My "40 years in the making" build

[120mm]

So, when I was a child, my father accidentally ran over my toy truck with his tractor.

I tossed it into the weeds and forgot about it.

Years later, someone dug it out and put it into a shed, for whatever reason.

My father passed away June 19 last year, and about six weeks ago, I was sitting down with my mother to settle his affairs, when I found the crushed, rusted truck.



Since I was working on my series 80, and had some leftover paint, I decided to try to save this little rig. I went after it with my metal working kit, chemically removed the rust and put some leftover blue paint, with just a touch of black tint to make it unique. It turned out "ok", I think. Am rather proud of having brought it back.



This weekend I will drive my Landcruiser the three hours to mother's house and show it to her, and then give it to a nephew, so that he can wreck it as well. Wash, rinse and repeat!

Drew

 

[Pat]

I thinks that's great.I did a similar restoration job for my boys about 45 years ago and it is still in the shed now.I will take a photo tomorrow and put it on.

 

[Shayne]

small things can be of huge significance i hope the project brought you some solace Drew .

 

[clivehorridge]

Lovely! IMO things like this is what "life" is really all about, the continuum, and time out to think and do something that may be materially worthless, yet emotionally satisfying.

Well done Drew, yes the nephew will trash it, but with luck he'll throw it in some long grass and rediscover it when he's old enough to appreciate its "value".

 

[Chas]

And proud you should be Drew that's an amazing transformation, an obvious labour of love. As Clive said give it to your nephew to trash once again but be sure to tell him its history.

 

[120mm]

Thanks! I think when I am old and retired, this is what I will do. I'm not to the place I want to be, skill wise. Ideally, one of my restorations should look EXACTLY like it was when it was produced.

Here's a patina job I did on another crushed truck. This one was just rusted and had it's axles sprung.

 

[clivehorridge]

I'm not so sure Drew, the "rat rig" look is flying at the moment, some matt varnish to seal the rust after a stiff brushing, may look the business for some...

How old are they, circa 70s or more?

 

[Chas]

I'm not so sure Drew, the "rat rig" look is flying at the moment, some matt varnish to seal the rust after a stiff brushing, may look the business for some...

How old are they, circa 70s or more?

I would say that styling is 40's or 50's, beautiful models.

 

[120mm]

Yes, they are 30s, 40s and 50s rigs.

I think I will decide how to finish them based on how nice the patina is. If there is evidence of paint and especially if there are weathered distinctive markings, I will clean them up and put some clear coat over and call it good.

 

[120mm]

Just found this I was continuing to clean. The cab and chassis loo like a good candidate for a patina finish, but the dump bed is of some shiny metal underneath and the light blue paint is peeling, instead of oxidizing.

Am wondering which way to go with this one.

 

[Pat]

Found our old truck.i'll see what I can do with it.

 

[120mm]

Found our old truck.i'll see what I can do with it.View attachment 19617

Cool!

What brand is it? The first thing I do is to research the brand and see what it was supposed to be in the first place.

 

[120mm]

http://www.tnttoytrucks.com/DunwellBuckeye.html

 

[clivehorridge]

Although collectors want items in near perfect condition, I wouldn't be surprised if they're worth a few bob.

Usually, they're worth more to the owner, in sentimental value, but it might be interesting to look up some catalogues...

 

[120mm]

Just based on my looking around this weekend, at most prices for original condition trucks are in the low hundreds.

These are well used and neglected toys, that at most are in the $40-$50 range.

I think I'd be happier turning each one of them into something individual and special. What I think I will do is to refinish them as new and then finding historic pictures and create decalomania that makes them match. The gas truck truly had too nice of a patina to restore, though.

I found two other trucks while I was looking. I will take them case by case.

 

[120mm]

The other two trucks. These trucks are mid-sixties vintage, if my research is correct.

 

[clivehorridge]

They're just great Drew, I'd love something like them as ornaments!

 

[Pat]

Just looking at them I reckon they're copies of Yankee Ford dump trucks.

 

[120mm]

Exactly.

I cleaned up the Dunwell truck and shot it with clear. Unfortunately, the paint on the box became silver when it interacted with the clear, so it kind of killed the light blue, but it turned out somewhat ok.



Here is a picture of the original condition rig:

 

[Pat]

I found a photo of the old trucks after I had done them up over 45 years ago.We must restore them again.