This year we kicked around a bunch of cool ideas to give our readers some fun things to do on both our website, minitruckinweb.com, and in the magazine.
One of the things we decided to go forward with was an online Scale Model Build-Off which was a huge success! We pulled more than 25 entries using just web based applicants. We began with a few posts on many websites and gathered participants and then informed all the participants with these basic rules:
* The build dates were from October 1st to December 1st (two months to show us what you're made of).
* You can build more than one model but that just means you cut into your build time.
* Wednesday October 1st you must have logged onto the minitruckinweb.com Scale Model Contest Forum and created a new forum titled in the following format: your name, name of your build, and what type of truck, for example: Mike Alexander's "Dragged Daily" '93 Toyota Model Build and posted the starting pics of your fresh model and anything else you want to show pics of.
* You can keep certain mods secret if you want to.
* You could post comments in each other's threads, but all your updates and photos must have been posted in your own forum.
* You must have posted progress pics and updates every single week.
* The more updates you posted and the better quality pics, the better your chances of winning because not only is the winner picked on the final judging of the completed model but 50% of the points come from the updates and progress pics.
For this contest there will be a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd based off total points just like a normal car show, and there will also be a couple specialty awards. The winners will receive a full feature in the next issue (May 2009 issue) and prizes from scaledreams.com. They also sponsored the contest and provided the builders a 20 percent discount, so for round two of the build-off email sales@scaledreams.com for any parts you need.
As this contest was such a hit we've decided to give everyone out there more chances to compete and have fun, so there will be a Round 2, and a Round 3, and the winners of all three rounds will compete for the Mini Truckin' Scale Model Best of Show trophy and feature. So make sure to log on to minitruckinweb.com and sign up for the next build off and get in on the action!
Here's a few of the contestants and builds from Round 1. Remember that these are all builder provided photos, so photo quality is a big part of the contest, so go out and practice taking some good in focus pics of your stock model before you start the build. Check out these entries, and stay tuned for next month to see the winner of Round 1.
Steve Winter's "Web Czar" '86 Chevy S-10
Steve's model features a completely handmade tube frame with a custom two-link rear setup, using bags on bars and handmade front suspension. A Mustang supercharged motor with 5-speed trans is connected to a quick-change rearend. For the exterior Steve shaved the bed, added three scale inches to the rear bedside behind the rear wheel opening to make the bed lower to ground. He shaved the taillights, and tailgate, and built a roll pan with exhaust cut outs and frenched license plate box. To wrap it all up he used a custom-mixed Pearl Blue paint over silver base. Although Steve didn't finish in time, he was glad to have participated in the build and we are sure we'll see more from him in Round 2.
Michael Bale's "S-Tensive" '95 Chevy S-10
Here's a look at Michael's custom-built S-10. He said it's about 98 percent custom. The only parts used from the kit are the cab, the doors, the bedsides, and the tailgate. Everything else was either custom-made or kit modified. Some of the modifications include a custom intake for the z28 motor, sub box console, a skull shifter, 'bags front and rear, and clear air lines. He also built a custom stand for it. Check out his forum on minitruckinweb.com titled Michael Bale's "S-Tensive" '95 Chevy S-10.
Scott Crow And Shelby Crow's "Father-Daughter Build" From Triadelphia, WV
Scott and his daughter Shelby, built this Chevy S-10 with a completely shaved body, '59 Impala dash stretched, custom-made cowl hood, ragtop, four-pump hydro setup, tube back half, four-link, and candy red paint with skulls air- brushed on the bedsides and cab. Check out their forum on minitruckinweb.com titled Scott Crow and Shelby Crow's "Father-Daughter Build".
Josh Smith's "Floor Runner" '91 Toyota 4-Runner
Josh listed a ton of mods for this build including a full styrene square tube frame, Supra IRS with a cantilever rear setup, a fuel cell, custom control arms, and a turbo Supra engine. Outside everything is fully shaved, a custom rollpan, Supra tails, butterfly rear doors, sunroof, smooth belly, and a molded tilt frontend. Inside Josh added Recaro seats, Bentley carpet, two 15-inch subs, a rollcage with NOS bottle and suspended amps, custom-made console and dash, righthand drive, and bones and fossils scattered around. The wheels are 20x8.5 in the front and 22x10 out back with painted inserts and custom-built rear lips, and the paint is a Periwinkle base with pink and purple pearl. Check out his forum on minitruckinweb.com titled Josh Smith's "Floor Runner" '91 4-Runner Model Build.
Josh Smith's "Nickel And Dime" '94 GMC S-15
Josh was one of the contestants that built two models. One of his creations is this Sonoma that is fully shaved with custom grille and bumper inserts, scooped hood, Escalade tails, 4-Runner rear bumper, stock glass chop-top, smooth belly, new floors, firewall, and inner bed. The suspension is a full chassis, and a parallel four-link with wishbone, and setup with hydros using two pumps. The interior uses '65 Mustang seats, '02 Mustang dash, and Alligator skin floor and doors. The paint is about 12 colors of craziness, and Josh's inspiration was; The Time Machine, Side Show, Wrapped With Envy, and Ballistic. He combined all that, with his idea of what a mini going for the Riddler award would look like. Check out his forum on minitruckinweb.com titled Josh Smith's "Nickel and Dime" '94 GMC S-15.
Trent Goodwin "Perfect Nemisis" Dodge Dakota Sport
Trent seems like a model veteran with the amount of work and detail displayed in his models. This Dakota features a custom-made frame from aluminum tubing with a custom cantilever setup using 'bags on top of the frame, with a two-link below. He built upper and lower arms, custom-made airtank and compressor mounts from a sheet of aluminum along with fuel cell mounts and body mounts. For body mods, Trent cut out the doors and built suicide hinges, handmade the firewall, wiper cowl, and cut out the hood and made suicide hood hinges. The door handles were shaved along with the tailgate, roll pan, taillights, and gas door. The inside of the bed was molded using wheel tubs, molded plastic, and body filler. The door jams where also hand built and transmission tunnel was tubbed. The interior was built using a Viper dash, and custom center console using speakers and amp from Scale Dreams. The seats are from a Toyota 4-Runner model and black carpet was installed. To finish it all off, Trent painted the Dakota Metallic Silver, with a two-toned Lime Green Metallic. Check out his forum on minitruckinweb.com titled Trent Goodwin "Perfect Nemisis" Dodge Dakota Sport.
Trent Goodwin "Perfect Nemisis" '94 GMC Sonoma
For Trent's other build he decided to build a replica of Little Shop's Spike Truck. He began with the frame by C-notching the rear and custom-built spikes and support bars to match the Spike Truck. The rearend was shortened, and a bag-over-axel setup with four-link was built to replicate the suspension of the Spike Truck. The body was treated to a host of mods including; shaving the bedside body molding, taillights, tailgate, roll pan, and gas door. The inside of the bed was molded to match and the front bedwall was cut out. The cab was shaved, including the door handles, mirrors, wiper cowl and rear cab wall. Trent also cut the door out and built a doorjam and hinge system to allow the door to open, and he cut a 1/2-inch out of the interior bucket, aka model body drop. The interior was also replicated, including a custom-built dash out of Bondo that was cut and sanded to match. An older model kit's bench seat was used to make a replica of the Spike Truck's seat. To finish it all off, it was painted to match with Gloss Black and Silver accents. Check out his forum on minitruckinweb.com titled Trent Goodwin "Perfect Nemisis" ''94 GMC.