Building the Scale Model Kit of the 1972 Chevrolet Car Hauler Truck

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Here's another scale model kit that I'm going to build. It's a 1972 Chevrolet car hauler truck. This kit is from MPC and was originally issued in 2020. It's 1:25th scale and molded in plastic. This kit can be built one of two ways: as a standard, stock pickup truck or a racing car hauler. I'm going with the car hauler. I may buy another and build the pickup truck later.

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Hello! I'm Mr. Ed

Blog Created: 3-3-2025

Last Updated: 3-25-2025

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Opening the Box ~

All parts are sealed in plastic bags.

This kit includes a really nice decal sheet.

Full step-by-step instructions.

Spray Painting ~

First, I gather together all the body parts that will be spray painted.

I pulled out my paint spray booth box that I made several years ago. I use it a lot so now it's covered with all sorts of colors. Pretty soon it will be bullet proof.

The spray paint covered pretty well.

First, I'm painting the cab shell, hood and dashboard.

Then I go after the truck bed and spray it also.

Then the other parts to the body such as the side panels are painted.

After drying, the body parts are laid out. The paint covered very nicely.

Brush Painting ~

I am using all Testors brand model paints. These are the colors and numbers.

The wheels and many of the engine and undercarriage parts are painted flat black.

Some engine and undercarriage parts are painted silver. The air cleaner is painted blue.

The engine block parts are painted flat red.

The tool box parts are painted flat green.

I painted the valve covers yellow. Why? I say, why not?

The cab interior is then painted flat tan.

The floor will later be painted flat black.

The dashboard panels are also painted tan.

As is the steering wheel.

The two bed ramps are painted silver.

Next, the treads on the bed are painted flat black.

Then the treads on the ramps are painted flat back as well.

The sunderside of the cab is completely painted in flat black.

So is the underside of the interior shell.

The instrument panel gauges are painted metallic red.

The radiator is painted black.

All inner and outer wheel rims are also painted black.

Other engine parts are painted black as well.

The engine block halves are painted red.

Assembly Begins ~

The manifold and the side panels are glued on.

Distributor and coil are installed.

The starter is glued in place.

Carburetor is glued on.

The carpet on the cab floor is painted flat black.

The frame is also painted flat black.

Radiator hose is painted flat black.

The valve covers and the water pump housing is glued in place.

Exhaust pipes are glued to engine sides.

Fan belt system is glued together.

Air cleaner is glued on.

The engine is complete.

Instructions for stock pickup truck wheels.

Instructions for ramp truck wheels which I am building.

For the ramp truck assembly, the whitewalls are supposed to be turned inward. However, I've decided to add a little fancy to the truck and use them outward.

The dashboard and steering wheel are installed.

I finished painting the frame.

The engine is ready for installation.

The front end is glued together.

Next, I need to paint the window trims silver.

I've found it's best to use a toothpick instead of a brush for this work.

A toothpick does a much better job as you can follow the trim easier than a small brush.

While the silver is out, I painted the hinges and latches on the tool box.

Next, I painted the amber lenses in the front parking lights both in the front bumper and on the side fenders. I used Testors color, Signal Amber, #2723.

For these, I used a tiny micro brush.

Then I painted the battery caps yellow with the toothpick again.

Now the glass windows and windshield is glued into the cab.

The side panels in the rear of the frame needs to be cut out for the car hauler version.

I put new blades in two of my utility knives and tried to cut along the lines of the panels with no effect. The plastic is too thick.

I ended up using my band saw to cut the panels off.

The band saw was easy and did a nice job. You can use a utility knife but understand that it's going to take some time and effort.

I managed to get them cut off.For the car hauler version of the truck, these panels need to be cut off so that the additional rear axle can be placed there.

Now the engine is installed.

Next, the radiator is glued into place.

1> The steel axle rod. 2> use a small light hammer to pound the axle rod into the wheels. Use light taps. 3> Hammer. 4> Axle inserted into wheel. 5> Axle in place on the frame.

Remember this? It's now that the second rear axle is glued on.

Then the front wheels/tires are glued to the front axles.

The gas cap is glued to the cab right behind the driver's side door.

Now the grill is glued on.

Now it's starting to look like a truck. And the best part is...it's looking like a CHEVY truck!

DO NOT use these side mirrors for the car hauler. They are used only for the pickup truck version.

The interior is ready to go in.

The interior is glued into the cab.

While the interior dries, the rear axles are put in.

The frame is finished.

The interior is complete.

This is the truck bed construction for the pickup truck version. I am building the car hauler version.

The version that I am building. The car hauler bed is assembled.

Inside walls of the tool compartments are glued in place.

The bed sides are glued on and rubber bands are used to hold it together.

Checking to make sure the ramps fit properly. They do.

I had to add a clamp to the bed. There was gaps between the sidewalls and the bed top.

I now paint the tools and accessories.

The bed is done.

The side tool compartment doors are put on. The hinges I left white so they would stand out.

Next, the cab is glued to the frame.

Now the truck bed is glued on.

I now check the ramps.

The vice is painted. Yes! I painted it yellow. The vice on my garage workbench is yellow. I think it will stand out against the blue body color.

The tail light lenses are glued to the chrome housings.

The body and bed are dried now after a few hours.

The toolbox lid is glued on. You can leave the lid loose if you like and put some of the tools in it. Then to display it, leave the lid open.

Decals ~

Now it's time to apply the decals. Use a pan with luke warm water. The water should not be cold. These decals do not need to be submerged very long. About 15 to 30 seconds is enough. Any longer and the decal will separate from the backing while in the water.

Put the truck on it's side.

Cut each of the decals out and drop into the water one at a time.

The first decal is applied.

Next, the decal is applied to the cab door.

The instructions do not show the decal order. I am following the images on the box.

The driver's side is done.

The "TEAM I" decals are applied to the hood.

The decals are applied on the passenger side in the same order.

The side mirrors are glued onto the cab doors.

The floor roller jack is assembled.

I did not glue the jack handle. I may have to adjust it later on.

Now the tools are glued together.

The chrome tools are gathered together.

The jack stand is assembled.

The tail lightss and rear license plate holder are glued to the back end of the bed.

The wheel chocks are put onto the bed. These ARE NOT glued. They fit into holes and slots.

I then glued on the two loading lights. By the wqy, these are not in the instruction sheet.

The passenger side rear view mirror is glued onto the door.

I've decided to glue the toolbox lid in the opened position.

Now the tools can be displayed.

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THE MODEL IS FINISHED! PRESIDENT TRUMP IS HAPPY!

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FINISHED MODEL ~

LOAD 'ER UP!

The model on display in one of my model cabinets.

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MODEL REVIEW ~

This model was easy to assemble. I had fun building it. All parts, except the tools, were numbered. Instructions were easy to follow. Everything seemed to work right. So, I have nothing bad to say about it.

If your looking at this kit to buy, it's well worth it. I wouldn't pay any more than $30 for it however. I got this kit at Hobby Lobby when t he kits were 40% off. So it cost me around $18.

Everything went well and you can probably build this kit in a few days if you stay on it. I give this kit an 8 out of 10. Have fun with it. Now, I'm moving on to my next project. Now that it's done, I think I'll take the dog out for a ride.

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CLICK ON THIS IMAGE TO SEE THIS KIT AT HOBBY LOBBY ~

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