1953 Reo Gold Comet

[Chariots of Fire]

This has been on my bucket list for a while now. With the IH rig done work can commence on this one. I like both the style of this Reo and the color so I'm going to try and model it just the way it is.

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I started out with a Reo cab of more recent vintage but it was not easy to work with. A lot of distortion and warping that could not be corrected. The nose and fenders needed to be cut out anyway so I got it done. In addition the windshield needed to be relocated. I made a replacement windshield surround with some brass sheet. With the outline traced on the flat sheet, a strip of brass was soldered to the outside to create a shoulder that the window glass could rest against.

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With the windshield surround in place work was commenced on the hood and fenders using some drawings and photos as a guide.

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The hood and fenders are carved from Renshape. An easy to use plastic extruded material it carves like a dream and sands well. It has no grain so there is no concern about breakage or getting fine edges. In the photo I glued a printout of the grill openings to the front of the hood piece and used my Dremel with a cutting wheel to begin the opening of the grill slots. A small flat file was used to sand away the remaining material. The drawing helped in retaining the width and shape of each opening.

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Renshape also works well with a mill. I don't have one but I do have a small drill press and a cross slide. So again a printout of the Reo letters for the front of the hood were glued to a piece of it and put in the cross slide. Material was machined away from the letters and finished off with a sharp Xxacto knife. Then the letters were sliced clear with a razor saw and glued to the front of the hood.

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The fenders were then ground down thinning out the profile and rounding off the corners. This is were we as of today. Some fine fitting and sanding still need to be done. And then it is back to the cab to do some cleanup.

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[Hazmat]

Yeah sure, since you won‘t get the letters you simply carve your own ones, what else
Man your production line is picking up speed!! your work is out of this world

[CCFR-45]

Oh man. This model is going to be gorgeous. Can't wait to see the progress.

Thanks for sharing

[JoeO]

Wow! Keep us up to date.

[Chariots of Fire]

Progress continues on the Reo. There has been a lot of fiddly work to get things to line up properly and to get character lines right. Doing scratch built stuff is a lot different than kit building. Since the last post a number of things have been done. Here is where we are to date. The cab and hood have been joined. It was the only way that I could get the fenders properly aligned so that they would be correct when the cab and hood was put in place. Headlight buckets have been cast in resin from a master for a previous build. I added the small parking lights on top. They are made so that standard kit headlight lenses will fit in the recess with the surround that can be "chromed" with a Molotow chrome pen. The Gold Comet insignia and Reo badge blanks have been added. Once painted both will receive decals to bring out the detail.
The plan is to get this project to the point where it can be cast. To do that a floor pan and floor boards need to be built, the dashboard, seat and inner door panels need to be made. Still a ways off but we are getting there.

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[M1968Q]

Your work never ceases to amaze me Charlie. Every time I think you can't possibly outdo yourself, something like this happens. I actually saw this rig in person out in California several years ago - it is definitely an eye-catcher!

[Chariots of Fire]

Did you happen to get any photos of the interior of the body?? From the photos I have it looks quite open but I'm wondering what might have been under the overhang for equipment storage and the like.

[M1968Q]

Did you happen to get any photos of the interior of the body?? From the photos I have it looks quite open but I'm wondering what might have been under the overhang for equipment storage and the like.

It's your lucky day - while not a great pic, I've got a couple that should help you. I'll figure out how to scan and email them to you.

[Chariots of Fire]

Got 'em, Mike. A big help. Thanks a lot!

[Chariots of Fire]

I did a mock up of what the truck will look like up on wheels and with a frame. Looks like things will work out ok.

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