These are the projects that are the pride of my collection. Anyone with some dollars can go and buy a factory built truck, but these rigs that were built and modified by human hands are infinitely more valuable to me. Some of these customs are done by me, and some are done by other builders, but all are incredible. 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 a chassis from a Speccast 385 Peterbilt wrecker with a replica 16 Ton gravity flow fertilizer box mounted on it. I custom built the box using plastruct based on measurements off of an actual unit, as well as adding the custom stripes to the truck chassis. This is my fourth attempt at building this box, and although it's still not perfect, it's definitely an improvement over its predecessors.
This is the same type of chassis as pictured up above, a Speccast 385 Peterbilt. The chassis has been lengthened, as well as having a non-functional lift axle added to it. *Grin* The lift was functional until I put a running board over it that didn't allow enough clearance, but... Such is life. At any rate, this truck was done over a long weekend simply to see whether I could accomplish it. I had a magazine advertisement for reference - the box is modeled off of a 'Ray Man Sideshooter'. Obviously, without being able to take proper measurements some things are out of scale, but it's not too bad for a prototype.
This is a DCP International 9100i with a tank from a 'Tonka Farm Toys Got Milk?' tanker. It's an easy little custom to do - a little grinding, a little cutting, a little filling, and a little painting makes a distinctive model. A similar project can be found in the Body -n- Fender Shop on this site, or feel free to email me with any questions.
This is the same chassis as was pictured above, but with a handmade tanker pup. I built the pup using two of the same 'Tonka Farm Toys Got Milk?' tankers as were utilized to make the original truck. There is a little additional plastruct in this model, as well as some extra axles (which I believe I purchased from Jaydeez), but all-in-all it was a very inexpensive and not rather difficult project.
This isn't my work - Griff with Jaydeez supplied it for me. It's an International 9100i, with a custom built 'Long Logger' setup. *Grin* I'm partial to the stripes, I suppose, but it's a beautiful rig - the frame has been completely customized from beneath the cab to the rear of the unit. Very nice work!
These two are the start of my Mountain Rescue Unit. The hummer has seen extenive additions with plastruct- the stokes, roll bar, and equipment boxes, as well as a repaint. Except for the paintjob, the Willy's is stock. Both of these units, as well as any others I might add, are 'Johnny Lightning' pieces. They're a little different, but sometimes (especially in model building) variety is the spice of life. A chevy Tahoe Command Unit is next in line, but is not completed at this time.
There's an old saying in the circles I run in - "Never Send a Boy to do a Man's Job". I guess, I largely beleive that's the way of things with custom models as well. I don't build a bad looking truck, but there are professionals that can run circles around me. This isn't a bad thing - it's a simple fact of life... Practice makes perfect. These are, for all intents and purposes, the same base truck - both started with Peterbilt 385s and MAIDA bulk boxes. The one on the upper left was built by Steve Nasburg of Jaydeez, and the one on the upper right is my work (which became a gift to my farm manager). They're fun trucks to do, and Steve's truck is a much loved piece of my collection.
Outwardly, this truck is just some bits and pieces. The tractor is a Ford LTL-9000 I had lying around (she's actually pictured below here hooked up to propane/anhydrous tanker in her 'pre-overhaul' clothes). The hopper trailer was leftover from another project - I'd stolen her tractor for the International 'Bucket truck' project. This truck is my shot at being all 'artsy' - I did it to have something to remember my time working in the 'Big Hole' River Valley in Southwestern Montana. It's a beautiful valley, and the people there are some of the best I've ever met. A green valley, blue sky, beautiful river, and bright sun with just a few clouds. Is it in the truck? I'll let you all decide...
This is kind of a fun little model to build. The backstory for it is on the Body -n- Fender page, if you're interested in seeing how it is done. I have plans to build at least one more (and likely more). It is also a very inexpensive model, using only an Ertl F-750 'Delhi Dairy' Milk truck. I've added on a few custom parts - rear view mirrors, sewing needles for antennas, jewel beads for lights, and Dot Conspicuity striping. All told, I have $15 or less in this truck.
The trailer I have tied onto it is a 'Moore's Farm Toys' product, and the floater is an un-modified Ertl Case SPX-4260. One of these days, I'll get around to doing some detail work on it.
