My In Progress Project(s)

B-24D Liberator
Last project in the:
America Goes to War Series
Last Updated: Aug. 10, 2023

This kit on Scalemates

This project has been temporarily put on hold until other projects are finished.

This B-24D is part of a theme build that I call: America Prepares for War. I started this series in 2022 and is a small focus on vehicles produced before American industries transformed their factories to making military vehicles, planes and parts to support the WWII war effort. The Ford Motor Company actually built a new factory in Willow Run, Michigan to produce the B-24D Liberator.

I came up with the idea for this series of builds while researching the build of a 1941 Chevy Pickup and a 1941 Plymouth Coupe. Both of these models are complete and can be viewed in the completed projects area of this website.

When I started doing the research on the '41 Chevy Pickup I was mesmerized by it's history and it's part in moving the automotive industry toward wartime production.

If you would like to view a summary of my research for this series click the History image.

Completed Builds in Series:

Lost in Space
B9 Robot
Moebius #939 1:6 Scale
Last Updated: Feb. 22, 2024
This kit on Scalemates

I am planning to animate this project. It will be my first attempt at adding electronics to a build.

I have worked in electronics and industrial controls my entire 50-year career, so I know I have the know how; however, I don't know what is available in the way of small components that will fit within the model. I'm initially planning to use an Arduino or two or three to perform the control functions; however, that can change as I proceed through the build. I definitely want to attempt making it RC controlled which will also be a first for me. Some of the things I plan to animate are:

• The internal head rotating
• The head lights randomly blinking
• If possible, the head moving up/down
• The torso rotating
• All lights on the torso working
• Adding the robots voice. I already have many voice clips
• The mouth blinking to the voice
• The grippers opening and closing
• The feet tread moving so he can walk

So...we'll see how all this plays out.

I know there are a lot of others who have animated this kit and I've watched some of there YouTube video's. I also see that there are electronic packs available, but at a high price. That said...I want to do it on my own using my own ingenuity.

1955 Chevy 2-Ton
Stake Body
Atlantis H1401 Scale 1:48
Last Updated: July 07, 2024
This kit on Scalemates

I like having at least two projects on my bench and because I'm spending a lot of time (Fun time) on the Lost In Space B9 Robot, I wanted a second project with low parts count and a kit that would be an easy build. Therefore, I chose this Atlantis 1955 Chevy 2-Ton Stake Body Truck.

Well...after producing a box opening video and then examining all the parts, I'll be doing more than I ever expected...but that's Okay...it's all fun.

There is A LOT of flash on the parts. But that should be expected because according to Scalemates, the molds are from the original Revell release in 1955. It looks like the multi piece body seams will need some filler because it looks like there might be significant gaps at the seams.

The stake rail gates are nicely detailed with wood grain texture and molded in attachment hardware. The unfortunate thing is that each slat of the gates have deep ejector pin marks. I could fill them and sand them smooth, but then I'll lose the nice wood grain texture. Yes...I could paint the slats to look like wood, and I'm still leaving that as an option, but at this writing I'm planning to make new gates using real wood; easy, but time consuming. I think the real wood will make the truck look much better, especially since I am planing to make the truck look beat up, rusted, and a real farm workhorse. Using real wood will allow me to have some broken and rotted slats...we'll see? I also plan to do the bed in real wood.