The 2014 Automotive Group Build

LOL! Eric, I built that in 66 or 67 when it first came out and thought it was just so cool.  I tried one again in the early 90's and was so disappointed!  It makes a good shelf sitter and conversation piece but you are right, not much detail.  You made that one look nice, mine is still unfinished in the box!   To answer your question, yes I will add the T to the Diorama, however it will be some time before it is ever finished.  It will not be a replica of "Druckers" but you will get the idea when you view it.  I might add a 65 Lincoln Convertible just for laughs.   As for the Gremlin, if the hack job won't make it any better, try the size 12 boot treatment.  Just take off all the useable parts first.

Well,

I finished the @#$%^%$@&$#*@#%$ Gremlin hehehehehe.

I like the color but that's about it. If I can find another kit maker I may do another one.

Tony, here is the completed picture.

L8TR,

Eric

Tony,

Can you add an AMT 1951 Chevy Bel Air to my list. I got plans for this one. :)

Thanks.

Eric- Those last two builds look good!

Thanks Dale.

I 've got quite a bit done to the Buick, but will have to put it on hold for a few weeks to visit In-laws. :)

I'll post what I've got done in the next day or two. I was worried the yellow pearl would not look right after the clear but it came out pretty good. It's the first time I've used pearl paints.

I'm really looking forward to the 51 Chevy I picked up. I ordered some 17" moons for it. :)

L8TR,

Eric

Here's a couple of progress shots for the Buick.

Also, The wheels and tires for the 51 Chevy came today so I will clear a spot on the other bench for it when I get back.

L8TR,

Eric.

And here's the re-chromed parts.

Here's the '51 wheels.

The Buick looks like it's coming along nicely.

Good looking Buick Eric.

Here are some more updates on the Semi.  I have Weathered a number of Parts.  I added some detail to the Firewall and weathered that too.  I used Vallejo Washes and one I mixed from Tamiya Acrylics.

Next we have the windsheild and side windows.  I masked off the path of the wipers by measuring the distance were the top and bottom of the wiper arm pivots.  I then used a compass that has a blade and cut the tape I was to use on the winsheild.  I then misted them with Tamiya Acrylic Earth.  I removed the tape and got a rag with some light thinner and rubbed some paint off to get the smear affect.  You can see the difference in the side window wings.

The Trailer has been coming along as well.  I cut the bottom rails to make room for the different suspension.  I then patched it up with styrene and will add the suspension after I clean up the trailer.  You can see I also marked where the trailer needs putty filling.

Eric, nice work on that Buick and well done on completing the Gremlin! That green really works! Cody, that is a seriously cool looking project... Love the grill, it is really well weathered!

I'm hoping to take some pics this weekend, but it will be inbetween some training and then the rugby, F1 and MotoGP as well... ;)

Brabham has been progressing well enough. I'm not happy with what it looks like at one area and will see if that what seems like a miss-alignment st this stage affects anything (well, usually manifies!) or not. Everything fitted perfectly, so how it looks a bit skew now is... well, it's me so it's extremely possible! Exhausts received their base coat and will be weathered a bit over the weekend. And some final engine parts, the onto final sections of the body and wheels.

I have actually... touched the Jordan again! Done with decalling the body, so will wash now before training ride. Then clearcoat body and moving onto some cockpit detail - seatbelts and steering wheel/display combo.

Cody I really like what you have got done on the semi so far!

Thanks guys!  Here is progress on the Cab...

First Issue is the ride height.  This thing rides ridiculously high.  That will be fixed either by just lowering the wheels on the drums & axle or by cutting some of the suspension.  

Next you may notice the rear window is not installed.  That's because the Duel truck had a very rare option not seen often called a "Swamp Cooler".  Its a box where the rear window goes.  You place a block of ice in it and it helps circulate cool air around the cab.  The real reason for it in the movie truck was to hide a camera inside.  I made the box from sheet styrene and its currently painted and drying.

Next we have the trailer issues.  The Trailer itself is now smooth after filling and sanding.  Now comes the suspension.  In the first pic you can see my old trailer.  I hack-jobbed the suspension to get it to work.  I just wanted it to ride correct and I didn't care since you wouldn't see it when it was displayed.  This was when I was pretty new to stuff. Since this new one is for someone else I thought I best do it right.  I took the Suspension from the kit and have found the the ride height is perfect, however the spacing on the springs is wrong.  I'll do some modifying to get the axles aligned where I need them.  I'm going to pull the skirting from my old trailer and copy them.  The old trailer has been broken before in a move so I really don't have any problem with tearing it apart again.

Here on some updates.  I have the suspension put it. I modified the springs and moved them back.  I also have all the skirting for the trailer cut out and ready to assemble ( The wheel welIs are not really jagged, I took the photo on a white background so I traced the outline in Photoshop, poorly, so you can see it better). 

Impressive surgery there, Cody! Keep it up...

The promised pics on my slow progress.

BT50 starting to come together. Yes, I am aware I missed that sink hole - it will be invisible shortly! Still last couple of things to do on engine before last couple of steps.

The Engine: I was hoping for a bit darker colour for the heat staining - and in truth it does look a bit different on the photo. But still, will try something slightly different for the exhausts.

A fun one, comparing the two steering wheels in size. No, Jordan one (43rd) only just started, it will look quite a bit different when done, this is the base of the steering wheel just with black. Brabham one (20th) is basically ready to be added.

