How to: How I improved an inexpensive vehicle

Thought I would share. Recently won an inexpensive Route 66 1/43 Die Cast series, 1937 Ford Tractor Trailer on auction for 10.00. No driver and thought how to improve its look on layout. These series according to box were made for K Mart.

Sorry I didn't get early pictures on how it looked out of box, but rather steps I did which may help. Total time besides drying time of paint and epoxy, about 1 hour.

There were no screws on vehicle to disassemble, rather metal posts that went into bottom and then mushroomed to hold together. I drilled the mushroomed part only off, the posts will be needed to hold assemble together. After washing and drying, while drying looked for what would make a good driver figure. I ended up with left over Military vehicle figures, 1/48 scale figures. One seated, I glued arms and head with helmet on. Sanded the helmet to configure to the head and hair. Then painted figure, painted seat, and highlighted dashboard with silver. Was happy with results, hands were positioned to hold wheel with no adjustments needed to heat and bend. Painted the rear cab wooden platform a chocolate color, when dry a Tan watered wash. When dry, a wash of black to highlight the wood boards and grain. Thinned black for the side of hood vents, and black running board pads. The gas tanks were painted silver, then sprayed with flat clear Matte to dull them. Then gave the wheels a black wash (they were chrome shiny), then sprayed them with a clear matte as well as trailer wheels to tone down the modern shiny look of tires and wheels.

Assemble I used JB Weld to dab the posts and hold metal assemble together. I waited 4 hours to harden then added the wheels and bottom plastic piece, scrapped metal and used Super Glue.

I'm satisfied with end results and looks 110% better.