1/25 Ertl International Payhauler 350

[Steve Ski]

Tonka truck engine looks Great! that is one big kit.

I bet you'll call me smart, Mark. I had the local diesel shop swap the injectors on my wife's Cummins 5.9l. The back injectors were more than I wanted to deal with, so $2500 out the door, all six, woof!

My F-250 7.3l is still humming nicely at 135k, I baby the girl.

P.S. I'd letcha shoot a few Toms over at my Ranchito, but you'd have to deal with the wife, not the state, HA!

[reserve]

Yeah, gotta give ya that one Ski, especially since diesel systems are much more of a pain to work on than gas. Now why do I get the impression I'd be in alot more trouble with yer better half than the state of Washington were I to snipe a turkey in your yard?

So I had the obligatory spring plauge that kept me away from the bench for a week, it was like a combination of acute sinusitis and Dengue fever. Past that, the fleet needed maintainence but I have gotten a bit farther on this







I've been forced to re-evaluate this model. I'd originally intended to display it with the dump box raised to show off the plumbing I'd planned for but the box is a horror story of sink marks, pin marks, gaps and I am not nearly invested enough in the project that I want to fill and sand all of it.





The pictures don't show how bad it is but trust me it's ugly. Therefore, the full plumbing job is out the window and the box will be fixed down. I'm a little disappointed but not surprised by this given the model's origins and hey, there's still different directions I can take it

Regards,
Mark

[Beekster]

Ouch! What you've done with this so far is quite impressive, Mark. But the gaps & alignment issues on that dump bed are horrifying. I see a lot of small styrene shims in your future to square things up and fill the gaps.

Those AMT big rigs are fraught with peril. I bought a DM800 tractor a few years ago, not to build but to measure so that I could scale down to 1/35 to convert the Revellogram R600 tractor to the offset-cab DM version. The few pieces I assembled as part of that process made me decide that I'd never build it and it would remain a reference item in my collection.

[mustang1989]

Glad you're feeling better Mark. Your progress on this bad boy is looking great man.

[reserve]

Thanks gents

Beek the whole thing is pretty appalling but that's what I get for choosing a letter kit. Fixing it will be tedious but not over difficult.

With the good weather I've been afield with my PD buddies quite a bit. I've still found time, however, to get the tires and wheels painted. Here it is dry fit again




after gettin a few steps closer. Here the dump box is not all the way in place; it's gonna take some force to get it there so I'll fill, sand and paint it before the final push as I only want to do that once. 

[BUCKY]

Very interesting project, Mark. I'll be watching from here on out. I have one of these kits in the stash. I've pulled it out several times with the idea of starting it, only to cram it back in the box!

[ogrejohn]

Looking mighty fine Mark! 

[Steve Ski]

That Tonka is lookin good!

[reserve]

Thanks gents

I've not had much time to work on this lately, started driving a dump truck (irony, no?) last week. It's a fourteen year old Sterling with a Cat C-7 and a Fuller 10 speed, kind of old but solid and it's a blast to drive. I will get back to this fairly soon

[Buddho]

Excellent progress, the engine and cab look fantastic!

[mustang1989]

Any more on this one? Progress was surely looking good.

[reserve]

Thanks B and no, I haven't touched it in six weeks I guess it is now. I will finish it when spare time reappears

[ARMORGUY]

What an impressive build.

[mustang1989]

Jul 11, 2022 15:14:19 GMT -6 reserve said:

Thanks B and no, I haven't touched it in six weeks I guess it is now. I will finish it when spare time reappears

Man do I ever know what all that's about. lol. If it aint been one thing then it's been another around here. Broke a rocker stud on my 406 a few weeks back and the machinist I use is backed up big time which meant I would've been out of a ride for a few weeks or possibly even more. I ended up pulling the 406 and going back with my spare 383 stroker engine so I'd have wheels in the meantime. All the while I've been putting a strong 7500 rpm 350 together. All this while I'm trying to put my son's truck back together after his fender bender two months ago and then tackling the A/C issues that I've been having lately at home. Jeez....when can I get a break here!!!!


I've really enjoyed following this and am looking forward to when you start back up on it Mark.

[reserve]

Right then

I've taken this back up recently; very hot this past couple weeks and the cool basement's the place to be.

Completed the cab and installed it on the weathered frame







and finally worked up the ambition to fill and sand the uglies on the box



Should be able to get this off the bench soon.

Regards,
Mark

[mustang1989]

YESSS!!! Glad to see you back on this one bud. Doncha just hate those nasty ejector pin marks and seam lines in the worst of places?? I built a Trumpeter Bf109 12 years ago and that thing was LACED with pin marks. I spent a large portion of the build just cleaning that stuff up!! Just look at these landing gear bay doors:

[reserve]

Sure do sir I don't know what was worse on this one, the pin marks or the open seams. It had alot of both, that's for sure. I'd have expected better of Trumpeter, myself that's kind of disappointing

[mustang1989]

Aug 6, 2022 20:31:53 GMT -6 reserve said:

Sure do sir I don't know what was worse on this one, the pin marks or the open seams. It had alot of both, that's for sure. I'd have expected better of Trumpeter, myself that's kind of disappointing

I hear ya. 

That's pretty much the norm from Trumpy. Great subjects and build up nicely if one can work through the over engineering and the difficulties of ejector pin mark removal. 

[reserve]

I began sponge style chipping/rust application on the box





Did not get it right, did not like the look of it thus. Rust spots came out too similar in size and shape probably due to my heavy hand while using the technique. So, whaddya do when ya don't like it?




START OVER
I'll use a different technique this time, should turn out better

[JCON]

I would have taken the base coat yellow and used the sponge to go over the rust color with more yellow...