'75 Dodge Tradesman Custom Van

[Oldcarfan27]

That kit just became a family heirloom! It has a family connection and it'll be a great conversion piece.

What a thoughtful tribute he did, that was an awesome gift he did for you. 

[John Teresi]

Greg....this really cool...love it!!!!

[gasser59]

Great stuff. He truly went over and beyond. Very nicely done. When we see it on wheels?

[Ron Hamilton]

That is some fantastic work!!!!! I was lucky to find this one a couple of years ago at a reasonable price

I have been wanting one for a long time, and it's white styrene too. I saw an earlier year grille in resin I would like to get. I would love to get a window van kit like I had when I was a teenager. 

[Rusty92]

Stunning work with an airbrush.

[Vince66]

Great mural work your friend did. 

[modelguy45]

ron Hamilton great van cant wait to see it done

[Greg Pugh]

I'm finally getting back to this! I intend on having it wrapped up in the next couple of weeks hopefully. 

So I wanted the engine to represent a stock, no frills 318 so there was some dechroming that needed to happen.

 

[Greg Pugh]

Because this engine will NEVER been seen anyways, I did not do a full detail of it with wires, etc. Even as it is, I probably spent more time detail painting it than I should have but eh, whaddya do? Lol

[Greg Pugh]

I was also able to get the interior done today as well. 

[LouO]

Wow now that is some airbrush work! I have got to watch this build now!

[Tom Geiger]

On 7/26/2019 at 5:58 PM, Greg Pugh said:

Because this engine will NEVER been seen anyways, I did not do a full detail of it with wires, etc. Even as it is, I probably spent more time detail painting it than I should have but eh, whaddya do? Lol

Exactly!  I don't even think I wasted a carb and air cleaner on mine!   

[Greg Pugh]

Next up was to deal with the porthole windows. These were designed to mount from the outside just how you see here. There was no way that was going to fly so I went to work.

[Greg Pugh]

I trimmed all of the mounting flange away so that they mounted flush in the opening.

[Greg Pugh]

Then after tinting them, they were installed. MUCH better look!

Edited August 3, 2019 by Greg Pugh

[gotnitro?]

Now those port hole windows fit perfectly  ! 

Man your friends artistic mind really is amazing,  so cool how he turned it into your sons football season

[Greg Pugh]

Thank you!

[Greg Pugh]

There was no stainless trim around the windshield on these vans so I used BMF to mask off the window gasket and then painted it flat black.

[Greg Pugh]

Then it was time to move on to installing the glass. The windshield had tire burn in a couple of spots. I tried my best to polish it out but I wasn't getting the results I wanted. So I tossed it out and made my own using clear acetate. I'm actually happy I went this route as I feel it looks so much better than kit-supplied glass.

[LouO]

very impressive work with the the porthole windows AND excellent job on the front glass, I'll keep watching...you got a fan now!

[Lordmodelbuilder]

Actually, there was a stainless trim available on the Dodge window vans.

The trick in the day was to put the trim on the panel vans for a custom look.

Same thing goes for the trim around the grill. It could be ordered. I think the model kit has it molded in.

Your van is looking good!!

Edited August 5, 2019 by Lordmodelbuilder

[Greg Pugh]

I'll bet I looked at 20+ of these vans and never saw any stainless trim around the windshield! Lol. Oh well. 

[Greg Pugh]

Rolling stock ready to roll...

[Greg Pugh]

This one is a wrap!! See the finished product here:

 

Edited August 27, 2019 by Greg Pugh