Western Star 4900 FA plow truck

[Straightliner59]

9 hours ago, BK9300 said:

Finally, received my last order of chrome paints today - SMS's Hyperchrome, 'Cold Tone' and FusionFirm's, 'Liquid Chrome'.  I have five chrome paints to test out tomorrow, weather permitting - I know many have posted results of these paint comparisons online, but nothing beats looking at the results up close, so I'll follow the products' instructions, let them cure, make a choice and get on with finishing this off!

 

As far as I am concerned, one can never have too many different shades and sheens of metallic finishes! A little difference can go a long way, in creating realism. I'm hoping to pick up some Fusionfirm chrome, in the next couple of months.

[rustybill1960]

Oh, My Goodness! Sir! This has got to be the most immaculate example of precise detailing of a model that I have "ever" seen to date! I am in awe of Your skills in scratch building! Never have I witnessed such skills! I just finished the journey of this build and was I ever amazed! WOW! It is remarkable what You have done with the plastic in making the parts for this build, I am just overwhelmed by the work! Your precision and detailing on this truck build is, well, I am at a loss for words, I mean what can I say that hasn't already been said? And "YES," I agree that this "IS" a museum piece! You Sir have something there to be very proud of. My hat is off, I applaud Your work and skill! Thank You so much for having taken the time and effort to share this build with all of Us here! I must add that I am looking forward to seeing the finished piece, albeit sadly, this has been one fascinating build for sure! Later

[BK9300]

8 hours ago, rustybill1960 said:

Oh, My Goodness! Sir! This has got to be the most immaculate example of precise detailing of a model that I have "ever" seen to date! I am in awe of Your skills in scratch building! Never have I witnessed such skills! I just finished the journey of this build and was I ever amazed! WOW! It is remarkable what You have done with the plastic in making the parts for this build, I am just overwhelmed by the work! Your precision and detailing on this truck build is, well, I am at a loss for words, I mean what can I say that hasn't already been said? And "YES," I agree that this "IS" a museum piece! You Sir have something there to be very proud of. My hat is off, I applaud Your work and skill! Thank You so much for having taken the time and effort to share this build with all of Us here! I must add that I am looking forward to seeing the finished piece, albeit sadly, this has been one fascinating build for sure! Later

Thanks very much, Russell.  I appreciate your time (and patience!) for having looked in on this - there is definitely a lot to go through!  I’m looking forward to the finish, too, with only a bit more to go.  Thanks again!

[BK9300]

A bit of a heads up on progress - 

There are lots of online, suggested procedures for applying the different chrome paints I have.  This is all new to me so I have settled on the following plan.  For test panels, I'm using the four sides of the WS, Constellation's sleeper.  I've primed, then painted the test panels Tamiya Gloss Black lacquer and will let them cure for a week.  Then, three panels will be painted with Tamiya gloss clear and cured for another week.  These three cured, clear coated panels can then be painted - one with FusionFirm, Liquid Chrome; one with SMS, Hyperchrome - Cold Tone; one with Revell Chrome.  The fourth panel, the Alsa Easy Chrome one, needs their specific, clear base coat applied and a further 4 days of cure time before applying their chrome paint, which must also cure for a couple days before touching.  Key to all of the paints seems to be to get as smooth a surface as possible before applying the chrome paint and having to wait for all this curing to take place!  Each of the test panels is big enough that I can test half of each one to see how well/poorly the chrome paints reacts to a final, paint specific, protective clear coat.

Meantime, I'm going to carry on with making the air cleaner and possibly some of the plumbing from the air cleaner to the intake turbo, to get things all lined up (and make sure the hood can still open and close!).   Also, I can likely do remaining work on the few work and backup lights that need to be installed around the truck's frame.  And, I need to do a final check of all the parts to be chromed, and make sure their locating pins are thin enough to go in their holes in the cab without extra effort.  I can't make those adjustments after the parts have been painted!

I've been thinking about leaving the hood hinges unglued and being able to display the truck with the hood off as well as tilted open.  The reason for that is because the hood will likely rest on the front plow lift arm when open, because of my need to leave the grille bars attached to the grille surround, unlike on the real truck.  Still more stuff to figure out!

 

Edited 10 hours ago by BK9300

[Biggu]

Time’s Ticking , Brian …. Snow on the Coq today !😉🤭🤣Got to her operational!!  

This is such an awesome tutorial and I am really watching your chroming techniques and what you come up with.  Excellent stuff. !! 

[BK9300]

1 hour ago, Biggu said:

Time’s Ticking , Brian …. Snow on the Coq today !😉🤭🤣Got to her operational!!  

This is such an awesome tutorial and I am really watching your chroming techniques and what you come up with.  Excellent stuff. !! 

Thanks, Jeff.  'Tutorial' is generous as that assumes I already know what I'm doing, which I don't - I just hope that a clear (no pun intended!) winner shows up at the end of the testing!