Revell 1980s F series Ford Pickup

[Husky1943]

So, I bought this model because I have always liked Fords (until I really started liking Dodge Rams).  Anyhoo, figured I would give this one a try and it was not expensive at all ($19 w/o shipping).  I also bought it because the surfaces were overall flat - giving me a chance to try my newly purchased Detail Master polishing system.  I did see that there is no lower half of the firewall, just sort of looking straight through to the ground.  Perhaps I will tackle that issue on the next one.  Disappointing, but hey.  Thoughts?  Suggestions?  Can you see the difference in the two quarterpanels?  Once of them has been polished, and the other one not.  The cab has also been polished.

[cobraman]

Big difference in the paint.

[Rbray47]

I boxed mine in with sheet styrene. It's not factory accurate, but it works. The Bronco version of this kit is the same way (if I remember correctly) I built one as a teenager and I can vaguely recall looking through the interior and seeing the back of motor. 

[Husky1943]

Thanks yall.  Yeah, there really is a difference in the sanding.  requires a lot (LOT) of patience, but worth it.  That was my first attempt, so I hopefully will get better and more patient.  I thought about making a lower firewall with cake tin, but changed my mind.  Maybe next time.  I really like the model, and I will be posting my progress today or tomorrow.

Ciao for now

[TransAmMike]

Looking good.  Gotta ask, what do you use to get the surface rust look on the exhaust pipes?

[Husky1943]

Hey Mike,  I'll let Ray answer that one about the rust.  I bet he used a rust wash, but that's just a guess.  

Figured I would bring yall up on the progress of the truck.  Got the engine built and plumbed.  It looks to me like a 302.  I drilled out the heads to accept the wiring and the distributor was so well molded, I was able to drill out the individual sockets for the wires.  I use clear fishing line that I color with a sharpie (or paint).  I like it because it gives me the flexibility to color them anything I want.  I also ran a vacuum hose on top of the breather, just to see if I could do it.  I also made a coil to affixed it to the front of the port head.  Little by little I am getting more comfortable in adding details.  

[Plastic_Passion]

On 7/7/2020 at 6:57 PM, Rbray47 said:

I boxed mine in with sheet styrene. It's not factory accurate, but it works. The Bronco version of this kit is the same way (if I remember correctly) I built one as a teenager and I can vaguely recall looking through the interior and seeing the back of motor. 

That is indeed the case with the bronco. At least the revell kit.

[slusher]

Nice work so far..

[Rbray47]

21 hours ago, TransAmMike said:

Looking good.  Gotta ask, what do you use to get the surface rust look on the exhaust pipes?

I mix various flat browns and blacks together and thin them down. Flow them in with an old thin brush. 

[TransAmMike]

Thanks Randy......funny, my wife has a cousin Randy Bray, lives in Pensacola?

[Husky1943]

Okay, so getting the interior tub finished up.  I had to add a cut of sprue across the two posts that are supposed to hold the seat because a bunch of test-fitting and measuring revealed that the front bench seat would not sit down on those vertical posts.  I have no idea why the engineers would have created such an issue, and it was an issue.  Then I putting a generous seam of glue on the sprue and sat the seat down on it.  It worked.  The seat is firmly in place.

[Husky1943]

Okay, so the tub is finished with the bench seat installed.  I know that it looks like I over-weathered the seat, but I am starting to steer a little bit to the "realistic" look rather than the "my car is permanently parked in dust-free garage and attended by a guy with a California Duster."  I think that might be a nod to my days of building 1/35th tanks.  (When I was a kid, I built the Tamiya Kubelwagen three times because that's all I could afford.)  

Anyhoo, got that done, so now working on the cab.....

[Husky1943]

So, got the engine bay painted up as best as my talent (and old eyes) allow.  I am contemplating putting more wiring in the area, but maybe not....I do have that Revell 48 Ford that I need to move on to, but my model sanding kit recommends that I let the paint job dry (de-gas, I believed they used) THREE WEEKS before I start sanding it.  Good grief!  It's been a couple of weeks, so I should be good, right?  Anyhoo....please notice the chrome around the front windshield.  It's actually muffler tape.  I bought about 50 yards of it at a hardware place for around $3.00 about 16 years ago.  I still have tons of the stuff.  I think it looks more "real" than bare metal foil.  But, that could just be because I'm cheap.  Thoughts?  Suggestions?  You guys let me know what I'm doing right or wrong.  Thanks much and standing by for heavy swells.

[Tom Geiger]

The older kits were low to no detail underneath. This is my Dodge Ramcharger that was pretty bad under. All that was there was the underside of the interior bucket with voids all around. I made the full underside from Evergreen sheet. I didn’t add much detail but still a big improvement over what the kit provided.

[oldscool]

I like what you're doing with this Robert. I'm a fan of this generation Ford trucks as well and your engine looks great. The paint polishing also looks good.

[Husky1943]

Thanks Gerald!  I really wish I could find a '74 Ford shortbed!  I used to own one, and even shipped it all the way over to Sigonella, Sicily when I transferred there.  I was thinking about taking the Mobieus kit and sort of fudging it a little to look like my old truck.  

Tom, I see exactly what you mean about the underside.  In thinking about it, I might just glue it to the base and be done with it.  I never liked turning wheels, so I glue them in place anyway.  I admire your patience in paneling in the entire underside of that Ramcharger.  I really like that kit, but some of the shortcuts were annoying, to say the least.  

Which actually led me to thinking; when I was a kid, I had a '55 Chevy Sedan model (Revell or Monogram, maybe).  That bad boy had opening doors, and articulated suspension and was very complex in the frame area and that would be considered an old kit.  So, when I read that old kits weren't that great, I wonder about that.  I mean, the Revell USS Constitution has been around since the 1950's, and that is still considered the gold standard of models.  Just saying

[Husky1943]

Well, the lovely weather here in the Florida panhandle today will be a high of 96 degrees (actual) with a heat index (what it feels like) of 115+.  Looks like I might get this truck done today.  We'll see.