Large Scale Central

Model T goes Postal!

Modeling
#1

In the beginning there was a Crayola panel delivery truck like Tom Ruby’s (his pic) on clearance at a closeout store for $5.99 a couple years ago.

It was just a wee bit garish for me to use. Then I saw this Model A Postal van on feebay.

Almost perfect for the outdoor public layout I’ve been asked to construct, but seriously out of my price range. But, wait! I already have that Model T, soooo…

The crank is a bit of brass wire and a paper strip. The driver is Fujimi from a kit, I couldn’t find a pic of a 1920’s postal uniform, so his is 40’s style for now. I’m sure there are other errors as well, but I think it looks pretty good for a quicky repaint.

Total time? about 2-1/2 hours… mostly waiting for one color to dry enough to start the next.

#2

Part Duex… Model T soup! Today’s mail brought me a little surprise. A Gearbox diecast Model T panel delivery van. In lovely (and bright) Campbell’s Soup colors.

(http://i397.photobucket.com/albums/pp52/steamnut1917/trucks/PB140001.jpg)

I thought Kim was going to have a stroke when I promptly tore it apart. Here’s what it looks like once you take out 3 screws.

(http://i397.photobucket.com/albums/pp52/steamnut1917/trucks/PB140002.jpg)

Good thing she left the room. The next step absolutely ruined that pretty paint job. If you’ve ever cut zamac with a Dremel, you know this took me about 40 minutes and 2 discs. Open c-cab anyone?

(http://i397.photobucket.com/albums/pp52/steamnut1917/trucks/PB140004.jpg)

I probably should have cut away the rear fenders and shortened the running boards as well, but I didn’t. Plastic I beam and basswood form the foundation of the new bed.

(http://i397.photobucket.com/albums/pp52/steamnut1917/trucks/PB140005.jpg)

I was going to do a stakebed, but I got a little lazy again. I had some of those Monogram Mack AC bed parts in my scrapbox, so I decided to make it an open boxbed, instead… The floorboards are good old coffee stirrers.

(http://i397.photobucket.com/albums/pp52/steamnut1917/trucks/PB140006.jpg)

Kim was actually a good sport. She even suggested old Henry’s favorite color… black. I wasn’t sure how well that would photograph, so we compromised. It’s B&O blue with black trim.

(http://i397.photobucket.com/albums/pp52/steamnut1917/trucks/PB140008.jpg)

Here is a nice side by side shot with the Postal panel delivery for comparison.

(http://i397.photobucket.com/albums/pp52/steamnut1917/trucks/PB140007.jpg)

#3

They both look good. I think you’ve gotten the basic postal color down pretty good but you really need to get rid of the whitewalls on the other truck. Maybe a little mud color? :slight_smile:

#4

Sometimes I just can’t leave well enough alone. I was never really happy with how stubby the blue one was. Then I got a truck in the mail that was the right style, but the wrong scale. The guy claimed that this Ertl Mack AC he was peddling was 1/25… more like 1/35. grrrrrr. BUT, it had a real nice box, albeit not tall enough. Easily enough fixed

(http://i397.photobucket.com/albums/pp52/steamnut1917/trucks/PB260037.jpg)

The chassis was a bit more challenging. But Mack and Ford got grafted together.

(http://i397.photobucket.com/albums/pp52/steamnut1917/trucks/PB260036.jpg)

I swiped the taller wheels off an Ertl 1905 Ford to get rid of the white tires. I need to adjust the chassis height about 1/8" lower, and make rear springs yet, but I think this is a much more nicely balance model now. The funny looking T has become a handsome 1 ton TT

(http://i397.photobucket.com/albums/pp52/steamnut1917/trucks/PB260038.jpg)