Claude Thibodeau Posted June 4, 2023 Posted June 4, 2023 HI! Once in a while, I like to get out of my usual subjects (pro-Touring, street-rods, Bonneville cars) to scratch-built something different. Last fall, I saw a nice Westfalia camping van built by a young man at a model show in Montreal, and it got me remembering a 1/1 '66 Chevy van I converted to a camper in the 70's. So... I took an AMT Chevy S10 X-treme pick-up, modified it, and straddled the box with a totally scratchbuilt "fold-away" camping cabin of my own design. Look closely, and you'll see all the composite panels can pivot, slide-out and pop-up in position to allow 4 adults to sleep in dry comfort on a wide flat floor, and still be able to use the PU box to carry stuff concealed from view, and the weather. In the morning, you just climb down the ladder, stack the mattresses, tilt and slide-in the side extensions, flip-up the front and rear walls (with window and door) inside the roof, and lower the roof/cap to seal it all. Ready to go, with minimal wind drag behind the PU cabin. Unless you load the roof rack with bulky objects, but you know... While at it, I made a custom "base" to recreate camping life around the charcoal BBQ. How would you like your steak? Hours of fun with styrene... CT 9
XYHARRY Posted June 4, 2023 Posted June 4, 2023 Medium rare thanks Claude. What an awsome modern take on an older style camper, and improved to a fold away wind resistant cabin. As always your work has put a smile on my face.? Well done and thanks for posting. Cheers. David. ??
NOBLNG Posted June 4, 2023 Posted June 4, 2023 Beautiful work Claude!? Maybe you should get a patent for a 1:1 model before someone steals the design.?
espo Posted June 4, 2023 Posted June 4, 2023 Like my steaks on the rare side, just short of needing a tourniquet. The S-10 it's self looks great with the stance and all the body panels added. The Camper portion is so realistic looking and well-engineered, even the little ladder to get into the back.
Claude Thibodeau Posted June 4, 2023 Author Posted June 4, 2023 7 hours ago, XYHARRY said: Medium rare thanks Claude. What an awsome modern take on an older style camper, and improved to a fold away wind resistant cabin. As always your work has put a smile on my face.? Well done and thanks for posting. Cheers. David. ?? Hi David! Thank you so much for the comments. Happy to make you smile. At the beginning, I wanted to make one side of the camper "folded-out" (as on the pics), and the other only partially open, or "in process" if you will. But the logistics of having everything mid-way was too much for my old eyes. Next time maybe... LOL. CT 1
Claude Thibodeau Posted June 5, 2023 Author Posted June 5, 2023 22 hours ago, NOBLNG said: Beautiful work Claude!? Maybe you should get a patent for a 1:1 model before someone steals the design.? Thank you Greg! I'm too old for those things. It's free for the taking, I guess ... LOL CT
John B. Posted June 5, 2023 Posted June 5, 2023 (edited) Innovative doesn't begin to describe it - very well done! Edited June 5, 2023 by John B.
Koellefornia Kid Posted June 5, 2023 Posted June 5, 2023 Wow, this is ingenious! Can you put some potatoes on the grill for me? Sorry, I'm a veggie...
happy grumpy Posted June 5, 2023 Posted June 5, 2023 Quite a departure from your usual work but just as wonderful to look at. Your attention to detail is very impressive. what a great take on the subject.?
Claude Thibodeau Posted June 6, 2023 Author Posted June 6, 2023 On 6/4/2023 at 10:35 AM, Tom Geiger said: That is pretty cool! Very nice scratch building! Thank you Tom! Much appreciated. CT
Rattlecan Dan Posted June 7, 2023 Posted June 7, 2023 So many wonderful little details and creativity and a Fabulous color and paint job to boot! Super job!
Claude Thibodeau Posted June 7, 2023 Author Posted June 7, 2023 On 6/4/2023 at 10:58 AM, ewetwo said: Awesome idea and build. Thank you for the compliments, David! CT
Claude Thibodeau Posted June 8, 2023 Author Posted June 8, 2023 On 6/4/2023 at 11:28 AM, thatz4u said: like it a lot, great idea. Thank you Al! CT
Claude Thibodeau Posted June 9, 2023 Author Posted June 9, 2023 On 6/4/2023 at 12:08 PM, ChrisR said: Awesome! Thank you Chris! CT
Claude Thibodeau Posted June 10, 2023 Author Posted June 10, 2023 On 6/4/2023 at 1:46 PM, espo said: Like my steaks on the rare side, just short of needing a tourniquet. The S-10 it's self looks great with the stance and all the body panels added. The Camper portion is so realistic looking and well-engineered, even the little ladder to get into the back. Hi David! Since I converted a 66 Chevy-van into a "westfalia-type" camper in the early 70's, I knew my way about making the most of a small space! LOL CT 1
Claude Thibodeau Posted June 11, 2023 Author Posted June 11, 2023 On 6/4/2023 at 4:36 PM, crazyjim said: Pretty cool build. Thank you Jim! CT
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