13 replies to this topic

[whale392]

I got mine a few days ago, and of course had to rifle through it. Some pros: good cast detail and parts count, very full box, great decal sheet. Some cons: non-chromed fuel tanks (this is a little thing I know, but I remember the originals having chromed tanks), some casting flash (to be expected for a kit of this vintage), (to me) an odd parts breakdown (how they were seperated).
All in all, a good kit and a welcome re-issue. I have my order in for a second kit so that I might build an extended sleeper version. Thanks to AMT for re-issuing this kit.

[whale392]

Got my second kit and am slowly starting on the sleeper extension. Thanks to picking up the newest issue of MCM, I now have a build review and a reference to go from. So far, this kit is as I remember dads AMT truck kits being.....well detailed and fairly good fit with minimal clean-up. If they re-issue some of the other great truck kits (Peterbuilt Conventional and the Kenworth 123 Cabover), I think they will have a fairly good response to them (I know I will at least buy a few). Trailers would be nice too (the FrueHauf Reefer if you AMT guys are reading this!).

[Ben]

Hello Bradley, actually, there's no difference in the most recent issue of this kit as compared to any of the 70's-80's issues. The parts have actually been "cleaned up" a bit! The tanks have always been molded in white plastic in both the dual drive and the single drive versions.
I would recommend assembling them, filling the seams, sand them very smooth and the paint them with Alclad chrome. Body color tanks look cool as well with chrome straps. Now, if you want to really detail your kit, a super nice photo etch set has been custom made by a guy in Germany that has been specifically designed to fit this AMT Freightliner DD kit but it could be used on a single drive kit as well. The kit includes a LOT of parts such as a complete photo etch grille, all the "White Freightliner" emblems, wipers, tiny dash fans, door steps, dash overlays, stack guards, radiator sceen overlay, vent window frames and a lot more! Really awesome stuff! I have the the first set produced and there will be more available at the end of April or the beginning of May.
If you would like more info, send me a message.

[Ben]

I forgot to mention, the AMT Fruehauf van is due to be re-released very soon and the AMT Flatbed and logger trailer reissues are out right now.

[whale392]

Thanks Ben! I have the 40' flatbed (I actually have 2, and am stretching the one to 48' with parts from the other and adding the duals from my spare White-freightliner tractor) and am eagerly awaiting the dry van or reefer unit to arrive. Needles to say, I see some trailer purchases killing my wallet here soon!
I had planned on the Alclad route for the tanks, and using the second set to swap over to the Kenworth W900 Aerodyne I have.

[Michigan Madman]

The kit is missing the grab handles shown on the box art, and the fit of parts is a bit fiddly, but this was my first sucessful big rig build and I'm pretty happy with it.

[whale392]

The styled aluminum wheels, while sexy, are very finicky....very likely to break one of the lock rings if you are not careful. I completely missed the missing grab handles.....looks like it is time to make some. The cab, as mentioned several times in either here or the article in MCM, is a multipiece affair that must be flush sanded to fit properly. I didn't know about the headlight issue until I read the write-up on this build.
Also, when I talked to my dad (who drove from 1970-81), he stated that the super sleeper option (if you wish to duplicate that in scale) will add 7/8" to the cab length. I am taking the air ride from the Revell Kenworth W900 Aerodyne and adapting it to this kit, along with transplanting the Cat into it. All in all, I am enjoying the rig builds......even though I know precious little about the real subjects.

[rhoadapple]

This is a model kit of the first "Big-Rig" I drove over the road back in '87; had a tanker behind 'er. Actually I liked the 'ole gal. Drove solidly and shifted real easy like. Might have to get this kit for old times sake and build a memory...

Joe

[whale392]

Just make note of the kits finicky areas and you will enjoy the build!

[Michigan Madman]

Oh yes! Those wheel rims are fragile as glass when you try to install them. I sanded the inside lightly to help- just take care not to smoosh the rim while you sand it!

I don't get why the wipers are molded in place, when most everything else on the cab is separate. I didn't notice the too-tall headlamps until Tim's write-up, either.

Still, I stand by what I said- it's a good kit!

[rhoadapple]

Chuck....can I ah..use that "smoosh" word once in awhile....

Joe

[whale392]

I'm doing a lot of changing around on this kit, and some scratchbuilding. I love it for what it is, a great kit and a wonderful base for future mods/builds.

Did yours have the body colored tanks? I am considering stripping the wheels/tanks and just painting them Alclad aluminum on my next build to simulate some aged Alcoas, or maybe reshaping the holes to the Freightliner logo to mimic the newer factory wheel.

[Michigan Madman]

Mine had body color tanks, I stole some plated ones from an Ertl IH Transtar conventional.

[whale392]

I notice that most tanks today are either covered by Aero-fairings, left natural aluminum, or polished.

I am trying to decide how far to update this kit, as I see about 1 Cabover to about 150 conventionals on the road these days. I am already extending the sleeper, using longer tanks (combining the 2 kits I have), adapting and updating the Kenworth Torsion-Air air-ride suspension, and dropping in a Cat 3406 (even though it in itself is an obsolete engine).