’72 Chevy C/10 Pick Up

[Scale-Master]

I started this model shortly after I bought my truck about 1985. (I only bought it short-term to facilitate the engine swap I had planned for my Camaro. But I found many uses for it subsequently, and we camped with it a lot.)

The model started as a repurposed step-side (MPC) that I had built much earlier.

To make the standard bed I sacrificed a Blazer body. (I think it was the Boondocker.) I mixed the Ocher color and painted the body, built most of the engine and interior back then.

Then a couple moves and a lot of life got in the way, so the model sat on the far edges of my workbench all these years. Also the salt air (and it having never been garaged) took a toll on the real trucks paint, i.e. rust. And as it changed its appearance I wasnt sure what I wanted to do with the model.

Fast forward to my current drive to build the models of my past (and present) cars; I decided it was time to pick up (no pun) the project again.

Make no mistake, this was one ugly truck, but it was a great truck to me. It never left me stranded, and it did everything I ever asked of it, some of which was borderline abuse. It served me very well for 27+ years.

It was very original down to the required smog equipment, (even though it became smog exempt in 98). According to the build factory sheet laminated to the inside the glove box door:

LS9 350 4bolt w/4bbl,

4 speed transmission with PTO

12 bolt rear end with 4:11 gears

Power front disc brakes

¾ ton add a leaf rear springs and trailer tow package (including rear view mirror delete) .

White Spoke Wheels

Heres where Im picking it up After a good wash down, (something I gave the real one at least once a year, or two).

[Lordmodelbuilder]

Bookmarking this page. I know we talked at GSL about your real truck. Very cool to see you picking up the model build once again.

I have built a few of these 67-72 trucks & had a friend with a bigblock powered 72 Cheyenne. Love this trucks!

[jeffs396]

I'll be watching Mark Love the '67-72s...

Will you be cutting out the incorrect inner fenders and replacing with something more accurate?

[Scale-Master]

No Jeff, I'm just going to finish it.

I got a good start on the camper shell. I drew up some plans and built it up from sheet styrene. It snaps onto the bed.

[mikemodeler]

Another must follow thread. I sure wish these trucks could be done again, with a better chassis and details.

[mustang1989]

Hey Mark that's a good lookin' build so far! What did you use for the wire harness conduit?

[Scale-Master]

I'm pretty sure I used a guitar string.

[mustang1989]

That's a good idea! What's funny is that I have used guitar string before on other applications and it works great! What you've done here with it looks superb!

[slusher]

Keep them coming Mark..

[Scale-Master]

Thanks Joe.

You got it Carl.

I started building up the crusty rust. The hood was about 60 grit sand paper rough. The other areas were finer, maybe only 240 grit…

[Scale-Master]

I added more layers of rust to the roof and started bring the “rust line” downward. I made the upper side trim for the bed from sheet styrene and foiled the trim on the bed. (I did the BMF on the cab about 30 years ago.)

I used black Scale-Master decal stripes (Sheet Stock # S-S2) size “I” for the black in the center of the upper side trim and some very fine hairline decal stripes I had custom printed long ago for the top and bottom. (There are three decal stripes in each run of that trim.)

I used stripe size “G” from the same stripe sheet for the center black stripes in the lower trim pieces.

[slusher]

May i ask how you got the hood to look so realistic??? Wow

[Scale-Master]

I applied the paint with a fine sponge, that helped create the rough texture. The colors I used are just earth and rust.

All the decals have been applied to the side trim. I used the “I” size for the thinner stripes on the lower pieces.

I carefully gouged out around the windshield and drip rails to simulate the rust holes the truck had.

[Scale-Master]

I think this is about all the rust work I can do on it for now. The actual truck was more rusted on the passenger side than the driver’s.

[James2]

Very good, I'll be watching also.

[Scale-Master]

I noticed that the bed I was using didn’t have the same trim around the tail lights as my truck, so I made a little reasonable facsimile out of styrene strips. I found an extra set of tail lights in my Blazer kit, (pure luck I guess), but not a set of back up lights so I’m still working on that and fine tuning the back of the truck.

[Lordmodelbuilder]

Your scratched taillight trim looks better than any of the stuff that comes with these kits. Nice work!

[Olskoolrodder]

That's looking GREAT so far!

[Scale-Master]

Thanks Guys!

I had a set of five lug spokers set aside for this project, but I got around to measuring them and noticed they scaled out to 18 inches in diameter.

I found one 15 inch wheel in my stash that will work with the tires I plan to use. But my wheels were five lug and had the factory center cap.

So I milled off the six lugs and center cap and machined a copy of what was on the truck for the center cap and lugs. I’ll cast copies.

[cobraman]

Love it ! You never miss a detail.

[mustang1989]

Great work Mark! You're really making this one come alive!!

[Scale-Master]

Thanks guys!

I made the side windows from sheet styrene, some clear plastic from packaging material and fine screen. They are just loosely plugged in for now.

The rear “window” was a piece of unfinished dirty plywood. ( The clear plastic window turned white, cracked and ultimately fell out within a couple months of owning it.)

There was a silhouette of the Stealth Bomber left from when I painted a model of one on the wood (when the B2 was still somewhat classified). The Kammback script was a leftover badge from my Vega.

[gatorincebu]

That is a great looking build so far! I really like your rust treatment.And the topper shell looks really good!

Be Well

Gator

[Scale-Master]

Thanks Gator, I'm enjoying the project.

Here is the camper slider to the cab. Same construction/materials as the side windows. Been working on the roof vent too.

[Scale-Master]

I added all the corner trim and the iron upper tie-down rails. I freehand drilled the rails with a pin-vise out of sheet stock. The mounting base for the top vent is done.