working over a clodbody

[Budhatrain]

Here's a project I am working on... the clod body is a classic and will probably never lose it's legacy!

Here's what I am going for:

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/budhatrain/chevytwotone.jpg

Here's where I am at! This is the first time for any type of styrene work and after finally starting, after much anxiety and debate, it's really not that bad. Styrene is very easy to work with. I did however spill a whole bottle of plastic cement on my recliner while bonding styrene and watching "house." I thought I was doomed- but besides the smell, nothing really happened with it.

I used the old blower mount as a plug for the hole and then backed it with some styrene strips (later I added more on the sides). In addition I wanted to make sure the definition of the hood crease remained.

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/budhatrain/clodbodyplug.jpg
http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/budhatrain/clodbodyplugin.jpg
http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/budhatrain/clodbodyplugunder.jpg
http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/budhatrain/clodbodyhooddetail.jpg
http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/budhatrain/clodbodyhooddetaila.jpg
http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/budhatrain/clodbodywork.jpg

what do you think? I think it's not too bad for a first time. I am gonna fill in the gaps and create the proper edges I am assuming with bondo or something that I can pick up at Walmart... what do you use?

I have also placed little backing plate for the body mount holes and will just fill with that filler- will this be good enough or do I need to cut little circles to fill the holes?

Up next: I want to make a windshield visor and potentially a toolbox across the bed!?

[Wyoming]

Wow Looking great so far, Bondo will work fine, I've used it many times the Bondo fiberglass jelly also works nicely to fill small holes. If your Walmart sells plastic models they may also have Testors model putty which is in a much easier to deal with size. The easiest way to fill the hood holes is with a styrene rod of same size and then trim it off but cutting small pieces is fine, the less filler you need the better.

[OldSchoolRC]

x2, large spots of filler tend to crack. The more styrene you can stuff in there, the better. Off to a great start, keep the pics coming!

[Northwest 4x4]

thats what I use as well

[Budhatrain]

Made some more progress on my day off. I probably spent waaay too much on stuff for custom work but I really enjoyed doing what I did today- relaxing, time went by quick, wasn't frustrating- felt like a hobby.

I filled in the gaps, it set up really quick. I rolled the sand paper up like a tight cigarette so to be able to sand across the whole body and not wedge anything out. I don't know if you can see it but the hood line look real good... I am gonna do another light coat.

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/budhatrain/clodbodybodyfillin.jpg
http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/budhatrain/clodbodybodyfillinb.jpg

In addition I did some work on a tool box. I thought it turned out surprisingly well. I am gonna leave it alone for a little while but I am gonna comeback and do some more details like doors, faux pushbutton locks etc...

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/budhatrain/toolbox.jpg
http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/budhatrain/toolboxb.jpg
http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/budhatrain/toolboxc.jpg
http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/budhatrain/toolboxd.jpg
http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/budhatrain/toolboxe.jpg

So the Ohio truck is coming along! Tell me what you think...

[RCohio]

that tool box is killer nice work

[Budhatrain]

Here's a quick update... I worked on a visor today! This was pretty easy, I had been thinking about it the last couple of days and finally I pulled the trigger.

Used a piece of paper and traced with my finger the windshield upper edge and it left an indention in the paper that I could trace. From there I did some measurements created the piece on paper, test fitted as much as I could. Cut it out a little over-sized in the styrene so that I could cut it down to fit.

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/budhatrain/clodbodyvisorc.jpg
http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/budhatrain/clodbodyvisorb.jpg
http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/budhatrain/clodbodyvisor.jpg

Here's the piece mounted to the roof of the clodbody.

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/budhatrain/clodbodyvisore.jpg
http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/budhatrain/clodbodyvisorf.jpg
http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/budhatrain/clodbodyvisorh.jpg
http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/budhatrain/clodbodyvisori.jpg


Up next the grill

[Northwest 4x4]

I like that viser can you make me one I'll pay for it

[Wyoming]

Looking very nice

[Budhatrain]

Worked over the grill last night. Not too hard- if I had to do it again I wouldn't have done it free hand but used a jig- which was my plan but I suffer from extreme impatience (I always touch the paint before it drys). Turned out really good- I might go the route of GMC sierra with this truck and converting this grill wouldn't be too hard with a couple strips of styrene and Kevin Vinyl7.

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/budhatrain/clodbodygrill.jpg
http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/budhatrain/clodybodygrillb.jpg

This morning I took some ELO (Easy Lift Off) from testers and stripped the body. I was really impressed on how easy this was and how efficient the can was. I can probably get three truck bodies with the can of ELO. Pretty simple process- keep one of your wife's cookie sheets (I have to buy her new ones now) and generously slop the liquid on. The first coat did most of the work and then I followed up with three more to get her down and clean. Doesn't harm you work surface or plastic and really easy to use.

