Today for your viewing pleasure is my 1:18 1948 Ford F-1 by Road Signature. The details on this model are very good with only a few minor things that are different from the real deal.
Exterior details are very good. All of the body lines are correct, the trim is accurate, the door handles and gas cap are correct, the mirror is correct, and the standard single windshield wiper (a second one was an option) is it’s own piece and looks very good as well. There are even hinges on the door, although they are just cosmetic. The tailgate looks just like the actual stamped piece, and the bed even has wood grain and bolts on the separating strips! The only things I can detract is the F1 emblems, which are painted on instead of being trim pieces, and the F O R D letters below the hood, they are raised and painted on this model, but on the real truck the are individual pieces. The hood “nostrils” are also a single molded piece instead of individual pieces. The last issue with the exterior is the all chrome grille. A chrome grille was never offered from the factory, IIRC, 48's had a tan grille, with body color stripes, 49 had a tan grille, and ‘50 had a silver grille, I believe all years had the option of stainless/chrome slats on the grille. Overall though these are all minor details. Exterior: 9/10
The interior is also very nicely detailed, the seats are on actual mounting brackets instead of being molded into the floor, the dash is accurately molded, along with the very rare option of a radio, and the speaker grille. The doors have the right handles and lines, and the pedals are the correct bottom hinged circle pedals. Once again only minor issues with the interior, the chrome shifter, the gas pedal is just molded into the floor, the steering wheel mount is large and obvious, and the steering wheel is a bit bulky. The roof is also slightly inaccurate missing a panel of sorts at the top of the windshield. Overall, once again, all very minor details. Interior 8:10
The engine bay is also very detailed, from the brass radiator, to the studs on the flat head V-8, the cables and wires on the firewall, and the 6V battery. The engine block is molded colored plastic, and it shows a little, but is molded accurately. You cant see it but the exhaust is also correct, looping around the front of the engine from the passenger side to the driver side. Issues are again, the excess of chrome for a factory vehicle. We’ll just assume there’s been a little custom work done. Engine bay: 8/10
The undercarriage is also nicely detailed with correct frame rails, running board brackets, springs, steering components, trans, drive shaft, exhaust, spare tire, and the open floor to the bed. Minor issues are the running boards being molded along with the cab instead of individual pieces, and the underside of the bed being solid instead of individual boards. Undercarriage: 9/10
This is a very good model and I highly recommend it for any one who is a fan of the 48-50 Ford. If it seems I’m being a little hard on it, that’s because this generation of Ford is my favorite truck, I own and am in the process of (very slowly) restoring/customizing a 1950 F-3, and I’ve done a lot of research on these particular trucks, their options, configurations, and model year differences, so I may be a little critical. Overall rating:36/40