1948* Chevrolet Canopy Express

[Kustomm]

I can't imagine the time investment, the talent is obvious ! great subject also.

[89AKurt]

On 2/3/2020 at 10:29 PM, Kustomm said:

I can't imagine the time investment, the talent is obvious ! great subject also.

I do keep track of my time.  Could be making money instead of playing around with models.  But what fun is that?  Thank you.

[David G.]

Your engineering and fabrication skills are impressive, excellent work so far!

Thanks for taking the time to share your work with us.

David G.

[Dann Tier]

12 hours ago, 89AKurt said:

I do keep track of my time.  Could be making money instead of playing around with models.  But what fun is that?  Thank you.

LOL....none at all!

[89AKurt]

On 2/5/2020 at 4:45 AM, David G. said:

Your engineering and fabrication skills are impressive, excellent work so far!

Thanks for taking the time to share your work with us.

David G.

Thank you!  I do enjoy show the slowing how this nut builds models.

On 2/5/2020 at 1:50 PM, Dann Tier said:

LOL....none at all!

I know right? ?

All I did, all day, is cast resin parts.  Have successfully cast four copies of the door handles, they are in this mess.
 

[89AKurt]

ATTENTION ADMINS:  I made the mistake of not posting in the Pickup section, would you mind migrating over there?

Worked on the seat, added piping and texture.  I had a request to make resin copies, so doing that along with the '69 Chevy pickup tailgate.

[Dann Tier]

WOW!!!, so cool!!!

[89AKurt]

Baby step, made my first (successful second time) copy of the seat.  Running the build along with the '69 pickup.

 

[Danno]

Terrific work, Kurt!  Go, go, go!

Fortunately, you have a whole  56 days, 8 hours and 52 minutes to finish it up!

 

[89AKurt]

On 2/22/2020 at 12:07 AM, Danno said:

Terrific work, Kurt!  Go, go, go!

Fortunately, you have a whole  56 days, 8 hours and 52 minutes to finish it up!

Thanks!  No pressure. ?  This one could use those license plates you guys have for the show.  ?

Started small today, made the taillights from Corian, using my cordless drill and Dremel technique.  Took three tries for the light trim part.  Then I cast an RTV mold of them, so look forward to having exactly the same lights (you know how hard it is to make an exact duplicate part?).

The resin Panel conversion had a wood floor, that was modified from the pickup bed, not to mention warped, and incorrect.  I personally don't care about wood beds, when I was a kid, was in a Dodge and got a massive splinter under a fingernail, so I sort of hate them. ?  I used the hot-wire to cut out diamond plate, using the cardboard pattern, gives a convincing torch cut edge.  The vacuum-formed part is for the door area.  The rolled bed edge is steel tubing.

It's going to be lots of fun during final assembly.  No instructions, have to wing it.  ?  The cab interior will have to be painted and assembled first, the vacuum-formed sides get wiggled into place, will be a challenge to glue everything.  I have gaps in various places, so hope a dark color will disguise it, and could put some junk in there to cover it.  Knowing it will have a used patina will also help.  Got the '69 pickup bumper decorated, for a break.

It's a small thing, but I love the tube rolled edge, can see through it!

[89AKurt]

Mirrors, gotta have them.   The kit part is incorrect, and just doesn't look good.  This time used fat sprue and turned on the cordless drill, the two 5" mirrors.  Smashed the end of the wires to make a flat mount perch, ground a tiny V instead of trying to drill a hole.  The base is plastic with superglue and baking soda built up to create the taper.  Will brush primer a few times and refine, before painting black.

[David G.]

Excellent progress!

David G.

[espo]

I like the Diamond Plate flooring. This would make since even in the 1:1 since there would be moisture build up over time and a wood floor would rot out over time. 

[89AKurt]

On 2/24/2020 at 4:01 AM, David G. said:

Excellent progress!

David G.

Thanks, I'm happy to be back on this project.

43 minutes ago, espo said:

I like the Diamond Plate flooring. This would make since even in the 1:1 since there would be moisture build up over time and a wood floor would rot out over time. 

