1969 Chevy base C/10

[hedotwo]

I've started on a project I've been hoping to do for quite some time.  It will be a replica (as close as I will take it anyway) of a 69 base C/10 that my wife and I owned early in our marriage to tow a 16' Winnebago trailer.  I was able to make a trade with DRIPTROIT71 (thanks again Brian!) for an MPC 70 CST trimmed Chevy that will need to be backdated to a 69 along with eliminating the custom trim level.  I also scored a diecast 64 Winnebago from VON ZIPPER (thanks again Chris!) that, other than the accent paint scheme, is a great replica of ours.  As part of the build I'll be scratch building a replica of the topper (aka cap, shell) we had as well.  In all the years I've been building (starting in the early 60's) I don't remember building a truck of any kind, so this will be a first.

[1972coronet]

Awesome! I'm quite looking forward to following your build of one of me fave pickups. 

I've been wanting to "de-CST" the 1972 C-10 --- can't wait to see how you convert the interior.

Was your 1:1 a V8 or six model? 

[hedotwo]

26 minutes ago, 1972coronet said:

Awesome! I'm quite looking forward to following your build of one of me fave pickups. 

I've been wanting to "de-CST" the 1972 C-10 --- can't wait to see how you convert the interior.

Was your 1:1 a V8 or six model? 

Don't expect much for the interior.  I know I'll replace the buckets with a bench of some type but will likely leave the door panels.  Not sure I have the patience to do them.  Once this ends up in my display case no one will likely get within 2' of it so (to me anyway) there isn't as much reward for the time spent on them.  I know the parts of building I enjoy, and those I don't really .  Your mileage may vary of course.....

Oh, and mine had the 307 with 3 on the tree of all things.

Edited April 17, 2022 by hedotwo

[89AKurt]

Awesome to see another one of these kits get resurrected and turned into a replica!  I haven't laid hands on an MPC kit, am interested what the chassis looks like.  I built the AMT: Not '72 but '69 Chevy pickup THE GREEN BARGE, so I wish the best for your build!

[hedotwo]

Read your thread more than once and am amazed at the detailing you did.  I know I don't have the skills or patience to do the same.... congrats!  Here's a look at the minimal chassis.

[espo]

Great job removing the body and bed trim. 

[leafsprings]

Great job on removing all the "gingerbread". Model companies automatically had a habit of giving us high level trim vehicles.  

[DRIPTROIT 71]

Excellent work on removing the trim!! Looks great!!

[NOBLNG]

Great start! ?

[Plowboy]

Looks good so far Rich! If you want a better chassis, check the one that comes in the Revell '66 Suburban. You would have to lengthen it to fit the long wheelbase you have. But, you would have a much nicer chassis under it. 

[hedotwo]

33 minutes ago, Plowboy said:

Looks good so far Rich! If you want a better chassis, check the one that comes in the Revell '66 Suburban. You would have to lengthen it to fit the long wheelbase you have. But, you would have a much nicer chassis under it. 

Thanks Rog but I'm one of the oddballs that aren't too concerned with the underside as long as things sit level when finished.  Mostly because of my trouble dealing with smaller, fiddly suspension pieces.  Probably why I enjoy the old annuals.  Years ago I never had that problem but many of us older folks know that your steadiness and dexterity can change as you age.  Mine has.  So I stick to things that are easier to fit and handle.  We all build to what we enjoy doing I guess. ?

[Plowboy]

1 hour ago, hedotwo said:

Thanks Rog but I'm one of the oddballs that aren't too concerned with the underside as long as things sit level when finished.  Mostly because of my trouble dealing with smaller, fiddly suspension pieces.  Probably why I enjoy the old annuals.  Years ago I never had that problem but many of us older folks know that your steadiness and dexterity can change as you age.  Mine has.  So I stick to things that are easier to fit and handle.  We all build to what we enjoy doing I guess. ?

I know what you mean Rich. For me, it depends on the model. Some of the most fun builds I've had are those with a one piece chassis. When they're setting on a shelf, they look just as good as those with a detailed chassis. 

