Rigzndiesel Posted January 1, 2015 Posted January 1, 2015 (edited) There has been some really nice wreckers showing up on the board this month. I have had fun watching them as I am building a wrecker too! Back in the late 90s I picked up a little window Wrecker kit (T-522) off of Ebay. I bought it cheap as it was missing the wrecker body. I painted it like the box art only it was without the wrecker body and I just made it into a tractor minus sleeper. It came out OK but then I moved and the truck had some damage. Then, I discovered resin kits and I bought a resin CFC 358 hood. I decided this would be the truck to try out my first resin hood. Shortly afterwards, I picked up a reissued wrecker kit (robbed the wrecker body) and painted the body to match my little window cab. It came out OK. Once again I moved. And again, the truck needed to be put back together but this time I built it as an old OTR tractor with a Mercury sleeper. It came out decent. Then after a few years I moved again, and the truck needed another rebuild. This time I stripped the paint off, ditched the sleeper and left it to sit on a shelf for a few years. I had really wanted to redo it like the original box art (T-522) but dreaded having to strip the paint off the frame and no longer had the decals to do it; I lost interest and just let it sit... What if...Stepps towing started out with a little window 358 Pete?!? Hmmmm............ Anyways, that's the direction I'm going with this. Jeff Edited January 23, 2015 by Rigzndiesel
Superpeterbilt Posted January 1, 2015 Posted January 1, 2015 Man that thing was beautiful in the original box art.I mean seriously that might be one of my favorite builds of this kit.
Old Buckaroo Posted January 1, 2015 Posted January 1, 2015 Very impressive background history on this truck. I like seeing models get second chances (or third , or fourth) What makes this realy cool is you have a photo progression. I like the concept of starting out with the basic wrecker. This will be a fun project to follow. I so want to build a Dons Truck Plaza Wrecker someday
dragzz Posted January 1, 2015 Posted January 1, 2015 that looks really good in towing we call that the old homes wrecker its all gear drive on the back deck just so u know but keep up the great work
Superpeterbilt Posted January 1, 2015 Posted January 1, 2015 (edited) that looks really good in towing we call that the old homes wrecker its all gear drive on the back deck just so u know but keep up the great work This is actually the Don Hientz Big Stick wrecker. The Holmes wrecker is a lot more complicated design. Edited January 1, 2015 by Superpeterbilt
Rigzndiesel Posted January 1, 2015 Author Posted January 1, 2015 Thanks for the comments guys. I would love to have a 750 Holmes wrecker body. Someday I will break out the Ken Smith article on scratch building one. Terry - I've been following your 352 Wrecker build as well. Very, very cool scratch built wrecker body. And all the cool mods to the cab. Looking forward to seeing more! Jeff
Superpeterbilt Posted January 1, 2015 Posted January 1, 2015 Terry - I've been following your 352 Wrecker build as well. Very, very cool scratch built wrecker body. And all the cool mods to the cab. Looking forward to seeing more! Jeff Thanks man. I have to get back on it. I put it to the side to get some other things done for a show, and now Ive gotten into a few others.
Petetrucker07 Posted January 1, 2015 Posted January 1, 2015 All versions youve done have looked good. Its cool its survived so you were able to put it through all the changes.
dragzz Posted January 1, 2015 Posted January 1, 2015 to me there both just as good there old school keep up the great work
Rigzndiesel Posted January 2, 2015 Author Posted January 2, 2015 Spent most of the day inside thanks to a nice snow fall today. I posted some new pics. I spent a lot of time touching up the paint on the wrecker body. Changed the rear wheels out for some 2 hole Budds and put some cleated rubber tires on. The front tires are from the Pete 352 TurnPiker. I never did like those rims on that kit because they are too fat. Using them as front high floats for a wrecker seemed like a better fit. Most of the body parts are just mocked up. Not sure what I'm going to use for the winch cables. Thread seems so out of place. Sprayed clear on the body so I can add the decals next. I'm undecided on painting the front bumper red and black like the rear. Or bare metal foil the bumper for a custom look. I put the pintle hook up front so painting the bumper may be a better option. I really want to finish this truck this weekend so I can start another old built up that lost momentum. Thanks for looking, Jeff
Petetrucker07 Posted January 2, 2015 Posted January 2, 2015 Lookin like a tough piece of equipment. Those 2 hole rims really bring it all together.
dragzz Posted January 2, 2015 Posted January 2, 2015 looking great. stay with the red and black be a good match
Mopar - D Posted January 2, 2015 Posted January 2, 2015 Wow what a track history of ever changing on this truck and every update was better than the one before it including the current rebuild. Good luck in meeting your schedule to finish this.
