Scratchbuilding in 1/160th using paper

[adlabs6]

Well, I think I'm done with construction on this project. There are some painting refinements I'd like to work on down the road, but most everything I hoped to model has been built.

I did rebuild the wheels for the trailer, and when it came time to mount them, the wooden chassis parts wouldn't allow a proper fit. So I bit the bullet and cut off the entire chassis element from the trailer, to be replaced with paper customized to the new wheels.

While I had the trailer undergoing these modifications, I decided I'd go a step further. A good while back I'd noticed that the trailer was actually too wide for the truck, by about 1/16th of an inch. Not sure if it shows in the old photos, but I just didn't feel like cutting down the trailer previously.

So I did that too, cutting the trailer apart at every corner seam, trimming the left and right of the roof, floor, nose, and doors by 1/32 inch. Then glued it all back together again.

These pics show what I was shooting for, the trailer sits nicely in the width of the truck's rear axle.

[BLOWHARD]

TOO COOL! A really nice job Ad!!!!

[adlabs6]

Next project is a Studebaker 2R truck. These photos are taken over the last month or so.

Here's the basic blocking in of the form:


More parts laid out. Left to right: floorboard/seat, cab, chassis, flat bed.


Some sample paint (color later changed to red, then dark green) and test fitting:


Parts again, here the bed is done with planks, and the beginning of the driver. I also shortened the dashboard as per photos I found late.

[adlabs6]

I had a few good hours yesterday to make work on this. Lots of progress, the interior is done, windows are installed, and the cab is closed up.

A bit of a disappointment though... I was confident I had shots of the interior in my camera from a week or two back. But after I finished up work on the cab yesterday I loaded the photos from the camera. None of the interior were there.

I borrowed my brother's macro camera for the profile shot, and you can see the driver and his hat. But the gear shift, steering wheel, and dashboard will be tough work to see with the eye, let alone the camera.

Anyway, here is the present state of work. I modeled this color combo from some photos of the truck that I liked. Next up will be some detailing on the headlights and grille, then the slats for the bed. And of course, paint refinements.

[BLOWHARD]

VERY NICE! And...the real one could be yours-
Studebaker: eBay Motors (item 370430807934 end time Sep-17-10 07:11:50 PDT)

[adlabs6]

A few hours more. The nose details are filling in, there are some rough pencil marks to estimate the grille area.

I tried this photo with direct sunlight through the window.

[BLOWHARD]

Very nice!!! Will you try building a Lancaster out of paper in this scale now?

[adlabs6]

LOL! Aircraft already crossed my mind while I was working. I didn't let the idea stay there long though.

[adlabs6]

Some more detailing. The cab is nearly final now. I think only the mirrors remain, and those are so small and fragile they'll have to be the last things added.

Used a super macro for some of these. Reference objects are a pencil and a dime.

[BLOWHARD]

Pretty cool stuff! What will you try next?