Depiction of a true workhorse--Ford Aeromax

[blackf40]

I've decided to build a model of my dad's truck--a 1995 Ford Aeromax. This truck sure isn't pretty, nor is it even a really good truck (I spent two summers and Christmases driving it to pay for college). However, it has provided 1.8 million relatively trouble-free miles for my dad, and may soon be replaced, so I thought I would commemorate the old steed for him (for Christmas, hopefully). I've included an old pic of it, taken years ago; I'll hafta spend a few hours photographing it when he next comes home.



Italeri makes a kit of almost exactly the same truck, but I have to make some modifications to it to match my dad's truck.



Actually, it would take an enormous amount of work to make it completely faithful, so I will pick and choose which details to leave different. First and foremost are the wheels--they're just completely different from my subject, but they will have to do. I'll still see if I can modify the drive hubs so they don't stick out so much. Furthermore, all the tires are steering tires--not one drive tire!. However, for what they are, they look pretty realistic.



But the first modification I HAD to do was change the sleeper windows from the triangular pieces on the box cover to a (more common) quadrangular split vent window. What I did was tweak the kit windows so they would fit flush, and glued them in. When they're dry, I'll putty them smooth. I'll hafta make a master to the shape and size of the real windows, and cut. I'm not sure where the windows or divisions (the window is split into three for a vent) will come from. Maybe I'll scavenge some plastic packaging.



The engine in the kit is an 18 liter, 460 HP Cummins, but the subject contains a 470 HP Detriot Diesel. Other than the differing colors (black vs. gray-blue, respectively), I have yet to see what work needs to be done underhood, since I would like to make it fairly detailed.

More to come as I get pics and see what's in store...

[Whumbachumba]

Looks like a great project. I hope that you can make this thing look really close to the 1:1.

[sideshowscrappy]

Sounds like a great project. It's always fun to replicate something special in your life for friend or family. I'm sure your dad will love it, even if it is not an "exact" replica. Have fun with this one and I hope it comes out great...............*Ryan*

[Magliano]

This is Great!!

[Fastphil]

nice! I'm gonna build a replica of my '04 Volvo VN670 someday...

[willimo]

Cool project!

[ol' dude]

Looks to be a cool project!! Keep us posted on the progress! In that kit there, does the frame come all ready together or do you have to put it together?

[white97ex]

sweet

[NissanSkylineGTR98]

nice to see something different on here, i personally think it looks like a nice truck, good luck to you on this project!

[blackf40]

Got a bit of work on this before I head off for the weekend. Mostly odds and ends, but mostly split between body and chassis (well, that just covers it all, doesn't it?) The frame rails come separately, with even some of the cross-members split into several pieces. The rails are somewhat less than straight in two axes, but they flex quite readily, so I'm hoping the joining session might remedy that common ailment.



Below is a rather disappointing feature--or lack thereof.



I'm guessing that the decal is supposed to fool us all? Not impressed, though I've seen the likes of this before. Some scratchbuilding and inventive work is obviously in order.

Another effect I will have to achieve is the relative lack of shiny chrome. My dad rarely had the hours necessary to keep polished wheels, and a lot of the chrome on the truck had not been taken care of by its previous owner, so when polished, it still had a rough and semi-chrome look to it. However, this effect may look better in scale, since "too much bling makes one look like a toy." The look I'm going for is 'just washed the body and sprayed down the back end, but the rest has seen a few miles.'

[eph2]

Wowww! Cool Thread!!! Nice Start, it´s a cool kit!!!

Good Luck!

[blackf40]

I've been slowly putting together small sub-assemblies and figuring out which parts to modify and which to leave: tedious work, but not very picture-worthy. A couple things I've worked on, tho...

First, the airbags supplied for the air suspension are way too small--here's the real thing...



And here are the kit items, along with a proposed replacement--pastels! They won't quite be thick enough, but if I use the ends from the kit items and build on a bit of putty, it may work.



Second, my dad's truck has a (rare) single large exhaust stack instead of two, so I searched for a larger tube...


Here I found the ink cartridge from a pen worked fine after it was emptied (compared with kit item on left).



And I finally finished puttying and sanding the incorrect sleeper window. Now to make the new one...

[Wheelin75r]

Verry interessting thread. Keep it commin'!

[quadzero]

oh wow, i love rigs. cant wait to see this one completed. as for references, you sure cant beat the real thing! are you gonna make a trailer for it, black? keep up the good work.

[2.2 Straight six]

glad to see other truck builders here, i have a few kits sitting around that need to be built, im planning a bit wrecker project, but dont have the time.

nice work an keep it up.