More in-progress photos!

This is the back side of one of the front wheels. Note the cut outs in the circumference of the outer rim, and the tight fit between the inner and outer rim, and the inside of the tire. The holes in the rim correspond with the brake drum.

The Buick-style drums fit neatly inside the rim – just clearing the inside radius. 

The Bendix brake backing plates fit precisely inside the Buick-style brake drums. The four holes around the inner radius correspond precisely to the spindle fascia.  Miniature machined brake hookup parts and bolts will be machined by Grayland.

The spindle was lifted from the old Johan Turbine Car kit, modified, and then cast in brass by jeweler Steve Borstadt. In this view, bolt holes through the mating surface of the spindle (to correspond with the brake backing plate, haven't yet been made.

Here's the entire assembly mocked together. Note the bolt holes in the spindle, and the machined ends on the top and bottom ends of the spindle.

Check out the beautiful Grayland-machined rim with the hub cover and three-bar spinner dropped into place. These wheels will be chrome plated (genuine plating!) and finished with machined valve stems. The beautiful tires are from The Modelhaus (Don and Carol Holthaus).

The model features side exhaust into specially shaped half-round brass "receivers" that fit beneath the doors. Note the right angle insert soldered to the 'lakes' pipe that Cody machined to match the initial project illustration by Jairus Watson. The muffler is also machined as are the muffler clamps/hangars.

I decided to do something different with the exhaust system. Stylistically, the body needed a shape underneath the cab to fill in the cab created by the taller front fender the bottom part of which proceeds beneath the bottom of the cab. Since I wanted a realistic muffler system rather than a silly "curly-que" exhaust routing, mufflers will empty into the lake pipes mid -stream. The reveal lines around the lake pipes match similar lines on the front and rear horizontal grille bars (this idea came from Jairus Watson's original drawing). Note that the lake pipe empties downward, at right angle to the height of the cab.

The angle cut of the lake pipe has been filed to pick up the shape of the leading edge of the real wheel well flare. 

The Dream Truck2 features a Chevy inline six cylinder. No one yet has made an accurate Chevy 6 distributor, so Cody made this assembly for me. The entire parts array will be available from Custom Styling Studios (link). Note the tiny machined "cups" for the wires as they enter the distributor cap.

As you might have imagined, the radiator needs be specially-shaped. I measured the available area, did some design drawings for Cody, and he machined the radiator from solid brass chunks. This, too, will be available from Custom Styling Studio.

The scratch built brass frame has been supplemented by other parts. Check out the cast/machined upper and lower A frames, the front sway bar, the steering box, the mufflers and hangars, the upper and lower control arm pivot bars and other related parts. The frame was built entirely from sheet brass, with the only exceptions being a machined engine cross member.

I decided to feature a Chevy inline 6 cylinder motor with some traditional speed equipment featured. With the help of Steve Catron and Mike Smith (both vintage hot rod experts), I located the research materials, and passed along the detail and dimensions to machinist Cody Grayland to make up the entire engine. In this early overall photo, you can get an idea of the general layout of the parts. Note the GM Hydromatic transmission on the right side of the photo. 

There are several versions of the GM Hydromatic transmission. I decided to model the passenger car version from the late Fifties. This early -fabrication stage tranny shot show the major parts. I'm scratchbuilding the linkages, and Grayland is fabricating the miniature bolts that will hold this together (don't worry – they not threaded, but they do have the accurate tapered bolt heads.

Check out this generator! This early Sixties GM generator was made from factory specifications.  The copper armature will be seen through the cooling vents machined into the generator housing.

The entire engine has been machined from scratch. The water pump integrates with heater hose outlet, and oval cam/crank cover has small holes around the perimeter for miniature "bolts." The valve cover and the oil pan are the only non-factory configured parts on the engine.

Photoetched windshield and backlight "moldings" slip into metal channels already placed into the bodywork. Note the "break lines" in the moldings.  The molding inside the windshield have the break lines but also feature simulated phillips screw heads.  All photoetched work was done by Bob Wick, and actually photocut by Fotocut.  Real glass (.010 thick) will be used in all applications.

I built a headliner/roof insert to fit inside the cab. This part will snap into place and cover up the inside of the body from the belt line up. The reveal in the headliner will accept an insert.

The insert has been placed into the insert in this view. Some minor fitting still needs to be done around the perimeter.

With the still unfinished headliner insert in place, check out the insert (made from ribbed styrene sheet) features an overhead light. This light will actually operate.

The seats are sourced in the Monogram 1958 Tbird. The backseat has been adapted to front seat use with side bolsters and a back added. The seat fits into a receiver composed of two parts: the bottom section of the headliner insert and a separate piece that fits into the inside of the lower cab. Obviously, lots of work still needs to be done.

The rear end of the Dream Truck² has been modified from the first version. First, the taillights have been removed from the fins, the oval grille opening has been 'invaded' by the license plate receiver, and a machined flat brass panel, complete with round "reveals" that will precisely locate the taillight bezels. This approach helps take out the guesswork out of where parts fit – this is especially important where precision parts are involved.

The taillight bezels are composed of 5 parts. The round shaft locates all of the parts. The three holes in the round bezel will each host a light bulb as will the central shaft (which is hollow) which features a clear lens (see it?) for the backup light.

Here, the rear bezels are assembled and placed next to machined horizontal grille bars which will fit into holes in the side of the round bezels. The outside diameter of these bezels fit into the recesses in the rear grille panel – see how that works?

Check out this "aerial" shot of the basic parts. Since enhanced with even more items, this gives an idea of the many parts that will be used on this model. The electronic device in the upper left hand column (assembled by computer freak and high school buddy Greg Reed) will allow me to activate the dozens of lights from across a room!

The Dream Truck2 will feature approximately 18 operating lights: headlights, front running lights, traillights, rear license plate illumination, overhead interior courtesy light, dash lights, glove box lights. The display base will 'deliver' the power to the model: all wires will be grounded to the frame (which will touch the jackstands), and the 'hot' power lead will enter the model though a micro pin touching on a non-grounded brass part.

Come back here often to watch for further details on the Dream Truck2. The finished model will appear in a major article in Scale Auto and the IPMS Journal in the future.

Additionally, Championship Publishing, LLC will be offering a full length book on the original construction, restyling and reconstruction of the Dream Truck2.