NASCAR Models by Mark Maraz

JOHN DEERE Truck, Trailer and Car

Story from Mark:

Models: Revell/Monogram
Decals: Slixx (3 sheets)
Paint: Testors Racing Colors (#97 Yellow, Light Green, and Dark Green)

The idea behind this project was that I wanted to build a model kit for a friend who loves John Deere tractors. He works for GM and drives a Chevy Silverado, so the models would, of course, have to be GM products. Problem is, the last year that Roush Racing featured the Chad Little #97 John Deere, it was on a Ford Taurus. So I used the current NASCAR Chevy Monte Carlo to rectify that.

THE TRUCK:


I built the truck using a Revell/Monogram '99 Chevy Silverado model kit. Using a Slixx decal sheet, I tried to fit the front side stripes that separate the yellow and green. Seeing that it would not work, I decided to paint the front end yellow, stopping at the door lines. (I should add that when I painted these models, I sprayed the paint from the can into a funnel that dripped into a mixing cup. All I had to do then was pour it into an airbrush cup and paint. No paint thinner was needed). Then, I painted the sides light green, as well as the hood. Finally, I painted the roof and truck bed dark green. The bed was easy to paint since it was a separate piece. No masking. For the interior of the truck, I used Model Master Radome Tan to simulate a beige leather appearance. On the rear of the truck, I used a piece of left over plastic tree to make the trailer hitch.

THE TRAILER:

This was a fairly simple model to build. It's a Revell/Monogram Race Car Trailer With Equipment kit. It included the trailer itself, plus some pit crew equipment. I just realized that I didn't take any pics of the trailer by itself, but you can pretty much imagine it without the car on it. I was able to paint the parts of different colors individually, except for the wheel wells. Those were attached to the main frame and had to be masked off.

I painted the gas cans red, and the two air guns aluminum. The floor jack and tool boxes were painted light green. With left over decals, I placed the John Deere logos on the toolbox. The four extra tires on the rack of the trailer were not included with the kit. I got those from my surplus box of parts.

THE CAR:

I built the car using a Revell/Monogram Kevin Harvick Monte Carlo. I painted according to the painting instructions included with the Slixx decal sheet. Painting the areas where the light green met the dark green on the sides of the car was a little tricky. I took a pencil and drew a line where the two colors would meet. I then used Model Master masking tape on the line and cut the tape where the light green would be, and painted. I did the same for the dark green areas. The bottom of the rear bumper and the spoiler also had to be masked off and painted light green.

I was pretty pleased with this project considering I've spent the last 5 years or so collecting and only building about 5 models so far.

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