[Bruce Miller]

I love to build models and yes I am a model building addict,
but I not only like to build I love to blog about them so going to try my hand at the delivery Truck plans from Toys and Joys.
I don't have a big shop, I work in a two car garage but half of it is full of motorcycles and lawn stuff.
So here some pictures of my shop and you can see how limited my tools are.
Building models you don't need all those big heavy duty tools.
I do all my building sitting in a computer chair and roll from one tool to the other to get er done.


I like to go into the shop and work 3 to 5 hours[that's all I can do now] and then hit the computer and blog about it to help me remember what and how I did things for that build.
I hardly ever do something the same way always like to find a better easier and faster way.
I hardly ever take more than a week or two to build a project[wheels don't count], I don't get as involved with the small stuff as some, wish I could but my nerves won't put up with it. LOL
Not building for the model it's the process that keeps me interested, just love to try new things.
I built the lowboy trailer just so I could figure out and make the sides of the trailer, it has an I beam look to it and just wanted to try it..

So that's the low down now lets build a model.

 

[Bruce Miller]

Got started two days ago On the delivery truck,
I will be building the main truck and will be scratch building something else for the back.
To me the plans are just a suggestion of which way to go and of course you have to build to the abilities of you and your tools.
Alot a times I will be explaining things that you already know but some don't so just bear with me and if you know a better way please pipe in and let me know that's one of the reasons I'm here to learn from others.
One of my main saying is There is a hundred way of doing anything, you just have to work with the tools at hand.

As many have already found out these plans don't always make a lot of sense to start with and there are mistakes on the plans so I like to get the frame then the main body built and everything else is just filler but the wheels I love to build the wheels.
Check out my photo page for some wheels.

 

[Bruce Miller]

This is scrap oak from a bed I built 20 or so years ago so having to work around the screw hole and the like.
Some don't like to use stick glue but for me it's fast and the belt sander erases every bit of it.
I take the plans to my printer and copy the parts that have shapes to them why draw when the copier can do it in seconds plus all the holes will be marked+++.
On most of my build I don't build them full size I already have 24 models to many more and the better half will be the bitter one.
So shrinking the builds down helps with this.
But one thing to keep in mind the smaller it is the harder it is to be able to get in the detail.
Bigger is better if you into adding details.


Cut as many of the straight cuts with a saw so much easier so plan for it.
Many times there are odd angles that need to be cut, I cut them out on the bandsaw leaving the line then take it to the disk sander and sand to the line, also it's much easier at least for me to touch up a cut on the drum sander than use any saw.

Once again this is just the way I do it, having the Shopsmith set up with a 12" sanding disk is a plus.

I sand all the parts as they are made and have a buffer from HF that makes sanding the small delicate edges easy.

 

[Bruce Miller]

Glued up the top and back at one time then cut them out.
I have a nearly dead scroll saw so try not to use it but for thing that can be done no other way. By hand I don't think so. LOL

 

[Bruce Miller]

Here's how I clean up the windows.
Files, I love files they make quick work of a nasty job.

 

[Bruce Miller]

So that's it for today hope you all enjoyed the post.
If I need to do things any different just say so and would love to hear how you get things done.
Next I'll be working on the front the dash and grill and let me tell you it's a mess!!! It's the plans O my it's the plans

 

[Bruce Miller]

Another day and a little more done.
The plans really don't line up to me when it came to the front end so just went my own way for the grill.
Wish I would have got some better picture of this but will tomorrow.

 

[Bruce Miller]

Then on to the seats and such.
The more I look at the steering wheel the more it looks like a daisy but is supposed to be finger grips. lol

 

[Bruce Miller]

Got a little more done today.
Worked on the fenders and steps which were a pain to figure out.
I guess not liking to make them I didn't take many pictures but once I got into the bumper I took a ton a pictures, had a ball playing this that.

This is the bumper when I first made it and added some changes once I got it figured out.
This was

 

[Bruce Miller]

Then I changed it up a bit.
I really like this bumper must be why I took so many pictures. lol

 

[Bruce Miller]

Then at the end of the day I rubs some Danish oil on the inside so I could glue on the top.
And that's it for today.
Hope your enjoying the build.

 

[Bruce Miller]

Got in wheel making mod yesterday and today.
Tried out some different hubs.

 

[Bruce Miller]

Worked some more on another set of tires.

Used 2" bought tires for the center for this set of tires, used 1 1/2" on other set.

 

[Bruce Miller]

Ebanized these tires to get them blacked out.

 

[Bruce Miller]

Worked on the roof.
Think there's enough stripes in this build. lol

 

[Bruce Miller]

New name Sprint Car Hauler

Got a little done today.
And really could change the name for it.
It's going to haul my Sprint race cat to the races, so will be building a deck with hydraulics like on some of the wreckers you see around.

 

[Bruce Miller]

So that's what I got done today.
Tomorrow we'll look into hydraulics and hinging it up.

 

[Bruce Miller]

These will be my last posts, it seems all the model builders have left the site or it isn't good enough to say hi for so hope you all enjoyed it and moving on after these last close to finished pictures.

 

[Bruce Miller]

and this

 

[Bruce Miller]

And just a few more