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Post by Bri on Sept 10, 2007 13:13:12 GMT -5
I got some more work done on the Chevy last night and this morning. I spent 4 hours last night wetsanding and buffing the paint on this truck and what you see is the end result. Most of the milkiness is gone and it has a more realistic shine and gloss to it. Considering what I started with, I'm a little happier with the end results of all the polishing and waxing. I also finished up the interior and have at least temporarily installed it into the cab. I went with the plain black workhorse color for the interior as these trucks were more known for being work trucks rather than OTR Owner/Operator rigs. I spent quite a bit of time on the dash highlighting the gauges and adding the brake valve buttons. Not that you'll see alot of the dash when it's installed into the cab anyways, but I felt better putting these little ad-ons in. I also added cloth for the curtain to the sleeper as there is no detail inside that part and it would have looked foolish being able to look into an empty box. I am pretty much at a standstill with this now until I get the chrome pieces I need to finish it up. I still have the exhaust pieces to finish and will be using various shades of Metalizer for those units. I also weathered the rear mudflaps with my Dremel tool to better replicate a pair of flaps that have seen a few thousand miles on this truck. The edges are worn and tattered like so many I see on the 1:1 trucks rolling down the roads today. Anyways, I hope y'all like what ya see so far. I still have a ways to go on this, but considering what I started with, it seems to be coming along a bit better now...
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Post by crashalot2 on Sept 10, 2007 17:09:45 GMT -5
Looking good.
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phoneguy
Regional OTR Driver
if you're done with it, it's not finished!
Posts: 2,278
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Post by phoneguy on Sept 10, 2007 17:26:01 GMT -5
looks great Brian--how in the world do you do such great detail on the dash?
Jerry
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b s express
Local Delivery Truck Driver
Keep smiling it will drive your wife crazy wondering what you are up to !
Posts: 207
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Post by b s express on Sept 10, 2007 18:17:55 GMT -5
IF I COULD GET A DASH TO LOOK 1/2 THAT GOOD I WOULD BE HAPPY...nice job !! The flaps look great too.
Jack
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Post by rwaldram on Sept 10, 2007 18:36:13 GMT -5
Looking good, that dash looks incredible
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Post by chevymaniac on Sept 10, 2007 20:45:45 GMT -5
Put it in a box...throw it away, what an ugly truck... , That's what I was thinking when you were talking about all the problems you had with that one.....Now I'm impressed with what you've done with it Later Dan
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Post by Bri on Sept 10, 2007 22:31:19 GMT -5
Thanks for the compliments guys. I actually enjoy detailing the dashes and I guess I spend a little more time doing that than I do on other parts of the truck. I just used various paints and I also used the tip of a toothpickto rub the black paint off the rasied detail inside the gauges to give it a more realistic look. Then i use the tip of a piece of styrene rod and highlight the gauge needles which takes ALOT of patience and a strady hand. Sometimes I have to put off detailing my dashes because my hand shakes too much and I'm sure a day will come when I won't be able to use this method anymore, but for now it works for me. I cut the brake pull buttons from sheet styrene and shaped them accordingly. I drilled the 2 holes in the dash and used 2 pieces of craft wire for the brake button stems. I drilled a hole in each button to mount them on the stems and then painted the buttons the appropriate colors. It takes a little time, but the end result is worth it. I only wish the side windows were gone so you could see the dash better. Believe me, the truck didn't look anywhere near this good after I painted it. It's been one huge headache, but I disciplined myself and forced myself to keep working on it until it was done, for better or worse. I made myself keep my Astro on the shelf until this truck is completed so it wouldn't end up as another half finished project collecting dust on my shelf. I will admit I am surprised this truck is turning out this nicely, espeically with all the fit problems, paint problems and other mishaps it's endured since I started it. But, it's not done yet and anything can happen, so I don't want to jinx myself yet. Hopefully I can get some more done on this tomorrow. I still have the exhaust and other small subassemblies to work on before I'm at a total standstill so we'll see what happens.
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78KW
Regional OTR Driver
Hard Time don't last...Trucker's do!
Posts: 2,467
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Post by 78KW on Sept 12, 2007 0:58:59 GMT -5
The dash rocks. The work paid off. Nice color scheme, too.
