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Expressions of interest in new range of vintage trucks !


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Hey Tom.

Sorry for the late reply, I literally have not logged in for almost a month. Despite the lack of posts I have not stopped working on the trucks. A car accident last year left me with a broken wrist and since then there have been other distractions to contend with as well. I have decided to focus on the 32 BB Ford truck rather than the AA at the moment.Earlier in the month I finished off the cab and fenders, and the bonnet sides are almost ready to mould. One thing that has been hampering this project since day one was how I would go about making the larger drum brakes. Well I came up with a solution and I hope have them finished in the next day or so. The chassis has had all the cross members added and it just needs surface finishing before I mould it as well.

This has been a mammoth undertaking and my desire to get everything right has meant that each task has taken far longer than anticipated. I am finally at the stage where I am happy with how everything looks and the only remaining task after finishing the brakes and chassis will be to complete the diff and rear leaf springs. Once I have done this I can begin casting. I am not sure how long it will be before that happens but once it does I will post up the finished prototype and focus and the promotion.

Cheers,

Rob.

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Looking forward to seeing these available.I can't imagine trying to model with a brokjen wrist,gotta be tough and frustrating.I broke me left elbow in 6 places and left pelvis in 2 places over 30 years ago.Also had double pneumonia at the same time and was in the hospital for 6 weeks.That'll really cramp your style big time!!

Glad you're on the mend.

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  • 1 month later...

Hey Guys.

This is an important update on the early thirties truck range. It has been months since I posted anything and even though I have dropped off the radar I have not stopped working on completing this project. As you maybe aware a car accident left me with a broken wrist last year which was a major delay. That was only one of many delays that have kept me from finishing this project. The other major delay was creating the wheel, A Kelsey Hay five hole five lug rim. I was originally going to mould the wheels from the Unique Replicas 1:24 scale Diecast 1934 BB Ford Truck, so I went ahead and ordered it. When it arrived I was disappointed to find the wheels not only had the wrong shape holes but the studs were off centre to the holes as well. I tried casting the wheel removing and replacing the studs. This seemed to work and I continued to use this cast wheel as the master for the wheel until I accidently destroyed it while machining it down. Frustrated, I looked at casting a second wheel and starting over again or starting afresh and scratch building a new one altogether. I chose to scratch build it and after several failed attempts I finally created a wheel that I am happy with. The new wheel has separate holes for the studs for added realism and ease of moulding. My other major delay was the chassis. The chassis is 90 percent scratch built and sourcing reference material has proven difficult. It has only been in the last six weeks or so that I have been able to find images of the bare chassis with enough detail in them to transfer that detail onto mine. At the moment I am finishing off the remaining cross members and adding the studs. Once that is done the chassis will be complete. The front and rear suspension has also been sourced and the brakes created. I am really looking forward to completing this kit shortly but due to the intricate details that are needed I have given up setting a specific date.

One thing is certain when it is completed it will have been worth the wait. Anyway I would like to thank you fro all your patience and I look forward to my next announcement being that its finished.

Cheers !

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I just finished putting the last cross member together tonight. Tomorrow I will fill all the gaps undercoat everything and add the three remaining cross members to the chassis. Once last stud has been added I can start constructing the mould for the chassis.

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  • 1 month later...

Hey Guys.

I will admit it has been slow going of late, which is why I have not posted anything. The hardest thing has been making the wheels and chassis. I had to scratch build the wheel centre and I still need to do the outer rim as well. It was only recently that I was able to find enough images of the 1:1 chassis to be able to complete it. The chassis is 80 to 90 percent scratch built too. That includes all the cross members. and most of the rails. I am getting some more putty on the weekend so that I can finish adding the transmissions. Once that is done I can put the studs in and the chassis will be finished. Once I add the outer rim to the wheel it will be finished too. Then I begin the moulds for the these last components and start casting the prototype. Sorry I have been unable to put a finish date on it, but has been a very challenging project and I want to get any mistakes ironed out before the moulds are made.

Cheers !

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  • 1 month later...
  • 2 weeks later...

The good news is the build is getting closer to completion, while the chassis is taking forever, I was able to complete the differential and finish the rim on the wheels. I have been doing a build of a 35 Dearborn C.O.E that will use the chassis if you want to see what it looks like.

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Vintage trucks hold much more appeal to me than any other era. 

I know this is not a true correct factory stock build....but I like it. 

DSC00029-vi.jpg

DSC00031-vi.jpg

DSC00032-vi.jpg

 

So anything kit wise in that era would be great....even just parts.....wheels, tires etc. 