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/budhatrain/clodbodystripped.jpg

So in the process of this I noticed I had a couple of stress cracks in the body- probably from abuse. One is on the roof- which looks like it could easily happen. The other two just happened to be along the hood creases...so looks like I am going to make an opening hood and tailgate. Wasn't in the plans but why not now... I am actually pretty excited about it. This whole project has opened my eyes to how easy this really is and bringing back some creativity that I thought I had lost.

I ordered a drop bed from rogue element components- timing was great on that one- and I should be able to do ok with this stuff...we'll see

[Wyoming]

Very nice mods again, keeps getting better.

[Budhatrain]

I have been looking all over and using the "search" options on different forums and cannot find someone who did a good job with creating an opening hood- the hinges. I know I have seen them and never paid attention but now that I am looking I am coming up short. It's probably me just not using the right wording. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

[Northwest 4x4]

what about jewely hingies the really small one's and then make a small scale hijor to help with the folow as you open the hood and the only other thing you ll have to worry aboutis how to make it so it doesnt fly open

[Budhatrain]

banged my head for a while trying to figure out how to do this and for the life of me I could not find anything on the search feature. I have seen them, hinge hoods, but I guess I couldn't get the wording right. Anyways, I thought of something last night while going to bed and tried it today and I am pretty satisfied with it...

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/budhatrain/clodbodyhoodc.jpg
http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/budhatrain/clodbodyhoodb.jpg

cut out the bed and ordered one from REC (rogue element components)...can't wait to get it sometime soon!

[Northwest 4x4]

sweet glad to see that u figured it out,sweet now we need a scale v-8 for it

[Budhatrain]

It happened that Rogue Element Components offered up a machined styrene drop bed for the clod body recently. This really wow'd me when it came in- quality work. It doesn't come ready to go, you need to bond the pieces and do the sanding. So here it is after bonding and shaping the edges- the more time you spend here the better- the wheel wells make the piece in my opinion...
here's a teaser pic:

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/budhatrain/clodbed2.jpg
http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/budhatrain/clodbed.jpg

[OldSchoolRC]

that is amazing...can't wait to see it installed!

[Budhatrain]

I am ready to glue it in- I will do hopefully tomorrow or Monday... then it's some trim around the body and ready for paint... well I need to do just a little more work on the grill to make it GMC... ohh, and I need to figure out the working tailgate

Such fun, I am really enjoying this!

[Budhatrain]

Here's some pics of my handywork today. Some more backwoods engineering but I have a good handle on it. I had to pull in both fenders toward each other to square things up and I could get my mind off of a rod type system to screw into. I thought this would be good for some rotation action too!

I ended up making the rod in three pieces and creating the mounts from parts from the old tailgate with a dremel. Your can't see them, on the rod ends but I pushed in tiny nuts into each side so they won't slip and cannot turn while putting a small patch of styrene on the outside to keep it from pulling out while tightening the fenders together.

I would have never imagined what you could do with styrene and bonding agent. For less than $10 investment into materials (mix bag of styrene pieces and large bottle of bonding agent) I love this stuff.

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/budhatrain/clodbodytailgatee.jpg
http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/budhatrain/clodbodytailgate.jpg
http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/budhatrain/clodbodytailgateb.jpg
http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/budhatrain/clodbodytailgatec.jpg
http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/budhatrain/clodbodytailgated.jpg

So it's not scale looking by any means... I am not that obsessive compulsive yet but I am understanding what I need to do better... I have a lot to do with filling in the sides and making flush, filling in some dremel over-cuts and make a hatch system. I definitely don't want to go backwards at this point but will have a better understanding moving forward into the next project.

[jeffro]

Wow, thats some excellent work there Buhda, I am impressed. It looks like you can teach me a few things. I'll try and do a better job of keeping up with your build in all my bouncing around the forums.

[Budhatrain]

Thanks guys for the encouragement I really do feel like I am in the presence of some very talented men- thanks for inspiration and answering questions when asked. You guys rock!

So I am almost ready for primer... finished up the ugliness in the tailgate area. I had this idea about door and fender trim pieces a long time ago and put it up tonight. I wasn't going to do this but I ended up making a little hood ornament too!

Tell me what you think... I hope the even coat of primer will make this thing look a little better haha kinda looks shabby right now

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/budhatrain/clodbodybeforeprimer.jpg
http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/budhatrain/clodbodybeforeprimerb.jpg
http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/budhatrain/clodbodybeforeprimerc.jpg
http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/budhatrain/clodbodybeforeprimerd.jpg

So I am thinking two-tone black and silver. Plus I picked up this real cool stuff called metal tape...it's actual real thin metal and I rub it onto the piece and it looks just like chrome. Crazy stuff!

