Li'l Fire Cracker

[Smart-Resins]

Alright. I have a show coming up here in just a hare over a month. I was working on a truck for it maybe, but I have body issues. So I decided to start a new project for this. Something very different! I have a LIL Gasser kit and wanted something different. I am using the tank to help finish off my hoochy mobile and the mixer that comes in the kit is not complete. So I went to the drawing board. First I was thinking maybe a Dragon Wagon rear end on it, but I cant afford that! Then I thought maybe a hang man boom on it. Then I recalled seeing where someone did one similar to that in orange and white. Must say it was nice too! Well you know me, I like to be different. So I decided to use the rear 1 1/8" of a paddy wagon body to create a LIL' Fire Engine, something like a cross bread between the LIL Gasser and the Fire Engine #13 kit. So here is the beginnings of it! I am thinking candy apple red, but may do just plain hot red? At this point, I have both sides on and the roof extended. The frame work is done. As you can see, I shortened it in the rear half. Then I lengthened the front section and angled it 45 degrees and tilted the front axle back wards. I had to make the rear rims much wider to fit the huge tires I am using. I am looking for another pair of rear inner rim halves to finish widening the front rims to fit the Indy style front wheels I want to use. I am thinking about drilling the frame out for a better show rod appeal.Thanks for looking. Jody

[Smart-Resins]

Quick up date. I got my flames steering wheel in and painted the flames red naturally. Also got the flocking in for when I am ready! I had to sand off all of the trim since the little trim was no longer right and the larger trim was not the same size as my half round styrene(1/64 difference) I know that may not seem like much, but it was enough of a difference for a huge visual no no! So I sanded it all off and then started to replace it. Here is the first side done. The frame is currently in the paint booth and hope to share pics of that soon. All of the chrome is getting stripped and will be smoothed out and then I will apply alclad over black gloss. Thank for looking! Jody

[Smart-Resins]

Here is another quick update for every one. First, I couldnt decide wether I would do tuck n roll or not. Then I decided if I had time, maybe I would. Well, I decided to do a combination. The rear seats, cut down from a PW kit I have added half rounds to. Also the roof, I have added quarter rounds to the outside for more style. Then added half rounds to the inside on both sides. In the center I will scratch a console unit. The tuck n roll will be white while the center part will be flocked red. I need to move the light mounts forward, other wise, the roof is almost ready for paint. Just a little clean up. The same with the body. Here you can see both sides of the body are done. A little clean up and I can start painting that as well. The last shot is the frame in the paint booth, getting the finishing touches on it. Soon I will be able to turn my attention to the suspension pieces and alclading them so I can build the chassis. Hope you all enjoy. Jody

[Smart-Resins]

Alright, since it was raining and I could not work on the paint on the 50 chevy again, I decided to play around with some styrene. I have not been able to find someone else to do my gold leaf decals, so I decided to add that body molding by hand. When the body is all done being painted, I am planning on using actual gold leaf to cover this new trim. Thanks. Just as a word of caution, cut off all of your fingers before doing this, so you wont make a mess that you will have to painstakingly have to sand smooth when you are done. LOL. Now for the pics. Jody

[Foxer]

This is looking really cool...all that trim!! BMF is like heavy cardboard compared to gold leaf! I did some work for Crane & Company at their Stationery Mill where they applied gold leaf by hand to the edges of cards and stationery. One guy did it all. pretty amazing to watch a real craftsman.

Edited April 4, 2009 by Foxer