DennisT

Thanks again, Lee. I will be using the Revell Honest John Missile KW. I had purchased two of that kit. I only have enough detail/extra parts to finish out one. Never thought to buy two batches of things from Don to do two trucks. First things first though, with a logger. I've had a life long serious interest in logging railroads and geared locomotives. Resulted in production of two hardbound books that took many, many years to pull off. Never again. Too old now anyway....!! I also have a 1:25 truck kit (AMT ?) and a set of logging fixtures from American Industrial Truck Models to do this in a scale close to G scale, or 1:20. Too bad what happened to AITM. What I got from him was his Sterling truck cab set up. My favorite of all old trucks is the early Sterlings with the Hall-Scott motors. 1950's vintage. I used to watch them go by our house when in high school. I also like the earlier Pete's. A local logger named Harkness used to run one with no side hoods that I loved. I was in Morton, WA, a year or so ago with my log buyer cousin. We visited one of his clients and something came up about Peterbilt's. The other fellow said, "oh they started out here you know??" No, I didn't know. He said it was the Peterman Brothers, of Morton, WA.

Hello Lee: Thank you for confirming the use of the Revell kit and the wonderful photos. Today I did make contact with Don, who also said the same thing. Whenever in the past I got log truck parts from Don, I was smart enough to also buy wheels and tires. I really like your NP Monad. And I see you model O Scale, 3-rail. I have an armload of O scale 2-rail, but currently am not doing anything with it. Your photos are a really great help and encouragement. You did a nice job with them all. Thank you again, Dennis in E WA state

I got enough parts from Don Mills a while back to build a logging truck in 1:48 scale. I thought I'd read some use the Revell Honest John missile Kenworth as chassis donor. True? Or, .. what chassis models do some of you use to go under Don Mills parts? Thanks, Dennis

I like the key fob possibility. What is the line made of??????? I looked on line and can see these very similar but none are metal line, not sure about these. Or are yours actually string?

Good ideas, thank you all. I will need very flexible material, so that's some restriction. But I think we're getting somewhere on this.

I'm looking for something very flexible to simulate, roughly, 3/4-inch steel cable of the type used on logging yarders or large winches. Some of our guys get a black, "string," material from a seller on ebay that markets it as Tonka truck repair parts. I have some. Looks pretty good, but it's black. I'm thinking I'd like something of a light gray or silver color. There may be none. But it never hurts to ask, and if anyone has any ideas I'd like some tips. This will be for 1:20 scale and, actually, some for 7/8th. scale. Thank you, Dennis

Thank you. Message sent. Dennis

Sorry if this is off topic and, worse, regarding a competitive forum. I try to use all resources I can find for my limited model truck building. In the past I have enjoyed these forums and also the Model Truck Builders forum. Lately I have tried numerous times to access MTB, and none of my log in or passwords work. I've tried several times using the, "forgot your password," method, it says it's sending to my email but it never does. I tried to register as a new user, but it says they have my identity already, so that route is no good. I've given up. The internet platform they ride seems similar to this one. Almost as if the two forums are connected. Still, ...... theirs won't work for me. Does anyone know how I can fix this or have others had problems? Again, sorry to be off topic.

Wow. How tragic. Yet, his legend lives on here. I have a hunch he and I walked common ground in the NorCal Humboldt County country. I was partially raised down there before returning to Washington state. Many, many times I watched logging trucks come down the grade next to our house trailing water from the brakes near the Humboldt/Mendocino County line along 101.

Thank you. It's looking as if I'll be starting with what kits I have and modifying them to suit. 'Kinda, "winging it," as it were. I am able to make up parts to some extent, so we'll see where it goes. I suspect there are parts sources out there that I am yet unaware of - perhaps they'll show up as I pop in and out of these forums. I do like the AITM's products so far and I am a big fan of the early Sterlings. When young I lived adjacent to Highway 101 at the top of a long grade. At might I would listen to the occasional trucks pulling up that hill. I could always tell the sound of a chain drive truck.....

Looks as if I answered my own question: as I searched muleskinner's name it looks as if he is no longer with us. I realize I am really late in finding these forums and the timbershop site. I wonder if there are any other, currently operating, logging truck/equipment modeling forums out there?????????????? Thank you all for the help I've received here, Dennis

Well, I guess I don't hit, 'return," when I'm still typing. QUESTION: Is there a way to directly contact Muleskinner????? I'm thinking he and I have some ground many years ago, primarily in the region he apparently lives in and worked in. Key word: Rogan Coombs. Dennis Thompson, once residing along 101; Humboldt/Mendocino County line area.................

