BigBad

Name that truck... Some people are going to cringe.. Slightly,but it had to come to this someday.

That's the first time I see one... Don't think we'll see many of those in NA though.

This is my latest project, I started it during the holidays and ongoing. It's a trailer that Auslowe builds and sells. What's neat about this kit is that you have all kinds of options such as trailer length, 40-42-45or 48 foot, number of axles tandem or tridem, type of wheel, aluminum disc or 5 spoke, type of brakes, disc or drums, suspension, leaf or airbag and the option of a ramp for hauling vehicles.

So after seeing all those options and knowing they are almost the only source for a kit like this, I jumped on the opportunity. It is expensive at 140.00 Aud, but wanted to try it out. So I ordered this in september and got it in november.

This kit has cut to size styrene flat parts for the floor, the cross members and frame molded resin parts for the suspension components, brakes and wheels and parking feet crank gearbox, wire for the retaining gards, metal axles, black rubber like lo-pro tires and clear red and amber lens for the rear lights.

Alright, so building the thing is fairly straightforward, but I don't recommend it for people starting out building plastic models as this is mostly a hand cut parts kit with very few locating features. The upper and lower floors are scored at the bottom to position the frame rails and the crossmembers, but you have to take measurements to make sure your frame is straight. There are instructions included but some items have to be interpreted because of the lack of some info and the pictures are mostly hand drawn. Don't get me wrong, this builds up as a nice trailer model, but you need some experience to do it.

So anyway, I am almost ready to paint and these are the pictures I've taken.













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I added some plumbing to the underside for the brakes, the wheels and the brake cylinders are not fixed yet. More to come...

This is my latest project, the Revell W900 Aerodyne. I got the inspiration from "Cool Hand" Luke with his Revell Pete 359. It won't be as elaborate, but I picked up some of his ideas to modify my truck. Some of the mods will make some of you cringe, I don't really care 'cause this one is for fun and practice only and not meant to be accurate. The kit is cheap (inexpensive) and doesn't include any brakes anyway...

So, first to be modified is the suspension. I filed away some 3 mm off the mounting point on the front leafs cut the rear mounts and ground about the same off the rear airbags as well. By the way I think it's easier to do this on the Kenworth than the Pete. I wanted to lower the cab on the frame as well but I didn't want to mess with fitting the hood again with the cab. So now it sits pretty much where it's supposed to anyway.

After some thinking... I decided to lower the battery boxes and fuel tanks a little and add some cab extensions at the bottom. I also lenghtened 5 cm (or 5 scale ft) the frame right behind the cab with some evergreen stock. I got tired of playing with the kit's tires and I broke an axle so I got rid of the back ones. Though I tried fitting some Italeri tires on and since they fit better than i thought so I still might use the kit rims with them. The front ones fit pretty nicely so I kept them.

I will fit the DD 8V92 from the GMC General, since it's supposed to be a "show" truck, I tought it would look better under the hood. I got some green and gold Peterbilt "half arrow" decals from Modeltruckin and tought of painting the body black with a decal matching green frame but it might just end up black as well. I ordered some rear fenders from Eric at P&P so those will go on with a custom rear bumper and brackets. The frame is boxed and I cut the back end off as I found it a little too long at the back.

So it's a start. Positive or negative and constructive comments of interested people welcome...

Now, the pictures:

Overall look and lowered stance



Front wheel to fender gap and press button hub cap



New frame lenght



step cut on frame



Temporary wheels from Freightliner, notice cut airbags



Kit bumper to be replaced with wider Texas style based on kit bumper shape



Showing lowered front suspension mount



front axle was filed at the mounting points. This makes the front end a little weak for my taste but this truck won't be working very hard anyway...



Another view showing the front wheel with the button cap. I cut off the prongs from the cap with Xuron shears and ground them a little. Then I glued them on the wheels with epoxy 5 min.



More to come later...

So does somebody know? It must be at least 50 year old or approaching it quickly. Wouldn't it be nice if somebody would (would have?) highlight(ed) this event with a fully dressed and new W900 model kit? What do you guys think? Such an iconic vehicle should be celebrated in some way and this would be a very nice way to do it. Start the discussion!