Rigzndiesel Posted January 2, 2015 Author Posted January 2, 2015 The first picture when the truck was blue and white was taken about 17 years ago. I remember setting up a table outside my house with three or four newly built trucks since my Ebay discovery. I think the neighbors next door thought I was silly for taking pictures of my models. I waited for a nice day to use my 12mm Nikon camera. After taking the pics I remember hoping/praying that they came out well and the anticipation of the wait for film devlopment. It's not like that anymore these days. Time sure does fly... Jeff
kilrathy10 Posted January 3, 2015 Posted January 3, 2015 (edited) That's a good looking redo, Man....Very nice work.....The color change really pops..... Poor truck....I bet it shudders every time y'all talk about moving..... Edited January 3, 2015 by kilrathy10
Rigzndiesel Posted January 3, 2015 Author Posted January 3, 2015 JT - Lol...that's funny! Not moving anytime soon, I retired from the military (5 yrs ago) so this is it for awhile. Only problem is I don't have the shelf space on the walls in this house. Still have models packed in a foot locker. I cringe thinking about how they faired during the move! Trying to tidy up a few started/broke ones before I tackle any new projects. Still have that drop deck flatbed you built last year on my mind. Thanks! Jeff
Rigzndiesel Posted January 3, 2015 Author Posted January 3, 2015 Cleaned my work space off so I could apply decals. Not sure if I should go with dual exhaust or single. Painted lubrifiner or chrome. Scrolls from the decal sheet or scrolls from the AMT sheets.... Any ideas or comments welcomed. Jeff
kilrathy10 Posted January 3, 2015 Posted January 3, 2015 Hey, no problem, Man....I remember when I was in the Marine Corps, I didn't build much at all, simply because of that possibility....Base housing just didn't seem to be the place to set up shop, if you know what I mean.......Even, now I'm struggling with shelf space.....I'm thinking about putting a few of them into storage....Just too many...
Old Buckaroo Posted January 10, 2015 Posted January 10, 2015 (edited) Cleaned my work space off so I could apply decals. Not sure if I should go with dual exhaust or single. Painted lubrifiner or chrome. Scrolls from the decal sheet or scrolls from the AMT sheets.... Any ideas or comments welcomed. Jeff I would go with the duals on the stacks and lubrifiner. Cant help you on the scrolls as I would have to see the sheets for the styles. Edited January 10, 2015 by Old Buckaroo
Tesla Posted January 10, 2015 Posted January 10, 2015 That's a fine looking wrecker Jeff. I like the Stepp's theme.
Rigzndiesel Posted January 10, 2015 Author Posted January 10, 2015 (edited) Hey Sean, I've decided to go with the dual exhaust since the lower pipes are there from the previous build. Found some fresh mufflers and "black washed" the shields. I also found a spare luberfiner in the parts box and will end up painting it since I don't have a chrome one. I do have a chrome top I'll put on if I can separate the old one without cutting my finger again. I would like to go with curved pipes but don't have any. I have been able to do a little work since my accident but nothing major. As you can see, some of my decals have yellowed. I pulled the fuel tank off so I could redo it but I'm gonna replace it with the smaller reissued tank so the exhaust plumbing won't touch it. Used BMF for the grill shell, trashed the old grill mesh pulling it off so I'll need to get some new stuff. Don't know where tho... Also,I'm not liking the frame painted a darker color red but I'll have to go with it. I think I'm gonna try the older style scrolls first. Here is what I got so far. Thanks for the opinions... Jeff Edited January 10, 2015 by Rigzndiesel
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