Schnibblemobil!

[kerick]

I spent a few hours on this last night. Most of the time was sorting parts. I have a second truck kit and I finally dove in and started sourcing parts from it. I've since learned that it would have been easier to start with a new kit but the frame is too short. Oh well, lots of spare parts!
I'm modifying the old truck to take three rear axles, two drive and one free wheeler. I had to cut the frame in two places to move the drive axles farther forward and make room for the free axle behind. I drew a straight line on the desktop and used a couple of pop cans as weights overnight to get everything as straight as possible. Putty later today.
I might start figuring out how to mount the Pinto to the front of the frame. I'll have to see how to mount that and squeeze in the engine between the frame rails.

[kerick]

A couple of progress shots. The frame is all back together and as straight as I can make it. I assembled the drive train from various parts including the old truck, the second truck kit and the axle from the logging trailer.



Pop cans helped to keep it flat overnight.



You can tell from the different colors what got stolen from other kits.



I tried painting one tire with Tamiya NATO black. It seems much too grey for tires. The hobby store in town has Citadel paints. I'll check them out tomorrow.

[Old Wombat]

For tyres I use either Tamiya XF-85 Rubber Black (preferred) or a 50/50 mix of XF-69 NATO Black & XF-1 Flat Black (if I run out of XF-85).

[kerick]

Sounds good.

I'm just happy all eight wheels touch the desk!

[Rick Lowe]

I'm just happy all eight wheels touch the desk!

Always a good goal to work towards! 

I like the Gunze Tyre Black, as well.

[zenrat]

Tyres are more grey than black.  Go and look at a car.
What you've done looks spot on IMO.  Maybe a slightly darker shade on the surfaces that would get worn.

[kerick]

I found the rubber black from Tamiya. Looks good.
I've started messing around with mounting the Pinto to the truck frame. I had to cut out part of the back seat area to make room for the steering parts. I found some diamond plate to build a box to cover the hole. Fits right in.
It's going to be difficult to mount the truck fenders to the Pinto body. I'll figure it out. That's the fun of it, building the jigsaw puzzle where there is no box with a picture on it!

[kerick]

Houston we have a problem!
I test fitted the engine on the truck frame today. I was hoping to mount the engine mid frame like the RW truck but that leaves absolutely no room for a driveshaft to the axle. Looks like I may have to move the engine almost back to its original position and chop off the hatchback of the Pinto body. Not sure yet.
Or I may just box in the whole area and say it's very compact.

[kerick]

Looks like this is going to be a curbside version. Between the massive amount of cutting and gluing of bits of plastic for the body and fenders plus the boxed in section covering the lack of an engine no one will even want to see the underside of this thing! Fenders are attached to the Pinto body. It took many little scraps of plastic to fill in the space between the truck fenders and the car body. Now for the layers of putty.
I need to post a few pics soon.

[Old Wombat]

I need to post a few pics soon.

Yes, you do! 

[kerick]

I need to post a few pics soon.

Yes, you do! 

This will be the objective for today. However, at the moment I'm trapped in a recliner by two dogs who are tired out from sleeping in the bed all night!

[NARSES2]

  

[Old Wombat]

I need to post a few pics soon.

Yes, you do! 

This will be the objective for today. However, at the moment I'm trapped in a recliner by two dogs who are tired out from sleeping in the bed all night!

I understand!     

[kerick]

My wife has jury duty this week so extra building time for me. She actually got assigned to a trial so that will be an interesting story when she's done. Time to escape my hostage situation with the dogs and get on with my day. Pics soon!

[kerick]

Well, I've escaped from the canine hostage situation so here are some pics.



The frame is nice gloss black. I'm still trying to figure out just how I can deal with the engine situation. From what little I can tell from photos the original MAN truck had an engine that sat very deep in between the frame rails. One photo shows what look like valve covers below the rails. I might try boxing in this area and adding the exhaust and air intakes outside of it.



The Pinto body is coming together. The interior will be deep red on the "carpeted" areas and a lighter red on the doors and dash.



And the truck fenders attached. The engine will probably never get used. Maybe I'll saw off the bottom part. The diamond plate will be steps for getting into the Pinto.



The underside of the fenders. It's ugly.



Some rails for the Pinto body to sit on. I'll figure out some sort of front bumper soon.



And some Corvette seats to help the drivers stay comfy. What was the engine compartment will now become the luggage compartment.
So that's the story so far. And I haven't even looked at the trailer yet!