And finally the Jordan body as it is - I have since added one tiny decal which I only realised about after the clear coat. No worries about that unpainted section along the cocpit side - the cocpit enclosure still has to come there, will have to remove some paint around this to fit it...

theres some great looking stuff going on here, i wish i had the time to join in again :-(

Not to worry, Misty... time will come! Don't know if it's a case of "look who'se talking" - but at least we all know this happens.

Looking GREAT Seabee!  Love the livery on that one!

Well I put the skirting on and mocked a setup with the truck and the trailer rode extremely high in the front.  I was puzzled.  I decided to look at the real photo to see what the real truck had going on.  Turns out that the real truck had nearly no curvature on the bottom (Front end only.  The back does).  So I cut this part off and sanded down the profile (Like in the picture #2).  I have the bottom plate gluing right now.  I also cleaned up the inside of the trailer.  It was full of shavings as you can see!

More on the truck.  I added the legs for the trailer stands.  They have been drilled out for 2 positions.  Driving (Up) and Parked (Down).  I used styrene stock for those.  I also added the front skirting and the bottom front of the trailer.  Its now the correct curvature.  All sanded and prepped for paint.  

Seabe,

I like the detail work. Looks real.

Cody,

That's some amazing work on the trailer. Can't wait to see it done.

I miss my plastic hehehe. I still have about two weeks left before I get back. The great thing is my Brother-in-law is hooking me up with some Academy kits (He works at Academy hehehe).

L8TR,

Eric.

What's that they say about trusting your gut...? Told something looked a little "off". Tried to add the exhausts. Lo and behold, no fit! So... the engin is now off, I am now convinced it was a bit skew and will have to redo some stuff and re-engineer that joint, because engine and chassis is matching up perfectly.  Oh well, guess this is where I start to own my money. Oh... wait... let me rephrase that! I guess this is where the fun starts! ;)

Seabe That car is looking amazing!

Cody That is some impressive work!

Thank you Guys!  

Here is a bit more progress.  I had to make new exhaust piping due to the fact the kit is a dual exhaust setup and the Duel rig is single.  I made the Piping from soft brass fuel tubing.  

I also made the Decals for the trailer using Testors Paper.  I printed The large rear Decal on clear paper and the rest with white paper.  After printing them I waited a day or so for the ink to dry.  I then sealed them with Testors Dullcoat Lacquer.  I used a paper cutter to cut them to size and applied them using Walther's Solvaset.  It worked perfect!  My old printer tended to smear the ink.  However the new printer I have now worked flawlessly. I was very happy with the quality of printing it made.  

Next we have the Trailer.  I cant even try to describe the amount of work this took.  Nearly the entire bottom half of this thing is scratch built out of stock styrene.  Everything had to be measured and cut accurately.  It was built using supports and careful measuring of the trailer to precisely place the parts.  It was then boxed in.  The under side of the front was made by making curved ribs and placing then into the trailer and laying the styrene sheet over.  I then trimmed it around the edges and sanded to blend it in with the rest. The landing supports were made too and work as they should.  After that any imperfections were filled, sanded down, and primed.  I will be glad when its done but I have enjoyed making it.  I sprayed the color and let it sit for about 1 and a half days.  I then applied the custom decals using Walthers Solvaset.  I will of course go back after they dry and seal it with dullcoat.  Then I will weather the trailer to match the Semi itself. 

Speaking of the Semi I have up-to-date pictures of that here too.  I am very happy with the way its turning out.  I laid the license plate Decals on a very thin plastic sheet and cut them out after they dried on the sheet.  I painted the backs silver and applied them to the bumper.  The bumper was scratch built out of "I" beam styrene stock and tubing.  

Cody, about all I can say is WOW! That looks great!

Thanks Dale!

Here is a bit more progress...

Not sure if anyone has built a semi and wanted to replicate the air hoses that connect from the cab to the trailer.  If you have you have you may have seen the pre-made ones that cost about $8-$10 each!  That's Crazy!!!  Here is a cheap way to make those...

First I took a tube of aluminum that's 1/4" diameter or you can use 5/32" too which is also a common size.  Next is 1mm (The perfect size I believe) Plastic Leather cord.  This plastic leather cord is easily found in any craft store and is cheap!  Its made for jewelry so its pretty limp and doesn't hold any shape.  So I wrapped it tightly around the tube.  I cut slits in the tube to tuck the ends of the wire in so it didn't unravel. Next Take a candle or lighter and heat the tube up.  I heated it up till the end of the cord started to barley melt.  I quenched it in cold water and unwrapped it.  It holds it shape and will work perfect.  

I made two tubes for the hoses go into.  I drilled two 1.10mm holes for the cords to go into.  They fit perfect.  I will hide them under the trailer.  This will make the trailer detachable.

The last pic is of the few details Items I still have left to put on.

I know I have said it before but this has been a MUCH bigger project than I anticipated! LOL

Cody, that is seriously impressive work, mate!

Thanks Seabe!  I really appreciate it man!

Here is a bit more of the hose and hookups.  I used some aluminum tubing and drilled them out to accept the hose.  I also drilled the plastic parts to accept the aluminum tubing.  I like the look of the metal representing the air hose hook ups.  It wasnt easy making them due to the tiny size but I did figure out a lot of ways not to do it!!!  Razor saw or snips crush the tube, so does any clamping or pressure.  Dremmel chews it apart if your not careful.  Oh and its gets hot too.  Should have been obvious but my fingers say otherwise.  

nice tip on the curly hose, and i love the look of the paintwork!