Amt 53 ford Pickup Custom

[scalepeter]

Hi all.   First post here.  Idea behind this is a period custom.   Trying to keep this as much as possible to what came with the kit.   Nothing subtle about this build.   Modifications so far are sectioning the cab about 6mm.   The hood was then sectioned but only 4mm.   The top has been chopped twice.   First I did a 2mm straight chop,   which has been my first pickup to chop.  Left the rear window the same size.  Was happy with the results but thought it looked a little tall between the drip rails and the roof line.   So i cut  the top off again using the drip rails as a guide where to cut which resulted in about 1 to 2 mm being removed.   Just relied on the width of my saw and a little sanding as to how much i removed.   Wasn't a lot removed but just improved the look somewhat.     The pickup bed was sectioned 4 mm.   Even thought I cut 4mm the top of the bed only lowered by 2mm and as added 2mm to where the bed joins the frame to give me room to zed the frame by 2mm.   The bed was also shortened a little to finish flush with optional custom rear fenders in the kit.   Motor will be the hemi with the fuel injection setup,  wanted to go with the multi carby set up but i think under bonnet space is limited.    Think that covers most of where it's at.   One part from another kit is the grill.   Kept the angled lights but used what i think is caddy grill from 48 ford custom coup kit.   Thanks for checking this out.    Opinions and suggestions always welcome here.   Hopefully posting pics won't be a problem.

 

Sectioning process.   Had to narrow the rear of the cab to allow for the section job.

 

Top chop part one was next.

[scalepeter]

Next was to tackle the hood.   I sectioned 4mm out of it.   This required cutting the hood up to fit.   Still need to do some adjustments to the rear of the hood.   Thanks for looking.

[scalepeter]

Here is the sectioning of the bed.   Cut out 4mm but added 2mm to where the bed meets the frame to allow the frame to be modified.    I like how the fenders meet to the top of the bed.   I did think about sectioning the fenders to lower them but they're the same height as the front fenders which i like.    

 

The frame where it was cut and the added pieces of 2mm sprue to zed the frame.   

[James2]

Welcome Pete, looks like your putting your saw to good use here...

 

Don't be surprised if they move this to the proper section.

Edited December 10, 2018 by James2

[DumpyDan]

Nice looking cuts, I really like it, gonna keep my eye on this one.  Keep it going. 

[afx]

Would be interesting to see your truck compared to the Foose.

[espo]

I like the way you added to the hood to make everything line up. This is an area that often looks like it had been modified while yours flows like that is the way it had always been. You mentioned the top chop above the drip rails. This is an area that I have felt was never right in the first place, just seemed to tall. I also didn't realize the amount of taper in the cab sides until I saw your pictures and how you fixed that. So far this looks like a well thought out '50's style custom. Are you going to keep the Corvette tail lights in the Chevrolet fenders or do something else there ?  

[beatnick]

Seems familiar ? 

Good work  keep up the progress. Hope to finish mine one day.

[scalepeter]

Thanks for the comments everyone.  Interesting you mention the Foose kit afx it was that kit that got me building this.   I'm currently building the Foose  kit and was donig some comparing between these kits that got me taking my saw to both of these kits.   The Foose kit is nice but when the stock 53 hood fitted the Foose body I was a little surprised.   I do have some photos comparing the two but my foose kit has been sectioned by 2mm in the body and hood.   Might get a photo with the Foose kit,  my modified body and i have another stock 53 to see the differences.   

 

Thanks David I like how the hood turned out too.   Getting hoods to go back together well challenges me a little,   Just took my time with it.      Not using the corvette tail lights but plan on using the stock cab lights which sit on the roof in the custom light fittings.   Will just need a little sanding and painting but they should fit in.   

I have the bed,  rear fenders and custom roll pan glued to the interior base.   Tail gate will be the custom one from the kit.  

 

Grill has been modified.   I must double check but i think it's a caddy grill from the 48 ford custom coup kit.   Not usually a fan of the angled lights but seems to suit the build.

 

Thanks for looking.

[scalepeter]

Latest modification is the second roof chop where i pretty much sectioned the area above the drip rails.   I think it was too tall in this area with all of the other changes going on.   The amount was my saw blade width plus a little sanding to get to the shape i liked.   I had to cut apart the roof to go back on.  I moved the roof slightly forward by gluing the front edge of the roof to  the moulding/drip rails.   Photos make this a little clearer. 

First photo is before the second chop.   The next show the process.   I almost just cut out a flat piece of plastic for the roof but decided against it.  

