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Cornbinder

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Posts posted by Cornbinder

  1. Posted

    This *should* be a fairly simple project. The idea here is to take the 1972-ish Diamond Reo kit and backdate it to a 1966 Reo GH. The main cosmetic difference is the hood. Though the shapes and basic cues are similar, the Reo does have a few unique features.

    Here's an example of a "late model" Reo, just before White Motor Co. merged them with the Diamond T division...

    31540139512_46e4e223d1_k.jpgREO, very late model by Dick Copello, on Flickr

    Here's an ad touting the benefits of Royalite with a similar hood but a slightly different grille insert.

    reo nose.jpg

    And here's where I stand with the project so far...

    reo gh.jpg

    The basic hood from the Diamond Reo kit was assembled as intended. I stripped the chrome from the grille and lower fender trim and added that as well- it'll be treated to Bare Metal foil later on. I filed the grille smooth and glued it into place, then created a new grille surround and trim from Evergreen strip. 

    My big problem might be getting the tainty Reo V emblems right. :)

     

    • Like 1

  2. Posted

    This is something I've been messing with for a bit. Made quite a bit of progress tonight, so thought I'd post up some photos.

    gmc s.jpg

    Here's how the AITM cab looked mocked up on the AMT GMC Astro chassis. I did make a few changes. The rear wheels and tires are from an Autocar, and they're just on for mockup purposes. I reworked the Astro front wheels to fit the float tires from an IH Paystar 5000 kit. I worked away at the bumper with a foam sanding block until the slots opened up. I also painted and detailed the grille. Seeing it in this stage got me motivated.

    After weighing my options, I opted to build it as a tractor rather than a dump truck as I had originally intended.

    gmc.jpg

    The Astro battery box was used as-is, but the round tanks were shortened for use on the 9500. The mufflers are from the AITM kit, though I cut the tops off and used K&S aluminum tube for the stand pipes. I made the exhaust brackets from pieces of Evergreen strip. 

     

     

    • Like 1

  5. Posted

    I think everybody here is familiar with Maximum Overdrive, the 1986 Stephen King schlockfest. Not as many people seem to know about "Trucks", which was a 1997 movie based on the same Stephen King short story, also called "Trucks". Trucks was shot on a much lower budget and was not directed by King, in addition to being much less entertaining and having a much more downbeat ending. 

    But there is one strange similarity between the two. In both movies, the "main villain" is a Western Star semi tractor. Of course, in Maximum Overdrive it is the Happy Toyz Green Goblin (technically a White Western Star), and in Trucks the bad guy is the Westway Refrigerated rig, an early '90's Western Star. I find it odd that it's a Western Star in the movie, when in the original short story I seem to remember the main "bad guy" truck being an old Mack. 

    I was watching Trucks again today, and noticed something I'd never noticed before. Granted, it's been about ten years since the last time I watched the movie, but I can't believe I never saw this before.

    western star s.jpg

    Here she is after going crazy and tormenting the human characters in the movie. Take note of this- '80's '90's Western Star with the Heritage Cab. Not quite as imposing or memorable as the Green Goblin, but hey, this is a low-budget horror flick... I don't even remember if Trucks got a theatrical release, or if it was straight to video. Just take note... rectangular headlights (IMCDB says it's a '92 model), and two-hole steel wheels up front.

    Later on, after ditching it's trailer, the Star gets blown up. It disappears from the movie just long enough for you to kind of forget about it, then, BAM, it comes back one last time to try and take out the humans before they make their final escape. 

    The explosion that damaged the Star must have been severe enough to have opened a portal in time/space, because now it not only has cast spoke wheels, but it also seems to be about 15 to 20 years older. xD

    western star.jpg

    I have no idea why, but vehicular continuity errors always amuse me. :D

    • Like 1

  6. Posted

    Space utilization (or lack thereof) is my #1 enemy. I have kits stored in one room and I work on them in another. I do need to clear off some space on the workbench, I'm currently knee-deep in an auto repair shop diorama and I've been going back and forth between two tables with it. If I cleared off the bench I'd have room for the diorama plus plenty to spare, but I just don't have the gumption, and of course now I'm on a 10-pound lifting restriction until the end of the month, so that doesn't help.

     

  17. Posted

    The more I look at the paint scheme the more I like it. I'm still thinking some large single round headlights would look fantastic on it. Or, something I don't think I've ever seen done on one of these before, keep the four stock-sized round lights, but instead of using the "two in one" bezels use a separate bezel for each lens. 

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