Andrew D Charger Chaser

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".  



 

Scratchbuilding the winch was a challenge since a lot of it was guesswork.  As far as the brace/frame (not sure the correct terminology), I discovered I didn't have to guess the width; apparently it should be the same width as the chassis frame, which makes sense from an engineering standpoint.  Then, the more I built, the more extra details I'd discover in the photos.  This was a long, long process.  



 
The tow booms were heavily modified from those in the MPC Datsun Monster Truck kit.  Both ends were totally scratchbuilt to bring it all together, after careful study of my reference photos.  The booms will be removable until after painting.  The thin bar atop which will support the rotating beacon also has two round "shoulder" lights.  These were made from slices from a clear styrene rod of the appropriate diameter.  Wires were added from various thicknesses of copper wire. 

The entire chassis has a very toylike appearance, with almost every detail molded right on as one piece.  So it was completely cut apart down to the basic frame and rebuilt.  Front suspension was improved a bit, rear suspension completely rebuilt, and exhaust system with mufflers was scratch built.  
This would have to be mostly redone a second time when I realized the wheel base needed lengthening to accommodate the Holmes wrecker.  I won't tell you what I said when I realized this....






 
The interior was made as dirty and grimy as possible, as a working country tow truck would be.  Scratchbuilt CB radio installed.  


 
 

There is a long out of production kit of a GMC pickup truck.  I found one built junker on Ebay, along with a very similar junked Chevy pickup.  Between the two junked models, I had enough salvagable parts to begin.  The better of the two cabs was treated to multiple paint strippings and sanding.  The engine was rebuilt, but without the air cleaner and upper parts; the hood will be sealed shut for this.  An opening was made in the forward bulkhead to put a radiator, as it would be slightly visible with this type of grill.  





 
There is a ribbing pattern that should be on the rear of the cab.  This area was thinned, then the ribbed pattern built with styrene.  After priming it was airbrushed white and blue.

Hey y'all,
Been away from you too long, working on what I thought was an impossible project that I almost gave up on.  I'm now ready to begin posting an amazing (and frustrating) journey to build the most accurate Cooter's Tow Truck ever done.  Maybe.
First off, there were several tow trucks used over the series.  Here's (mostly) when each appears:
     -Season 1:  Brown Chevy, simple tow rig
     -Season 2: White/Blue Ford with Red Holmes wrecker 
     -Seasons 3-4: Big Yellow Ford
     -Late Season 4 through 7:  White/Blue GMC with Red Holmes wrecker
By far my favorite is the GMC.  There was also a similar White/Blue Chevy with a much wider wrecker rear that showed up in a handful of episodes mid-series.
 
THE PROBLEM:  Not only is the MPC kit of Cooter's Tow Truck completely fictitious, but there is NO kit or conversion available in existence to make the correct Holmes wrecker (everything aft of the cab).  This would be the most ambitious scratchbuilding project I've undertaken to date.
Let's begin with a photo of my target subject, the GMC with Holmes wrecker:

 

Oh, I know, it's like once we hit the new year it all suddenly plummeted like a Sheriff's car in a jump....

Man, wish I could've seen all that.... 

Man, sorry to hear that Spike....it's a dang shame when honest folks don't even know whether to help or not anymore.
A year and a half ago I witnessed a breakin in progress in the wee hours; I called it in, but the Tucson Police have been so underfunded for decades (dare I say "de-funded) that they didn't have an available unit until 4 hours later.  

Found a great one while researching Daisy's Plymouth.  
From that car's final chase leading up to its destruction at Kissing Cliff, they recycled the same shot but reversed it.  
I first noticed it by noticing the same body damage (rear fender above the wheel) on both sides.  When I slowed it down frame-by-frame, I was shocked to see it was the EXACT SAME FOOTAGE but reversed...and that I'd never had a clue!
First time we see it is the reversed footage.  You can see on the supposed driver's side what is Luke's arm casually on the window ledge, gripping the roof...on what is actually the passenger side.  In the subsequent shot, a millisecond later, the driver can be seen gripping the wheel on the wrong side (must've gone to the UK).
One will also notice between the two shots the rear view mirror is on the wrong side, to emphasize what we have already seen.


 
Now, compare the first photo with this one, taken later in the same chase scene.  It's EXACTLY THE SAME but reversed.  Even the tree, shrubbery, position of the Sheriff car, etc....

On to project #10: Hughie Hogg's Volkswagen!  
The first thing I discovered was that it was NOT repeat NOT a true convertible.  Rather, it was a chop-top, as evidenced by the sedan-style windscreen, and the bottoms of the window posts still remaining.  
The second thing I had to learn was the difference between the classic Beetle and the Super Beetle.  Some of you already know this, but it was new to me.  Although the differences are easy to miss at first glance, I now see clearly that Hughie's ride was most definitely a Super Beetle with the roof cut off.  


 
After much more research and guidance from folks at an automotive modeling forum, I realized (after much frustration) that I was going to have to kitbash THREE different kits to do this.  
1) Aoshima Beetle 1303S for most (not all) of the body and the bumpers 
2) Revell '68 Beetle for the chassis, engine, windscreen, rear body vents, tail lights and much of the interior
3) Revell VW Cabriolet for some of the interior and some of the body details

 
I should also mention part of my research was to go through every Dukes episode in which this vehicle appeared, pause the DVD whenever a good view appeared from any angle, and photograph the scene.  I then had the photos made into prints to use as I build.  Maybe low-tech, but it works for me.  

