One More Old Chevy Pickup

[Terry Jessee]

This old guy's been around a while, and you may have seen it. But if you haven't, this is an MPC '72 Chevy pickup that I got out of a friend's junk box more than 25 years ago. I got just the cab, interior, box, and chassis pan.

The frame is built from two AMT '72 Chevy Blazer chassis. Lots of other work, and about six weeks' work to do the paint job.

Here's the inspiration:

Took these photos with an old Polaroid camera in the fall of 1985.

And here's some in-progress shots that were taken during the fall and spring of 1985 and 1986.

Initially, I was going to build it as a two-wheel drive junkyard refugee.

Then I got a wild hair and decided to put together the 4X4 chassis. I sawed all the frame detail off the chassis pan and used that as a base for the Blazer frame. The grill had some junk glued to it, so I hogged it out and built some structural parts into it so it looked like it had been knocked out at one time and left that way.

Then I discovered a set of wheels from an old Esci Toyota BJ-44 Landcruiser. Went from there.

My friend Vern Greenwood (who is an incredible model railroader) taught me how to plan and put together the stock rack. I had to learn to solder small brass parts (which is a lot more delicate than soldering copper pipe). The hardest part was joining the two sides with the center section because the soldering iron would melt older joints while I was trying to put together new ones, even when we used heat sinks. I wound up using super glue to join those parts.

Vern was an incredible resource on this project because he also showed me ways to weather this truck. I found a little book called "Scale Model Trucking" by two guys named Gary Nash and Mic Greenberg that showed how to do this rusty paintjob, but Vern showed me the dusting and staining.

One technique of Vern's that was invaluable was what he called "Low Pressure Air." I was painting super thin paint at 2 psi. It took lots of layers to get the right effect, but it paid off.

It's been sitting in my display case since the late '80s. I took it down to Salt Lake for the tenth anniversary of the Greater Salt Lake Model Car Championship (GSLMCC) and cracked the frame. I repaired that but it still seems kind of fragile, so I don't move it much anymore. This case shot is from Dave Darby. He took it when he visited me last year.

Hard to believe that this truck is a quarter century old....

Terry

[jeffs396]

Very realistic Terry!

Great job!

[JunkPile]

That is a most interesting subject. Great job!

[martinfan5]

That is very cool, I like it

[Ben]

Outstanding work Terry!!!!!!!!!!! I have always thought about weathering using a very thinned mixture of very light gray paint to give the overall "dust" effect! Looks like it actually works!

Edited April 7, 2012 by Ben

[68Chevelle327]

i have the revell 77 gmc tow truck that i made a flat bed an a scratch built goose neck an want to ruff it up a bit make it look like its been out in the field one to many times any tips on painting to get a good look for mudd and dust?? im good*ish* at the custom build stuff but when it comes to paint.... not so much ha

[David G.]

Just plain awesome! In the right setting, this could pass for a 1:1.

David G.

[Sixx]

I remember seeing that, got the mag that it's in too!!!! I dig it!!!!! Good ole cowboy cadillac!!!!!

[Sixties Sam]

What a crappy truck - just like it's supposed to be! Great work on this model! The weathering and "dust" is just about perfect. That rack must h ave taken a while to build, too. Nice job!

Sam

[rmvw guy]

This truck has a lot of character, great job on all the weathering and the rack. Thanks for recycleing it again.

[race06]

Where the heck is Docz input, he'll luv dis one!

[tsroark]

Good job, that rack looks like something I'd like to put together for my 1:1 truck.

[Kaleb]

Wow, I actually thought the inspirational pics were pics of the model until I read that. Great job, and the right pics you wouldn't be able to tell a difference.

[tooltas]

that a great looking good old boy's truck

[Danno]

Aw, come on, Terry! Tell the rest of the Salt Lake City story about this truck!

It's priceless legend material ~ ~ ~ and I'll bet there are lots of people frequenting this board who haven't heard it.

[Danno]

And, PS: It's a timeless build. Looks as good now as it did "back then."