These are the projects that are cluttering up my desk, taking up a lot of my spare time, and making my life a lot of fun. This is where the fun in diecast is - trying to make something into a rig you really want. These projects are fun - they're the part of my collection that I really enjoy.
Nothing is secret in this hobby; the guys that are the best at building these models are also the ones who share their experience with others. If there's anything I can ever do to help you get started with the hobby, any advice I can give, or any comments you'd like to make, please email me by clicking here: againstdarkness@againstdarkness.org
This is an interesting little project. She's behind schedule (just like all of my other customs), but I recently pulled her out of the parts bin and started a little assembly. As seen in the first picture, she started as a DCP International 9100i and has seen substantial body modifications and a front grille made from plastruct. There is lots of work to come, hopefully she'll become an older Ford Cabover with a 'Beverage' type rescue trailer, lettered for FDNY Collapse Rescue 3 using Rich Krom's wonderful decals from Roadblockers. *Grin* Don't expect this one to finish any time soon!
Well, if I can keep after it without screwing it up, this might be my best piece of custom work ever. She's inspired by the trucks I'm around at work, which are all Volvos or Whites. The original chassis was a Speccast Volvo. I removed the condo portion of the sleeper and filled it accordingly with Bondo and plastruct. The airhorns and bullet lights are both fabricated, using tips I stole from Steve Nasburg. I made a few cuts on the skirting and batwings, trying to give the truck a more retro look, as well as revealing the fuel tanks like is on the real unit. Still to come is a tank for the back, which I've stolen from an Ertl 'Delhi Dairy' truck. I've learned two important lessons so far from this build. One, is to TAKE MY TIME!!! Two, 'Zip-Strip' Paint and Clear finish remover works EXTREMELY well for stripping the paint off of these trucks.
This, in my world, is referred to as 'biting off more than I can chew'. Originally intended to be a service truck, this rig has continued to evolve. The Peterbilt is a DCP 379, and the original truck for the box can be seen in the background. During the first evolution, I'd thought I'd add a 'command cab' to the front of the box, but later decided I wanted a large compartment with a roll-up door, so I fabricated the addition out of plastruct. I later decided that I wanted to add a rotator crane to the roof, and another custom builder from the U.K. - 'Ade' was nice enough to donate one to the project. Still needing to design some stabilizers for it (working ones), install the spun aluminum tanks from Jaydeez, strip it, repaint, and some awesome Roadblockers decals... Good heavens... I'm never gonna get her finished, am I?
Being in the Ag fertilizer business, my interest naturally tends towards the rigs used for that purpose. This is actually a work in progress, a scratch-built side-shooter fertilizer box on a stretched Pete 385 chassis. It's not working quite like I'd hoped, my lifting tag axle won't have room to lift, but... Otherwise, it's not too bad, especially for just looking at a picture in a magazine for reference. More work to come.
This is another truck that I had no idea what it would be when I started. The donor trucks can be seen in the background - an Ertl International 9800 and a DG productions bucket truck. I cut down the Cabover using a Zona Razor saw (highly recommended for any custom builder!) and 2-part plastic epoxied leftover pieces back together to shape the daycab. As usual, I used bondo glazing putty and LOTS of sandpaper to smooth things out. An additional cut was required to shorten the 9800's skirting, and the front drive axle had to be removed to allow clearance for the bucket box. The box has been detailed with a custom decal and Bare Metal Foil over all of the decking. Still to come is a Welder/Generator and an acetylene torch outfit. *Grin* This one might get done... Some day...
The photo to the lower right is the reference of an Idaho Department of Transportation truck that is the center of this project. This is based off of a standard issue Penjoy CH Mack. So far, I removed the sleeper, stripped the orignial paint, added the mirrors, primed, and repainted (Krylon #1806). I'm wating for some decal paper to get in from Micromark, then will make a DOT seal for the door. After that, it will be coated with lots of gloss acrylic and reassembled with the chassis. Scratchbuilding the plow, the wing, and sander will be next.
The photo to the upper right is the cab remounted on the chassis. I shortened the stacks to resemble the configuration of the actual truck. To be true to the actual rig - I'll probably cut the driver's side stack off completely. I fiddled around with an image of the I.D.O.T. seal I'd found for the door, printed it out on the waterslide micromark paper, and applied it to the truck. I applied repeated coats of Krylon clear acrylic (#1301) to seal it.