I still have some tiny little details to add to this rig. It's far enough along that I thought I'd put this photo up. It's a transfer based on the unit I got to ride in with my friend while visiting in Tucson, Arizona. The Cab is a Truckin' Little Resin Kit, The frame is a modified 'Liberty Classics' 379 Pete frame, and the boxes & pup were completely scratchbuilt. Quite a bit of it actually works, the box raises and lowers with a custom made hydraulic cylinder, and the front of the pup swivels. This was the first unit I tried adding airlines and brake pods to - a small detail, but kind of a fun one. Still needs to have some lights and mudflaps added to it one of these days, but... *Grin* I'm kind of happy with her!
This rig started out as a 'Hotwheels' Kenworth T-2000 racing transporter. Originally, it had a full cowling, 'Batwings', and a Featherlite racing trailer. I cut down the sleeper on the tractor, removed the rear cowlings, and totally re-built the trailer using PVC pipe and some baby bottle caps. Details on the trailer were added from spare parts, including drinking straws, parts of writing pens, and Plastruct parts. The DOT conspicuity striping is from Griff @ Jaydeez.com, the mudflaps are made from black fabric, and the orange running lights on the trailer are 'jewel beads' from Walmart.
I don't like building high-dollar show trucks - I enjoy trying to make rigs that look real, and might be seen on any given day. Models also don't have to be terribly expensive. Hopefully this is a great example, as I have about $25 in parts, paint, and decals, and nothing else but my time.
Below are pictures of generation II of the LPG tanker. It didn't turn out to meet the quality I would have liked (some parts are crooked on it, and it is extremely fragile) but... It's good enough for a few pictures, at any rate. Stay tuned, we'll see if it gets equipped with a pup tanker eventually. *Grin* Obviously, I parked her next to her big sister for the photo. Looks much cooler that way!
This truck started out as an experiment, and as a way of getting rid of a truck I really didn't rather care for - Ertl's 'Tyler' Feed delivery truck. The general design is based on the trucks used by the Department of Transportation in Idaho. I stripped and repainted the truck, shortened the frame, added rear-view mirrors, and custom built the box. The Magnesium Chloride tanks and other details were built out of Plastruct parts. I made the front plow from a soda pop can, and it moves up and down on a ram scratchbuilt from Plastruct. The spreader mechanism was taken off of an Ertl Simonsen pull-type fertilizer spreader. Once again, this is a very inexpensive truck - I'd guess I have $10 to $15 in parts, paint, etc.. The truck is by no means perfect, but I learned a lot by doing it. Another attempt is in the works!
I built these before the Plow/Sander that's just up above. The grader was actually my first cut and paste custom - it is made from an Ertl Caterpillar 12G model I got from Walmart. The snow wing and plow both move, and were assembled from spare parts and pop can tin. The pickup (A White-Rose Ford F-150) came from Ebay for about $3. I was bored one day and put it together. Customizations include a 'Moore's Farm Toys' snowplow and detail to the bed to try to make it look like a fuel tank. All together, there is about $20 in these two models.
This was my first attempt at building a diorama. The applicator is a Case IH SPX 4260, which has had detail painting done on the hoses. The Trailer is an Ertl 'Goose-neck', with a tank I custom fabricated using a 'Maisto Highway Hauler' from Walmart. The pickup is an Ertl F-350, which I stripped down and repainted. Details added include the fuel tank, sideboards, rear view mirrors, running boards, and jewel beads for running lights. The 'little dudes' and scenery material were purchased online from Walther's.
This is a Code 3 Collectibles FDNY Saulsbury Heavy Rescue 3. After the 9-11 tragedy, a diehard collector/customizer (Rich Krom - www.roadblockers.net) came out with a decal package to create a Memorial truck, which I used on this rig. It's a simple little conversion, but it definitely means a lot to me.
These are some amazing pieces. Both were purchased through my friend Griff. The photo doesn't show it well, but there is a black 45' hopper trailer with a lifting 'tag'axle and working tarp tied onto the white Freightliner. That trailer, as well as the 'pup' and the box on the Peterbilt (in the raised position to show the detailed lift mechanism) were all hand made by a builder named Les Allen.
The silver truck (a 385 Peterbilt) has seen major modification (again, courtesy of Les Allen). It features the lifting box with detailed hoist mechanism, stretched frame, lifting 'tag' axle, and rolling tarp.
Although a bit expensive, these are by far the best grain trucks and trailers I have ever seen, and I would recommend them to anyone who is interested in models of such things. All of Les Allen's works are featured on Griff's website, and I'd encourage you to investigate what he has if you're interested at Jaydeez.