Whew!!! I just finished going through everything I could find on the timbershop site. Great stuff. I DID find a Muleskinner article on correcting the undersized reach of the AMT log trailer. Is that what all of you were referring to? It is good and I saved all of it I could. Too bad many of the photos scattered through those postings are now gone.

Thank you JimB. That timbershop is a terrific resource. I'd >never< heard of it. I tried registering but no luck; must be part of it's being, "defunct." However, in spite of seeing Muleskinner posts, still cannot find his tutorial on the log trailer. Going back now to continue looking.....

That says it. I've read several references to, "muleskinner's," tutorial about improving AMT's 1:25 log trailer. Just spent most of an hour on, "search," here but cannot find it. Anyone know how to pull it up? Thanks, Dennis

Found the AMT AutoCar A64B tractor kit to go with my $80 American Industrial Model Truck's Sterling conversion. So logic tells me to build the AMT frame and running gear and drop the Sterling cab on, right? Before I head that way, does anyone have any tips or trouble spots to avoid? I intend to build this up as a logging truck and I also have the AMT log trailer kit. I recently built the AMT, "Construction Bulldozer," kit also in 1:25, using all the you tube videos I could find. There were several pit falls in the building process, but it came out OK. Still weathering it. Interestingly, the bottom of the bulldozer kit's box had sprue diagrams with numbers printed to match instruction sheet. AutoCar has the diagram on box bottom, but..........zero numbers. Not much help. Just go by photos. Thanks for comments, Dennis

Thanks. Largely shelf display or part of logging diorama. "SNAP," kit means nothing to me. Guess I better do a search on that one.

Thanks. Big help. I ordered the Sterling cab kit from AITM. Now to figure what/where to find a chassis for it go on. Side comment on G scale model railroading: Our guys run a lot of 1:20.3, but also 1:22 and 1:29. Different manufacturers have been making things to different versions of scale. I can make 1:25 work. Now to save more money!

Not much luck doing search. What I'd really like is a 1950's era log truck in 1:20 scale to use with that scale model logging railroad. Don't think I'll find that. On a gamble today, I picked up the AMT 1103 Peerless logging trailer in 1:25, new, $29. Could be OK in that scale, but am having trouble finding a suitable 1950's vintage truck to hook it up to that would match scale. Any tips/thoughts would be appreciated. Not much out there in older conventionals that I can find. Thanks, Dennis

New here. Second post. Trying to learn reliable sources for older style big rig kits and parts. Is, "Full Circle Hobbies," OK? Would like most to find 1:24'ish kit for 1950's Sterling, Autocar or other same vintage tractors to build Logging Trucks. So far, I see zero kits for those brand names. Mostly Pete's, KW's, etc. And later model years. AMT's Roadrunner log trailer seems to be the only starting point for a decent, correct log trailer. Thoughts, links, tips appreciated. Dennis who grew up in logging country.................

Thank you. This is a step in the right direction. I know nothing of truck parts suppliers, so I looked up AITM. Pretty interesting. I'll keep looking for more sources and tips. I think it can work. I also noticed some really attractive logging truck ideas for more modern trucks. Dennis

My first post and hope I wrote topic clear enough. I have a Monogram 1:24 Mack Bull Dog kit. I'd like to modify it into a tandem rear axle truck which has had it's wheels and tires changed out to balloon tires and different wheels. I watched a couple of these, "up-dated," Bull Dogs drive by our place when I was a young boy. In fact, a chain drive truck was not unusual then, grinding it's way up the long grade on it's way by our house. I remember listening to the chains....very distinctive sound to a young boy lying in bed in the middle of the night listening to trucks going by. I could always tell a chain drive! Back to my question: I have very little background in finding spare parts for, "bashing," truck kits. (More background in model railroad stuff). So I need to learn my way around parts sources. I'll need an extra rear axle and all new tires and wheels. Hope to avoid, "chrome," look. I see a few, "batches," of just rubber tires, but have no way to know if they would fit my needs. The Bull Dog kit I have is the tank truck and I can use the tank for something else. I suspect I'll need to buy another kit.....just for spare parts. Thoughts/tips would be appreciated. Happy New Year, Dennis

Hi All: Just got here. Thanks for accepting me. Grew up with all kinds of models....long ago.... Liked trucks most. Drifted into model railroading, but railroads always need trucks. Have just ordered 2 AMT 1:24th Bull Dog Macks. I want to make one into a tandem rear with later balloon tires and, "newer," wheels. I've seen such in real life. But I need to post a question about where to buy spare rear dual wheels and tires, (prefer not chrome). Happy New Year, Dennis