As a word of warning, make sure the area is very clean before you use the clear overcoat in a situation like this. Somehow, I got some small fragments of grime in my paint job! Bummer! But, it still looks decent to anyone who doesn't have a magnifying glass!
I recently pulled this truck out of the (huge!) backlog of projects I have. So far, I've done a bit of work on the box, which is actually an Ertl replica of a Simonsen pull-type fertilizer spreader. Details include an extension to the front of the box, a tailboard, and rails on the bottom of the box to raise it up a bit (so it would clear the stack). Picture is below...
These are pictures of a 'MAIDA Toys' bulk commodity box kit that I got from Jaydeez. These two images show the model in various states of completion (the first doesn't have the fenders installed). The kit is composed of a bunch of laser-cut styrene parts that come in a sheet, you just cut them loose, sand them a bit, and assemble with cement. The kit is very easy to assemble, and looks pretty good as-is.
I decided that mine needed some extra details, and after some looking on the internet, I found sites for 'Double L Manufacturing' and 'Spudnik' (Manufacturers of two different spud beds) that I've used for research purposes. Upon looking at their pictures, I found some details that could be added in to make the boxes look a bit more realistic. Both manufacturers include a hydraulic tank at the driver's side rear of the real boxes, as well as a ladder on the back end of the box on the driver's side. A rolling tarp, opening rear and side panels (for loading and unloading, respectively), and belt detail are other options that I'm at least considering adding, which would be appropriate to the model as well.
This box project introduced me to the wonders of 'Plastruct' model supplies, which I'm using to build the detail parts. Here's the latest photo of my progress, with the supplied fender supports installed, and my own hydraulic reservoir in place. The odd coloring on the reservoir is due to the body putty and primer I used on it to work out the imperfections in its construction.
I'll add one more picture below this on the right, showing some more additions. After studying pictures of the real trucks, I noticed most of them have a ladder on the rear quarter, as well as a walkway above the belt discharge area. I fabricated these additions using plastruct parts, and added them to the box before painting. So far, so good... More to come.
A friend of mine who works for the Idaho Department of Transportation sent me the picture on the left, it is the newest plow/sander in his area's fleet. I decided I wanted to try to build a model of it, but I wanted to practice a bit first. Well... *Grin* That and I had another truck in my box that I really didn't know what to make of anyways.
The truck in the right hand picture above started out as an Ertl 'Tyler Feed Delivery' Truck. It wasn't expensive diecast, or very accurate, so it didn't seem like I'd be losing much if my attempt to customize it was unsuccessful. I removed the box and 'chrome' detail parts, then stripped the paint from the remaining diecast. I shortened the frame and re-bonded the remaining pieces using epoxy, then primed and painted the chassis using Krylon primer and spray paint that you'd find at your local Walmart. I painted the truck black first, then taped off the areas I wished to remain black, and painted the orange. Once the tape was removed, it looked pretty much as it does now.
The box is built from balsa wood, which I used almost exclusively for my models until quite recently. As you can see, I didn't get the proportions quite right, but I guess that's why I decided I needed to practice. Rear View Mirrors, DOT Conspicuity striping,an exhaust stack, and Jewled Beads (to simulate lights) were added for details. I'm still listing this as unfinished, as it needs the Magnesium Chloride Tanks, Hydraulics, and other details to be mounted on the box. Once this truck is complete, I'll get on to the real thing.
The truck didn't look too bad, but it looked incomplete as compared to the originial photograph. Now that I've learned how to deal with plastruct, I used some regular styrene and some diamond plate to fabricated the Magnesium Chloride tank, toolboxes, and steps that were on the real truck. I also used some Jewel Beads to simulate lights, a piece of cloth for a tarp, and some 'bare metal foil' to detail the metal parts. Photos are posted below.
This old girl continues to languish in my list of things to do. Trucks with configurations similar to this are actually pretty common in this area. This unit is being modeled after Decatur Coop's Unit 44, which is the truck I learned how to drive in. It has also served as my 'tender truck' fairly frequently, so it'll be fun to have it as a reminder of something I've spent a good portion of my life around. I'll never forget the first time I saw her come steaming up the road with dirt just boiling out behind her, or passing my first Cadillac going uphill in it. This little model brings back a lot of memories.
The tractor itself has seen major modification, which Griff saw to for me. It started as a red and black Speccast Freightliner Classic XL with a 'Condo' sleeper. Griff had the sleeper machined off of it, the plate installed to make it a flat-top, and gave it the blue paintjob it has now.