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twist67
Local Delivery Truck Driver
Posts: 205
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Post by twist67 on Sept 15, 2007 2:28:56 GMT -5
Hi there, really a great looking truck.You made it a nice looking rig.I think how it´s looking now it was worth all the work you´ve done to it. Keep it up. Cheers,Chris
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Post by Bri on Feb 18, 2010 10:43:39 GMT -5
If you look at the starting dates of this thread, you'll see this truck has been on my bench for very close to 3 years now. I got extremely frustrated with this kit when I benched it a couple years ago. I am convinced that every so often a kit will come along that will test your patience and willpower to it's limits. I think I can honestly say this kit has done just that for me. It seems as though anything that could go wrong with this project, has. I was talking to Mark this past weekend though and the subject of this project came up in our conversation. Mark had asked me if I had finished it and we laughed hysterically for a few minutes. After I hung up with Mark though, I got to thinking. The truck is already painted in the colors for our TSF CBP and it has been collecting dust for 3 years now. I got home last night from work and pulled the dust covered "Spawn of Satan" from my shelf and started inspecting it. I forgot how much I had actually gotten done on this truck and before I knew it, I had the thing back on my bench and was busy seeing where I had left off. I cleaned the body and sleeper off and realized I wasn't happy with the finish after all. So, out comes the polishing kit and soon enough I'm busy polishing the Duplicolor paint out to a smoother finish. 4 hours later and the finish was much more to my liking. But wait...as has been the case with this project, for every success, there has been at least one setback. As I was gertting ready to glue the fenders on the hood, I dropped the bottle of glue onto one of the newly polished fenders. Yep...you guessed it. I found myself sanding the fender to remove the glue and I repainted both fenders last night. Another disaster conquered. Before I knew it, it was 2:30 in the morning and I was still hard at work on this Bison. Even with the fender fiasco, I still made some decent progress, especially with the finish. I will be back at this truck when I get home tonight and I am sure this will be the first truck I get done for the CBP. This truck is going to represent one of the first trucks this fleet owned. It was bought used and repainted in the fleet colors. TSF started with low dollar trucks like the Bison, General, Titan, Astro, and C-600 to keep overhead down while they got themselves established in the trucking industry. Many of their original trucks were also bought used, like this Bison to further reduce their intial investment costs. As the comopany grew and the years went by, TSF found themselves investing in the more expensive models as can be evidenced by today's top of the line rigs. It's amazing how far this company has come and how successful it is, even with today's economy being as unsteady as it is. While other companies are downsizing, consilidating or even going under completely, TSF continues to grow and add the best drivers and trucks to their fleets. I hope you enjoy the continued build of one of TSF's first trucks. Stay tuned for more progress pics!!!
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Post by plastictrucker on Feb 18, 2010 15:08:31 GMT -5
I think I missed this build up.I have one thats close to being done(the fully plumbed one).My frame was ok.These were handsome trucks. Your bison is looking good.The dash is outstanding. the wheel colour is perfect.As far as a TSF truck,don't know about the blue.I don't care but some might.I'd like to get another one to kit bash with another titan Kevin
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tiny
CDL Student Driver
"All Things Are Possible"
Posts: 591
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Post by tiny on Feb 18, 2010 15:52:16 GMT -5
Bri, you started this build before I joined & I just finished reading your saga. Hang in there, it'll be a cool model when you finish!! Nice color choices, I wish I could pull off a dash detail half as good as yours. I have the General & Bison kits & hope they go together easier than yours.
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Post by rabbit1212 on Feb 18, 2010 20:48:19 GMT -5
Bri, Damn man, I have been reading this whole thread from beginning to end and I have to say that I feel for ya brother! I am sure you are aware of the frustrations I had with my KW COE and also the ones I have been facing with the wrecker kit bash but I am glad we both have pushed forward with these trucks from hell! I still have to clear the wrecker this weekend so it still can go south but again I will do as you have done and move forward. I love the Bison and I am glad you are working on it again. The mud flaps are a very nice touch and as the other members have said the dash rocks! I love the TSF reference to this truck and I find it to be very fitting. You have done a marvelous job and you are an inspiration to us all. Paulie
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78KW
Regional OTR Driver
Hard Time don't last...Trucker's do!
Posts: 2,467
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Post by 78KW on Feb 19, 2010 19:43:57 GMT -5
I wondered about this truck. Glad to see it come back.
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Post by Bri on Feb 20, 2010 11:26:32 GMT -5
I'll be glad to see the stupid thing done!!!
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