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  • 3 months later...

http://images_zpsqmmisvpj.jpgP101746343_zpsbigtmr1i.jpg

Hey Guys ! It has been months since I have posted anything, but I have a major announcement. I can confirm the first official releases will be a range of mid thirties Ford and Dearborn based trucks. Dearborn specialised in converting conventional trucks into cab overs and did various between 1935 and 1937. The one on the left is the 37 version, the one on the right is the master I have been working on for almost 18 months of the 35/36 version. These were true cab over trucks unlike the factory Ford versions that followed. The Dearborn C.O.E actually had more in common with later cab overs in that they sat higher up over the engine allowing more  cabin space with a flat floor. The reason I am focussing on these over the earlier AA and BB versions is simply because these are closer to completion. I am still working on the AA and BB kits but they will be released a little further on. Another important optional component I will be adding with these kits is a range of vintage trailers. These trailers will be designed to adapt to the trucks with their own turntable that can be added to the truck. I was not originally planning to release semi trailers but I figured it made perfect sense as sourcing correct vintage era trailers for these kits would be next to impossible. For the moment though I can say the first truck release will be based on the 131 inch wheelbase type chassis. This chassis will also be shortened to 112 inch wheelbase for the Dearborn C.O.E versions. I will still be doing the carry bodies as planned but the first releases will be the cab chassis trucks.

Edited by fractalign
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Here is the master for the conventional Ford truck. The chassis for this one and the Dearborn C.O.E above it will be based on the 131 inch version. The fenders, wheels and tyres in this image are the resin versions. I have cast up various wheels and I am undercoating the wheels for a build I am doing to test out the quality of the components. The first release will actually be the wheels themselves along with the brakes, differential and rear leaf springs. These were similar from the BB Ford right through to the 1937 Fords. The wheels them selves will feature separate lugs, hubs and caps. This is to allow the separate parts to be painted in the appropriate colours with out the need to mask parts.

http://P1017464_zpssmaprsfa.jpg

Edited by fractalign
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P1017466_zps8wymfrhy.jpgAnother major change I have undertaken is to include pickups in the range. These will not overlap in anyway with the existing factory based versions from Revell Monogram. I was originally going to focus on medium to heavy trucks, but I realised I could do some pickup versions as well that corresponded with the oddball years that the majors had ignored in their light commercial range. Unlike the trucks, the pickups will  be rod based versions, featuring their own updated chassis, suspension and interiors. The image above is of the 35/36 Ford Pickup. The 36  will feature the same cab and hood as the truck, but the 35 version will feature a smoothed hood and chopped cab. There will also be several 35-37 Dearborn C.O.E versions well including some car carrier versions. All the pickups will be pro street versions designed to adapt to the running gear from the Revell 41 Willys Street Rod kit. The Car carrier versions will use standard truck chassis with upgraded wheels and suspension options.P1017467_zpsedbaibnh.jpg

Edited by fractalign
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Hey Greg.

I wish I could pencil in a date for the trucks, all I can say at this stage is that the first components to be released will be the wheels and suspension. If I could get either the Dearborn C.O.E or 36 Ford Truck finished and cast by Christmas then I will be doing well.

Cheers !

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hey Guys !

Thanks for all the encouragement, I thought I should update you on the progress of the trucks. I mentioned in the previous post that the first trucks to be released would be the 35-37 Fords and Dearborn C.O.E. That is still the plan but I decided to add something else into the mix. Originally The full size trucks were going to be cab chassis, with bodies to be created later on but I have been toying with a idea. The image below is of a 48 to 52 Chev C.O.E converted into a single car hauler. I know these types of trucks did not really start appearing until the late fifties, early sixties. I also know this type of rig was popular with racing enthusiasts. Sprint Cars, drag cars, stock cars in particular were often transported on the back of these. Last year I purchased a sheet of checker plate styrene to make the floor of a rollback that I want to create. I soon realised there was enough checker plate to do the roll back tray and to create one of these versions as well. This was a relatively easy build. Two days in and its three quarters finished already. My intention is to offer this option with the first Dearborn I release. I have also redesigned the chassis so that the wheel base is adjustable. The chassis will be extended to the standard 157 inch Wheel base. However the leaf springs will be able to moved back to allow a longer wheel base should the builder decide he or she wants to create a car hauler similar to the one below.

http://1952_Chevroler_COE_Car_Hauler_For_Sale_F

Edited by fractalign
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The 40 Ford below has a similar set up only with a bogie drive. The version I have constructed looks more like the one below minus the twin wheel arches. In the previous post I mentioned I would be releasing the wheels and tyres before tooling up for the complete kit. I am hoping the lag time between the wheels and tyres  and the complete kit is shortened now that I have ironed out all the bugs. Sorry for the lack of progress photos, trouble with my uploader it seems. Once that is sorted out I can post of up photos of the car hauler body and fingers crossed actually have a full kit completed in the next couple of months. Anyway let me know what you think of the car hauler idea or if you have any suggestions for any other configurations,  Cheers !

 th Anyway 1940-ford-hauler-_zps6rl9vrur.jpg

Edited by fractalign
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  • 2 years later...

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