The trailer is a PEM/Hartoy, and the modifications to it are mine. I found the tanks for it at Walmart, they came off of some inexpensive 'Tonka Trucks' (they were painted for a dairy). I did some grinding on them, then filled with body putty, sanded, and painted as necessary. The ladders installed on them came from the truck that gave up its rear-view mirrors for a flat-bed pickup that can be seen over in the showroom. The sideboards on the trailer were also made from craft sticks. I've made a little progress, the basic Chemical Shuttles are fabricated, and the eductor has been filled using an old socket. Eventually, the trailer will also be detailed out with hoses, ladders, and a set of tool boxes between the spread axles.
This is a Mack RD600 Resin cab (manufactured by Truckin' Little) that I purchased from Griff. It went together pretty easily, requiring some minimal body work to clean up the mold and fill in a spot or two. The mirrors and air cleaner were included with the kit, and the cab is mounted on an extra Speccast 385 Peterbilt chasis I had laying around. I primed and painted it using Krylon Spray paint. Details on the lights, mirrors, and bumper were added using Testor's Model paint.
Still to come are fuel tanks, steps, and probably a frame-mounted battery box. She'll probably receive a MAIDA commodity box not unlike the one pictured above for a load.
This rig started out as a means of getting rid of some spare parts I had laying around. The International tractor is a 'Level 1' detailed DCP tractor that had been used for a project with my employer. The tank was from a Walmart 'Tonka Farm Toys' truck that cost a few bucks.
I added the rear deck, which I made out of Plastruct. The deck will be loaded with chemical shuttles, painting will be completed, and a custom decaled stripe will be added to the tractor. I also had to grind off the fifth-wheel mounting plate with a Dremel to get the tank to sit flat. If all goes well, this rig should come out looking similar to the 'tender truck' that we use at work.
The upper right hand picture shows my progress to date. I taped off the catwalk on top of the tank, as well as the tops of the covers after they were painted black, then painted the remainder of the tank with Duplicolor 'Instant Chrome' spray paint (# CS101). I painted the lower half with regular old Krylon semi-gloss white, and detailed the rack with Testor's red and a brush. *Grin* After looking at the photo, I notice I need to go back and touch up the inside of the rack. DOT conspicuity striping was from Griff at Jaydeez.
I've formed up the first chemical shuttle out of plastruct; I'll post photos soon.
The pieces in the photo below here represent the third shot at building a tender truck/tanker like we use at work. I gave the first one (which was also my very first custom paint job) to my friend and mentor. The second one (which had both some additional features and some additional mistakes over the prototype) can be seen on the showroom page.
The photo to the upper left shows the original truck before it was modified. The second shows my progress - including my very first attempt at custom made decals. From the Decals, I learned one thing. Make sure the protective 'fixative' is well coated and dry before handling, and be very, very gentle in applying the decals. It's not too bad though - it only goes up from here.
Also, you might notice some detailing on the tank. The black is Krylon Semi-Flat Black (#1613), and the striping is 'DOT Conspicuity striping' that I got from Griff.
The Chassis is an Ertl Ford F-750 'Delhi Dairy' Milk Tanker. I stripped the paint, as well as doing some sanding, grinding, and filling on the tank. The mirrors were added (Purchased from Griff), as well as sewing needles to simulate radio antennas for detail. Priming and painting on the chassis was done with Krylon spray paint - the black was laid down, masked off, then the white was painted. Details were painted using Testor's model paint, and the stripe is a custom decal made with my computer.
The tank needed work to make it look round and well formed - most of the sanding and filling is done to take the marks from the mold out of it. It's primed just as the chassis was, but is painted with Duplicolor 'Instant Chrome' spray paint (# CS101). The paint is pretty prone to fingerpirnts when soft, so it has to be handled carefully before it cures.
I'll post some photos of the finished project in the showroom as soon as I get the chance.
The whole thing about building a third copy of this was to try to get it right. I guess we'll see, huh?
I'm really lucky in that building my customs, a buddy of mine, Griff, has always had my back when I needed parts, rigs to cut up, a technical suggestion, or even plain old encouragement. Griff is great to work with, and if you're interested in starting in trying your own customs and need parts or ideas, I'd definitely suggest that you check out his site Jaydeez. His contact email address is available on his board if you have any questions - don't be afraid to ask him for help if you need it.