[hedotwo]

Some progress on the beginning of the topper for the truck.  After much experimenting with the curvature needed to bring the top to the sides I ended up using 90 degrees of an 11/32 Evergreen styrene tube.  I used a hole template to mark off both ends of the tube, which wasn't easy to ensure the cuts ended up fairly straight along the lines.  Using the tubing had the benefit of holding its' shape after cut and being able to glue the "step" strips.  I used masking tape to mark the cut lines and then used various PE saws to make rough cuts.  I then finished by using my dremel VERY lightly with a fine drum sander to meet the tape.  I ended up with two sections that I was happy with and added two strips to each to provide strength to the joints where the top and sides attach to the curved sections.  I also made the templates for the front and back end panels.  Lastly, a pic of a sheet of Woodland Scenics dry transfer letters/numbers that I'm reluctantly going to use for the side C/10 emblems used in 69.  I guessed the height of the 1:1 emblems to be like 2" high, which works out to approximately 2mm high in 1/25.  This sheet has the 2mm I needed, plus it had both white and black.  Not thinking of an alternative to this sketchy way of replicating the emblems, I'll use the white letters against the dark green final paint of the truck.  I may experiment with trying to paint a few of the letters silver and see how that works when transfered.  Not holding out much hope on that .  I'm a ways off from adding the transfers to the cab so if anyone has a better idea I'm all ears (well... eyes).

 

[hedotwo]

A bit more progress on the topper overnight.    

[leafsprings]

The custom topper work is impressive. Rookie Resins once offered the correct base model C 10 hubcaps, would look great on this build!

[hedotwo]

50 minutes ago, leafsprings said:

The custom topper work is impressive. Rookie Resins once offered the correct base model C 10 hubcaps, would look great on this build!

Fortunately I won't have to worry about hubcaps as ours had plain steels painted white.  Thanks for the tip though.

[hedotwo]

Next up was to attach a roof section and make templates for the side windows which will have both tinted and scale screen windows.

 

Unfortunately the best photo I have of our topper, but my memory can fill in the rest.

Edited April 22, 2022 by hedotwo

[NOBLNG]

That topper is coming along real nicely!?

[Jordan White]

Nice looking build! Do you have a name or link for that file you were using in the pic of your first post?

[hedotwo]

18 minutes ago, Jordan White said:

Nice looking build! Do you have a name or link for that file you were using in the pic of your first post?

I have a number of riffler files that I used all the time.  I'm pretty sure the one in the pic came from Amazon in this set but it says it's not in stock.  This set is fairly coarse but works really well when you want to take it down quickly.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009PJWPK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_image?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Edited April 22, 2022 by hedotwo

[TarheelRick]

Really am enjoying the work you are doing downgrading this old Chevy.  My first pickup was an orange '72 C-10 Custom, longbed, 350, auto.  I had kidney-bean mags (not Halibrand) and an aluminum shell on mine. Oh yeah, that is some really nice work on that camper shell.

42 minutes ago, Jordan White said:

Nice looking build! Do you have a name or link for that file you were using in the pic of your first post?

Harbor Freight usually carries a pretty good set of those riffler files.

[Jordan White]

Thanks! Right now I'm using a dremel for the heavy material removal, but it is a bit hard to control at times!

[hedotwo]

I have a few different riffler sets and this set, and another I have that's finer, are my most used.  Like most things, you get what you pay for in the way they cut. I use rifflers more than standard files I think.

[hedotwo]

Finished up the topper.  Red running lights are half round styrene with the ends rounded and painted a burgundy.  Screen mesh is from an aftermarket vendor but can't remember which.  It's scale anyway.  The window tint film was donated by Petski (thanks again Peter) and turned out pretty good for my liking.  I don't have a final pic with a lift handle added but it'll be seen when this project gets finished.  Now that the topper is finished I'll move on to adding a bench seat to replace the kit buckets.  Nothing crazy, but it'll be closer to our 1:1 than having buckets.  From there it'll be easier with engine assembly and body painting.  When all that's done and the C/10 is finished I'll move onto the trailer itself.

Thanks for looking....

Here's are few pics of a test I did applying film.

 

 

[NOBLNG]

Wow that topper looks REALLY great! Fantastic work.?