For the '48 I owned, had a piece of 3/4" plywood, after I tore out the remaining rotten lumber.

[espo]

5 minutes ago, 89AKurt said:

Thanks, I'm happy to be back on this project.

For the '48 I owned, had a piece of 3/4" plywood, after I tore out the remaining rotten lumber.

I had a '56 Ford F100 in the mid '60's that was used by a land scaping company. The wood was gone and they didn't have the wood bed kits we have today back then. I got a couple of sheets of Marine grade Plywood and made a bed floor with one seam running down the middle. 

[89AKurt]

Doing this interior, is much different than making a square tool box, it's all been trial and error, and done by eye.  Putting aside for awhile, and resuming with a fresh look, has helped figure out a few things.  Slopped in some ledges for the floor to set on.  This test fit was pretty good, despite having to bend the floor and scraping against the bulkhead, it's going to be fun after painting, really thinking of painting after gluing all together.

Added the jamb lip around the back door.

Just playing around with wheels. ?

[Chromecop]

WOW, so much of really impressive work!!!!! 

[David G.]

This is going to be so cool when it's done.

David G.

[89AKurt]

5 hours ago, Chromecop said:

WOW, so much of really impressive work!!!!! 

Thank you very much!

4 hours ago, David G. said:

This is going to be so cool when it's done.

David G.

That's my goal!  ?

I'm determined to make hood hinges, not workable, but realistic, so the hood can be displayed in the open position instead of sitting on the table.  I was happy with the '69 hinges (posted Jan. 30), so my goal is the same here, but won't be glued to the hood, that will be the trick to figure out.

[89AKurt]

Need to finish up the body before making tiny delicate hinge parts.  Did some putty work on the interior.  Added some styrene pieces to the bulkhead, to keep things straight and fit almost like a snap-tite.  Also took the Dremel and added some dents.

Pet peeve of the kit, each side of the radiator in not open to the wheel well, air is directed to the radiator.   Can also see the modification to the firewall for the engine and different intake/exhaust.  The kit is incorrect with the firewall, it is not recessed back from the edge, added some putty along the seam.

[89AKurt]

Scratch-built all the taillights.  The Suburbans, Panels and Canopy Express had the pair of teardrop lights, made a mold so I could cast exact replicas.  The third light is unique to the Canopy Express and Panels with tailgates, it swivels when opened, I guess so you could have a long load and light is still seen.  I have also brush painted primer on areas that have putty or were glued.  Painted the rubber texture for the floor mat.

 

[89AKurt]

Hood hinges.  Not typing much, since there is a delay with typing. ?

First step, draw it out.

Modify body to make a correct recess, and let-in a dovetailed recess in the hood.

Melting stretched sprue for bolts/rivets.

Figured out the best procedure for assembling all this.

First assembly of the left side hinge.

Materials used is aluminum roof flashing, coffee can steel, straight pins, thick foil.

Used pictures stolen off the web, the Chevy truck forum is very handy too.

This could be operable, the spring would be the must difficult thing to work.  But it would take only a couple times for the metal parts to shear the plastic pins.  My intent is to not have the hinges in at all for closed position, then slip into the cowl, then slide down the hood onto the dovetail plates.

[89AKurt]

Started the other hinge, mainly to get the cowl recess, and dovetail in the hood done.  Wet-sanded the body, again (did it a long time ago).   Glued on the teardrop taillights.  First paint on this project! ?

[espo]

Those hood hinges are amazing, if the resin body wasn't in the picture I'd say your looking at a 1:1 hood hinge.  

[89AKurt]

33 minutes ago, espo said:

Those hood hinges are amazing, if the resin body wasn't in the picture I'd say your looking at a 1:1 hood hinge.  

Thanks!  Paint will change everything!

I just did some research to make: steering shaft/box, reflectors*.  Have a shop manual, so the gas tank is the next major item to scratch-build.

*There is a reflector on the side of this example, but I will put them on the tailgate.