Skoolie in skale...um, scale

[Skunky Bus]

I'm building a model of the future Skunky Bus. It's 1:25 scale (standard for model cars). As SkB is to employ an 11-row body (i.e., 34-35 feet), the model is 17" long.

The main function of the model is working out ideas...OK, there are two main functions: the other one is "for the hell of it."

The chassis is based on a Lindberg model of a late 1960's Dodge L700 tilt-cab truck. The dog nose is adapted from a resin kit of a 1966-68 Dodge W-300 purchased from a guy who makes them as a sideline. The body is modeled after a Superior Coach of the same period.

What you see in the pictures that follow is a "model of a model." The coach part is a cardboard mockup of the final version. The mismatch of whites between roof and sides are incidental to the different paper products used (Elmer's presentation board sides, index-card roof). In the end, I'll use sheet polystyrene from Hobby Town USA as the primary material. The camper layout hasn't been worked out yet, but I'll have a detailed interior. The entertainment/dining area will be in the rear - I'd be damned if those wraparound corner windows got wasted on a bathroom and closet!




Assembled L700 chassis with resin nose set upon it (not glued in yet)

[Skunky Bus]

Computer wouldn't let me attach all pictures in one post. Here are some more:

Chassis extension in progress using styrene stock


View from front


Skunk-stripe paint pattern

[Skunky Bus]

Side and rear shots. Couldn't resist having stream of "spray" from skunk's business end. Predominant body color will be plain white. Lower body (behind skunk graphic and below center belt, wraping around rear) to be in Cadillac's "White Diamond" pearl coat or similar. Greens and blues to have metallic sheen.

[wtd]

I did the same thing - just made the scale 1:1 and I live in it.

Pretty cool project - looks like fun.
Tom

[Stuff]

lol WTD


where did you manage to find that dodge model??

also pretty cool and good thing the styrene held on ya!

[Skunky Bus]

Originally Posted by Stuff

lol WTD

where did you manage to find that dodge model??

also pretty cool and good thing the styrene held on ya!

For the cab section, I turned to Google and searched the terms, "Dodge," "Sweptline," and "1:25." Sweptline is the name Dodge used on its 1960's trucks. That led me to a guy who makes the polyester resin kits in his home shop in Colorado. I got a complete cab with two grill designs and a driver's seat (which I'm going to cut down to the size of a school-bus seat, modeling what I want in the real thing for passengers to sit behind the driver). The package cost me a day's pay.

In searching Google, eBay, and hobby shops for Dodge truck kits, the closest thing I found for the chassis was the L-700 tilt-cab tractor. Hobby Town USA had one that came with a trailer (which I don't need). I got a bobtail version on eBay for only $12 or so (typical retail model-kit price). I already have factory brochures for Dodge school-bus chassis that have nice diagrams of the frame structure. I was elated to discover that the sections under the engine and rear wheels of the L-700 were almost identical and only needed extensions for accuracy!

[wtd]

Originally Posted by Stuff

lol WTD


where did you manage to find that dodge model??

also pretty cool and good thing the styrene held on ya!

The hard part was getting the box in my Jeep ...

[bansil]

So I take it that you had to paint it "outside" since it wouldn't fit in the paint booth ...typical bus

[Stuff]

very cool!


if you ever want to go larger there is 1:14 scale tamiya semi trucks that you could moddify. guys sell custom frames upto 36"!! I know a few forums if your interested! there is guys making daytons, buds, etc. for a schoolie all you would need to buy is an euro style semi truck and long frame rails and some imagination!

here is my 1:16 C-65 (when RCGuyFarms owned it) ((click for large photo))

[wtd]

Building i:1 models is harder than it looks - Scaled Composites over at the Mojave Spaceport seems to have some problems with it -

The spaceport is about 10 miles west of me, and things like this are going by, over me I guess really, all the time. This one was yesterday.
They seemed to get the chase plane done OK tho' ...
Maybe they're getting kits from China - you know how those translated instructions go -

1) Decisively Part A to glue if Part B when only.

Tom

[Skunky Bus]

Originally Posted by wtd

Building i:1 models is harder than it looks - Scaled Composites over at the Mojave Spaceport seems to have some problems with it. ...
Maybe they're getting kits from China - you know how those translated instructions go -

Tom

BTW, Stuff: that is a cool truck model. I'm going to have to see if I can work lights into my model. Various replica parts, like the "holding tank" or the "refrigerator," could hold the batteries.

[Skunky Bus]

The nose now has handcrafted "fenders" made out of white stock plastic and some curved plastic from the L700 cab.

Above the windshield is a mockup of the front roof section of an early-to-mid 1970's Winnebago. I took measurements of the real things (skoolie and 'Bago) and the roof piece would probably fit over the front roof section of the bus without removing the latter's structure. The sides would require adding straight frame metal and closing in with raw sheet metal or fiberglass. The idea (tentative at this point) is a best-of-both worlds look.

[Skunky Bus]

Here is a crude mockup of the interior: a model of the model, as it were:

[Skunky Bus]

The double bed behind the driver's seat can convert to a forward-facing passenger seat:

[lornaschinske]

Originally Posted by Skunky Bus

That crosshatched box next to the laundry cabinet is a stacked pair of pet cages. Not available from commercial RV manufacturers

That's why we do this!

[ol trunt]

WOW! I am impressed with all you model builders--you sure have more patience and steadier hands than I do! Your modeling sure makes it easy to see the pitfalls. I guess it is too late for me--I'll stick with 1:1, hammer, welder, bandages and plaster casts etc. oh well.

[Stuff]

now a 3-d interior! thats a whole new level of cool!

[dirtygoat]

Very cool...