Dodge Ram 3500 Service Truck

My family and I have worked in the the construction field for years in one form or another. I started working on heavy equipment when I worked for Genstar Stone Products Company back in the mid eighties. I have always wanted to build a model of a mechanic's service truck. I decided to start with an AMT Dodge Ram 3500 Dually Snapfast Plus kit. I added a laptop to the cab's interior and I modified the seat so that the center storage section was in the lowered position for additional workspace.

Here's the first mock-up of the utility body.

A resin utility body from Modelhaus was added and then I started adding other accesories including an air compressor with gas engine, a hose reel made from a sewing machine bobbin, impact gun, a water cooler, fire extinguisher, a vise on the rear bumper, chain, tool box, gas can and a hydraulic cylinder from the AMT Cat D8 Bulldozer.

Duplicolor saddle tan paint was used. The utility body interior was painted with flat black to simulate a spray on bedliner. The decals came from AMT's Autocar dump truck kit. The chrome wheels were stripped and painted gray black center caps with and I weathered the tires with real mud! This is one of my favorite models because it was so much fun to build. I was very happy with the results. I have also won a couple trophies with it at different model shows. That's what it all about, having fun!

Check out my other models at my Fotki photo sharing website. http://public.fotki.com/Wheels4ever/

2003 Jeep Rubicon Ocean Lifeguard Unit

I wanted to build a model of a Lifeguard unit that you might see on a beach somewhere. My first thoughts were of the lifeguard rigs on the TV show Baywatch. There were other cool things to check out besides watching Pamela Anderson run down the beach in that red bathing suit! I noticed these cool looking rigs on the beach. This Jeep Rubicon Ocean Lifeguard Unit is my version of one of those rigs you might find here on the East Coast beaches using the Jeep Rubicon as the basis for the build. This has turned out to be one of my favorite models. It was so much fun to build! 

The starting point was Revell's Lara Croft Tomb Raider Jeep Rubicon.

(A full plastic version of this kit will be coming soon!)

The rear seat was left out and a treadplate floor covered with Bare Metal Foil was added. The kit off-road lights were cut down from four lights to three and turned into an emergency light and mounted to the hood. That turned out pretty cool.

I started by scratchbuilding a new roll cage using Plaststruct tubing. Then various accessories were added such as a resin surfboard, flippers, stokes basket,whip antenna and radio.

I found the decals and some of lifeguard accesories in this kit that I purchased on ebay. It only cost me $3.00. When I received it there truck wasn't in it. I contacted the seller and he ended up sending my money and told me to keep the kit. What a bargin!

Great looking surfboard from my friend Norm Veber at Replica & Miniatures Company of Maryland. I've been told that the only missing is a scale version of Pamela Anderson!

Check out my other models at my Fotki photo sharing website. http://public.fotki.com/Wheels4ever/