Author Topic: Schnibblemobil!  (Read 295 times)

Offline Kerick

  • Reportedly finished with a stripper...
Schnibblemobil!
« on: January 24, 2026, 12:07:56 PM »
OK, you've got to start here!


https://www.thedrive.com/news/37033/no-this-mid-engine-semi-truck-fused-with-a-ford-station-wagon-isnt-photoshop
I've been toying with this idea for a looonnng time so it's as good a time as ever to try it. I really do need to finish the Assault Gun Sherman as the GB on BTS ends at the end of the month. But, the muse was upon me so here is the start so far. I have an old IH logging truck model that I scrapped out a few years ago.  This will provide the basic frame and wheels. The problem is its filthy dirty so that will take some scrubbing. No big deal. Instead of the European Ford station wagon I have an American Ford Pinto for the driver's compartment. I also have the Great Dane extendable trailer kit to go with it. That will get a little modification like changes to the bed and a third axle. According to the story this truck hauled aluminum parts up to 170 feet long. At 1/24th scale that's 7.2 feet! I don't have any place long enough to store that so it's not happening. The tractor will get a third axle too complete with the half round wheel fenders some trucks use. As I didn't have these and I didn't see a way to get them without spending big money on a kit just for the fenders I started looking through the old junk drawers. I came up with three pill bottles with just the right diameter and with just the right curve on the outside edge. I measured the width of the wheels, marked them up, cut them on the band saw and cut out the bottoms.



Presto! Chango! Six wheel fenders.



It's getting late so we'll see what happens tomorrow. The wife and daughter are going to a baby shower so I might have time to myself to scrub the truck frame. It depends on how long it takes to shower the baby. I still don't see why cleaning a baby is such a big deal to the women folk!

Offline Mig Eater

  • Munch, Munch, Munch
    • Mig Eater Studio
Re: Schnibblemobil!
« Reply #1 on: January 24, 2026, 12:36:04 PM »
Well that's certainly different, looking forward to seeing were this is going.

Offline Kerick

  • Reportedly finished with a stripper...
Re: Schnibblemobil!
« Reply #2 on: January 24, 2026, 01:58:18 PM »
I just hope I finish it! It will be lots of fun chopping and bashing so that should keep me going. Hopefully painting will be easy with limited weathering.
The worst part of the pill bottle fenders was getting the darn labels off. I soaked them in water hoping that would do it but I had to resort to acetone to get the glue off.
I bought some super special glue for the fenders they are PE plastic not polystyrene. CA glue won’t stick it at all so we’ll see what happens with this stuff.
« Last Edit: January 24, 2026, 02:04:11 PM by Kerick »

Offline raafif

  • Is formally accused of doing nasty things to DC-3s...and officially our first whiffing zombie
  • Whiffing Insane
Re: Schnibblemobil!
« Reply #3 on: January 25, 2026, 06:06:18 AM »
Love these crazy vehicles - some Russian engineer obviously escaped to Germany.

Offline Old Wombat

  • "We'll see when I've finished whether I'm showing off or simply embarrassing myself."
  • "Define 'interesting'?"
Re: Schnibblemobil!
« Reply #4 on: January 25, 2026, 06:00:29 PM »
"This is the Captain. We have a little problem with our entry sequence, so we may experience some slight turbulence and, ah, explode."

Offline Kerick

  • Reportedly finished with a stripper...
Re: Schnibblemobil!
« Reply #5 on: January 26, 2026, 12:15:24 AM »
I spent some time scrubbing and dechroming parts last night. Now at least everything is clean and paintable.

Offline Gingie

  • Has been to Tatooine...
Re: Schnibblemobil!
« Reply #6 on: January 26, 2026, 11:45:42 PM »
Those fenders are terrific!

Offline Kerick

  • Reportedly finished with a stripper...
Re: Schnibblemobil!
« Reply #7 on: January 27, 2026, 03:39:44 AM »
Thanks!