1/18 custom Sino-American Ramp Truck

[ibj40]

Here are our victims, I mean, donors:

1/18 Scale China NJ IVECO Light Truck

I've got a couple of these in my collection already.  I customized one to make it a flatbed with an enclosed trailer.



Pretty neat truck, lots of detail.

  

Had a chance to pick one up cheap (considering shipping from China to the USA), as it was missing the rear box.

   

Of course, there are plenty of these 1/18 scale ACME Rampers around, in a variety of colors.  I picked this one to contribute its ramp bed.

    

So, we begin with disassembly of both, to see how compatible their respective construction techniques are.  Fortunately, both use a diecast frame with plastic pieces for the beds and diecast cabs.

Here's a test fit.  Looks promising.



I will build a new box out of styrene sheet and angle, kind of like I did for this custom extended length GMP trailer.



Since both frames are diecast, I laid them over each other and determined that by opening up the insides of the ACME frame, I could slip it over the outside of the NJ frame.

    

Here it is with the bodies back on.

   

Got some brass channel ordered which I will use to wrap around the join, trying to decide whether Super Glue or JB Weld will be the best solution.  Also thinking about bolting them together with some small brass nuts and bolts.

Stay Tuned!

[ibj40]

Did a test fit, and comparison to the donor ramper.





Brass channel came in yesterday, but so did cold weather and a snow storm, so won't be spending a lot of time out in my unheated shop.

[misterNNL]

FWIW I suggest painting the shop box part of the truck the same color as the cab for a unified look.

[ibj40]

So the size of tubing I needed was brass 3/8" square, which in spite of one dealer who promised accordingly, doesn't exist.  Evergreen makes it in styrene, so I sourced some.

The good news was that a slip fit of the two chassis was perfectly accommodated by the interior dimension of the tubing, so taking SuperGlue in hand (actually after cleaning all the paint off of both chassis), I "welded" the two chassis together.  Painted them Gloss Black to match the two chassis.









Starting to frame up the new box bed for the shortened Sino chassis.  Using styrene angle to define the bottom (the screws are just to allow me to reference the angle pieces, they won't survive the final build.





Got some roof panel pattern styrene sheet, which was pretty close to the pattern on the box of the donor (see the first pictures), will cut it to size, place some angle on the outside, and then build a roof.  Probably put a facsimile door in the side, as well.



Hope to have the side cut and roughed in by the end of the weekend.

[kilrathy10]

Very nice... I like this... Good idea... I will stay tuned...

[ibj40]

So, put down a couple of other projects, waiting for parts, etc., and picked this one back up.

The goal is to create a cargo box to go into the void between the cab and the ramp body.

I got all the styrene sheet cut, and bought these cool magnetic clamps.







Once I get the styrene sheet and an exterior styrene angle in place, I run a bead of SuperGlue Gel down the inside to "weld" the pieces together.





Not too worried about what it looks like on the inside, but the outside really looks nice.



A test fit, to get an idea of scaling.





Picked up some diecast hinges and latches years ago, and this is the perfect time to put them to use.



Once I get all four walls and a roof glued in place, I'll paint the box and install the hardware.

Stay Tuned!

[ibj40]

Got the box done.

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While I was waiting on some glue to dry, worked a little bit on the chassis.  Created a custom driveshaft.  Also blacked out the cast-in exhaust system from the ACME ramper chassis.



Looking at colors for the box.  I have this paint in stock.



Probably going to do the box in Gloss Black with an aluminum roof.

Still trying to figure out how to cut in the doors.

[ibj40]

Black paint on the box really changes the scaling.  I like it!



Here's the hinges and latches against the gloss black.



Still trying to figure out how to make the cut lines.

Roof gets painted tomorrow.
 

[ibj40]

Gonna call this a wrap.

Glued in a thick piece of styrene sheet behind the door location, hopefully to give me the ability to cut in the separations of the door panels.



Then affixed the hinges and latches, and added the painted roof panel.



All in all, I'm reasonably pleased with the outcome.







Thought I'd pose it with an AutoArt 2001 Nissan Skyline GTR (R34) Test Car  from the JGTC Series.  I had created a semi-diorama with this model several years ago by cutting up another one (they are sealed with no opening parts) to create some spare body panels, while also salvaging the wheels and tires.









Enjoy!