1/43 scratch built Western Stars

[Hammerdown]

I am currently building my 7th digital replica for a customer, similar to the ones pictured in my photobucket. After taking photos of the 1:1 truck, I scale the photos then cut out all the various pieces of the body and mount them to bulkheads attached to a plastic chassis. the finished product being a

3-D digital replica. Most of the models have either Fiber Optic or LED lighting.

http://s1281.photobu.../?sort=3&page=1

[BluePopsicle]

That's quite different. I've never seen anyone do that before. I don't quite understand though. You cut the scaled pictures out and glue them to the plastic body panels?

[Hammerdown]

I photograph all the surfaces of the actual truck at 90 degrees, straight on. Then size all the photos to 1/43 scale using a color copier. Then I cut out all the various body panels i.e. cab, sleeper side, hood, front grill etc. from the photo copy, coated card stock and assemble them to foam core bulkheads mounted on an existing toy plastic bare chassis. There is allot of cutting and fitting involved. I touch up any rough spots around seams etc. with a color matched water based paint. Basically the whole body is constructed of paper.

[BluePopsicle]

Very interesting.

[Brinx]

Bob,

THAT is positively brilliant! The possibilities are endless using your method.

Thanks for sharing.

[Hammerdown]

Thanks for looking and sharing your thoughts, guys

[chuckyr]

Looks nice. Can you can them up to 1/25 - 1/24th scale?

[Hammerdown]

Ya, any scale. I'm doing most of them in 1/43 since the toy chassis's I'm using are affordable and easily available. Plus the finished product with base and dust cover measures 28" long and about 6" high. This makes a nice size for displaying on a shelf or desk top. I've actually built a 1/64 model for a customer. The subject was an International Eagle with Fiber Optic lighting. There aren't many limitations on the scale of the finished model although a 53' trailer does photocopy onto an 11"x 17" sheet in one shot at 1/43. I do have some 1/32 chassis's that I'm going to get to work on. Dam, if I had to I could build a 1:1 model LOL but it'd probably be cheaper and easier to just go down to my local Western Star dealer and drive one off the lot.