[OldSchoolRC]

wow - that looks really, really good!! Love the detail on the side of the body.

[DRW-FJ40]

I think it looks great. Your enspiring confindence in me. I haven't tried any custom styrene yet but I want to. I really like the bed & tailgate. It will look good with the tool box. I've seen diamond plate sheets simalr to chrome tape (I assume they are vinyl but don't know for sure). might work well on the tool box.

[Budhatrain]

I think it looks great. Your enspiring confindence in me. I haven't tried any custom styrene yet but I want to. I really like the bed & tailgate. It will look good with the tool box. I've seen diamond plate sheets simalr to chrome tape (I assume they are vinyl but don't know for sure). might work well on the tool box.

Styrene is really easy to work with and the only advice I can give you is to just pick some up and try to do something with it. I was really surprised real fast.

I did use a molded diamond plate styrene for the box and just used chrome paint on it. It looks good- more aluminum than chrome but fits the "tool box". This metal sheet is more like a metal flake type of product very thin and you use a dull pencil or toothpick to form or rub onto the piece. Pretty cool stuff but will probably come off real easy in trail riding- which I am afraid of.

[DRW-FJ40]

The diamond plate was hard to see in the picture. I'll have to look for that at the LHS. Tool box for my highlift would be a good starting project.

Keep up the good work, it's really looking good.

[Budhatrain]

all primed!!!

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/budhatrain/clodbodyprimedb.jpg
http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/budhatrain/clodbodyprimed.jpg

So I am at a "crossroads" continue without making some little things right or do the work and make it better? The primer highlighted a multitude of sins... I can live with some, others I keep looking at. I want to move forward but I also what to do it right the first time. I think that most blemishes will probably come through the next color of paint but will other people notice.... probably not at first glance. We'll see?!

[Wyoming]

Looks great to me, don't worry to much about little blemishes I know my rigs are full of them and I have found if you worry to much about perfection you will never be totally happy with a build. Only the artist tends to notice his own mistakes real or imagined and since most people will only see the whole finished product they will never notice, and being a handmade item it is usually best to leave small traces of the modelers handiwork it adds personality and the one of kind custom feel to a rig and not simply a mass produced item, although Ironically that is what it is a model of lol!

[OldSchoolRC]

x2, fix anything glaringly bad, but as for the rest? Let it ride. My clod body that I stripped down and repainted looked terrible imo after primer, but now that it's painted and mounted, even I can barely notice.

[Budhatrain]

painted up... I always touch the paint too early and mess it up. I had pretty good self control this time. Only one spot where the paint bled through the masking- yay. I am actually gonna chrome out all the trim so this isn't the final product. I am still debating the roof being silver?!

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/budhatrain/clodbodypaintedb.jpg
http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/budhatrain/clodbodypaintedc.jpg


Here's something I was thinking to set it off a little and add that extra detail

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/budhatrain/clodbodypainted.jpg

Went with a faithful guy, kevin from Vinyl 7, if you ever need work. His prices are great, easy to deal with and does everything very timely.

So yeah- here's to the next step I need everything to dry real good.

[Budhatrain]

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/budhatrain/clodbodymountb.jpg
http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/budhatrain/clodbodymountc.jpg
http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/budhatrain/clodbodymount.jpg

[Wyoming]

Looks great to me.

[teebeehex]

She's a beauty! Great (custom) work.

[OldSchoolRC]

Looking good! I don't know about the silver roof myself, but love the overall color scheme. The GMC decals are killer!

[Northwest 4x4]

sweet lookin ride. I was wondering, i bought a c channel piece of alum. that I was going to use for the rally/hilux axle not sure where to cut and bend to get the car to sit right. I want it to sit right but not sit to high??

[Budhatrain]

Yeah my frame is a preproduction one from an undisclosed company... "OldSchoolRC" is the man is with Chassis ansuspension setup- send him a pm, I am sure he can point you in the right direction

[Sonic0620]

That is one sweet looking GMC. A neighbor I had in Michigan had one that looked very similar to yours, but yours doesn't have any rust holes.

[Budhatrain]

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/budhatrain/clodaxial-1.jpg
http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/budhatrain/clodaxialb-1.jpg
http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/budhatrain/clodaxialc.jpg
http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/budhatrain/clodaxiald.jpg

Almost done! Just need to mount the electronics, add side mirrors, take cool outside shots.

YAY!!!

[R/C Modz Full Throttle]

I like how you made this a GMC project, different and very well done. FULL POINTS!