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In the episode "Daisy's Close Call" (S6 E19) Cooter is seen using a tool box from the rig. I can't see it in any other episode, so, being Hollywood, it probably wasn't there at any other time, not being a true "working" rig. Still, I thought it would be a great, even necessary, addition. I estimated the size at about 20" x 8" (when he carries it to the truck it is indeed fairly slender). From some angles the grime from being handled by a mechanic is visible. Appears to have a silver or light colored handle. I scratchbuilt it in an evening, primed it and painted it the next day. The same day I scratchbuilt a crowbar, and added a hammer and a wrench that came with the two junkers from which this project began. The wrench was finished in Alclad stainless steel, then grime strategically added. All the tools were made to appear worn and heavily used. Finally all this was added to the wrecker bed, including an extra length of chain visible in the episode "Happy Birthday General Lee".

You make it sound so easy. This would be an impressive build if it was all shiny, but the weathering and dirt take it to another level. I can't believe that you even used different guitar strings for the aerials - that's attention to detail!

Dang that's funny! Okay, almost there...I learned the front bumper is probably made from quarter inch steel coated in thick black rubber. I also noticed there were two styles that showed up on the GMC truck in the series, again probably indicating two different vehicles masquerading as one for the filming. One of them was straight and flat, and the other curled around the corners of the fenders. I opted for the curled type. Made it from .020" plastic, carefully curled, then added three wire mounts, disguised from the front as the actual bolts that hold it on. Then added fake bolts for the rest. I tried to match the same pattern I saw in a couple of my photos. Then some drybrushing over the flat black with dark gray. Then the final touches with the antennae. The last one was the one that clips on over the driver's window. The aerial for that one was made from a bit of metal guitar string (the high E-string). The aerial on the tow rig is only slightly thicker, from a B-string. Also used B-string for the four other lengths of thin cable on the tow crane (totally different from the thick, braided tow cable).

Just think! Now I've got a cousin who knows how to build Duke trucks!!

We were getting ready to leave to get our taxes done this morning when we heard a siren. That's a pretty rare sound around here because we live on a dirt road that gets very few cars. I looked out the window and saw a vehicle flying down the road. A state cop was in hot pursuit, and then a second patrol SUV, then a third patrol SUV. There was a 5 second gap and then a fourth patrol SUV. We watched the local tv news programs and they never mentioned anything so I still don't know what it was but I'll bet that meth was involved. I don't think I've ever witnessed a police hot pursuit before....at least I can't remember. Of course I've been thinking about Hazzard County all day because of it. I'll update you if I found out what happened. I'm a bit happy it wasn't on the news because that means nobody got hurt.

Y'all are awesome cousins, and it's an honor to break bread with y'all at the family gatherings! Now gotta add the last of the lights. First the tow rig has six small rounded-rectangular position lights. To make them all as uniform as possible I made a master shape from styrene, then made impressions of it in moldmaking material. I made a lot of extras since I wanted a lot to choose from, and would only take the best 6. This ended up being a very wise move. Clear resin was poured into the mold impressions and thank God there were 6 decent ones to use from the resulting blob. They had to be right the first time since trying to clean up and reshape anything that small would be a nightmare. Now the grill/headlight assembly. Chrome was removed by soaking in bleach, and damage done by previous owner/assembler was repaired. Headlights were drilled out completely. Whole thing primed and painted in Alclad Stainless Steel (more of a workhorse appearance than chrome). New headlights fashioned from acrylic gemstones/rhinestones, with the facets sanded smooth and then polished to shine. The result is far more convincing than chrome headlights the same color as the grill & bumper.

Population has to be in the thousands and with a plant or distribution center nearby that has 3 shifts or by a main thoroughfare like I-75 otherwise what would be the point if being open 24/7

I just checked my notebook. The first episode of season 2 is where I have this listed "Shorty's All Night Rib Shack and Pool Hall on Swamp Road". On season 5 episode 6 I have listed "All Night Pizza Parlor on Frontage Road". On season 4 episode episode 25 and season 5 episode 7 I have listed "All Night Supermarket on Frontage Road" I do have a Hazzard Hospital listed on season 5 episode 17. Bear in mind that some of the episode numbers could be off by one depending on whether or not a two parter was listed as one episode.

And a pretty cool cousin!