IH 3800 - plenty of seats to go around!

[TarheelRick]

7 hours ago, gotnitro? said:

That bus would be a nightmare to move around ! Very interesting photo, thanks for sharing

Yes, but it would be a pleasure to drive.  All the little kiddies are in a separate unit from the driver.

[Mopar - D]

On 4/11/2023 at 10:37 AM, heyjohnxx said:

Be glad you didn't do this one: (great job so far!)

I can see where this bus would come in handy for transporting workers to and from a remote work site that has limited parking. 

[gotnitro?]

I spent the weekend puttering around the house, and tried frosting a cake! Not really..its just a skim coat of evercoat filler on the roof. I grew up in my dads body shop, and always oddly found the smell of this filler pleasant. Cracking open that can brought back great memories 

The big blob was born after I laid the bus down before it was cured..oops more dust clouds ahead

My plans aren't a glass flat roof, just blending everything front to back. 

Thanks for everyone's feedback its greatly appreciated 

[Mopar - D]

Looks like some block sanding head for you Jeff. Great idea to use the evercoat to get a smooth finish. 

[gotnitro?]

1 hour ago, Mopar - D said:

Looks like some block sanding head for you Jeff. Great idea to use the evercoat to get a smooth finish. 

Thanks Dan..it definitely will need block work. I'd already  done one overall coat in the photos, and found a few low areas needing more filler. I wish I was skilled enough to avoid the ridges between the sections of filler, but I have that doing drywall too

My biggest hurdle now is locating Duplicolor primer to cover the filler once its ready. I don't trust rustoleum primer under tamiya paints.

[J.B. Customs]

Another build that I am simply AMAZED with fantastic work 

[gotnitro?]

Finally happy enough with the roof work to seal the filler. I was in a hurry to coat the roof in gray primer, then realized I'd forgotten the Emergency exits!!! Theres a few more parts to add, but the mounting flange is glued down. 

We  had plans to attend the schools art show for our daughter, she was really proud of this owl! To be fair shes 6 lol

Thanks for following along 

[chuckyr]

Nice looking Bratmobile.

[gotnitro?]

23 hours ago, chuckyr said:

Nice looking Bratmobile.

Thanks ! 

Its finally in paint ! I removed the tape and masking paper off immediately after painting to avoid a tape line. I have some touch ups around the windows,  but happy w it 

Close up of the roof emergency hatch

Tonite the Archer rivets will be applied to the roof

[TarheelRick]

Beautiful and very creative work. But I have never seen a bus that shiny.  We did have one driver that tried, unsuccessfully, to wax the fiberglass nose piece on his bus.

Edited April 28, 2023 by TarheelRick

[cifenet]

Amazing, this is some work!   With the roof installed shaping up the bus, I can easily envision how awesome this is going to turn out!

[gotnitro?]

On 4/28/2023 at 11:15 AM, TarheelRick said:

Beautiful and very creative work. But I have never seen a bus that shiny.  We did have one driver that tried, unsuccessfully, to wax the fiberglass nose piece on his bus.

Thanks, I could weather the finish down after everything is done..but this bus stays clean. My late father in law always kept his clean I've heard from those that worked closest to him

[gotnitro?]

On 4/28/2023 at 12:05 PM, cifenet said:

Amazing, this is some work!   With the roof installed shaping up the bus, I can easily envision how awesome this is going to turn out!

Thank you! I've just ordered another sheet of rivets from micro- mark to finish the roof.  I found a few older photos of HSD buses, and noticed I have a few details wrong. Can't win them all lol

[Warren D]

3 hours ago, gotnitro? said:

Thank you! I've just ordered another sheet of rivets from micro- mark to finish the roof.  I found a few older photos of HSD buses, and noticed I have a few details wrong. Can't win them all lol

Always seems to happen to me, I finish something and then see all the things that are wrong.  You'll just have to do like I do, make another one!

[Chariots of Fire]

3 hours ago, Warren D said:

Always seems to happen to me, I finish something and then see all the things that are wrong.  You'll just have to do like I do, make another one!

Happens to all of us.  I noticed tonite that I have the forward mud flaps on backwards on the CCKW.  Vertical bracing should be outside the wheels, not inside.  Read the photo wrong when I did it.  NOT CHANGING IT NOW!!?

[gotnitro?]

18 hours ago, Warren D said:

Always seems to happen to me, I finish something and then see all the things that are wrong.  You'll just have to do like I do, make another one!

Haha thats exactly what my wife suggested!  Another one would go faster, maybe down the road I'll tackle a short bus.

[gotnitro?]

14 hours ago, Chariots of Fire said:

Happens to all of us.  I noticed tonite that I have the forward mud flaps on backwards on the CCKW.  Vertical bracing should be outside the wheels, not inside.  Read the photo wrong when I did it.  NOT CHANGING IT NOW!!?

All part of the hobby! I tend to nit pick everything, then try to fix the issue causing more problems...lesson learned move on ! 

[gotnitro?]

The bus has its decals now!  I made them using MS paint,  then sealed them w acrylic clear. 

[DRIPTROIT 71]

Wow!! That looks amazing!! Excellent work Jeff!!

[gotnitro?]

I airbrushed a few decanted coats of camel yellow over the Micro-mark rivet sheet, and allowed to dry overnight. After work, I cut them into strips and laid them down. I couldn't be happier how they turned out 

There's a few lights and  mirrors to install, then wrap up the frame. The doors will be last 

[redscampi]

Wow! That looks real.

[Mopar - D]

Jeff your rivets look awesome!

[tractoraholic]

Your bus looks amazing!, It's even got the big sun visor for the driver, fans, trash can, very nice detail work!

Edited May 22, 2023 by tractoraholic

[cifenet]

The roof came out nicely!  The rivet details do add realism also.  

[gotnitro?]

I fabbed up a pair of west coast style mirror mounts today! After looking over several kit mirrors,  aka telephone poles, I grabbed some evergreen rod and got busy bending. I chose 030" rod for a scale appearance. Meng bolts finish off the mounts.

Surprisingly it went fairly quick, after a couple snapped bends. 

Tomorrow I'll tackle the actual mirror heads, and blind spot mirrors on the hood .

Thanks to everyone following along  !