My Autocar/Holmes 750 Single Axle Wrecker

[Scott Eriksen]

I've been working on this one on and off for awhile (that's why my bench is always trashed,,lol) . Started with AMT's Autocar dump ,stretched the frame and went single axle ,using the rear springs and rear from AMT White Freightliner SD/DD kit . I found the Holmes 750 on Shapeways ,,not too bad EXCEPT with the plastic used "versatile white plastic" ,, has a texture grainy surface and does not sand well at all (I gave up waiting for AMT to make a 1/25th scale version of their 1/43 scale Holmes decades ago ! ) . I assembled/painted most of the chassis and cab already leaving off the fenders and trim bits so I wouldn't break any off ,,the decals are custom by Bedlam Creations. I laid Plastruct diamond plate sheet in the bed and top of the body front ,,my struggle now is with the textured plastic side,,, I shot it with spray Mr Surfacer 500 1st and now applying skim coats of Mr Surfacer 500 out of the bottle , which might work ,,,on my 2nd coat today waiting for it to dry . The hoses on the cab are for the A/C unit .

[Gary Chastain]

Liking where this is going, nice progress

[Warren D]

Interesting build.  I've been using Rustoleum sanding auto primer on 3d printed parts, several coats needed with aggressive sanding in between.  Alternate to that is skimming 3M Acryl-Red glazing putty.  Just be warned it sets up extremely hard and needs aggressive materials to sand it smooth.

[Scott Eriksen]

8 hours ago, Gary Chastain said:

Liking where this is going, nice progress

The challenge will be the crappy plastic from the 3D printed wrecker body,,the booms and mast are grainy too but I'm not as concerned as much with them,,the booms are the older style Holmes tube with angle iron reinforcement . I drove my Dad's Holmes 600/IH Fleetstar 2010 on calls back in the late 70's early 80's when we had the truck shop in South Plainfield

Edited January 13, 2024 by Scott Eriksen

[Scott Eriksen]

2 minutes ago, Warren D said:

Interesting build.  I've been using Rustoleum sanding auto primer on 3d printed parts, several coats needed with aggressive sanding in between.  Alternate to that is skimming 3M Acryl-Red glazing putty.  Just be warned it sets up extremely hard and needs aggressive materials to sand it smooth.

I'll see how the Mr Surfacer works,,it's pretty thick ,,I can always strip it off or just throw the whole thing in the trash....lol! 

[Warren D]

I had trouble with the Mr Surfacer, it wasn't sticking to the resin/print.  When I shot the color coat and masked for the second color, the tape peeled the primer off.  Mr Primer worked great but it's not available anymore.  Mr Surfacer always seems very runny to me.

[Scott Eriksen]

I  got 2 miniature gear sprockets and drive chain for the PTO from Micro Mark  .....lol  .You can see the black gear I drilled and mounted on the gearbox .The winch drums are part of the mast 3D print and so are the gears (without teeth) on the spools ,, not sure if I'm going that crazy and cutting teeth ......I'll just wrap some cable on the drums I think

Edited January 13, 2024 by Scott Eriksen

[cifenet]

Like what you did so far, the color is very vibrant too including the two tone wheels!

[Rockford]

This is going to be unique when it's done, you're doing a great job. 

I've got about 6 projects on the go at the moment, can't stop myself, so you're not on your own. 

[Scott Eriksen]

Here's a pic of one of Logan's older trucks,a '63 Autocar twin steer

[Scott Eriksen]

Current situation........... the Mr Surfacer worked great,,,, didn't like the cast in compartment doors so made new ones,will use PE Kenworth latches from CTM ,, used some C-channel for body side caps,will probably hit those with chrome pen after paint , cut out right and left rear corners for winch control handles,,,, pinned all the pivots with brass rod on the boom ,,primed and painted Chrome Yellow .........prime and sand the body some more tonight while I listen to Cousin Brucie on WABC 

[cifenet]

Very cool progress!

[Scott Eriksen]

Progress report...... shot the back of the body yellow for the safety striping ,,worked on the lightbar and some other bits

[DRIPTROIT 71]

Looking good!

[Scott Eriksen]

.............cabling the boom ,, the way the mast assembly was 3D printed you can't run the cable correctly as the 1:1 Holmes ,,but it will fly.I will do a bit of black and rust wash on it when completed 

[Scott Eriksen]

....................shot the red,,,,,,,,,safety striping came out pretty good,I expected more bleed thru under the tape ,,,,,,, more do-dads on the mast.fabbed up outrigger chains and hooks . I forgot to cut the holes in the back for the Scotch Block chains,I may still do that.........today I plan on decaling the body and possibly shooting the clear

Edited January 15, 2024 by Scott Eriksen

[Gary Chastain]

Gonna be one good looking build, will be watching. 

[Scott Eriksen]

6 hours ago, Gary Chastain said:

Gonna be one good looking build, will be watching. 

Thanks Gary !

[Scott Eriksen]

,,,,,decaled the body and clearcoated ,,,mounted lightbar and made a HOLMES 750 plate for the mast ,finished outrigger chains ,,,waiting for the snow ,glad I dont have to get up and go to work anymore  ?

[Scott Eriksen]

.......................and yeah,thats an F8 Green 69 Coronet R/T ,,,,, work in progress

[Scott Eriksen]

..............working on the PTO/PTO shaft/PTO Jackshaft,drive gear and chain , towbar pinned in place ,cobbled up some Holmes mudflaps ,painted the rubber fender extensions ,Autocar PE on the butterfly hood,,,,,, winch cables have to be cut to length yet,,just have the extra balled up for now

Edited January 16, 2024 by Scott Eriksen

[cifenet]

That wrecker part is looking very sweet.  Like the color combo too.

And love your organized trays on the back! 

While you are at it, can I take two set of wipers, three seat belts, and one air filter to go?

[Scott Eriksen]

34 minutes ago, cifenet said:

That wrecker part is looking very sweet.  Like the color combo too.

And love your organized trays on the back! 

While you are at it, can I take two set of wipers, three seat belts, and one air filter to go?

lol! 

[Gary Chastain]

I wish I was that organized, maybe some day. 

[Scott Eriksen]

11 hours ago, Gary Chastain said:

I wish I was that organized, maybe some day. 

Gary......the struggle is REAL ?