 

 

You can see in this pic how i moved the roof forward a little.  

Thanks for looking

[Sledsel]

Wow... that is some slicing and dicing. Looking good!

[chris chabre]

I just sectioned a 53 f100 myself haha. mine currently has a blown olds sitting between the inner fenders but thats not definite yet. Once I finish my fender mods, Ill be chopping the top and finishing the hood. Ill eventually post a build thread

[Belugawrx]

Great stuff..Thanks for sharing the process pics

Watchin

 

[scalepeter]

Thanks guys.   Got some photos comparing this to my Foose build and a stock body.   Note that the Foose build has had the body and hood sectioned 2mm.    The other two builds make the stock body look so big.   Hard to see but the roof lines up with the top of the door frame on the Foose kit.     The Foose build has kind of stalled,  I'm unhappy with the color result.   It may change yet.

Next one is just a mock up of how it's looking at the moment.    I had a moment of thinking the rear fenders do look a little too large but just going to leave it be.   This will be the wheels and tyres I'm using.    Thanks for looking.  Opinions/suggestions  always welcome.

 

 

[afx]

Thanks for the comparison pictures Peter.

[TarheelRick]

Wow, you are a real licensed plastic surgeon.  That is some intricate work you are accomplishing.  Really like the overall look.  You mentioned not liking the look of the rear fenders, to me they look a bit long behind the wheel openings.  Of course that look may be exaggerated by the fact the bed has been shortened.  Anyway, whatever you decide to do with it is going to look good.  Keep on doing what you are doing

[Foxer]

Great bodywork!

[THORDOOR220]

That’s a lot of cutting, but man is it turning out well. Definitely following this, good work!

[Sixties Sam]

That's a lot of work, but it's looking great!

Sam

[GMCMAN52]

11 minutes ago, Sixties Sam said:

That's a lot of work, but it's looking great!

Sam

 

[Koellefornia Kid]

Really like it! Nice body work!

[espo]

On ‎12‎/‎10‎/‎2018 at 1:20 AM, scalepeter said:

Hi all.   First post here.  Idea behind this is a period custom.   Trying to keep this as much as possible to what came with the kit.   Nothing subtle about this build.   Modifications so far are sectioning the cab about 6mm.   The hood was then sectioned but only 4mm.   The top has been chopped twice.   First I did a 2mm straight chop,   which has been my first pickup to chop.  Left the rear window the same size.  Was happy with the results but thought it looked a little tall between the drip rails and the roof line.   So i cut  the top off again using the drip rails as a guide where to cut which resulted in about 1 to 2 mm being removed.   Just relied on the width of my saw and a little sanding as to how much i removed.   Wasn't a lot removed but just improved the look somewhat.     The pickup bed was sectioned 4 mm.   Even thought I cut 4mm the top of the bed only lowered by 2mm and as added 2mm to where the bed joins the frame to give me room to zed the frame by 2mm.   The bed was also shortened a little to finish flush with optional custom rear fenders in the kit.   Motor will be the hemi with the fuel injection setup,  wanted to go with the multi carby set up but i think under bonnet space is limited.    Think that covers most of where it's at.   One part from another kit is the grill.   Kept the angled lights but used what i think is caddy grill from 48 ford custom coup kit.   Thanks for checking this out.    Opinions and suggestions always welcome here.   Hopefully posting pics won't be a problem.

 

Sectioning process.   Had to narrow the rear of the cab to allow for the section job.

 

Top chop part one was next.

As you may have come to realize your build has been moved. For some reason they put it under Big Rigs. You should contact who ever moved it and have them put your build in the Pick-up section otherwise it will get lost. 

[scalepeter]

Noticed this wad moved which I'm fine with but could it get moved to the pick- up section please.  I'm not sure how to move it.   Or leave instructions on how to move it.  Thanks.

[Tom Geiger]

Hello Peter-  This is my favorite kit, so I'm really pleased to follow what you are doing with it.   I think everything you've done looks great, but two suggestions....

Take a look at the height of the top of front fender  vs the top of rear fender.  Would the rear fender being sectioned to match the front fender height add to the design?

Second, remove the stock molded in door handles.  For the work you've done on this model, add some separate pieces, either from a kit or aftermarket. 

And where are you in Australia?

Cheers!

Tom G

 

[scalepeter]

Hey Tom, i like this kit too.  Thanks for the suggestions,  fenders are staying as is.  The rear ones look a little heavy but i can live with that.  

I do plan on removing the door handles and have a set to use that i found im my parts box.  

I'm in Brisbane.