Well, I posted before that I collect old tonka, buddy L and Structo trucks, so I figured I would follow it up with my first amature restoration. It is far from perfect, but it is far from what it used to be.

Bear with me as I am still locating the before pictures, but just picture the after pics as complete rust covering.

Here they are:







It'* not done yet. Getting the logo of the company I currently work for on the side and then going into work to dress up my desk. Still need to find a good replacement for the window. I have most of the old one, but need to find a good, clear plastic that is easy to form. needs to be 3/32 to 1/8" thick I would assume for now.

If anyone has some of these they want to get rid of, let me know and I am interested in buying them in any condition if the price is right.

looks good but you should have taped up the tires better....they are white and blue now

home depot and lowes sell plexi that thin. any heat gun could soften it enough to bend.

The tires have not been cleaned off yet. most of the paint dripped down in the cracks in the tape. It will be removed. I still neeed to fix one part on the trailer befire I am happy with it (for what it is)

I am looking at getting a sandblasting cabinet before taking on the next project as this was just a quick sand and paint.

aren't they worth more if you don't touch them?

in most cases, yes. In this case, no.

I will have to find the before pictures. It was very rusty. could barely make the logo out on the side, the front wheels were (and currently are til I find my super glue) broken on the inside, the windshield was busted, and did I mention rusty? I paid $5 for it just to have. I later the same day found the same thing in excellent condition for $40. The difference in price would not have made it worth restoring, nor would it have had much value over the $5 I spent as it was. Maybe as parts I could have got a little more.

the grading scale I found for these is C1 to C10, with C10 being basically new in box condition. They say that anything C5 or below is probably best for parts or restore, and I would have graded this one at a C2 or C3.

The ones that are big money are the 20'* and 30'* ones, as well as some of the rare one, or those that are C9/C10 with the boxes.

Plus, I've wanted to give this a try. I don't have the means at the moment to restore this to like new, original.

How old is that? I dug through the attic years ago and found dozens of trucks like this from my father'* childhood in the 50'*.

Very nice.

This one is probably late 70'*, early 80'* would be my guess. The ones I currently have are from the 60'* and 70'* mostly.

Are you using an air brush and a paint booth?

1st effort looks decent.

Spray paint and the back yard

Currently it'* the best thing I have. When I get a place of my own, I plan on building a small paint booth for doing this type of thing, as well as car parts and stuff. Hopefully by then I can take the PeterG crash course in painting small objects... (I'll have to check the Villa programming schedule to see if that'* going to be available...)

I also probably should have used some body filler to smooth out the sides of the trailer. It'* heavily rust pitted and when I talked to my friend about sanding it down, he said the rust is all the way through the metal and if I tried to sand it completely, I'd end up putting holes in them.

Still am probably going to get some fine sand paper so I can fix the run in the paint on the back of the trailer.

also need to get a riveter. The grille is currently held on with two cotter pins...

Thanks for all the comments so far.

BTW you have started on a great hobby.

It allows you to be creative, takes up minimal space and if you become good enough there is money to be made in doing restorations for others.