...maybe...maybe...maybe Hazzard folks are also gifted ventriloquists, and those aren't mistakes at all.....? 

...maybe...maybe...maybe Hazzard folks are also gifted ventriloquists, and those aren't mistakes at all.....? 

K, here's a production blooper.  The VERY FIRST TIME we see Daisy's "new" car, the '71 Satellite, is Season 1 Episode 11, "Money to Burn."  It's a dramatic entrance with it coming in right under the camera before looping around to park.
I discovered while researching the black stripe that the left stripe must have been MUCH wider at the top than the right side.  You can see how it goes across the roof, and how not only is it not perfectly parallel, but that it's DRAMATICALLY wider on the left than on the right.  
I'm guessing maybe the paint crews were under a really tight deadline to throw on the same basic paint scheme of the earlier 74 Roadrunner onto the 71 Satellite?

On to project #10: Hughie Hogg's Volkswagen!  
The first thing I discovered was that it was NOT repeat NOT a true convertible.  Rather, it was a chop-top, as evidenced by the sedan-style windscreen, and the bottoms of the window posts still remaining.  
The second thing I had to learn was the difference between the classic Beetle and the Super Beetle.  Some of you already know this, but it was new to me.  Although the differences are easy to miss at first glance, I now see clearly that Hughie's ride was most definitely a Super Beetle with the roof cut off.  


 
After much more research and guidance from folks at an automotive modeling forum, I realized (after much frustration) that I was going to have to kitbash THREE different kits to do this.  
1) Aoshima Beetle 1303S for most (not all) of the body and the bumpers 
2) Revell '68 Beetle for the chassis, engine, windscreen, rear body vents, tail lights and much of the interior
3) Revell VW Cabriolet for some of the interior and some of the body details

 
I should also mention part of my research was to go through every Dukes episode in which this vehicle appeared, pause the DVD whenever a good view appeared from any angle, and photograph the scene.  I then had the photos made into prints to use as I build.  Maybe low-tech, but it works for me.  

The excellent Revell '68 chassis actually fit the Aoshima body *mostly* well.  Only two issues to face.  First, it needed widening on both sides with a .040 strip (easy fix). 
The bigger problem was that the aft wheel wells and engine area didn't fit.  So I took a saw and cut partway into the plastic at that area so that the aft area could be bent upward, and then fit quite well, considering.  





 
 

Final step for now was scratchbuilding the large McPherson struts, a vital item for the Super Beetle.  The struts themselves were made from plastic tubing, then the springs made by wrapping metal wire around an appropriately-sized plastic rod then trimmed to shape and installed.

The excellent Revell '68 chassis actually fit the Aoshima body *mostly* well.  Only two issues to face.  First, it needed widening on both sides with a .040 strip (easy fix). 
The bigger problem was that the aft wheel wells and engine area didn't fit.  So I took a saw and cut partway into the plastic at that area so that the aft area could be bent upward, and then fit quite well, considering.  





 
 

Final step for now was scratchbuilding the large McPherson struts, a vital item for the Super Beetle.  The struts themselves were made from plastic tubing, then the springs made by wrapping metal wire around an appropriately-sized plastic rod then trimmed to shape and installed.

Thank you!
Yep, I saw, Jeff is already at that age...still amazing to see....

On to project #10: Hughie Hogg's Volkswagen!  
The first thing I discovered was that it was NOT repeat NOT a true convertible.  Rather, it was a chop-top, as evidenced by the sedan-style windscreen, and the bottoms of the window posts still remaining.  
The second thing I had to learn was the difference between the classic Beetle and the Super Beetle.  Some of you already know this, but it was new to me.  Although the differences are easy to miss at first glance, I now see clearly that Hughie's ride was most definitely a Super Beetle with the roof cut off.  


 
After much more research and guidance from folks at an automotive modeling forum, I realized (after much frustration) that I was going to have to kitbash THREE different kits to do this.  
1) Aoshima Beetle 1303S for most (not all) of the body and the bumpers 
2) Revell '68 Beetle for the chassis, engine, windscreen, rear body vents, tail lights and much of the interior
3) Revell VW Cabriolet for some of the interior and some of the body details

 
I should also mention part of my research was to go through every Dukes episode in which this vehicle appeared, pause the DVD whenever a good view appeared from any angle, and photograph the scene.  I then had the photos made into prints to use as I build.  Maybe low-tech, but it works for me.  

Amazing list there!!
Makes me think with that many neighboring counties, maybe the actual amount of boundary shared with each could be measured in yards....

Amazing list there!!
Makes me think with that many neighboring counties, maybe the actual amount of boundary shared with each could be measured in yards....

Final step for now was scratchbuilding the large McPherson struts, a vital item for the Super Beetle.  The struts themselves were made from plastic tubing, then the springs made by wrapping metal wire around an appropriately-sized plastic rod then trimmed to shape and installed.

Welcome aboard Kait!

Not bad; I call it "Wastebook" for similar reasons....