Very nice!
Those are some impressive pipes on that thing! :O

The hood really comes out at this angle.

I've always had a thing for black and yellow safety zone stripes. Around massive hydraulic devices and such. Airlocks and hatches and such. Don't know why...

A fan of C. J. Cherryh's "The pride of Chanurr" cover art, perhaps?

That was a Whelan cover, right? There were some good moments in Aliens. I really should give my garage door the treatment, complete with rotating becons.

I know I should be focusing on the furry part here... I'm sorry, it's just a weakness of mine.

Personally I think it'd be cool to have a garage door with rotating, red flasher beacons and that "Industrial" look to it. That would make even getting the mower out an adventure in itself, and of course the neighbors would constantly wonder just EXACTLY what you're up to.

It's a grand bit, man.

The hood ornament makes the whole model.

The Deer one or the one off the '55 Ford?

The Ford one. :D

But...but...how do they see where they're going? Oh, right: they're animals. Night vision. :)

awesome work. all the details, dents, bullet holes, corrosion... the extra parts and props look like they were part of the original design, and salvaging stuff from completely unrelated sources rock!
the hood ornament adds a lot. also do the figures... didn't know you sculpt(ed)? anyway, great work. :)

what is the name of the original truck, btw? I only know this design as LTL 9000. most model car makers never state the correct name of the original, and google ain't no help with pictures and details.

If I recall correctly, it was an AMT Ford F-500 Snowplow kit, which was recently re-released by "Round Two" models or something like that. They got ahold of a LOT of the molds for many model kits from the late 1960s through to the 1990s and are making them again to appeal to the "Baby Boomer" generation of model builders who want to introduce youngsters to the fine hobby. You might be right if it's a LTL 9000 though. If it's any help, it was originally a Ford. The "Deer's head" covering the truck's snoot came from a "Battle Beasts" toy that sadly has been out of production for nearly 20 years.

thanks for the info. a couple years ago an old AMT kit of the '69 Galaxie 500 Police Patrol car was re-released by Hobby Heaven, and boy it was as expensive as the old original... :P

I'll go and look-see if I can't find it on ebay. or maybe at the flea market. found me some old Revell kits for cheap, and one 1/18 scale Model T delivery truck by Union Models for somewhat around 15 euro. (got them cheaper because I must have appaeared to be a model kit enthusiast to the seller XD)

Wonderful! Hey, I know all too well that it's better to sell kits to those who seem to know what they're talking about when it comes to buying, selling and trading model kits. Still, it seems at every model swap meet I've sold my stuff at, I can't resist selling a kit I bought for $30.00 for a handful of change to a wide eyed, excited looking youngster who's always wanted that particular model, but never had the chance to earn enough to buy it.

oh, I know what you mean. :)

one day I took my model car collection apart. I wanted to concentratre on everything around Ford and related, so everything else, with a handful of exceptions, was sold to a used-toys dealer. what was left were the not-so-valuable little cars, former kit models, and so on. so I took the whole crate to a classic car fair and put it on display. many sold well for the little coin I demanded. the little HO gauge cars were on for .50 € a piece, trucks 1€, like. suddenly two boys of 11 or 12 showed up, browsed everything like experts looking for the best buys, and left with a good armful each. a hour later they came back for more, beaming even brighter, and left again with an armful each. two hours later, apparently they slaughtered their poor allowance depots, they almost bought all that was left in HO gauge... oh how they reminded me of the days when I went to the flea market looking for something nice and cheap to re-paint and put it on the shelf... needless to say I gave them a lot off the price.

Thanks Anbessa. Your story really warmed my heart. It's great to know there's folks like you out there on the European model building and toy collector's circuit.

with pleasure. :)