Amt 53 ford Pickup Custom

[mod3l Lover]

  I just love this crafty endeavor of yours!!  Peter, this is

a great big lump of true inspiration here.

  Do you mind if I save photos of your cutting, shaping, etc.?

I have a file of just such stuff, hopefully for when, and if, I can

jump into fun stuff like this myself someday!?! 

         David S.

[scalepeter]

Thanks David.   Don't know if it's that inspiring but glad your getting some inspiration.    Save away my friend all good.    There would be more photos on my Photobucket site,   my Photobucket is under the name of classicpeter,   i guess though clicking on one of my photos would take you there.   My advice is plan your work,   I spend more time working out where to cut than actually cutting sometimes.    One other thing i would consider is starting out with mild custom for example i only sectioned the Foose body by 2mm and it was a lot less work putting the body back together.    If it makes you feel any better I'm still working on a 41 ford woody that i chopped and sectioned about 10 years ago,   it was my second attempt at both and should have got my cutting skills a little better.   Mind you though i have left it as a four door so that makes it harder.    Need to get back to that project.    

[scalepeter]

Little more progress here.  Starting to get the roof shaped up.   Got some filler on and did some sanding and will need to repeat again.   I removed the quarter vent windows but i might add them back in.   The drip rail has also been removed.   I also smoothed out the area at the rear of the doors.   I wasn't sure bout doing this but i think it has worked out.     I added a peace of sprue to the rear of the hood to address the gap there.   Body work is coming together which is good.    Thanks for looking.

 

[scalepeter]

More progress on the hood.  Looking a lot better now.  Sanded back the added peace fitment is good.  I added some quarter round spru to the front bottom edge of the hood as well as the front panel.  Still need to add some filler in places but bodywork is coming along.   Thanks for looking.

 

[chris chabre]

I have to get back on mine, its sitting on my shelf staring at me haha

[Rusty92]

Looking excellent. Such great bodywork. 

[THORDOOR220]

Looking great! I have to ask, How are you keeping all of the body panel lines there? A lot of primer usually fills them for me. Figured I’d ask, since I’ll have a similar project coming up soon

[scalepeter]

I keep the panel lines in place by using my scaple blade on the panel lines.  I make sure i get no filler in the lines and before sanding along the lines i remark them using the back of my scaple blade,  keeping them there.  I really don't like having to adding panel lines.  Best to keep them in place.  

[TarheelRick]

Really enjoy watching the work you are doing on this one, very creative.  One thing that does bother me though, is the windshield opening appears to be rather top heavy.  Meaning the opening has too much roof above the top of the windshield.  Maybe that is the way you have designed it.  Just my thoughts, keep those updates coming.

[scalepeter]

TarheelRick being top heavy above the windshield opening is bothering me a little. I look at the doors and i like how it is but then there is too much above the windshield.   I actually think it's Kind of stalling the project.   I think the solution is to cut that area out above the windshield  remove that and lower the roof and door height and removing the same amount to the rear of the cab  Which would mean a third chop top.   This project has been an evolving design which can good and bad.    Thanks again for the opinion as it confirmed what i had been thinking.  

[W-409]

This looks very good so far. Always great to see a Traditional Custom being built, and these '50s Ford Pickups are great starting points for them. I think the sectioning and chopped top look just right, but then again I agree with you on the area above the windshield. Whatever you plan to do with it, I'm sure it will look great when finished... I'll be watching.

[scalepeter]

Thanks for the comments guys.   Decided how to approach the issue of the gap between windshield and roof and also the height of the doors i didn't like.   Took a slightly radical approach which i may regret but whats done is done.   I just cut the roof off and cut through the doors.   This will mean remarking the doors and adding spru to create the upper door frames.  Hopefully that doesn't prove too hard.  I removed about 2mm  from the roof.  I had to cut the roof into sections to join the roof back on.   I'm still in the process of getting the roof back together.   Shouldn't be too long before i get the roof back on.   Thanks for looking.

