven, the 2nd front a tag, and then the driven rear tandem. Or just a 2 axle 4x4. All of them are interesting. Dan

Pretty cool setup, almost a diorama. Looks like so many 1/1 Cats Ive seen, especially on the Oregon coast, where rust invades every unprotected surface overnight! Dan Nice extras on the Autocar too.

Looking as exceptional as one would expect from Dave! I'm still intrigued by your method of starting at the front and finishing the cab all up before starting on the rear half! I mean it works for ya, that's for sure... This makes it hard not to get into fire fighting apparatus, fire trucks are so cool, but I have more'n my share of incomplete wreckers begging to get worked on, including an unstarted R-G Pete Rotator. Is Aaron, I wonder, going to paint his FS Green? That would look sharp too. Dan

I agree that this is seriously impressive. Very seriously impressive already, and I know it's only going to get more so. I'm watching! Dan

Thanks for the replies gents! The front wheels are posable The front axle was scratchbuilt using aluminum tubing. I simply used the Paystar's front spindles by making kingpins from 1/16 aluminum tubing, drilling holes through the ends of the axle at the same angle as the original axle's, and drilling a 1/16 hole all the way through the Spindles after assembling the spindle (turning knuckle) as per kit. I would suggest using 2 separate pices for the axle tube, (3/16) and insert a piece of 7/32 thru the differential, just barely longer than the pumpkin. Then you can trim the axle tubes to the proper width and offset, as well as making sure the kingpins are paralell to each other, something that is difficult to do when drilling a single piece. You also have to file the ends of the axles away at an angle to give room for the backplate's motion. It doesn't have those big round joints on the ends of the axle but I can live with that for a setup that steers. The tie rod uses the kit's rods ends inserted into 3/32 aluminum tubing bent to clear the back of the diff housing. The differential came from an AMT Kenworth T600A. Since these vary in size, just try to find one that is relatively small, but still from a big truck. The transfer case was from an AMT Ford Bigfoot (the early version). I had to shorten it slightly to fit between the frame rails. I did a toot on how to make the rear equalizers work too if anyone is interested. Dan

The Mack, I've already bought. The Ford-I have some questions about. Is it based on the AMT F350s anually produced thry the late 70s? I don't recall a 4x4 version back then. Did they issue one then? I did convert a 2wd to a 4wd in the late 80s. Still have it, but it's rather boring. Needs a makeover or something. There's no doubt I'll want a few of these to replace the unbuilt projects I lost in a fire 9 years ago! Have you seen the dogfights for these in eBay, even for junkers? Dan

Looks good to me too. Nice combination; the truck, dump box and driver. The display is a nice touch too. Dan

Yep it still exists. Just took the pictures of it Saturday (3-11-06) I only have a couple other models from about that time that are still original, the rest have been made over to some extent. Any prior to '77 (when I graduated HS) are long gone. That includes some serious glue bombs. Dan

Great looking rig, Doc! The color combo works for me. Was the paint job complicated to do? I tried to paint a truck yellow recently with a MM spray bomb, the coverage was horrible. This looks great! Dan

Always nice to see your "green trucks" Aaron. They look even better when they run in herds! Aaron's Paystar inspired me to get on with my Paystar build. He also gave me the heads up about this forum. I didn't know about it before. Thanks Aaron. Dan

That's my kind of model truck building! Could your friend be persuaded to tell us how to make those floatation tires? Nice! Dan

This is my most recent big rig build. It has been seen on other sites, I hope that's not a problem. It features a scratchbuilt front axle, bed, tool box, and the Italeri crane has a few modifications on it. The rear suspension is fully equalized. The truck rides on wheels and tires from the Italeri Truck Conversion kit that the Effer crane is from. Dan

This is one I finished about 25 years ago, it started out as the AMT "City Delivery" van. The flatbed and stakes, bows are scratchbuilt. The lift gate from the kit was used. This model follows a 1/1 prototype, a Weyerhaeuser truck that used to make regular runs in Coos Bay Oregon until Weyco closed there. I built this back in the days before I paid any attention to door handles and license plates, etc, but I think it is still a decent build, and as an early attempt at scratchbuilding, it holds a special place with me. I'll probably make some minor detail improvements on it some time. Dan