Modelbuilder Mark

In my opinion, you just answered your own question. The people that build things you do not like, are doing it for their own enjoyment and personal satisfaction. Very simple to understand. There are many automotive styles that I could care less about, or flat out find ugly in 1/1 scale , so I may not understand them, but the fact I don't not understand is completely irrelevant. They did not build it for me. having said that, I do watch and follow builds of subjects that are not my primary taste, and often there is still a tip or trick, or ideas that can be gained. Mostly though, I like to see people happy. If a Donk brings joy to someone, I can see that joy, and I am happy for them.

Very nice

Very nice

Welcome to the forum, post up some work find make yourself at home.

Cool, Kiss was the first concert I ever attended, 1978

very cool Ray!

Thanks everyone! I sincerely appreciate the kind words. I really like the realism that military and figure builders are able to capture, and just want to move closer to that. This was a true learning experience, some things going as planned, others...eh, not so much, but I love what David G. says in his footer above, "Each kit I build is really only practice for the nest". I have some other future projects in mind, so we shall see where that goes. I will probably build a couple non-weathered (at least to this extent) models before I tackle another project like this one.

Thanks everyone! Tom, you are so right, there are very very few rust through vehicles out here, and if I see one, it is likely a transplant. I have enjoyed your work for years now, and I am glad to see you weigh in.

Meant to represent a truck that is used but not abused, perhaps maybe even a hand me down from a parent, and kept in the family since new. I think I may have went a little further on the weathering than I intended, and there are some areas that I simply failed at. I thought about working on a few more areas, but feel that I needed to call this one done at some point. This is the most extensive weathering I have done on a model, and represents some first attempts in various areas as well. Started with AMT Super Stones 78 Ford pickup After market items used as is or modified; Detail Master power steering pump and alternator brackets, and sunglasses, pocket knife, oil filler cap, plate frames Scenes Unlimited tires, battery, and Brake Backs soft metal oil filter (pulled from the parts box, possibly R&M) Bolt and nut heads from various companies Bare Metal Foil Wire mesh for grill (source unknown) scratch items grill is 23 pieces of styrene rod, rough but more realistic(will create jig for next similar project) Lowered mounting points for suspension to lower vehicle stance body to frame mounting brackets power steering pump dipstick Hand rag on seat Rear window, rubber seal Elmer's glue and black Tamiya paint parts box master cylinder rims Radiator (kit did not come with one) Radiator top rear-view mirror printed plates Body mods removed door side trim for better looking door graphics created utility box to be seen from the bottom, as well as door jams, the chassis looked like it had gaping open spots that needed to be filled, otherwise painted, dinged, bumped and weathered. decals printed for me by fellow modeler Ken Shaffer main body color by Scalefinishes.com weathering stains and pigments by Mig Ammo and Vallejo, and AIM products plus various others including RustAll.

Cool, congrats.

So very nice

Very nice

Nicely done

One of my favorite cars of all time.

Your own?

looking forward to this. My dream car as a kid in the 70s

Simply, wow

Looks like a great show. Some good looking models. What was the turnout?

I am here in the valley as well. Some don't like it, some do, including me. It is only a few months, then glorious the rest of the year. I can paint all year, go outside all year, lots of natural light, contests in November in an airplane hanger with historical planes right outside the open hanger doors. Close to cali, close to Vegas, etc. Yup, I am a fan of living here.

Just a few updates as it is slow going, which is usual for me with bench time at a premium. Body and frame joined, starting some wiring and weathering. The weathering went a little further than I wanted, but I think it will still be passable. The kit supplied decal for the front of the hood looked bad to my eyes, so I retied to use liberal amounts of decal solution to remove it, but it started to lift the paint, so now I either have to paint the hood again, leave the front of the hood weathered more than planned, or spray the hood into primer like it has been replaced. My least likely action will be to respray the hood white.

Great tip, very useful

Looking really good

Nice!

Nice resultimate from a tough kit

Cool, encourage away!