[scalepeter]

Roof is now back in place.    I used some filler on top the roof,  sanded that back and then shot some primer on.   I wanted primer on before i started on the sides of the roof.   I think it makes it easier to see what needs doing.   I wanted the door frames in place before i reshaped the sides of the roof.    The roof is slightly wider then what i need but I  did this knowing the side would need some reshaping.   I did the same thing with the door frames so i can have the smooth look.   The door frames are peaces of 2mm square sprue.   I made sure they are the same angle as the lower door frame.   Will need to remark and reshape the door.   This should be the last of major body work.         I have glued in the firewall and have the body and interior/frame fitting well together.       Have started doing the suspension mods.   On the rear springs i flipped the mounting points.   I adjusted the actual spring mounts as well.   Upfront i noticed a space between the frame and the inner fenders, which i hadn't changed  anything there so i guess thats just how the kit is?   i decided to fix this by zeding the frame by 2mm.   I was going to use a dropped axle but with mounting the axle on top rather than underneath the springs plus zeding the frame will get it down lower.    Want to build an interior as well, and with the cab  to the frame fitment sorted i can start on this.   Will be tuck n roll style using different half round sprue.     Thanks for looking.   Comments welcome.

 

[TarheelRick]

That windshield does look much better.  Keep on sanding, but don't inhale the dust.  Looking forward to updates.

[Intmd8r]

I like where this is going.   

Executing the chopped top on this kit is not as easy as it sound.  I know that I have attempted to pull it off a couple of times and ended up  putting the project back on the shelf for another day.

Hang in there and keep up the good work.

 

 

[THORDOOR220]

Just out of curiosity (and impatientness apparently), is the truck going to have the radical degree (for lack of better words) of camber like that when it’s finished? Or is that simply from mock up, since it’s difficult to keep the wheels upright?

[Breezy]

This looks awesome peter and actually custom i don't usually like the look of slanted lights but they look great on this. 

[scalepeter]

Thanks guys.  Thordoor220 just a mockup not how the wheels will be.

[scalepeter]

Breezy I'm not usually a fan of those lights too but seems to work here. 

[scalepeter]

Little more progress on the roof.   Getting closer but still need some more work.      Think the seat will need a little adjusting.   Thanks for looking.   Comments welcome.

[W-409]

Nice work slicing the roof! Now it looks really good from front and rear, but I might do something with the side profile. Now it looks too flat in my opinion, so I when looking at the cab from the side, I'd add a bit of material to the middle of the roof and smooth it out with putty. A flat roofline like that doesn't work very well with the rest of the body which is full of round shapes everywhere.

Just a suggestion what would make the roofline look better. As I said, it looks very good from front and rear. Just the side profile could do some minor tweaking. Anyway, keep it coming, this is going to be a great looking Pickup when done.

[scalepeter]

Thanks for your input,   I did notice the roof had some low points which i have added some filler to level it out.  I'm happy with the roof profile though but thanks again for your suggestion.   Opinions always welcome.     

Have started on the interior.   It was lacking some details and since it's traditional themed here i went for a tuck n roll/pleated interior.   I started on the seat using half round  2.5mm spru.   Nothing too fancy just an improvement i hope?   I also created some door trims.   These i made from some flat plastic  and added the same half round spru for the pattern.   I have some arm rests to go on.   Might add some  to the roof liner as well and might evon add some to the truck bed.   I plan on sanding the seats to look a little worn down in places.   

 

 

I'm still tweaking the front of the roof and sides.   Still need to add some more filler but i think I'm getting closer to where i want it.   Once i get this and the sides of the roof line where I'm happy with it I'll mark out the doors.  The pencil marks are just a guide to where i want to add the filler to.  You see in the photo the shape of the doors and i think I'll open up the window a little.   Looking a little small.  Slowly but surely coming together.   Thanks for looking.   Opinions/ comments welcome.

 

Edited January 31, 2019 by scalepeter

[mustang1989]

That's quite the bit of body work. Looking forward to the painting stage.

[scalepeter]

Filling and sanding continues.   Getting closer to where it needs to be.    Windshield molding will need to be remarked.    Thanks for looking.   Comments welcome.

[scalepeter]

Been busy finishing a few other projects this one interrupted.   Little progress.   Have marked out the new door lines.   Had a little problem with one side not being how i wanted it.   I created a plastic template to get the same shape on both sides.   Had to fill in the line  with plastic and remark.    Still need to fill the old panel lines and reshape the door frame to suit the new door lines.  Thanks for looking.