mackinac359

Ken Thanks! Nice 387. The 387 is holding it's looks and aging much better than the T2000 is. The 387 looks fresh, the T2000 looks dated (IMHO). Tim

Looks good.

Scott Looks good. I like the custom upholstry you're doing on the headliner. Tim

And to confuse things, there is also the Mack C600... which is a snub-nose conventional, AITM (www.aitruckmodels.com) has that too. Tim

That is a 1971 Detroit Diesel 8v71. Tim

Aaron This will be an interesting project. Keep us posted! Tim

Hey Scott! Welcome. Cool trailer! Tim

Excellent progress. Tim

Dave Great pics! Thanks for posting them. Tim

Dave! That's a beauty! Tim

Here's a 379 that is rather unique. Long hood, 63" sleeper. That's the typical part. The unique part is that it has an underhood breather, cab-to-sleeper transition panels, sleeper box extenders with top extenders, wide-set rack mounted behind-the-sleeper mufflers and a traditional paint scheme. Big Blue as I call this smoooth 379 sits on a stretched Revell of Germany PB 359 chassis. I added an extra set of battery boxes. The engine was painted red to simulate a modern Cummins (hood is fixed shut, so it's curbside). The red Cummins compliments the red/white/blue scheme. The cab transition panels were scratchbuilt. The bumper is from a CanDo wrecker. Headlights are resin from Spaulding Trading and Shipping. The mirror brackets are made from aluminum tubing. The red pin stripe and Peterbilt logo on the trailer are vinyl from www.flaminfrog.com who loves to do work for model builders. (Thank's Cheryl!). I'll have more info and different views posted on my site www.timstrucks.com soon. Thanks for looking! Tim

This model is based on a traditionally spec'd 2007-8 388 with the new 122" BBC, taller stance, aero mirrors, aero visor, air cleaner fairing, 2007 EPA emissions box and stacks, new grille and headlights and 389 style bumper. I used a Revell of Germany Peterbilt 359 kit as the base. The sleeper was cut down from the 63" length to a 36". Color is Duplicolor Victory Red with white and black. lots of Bare Metal foil on this (grille, bumper, fuel tanks, door sill trim). Tim

I just uploaded the long-overdue April update for The Plastic Cowboy model truck website. www.plasticcowboy.com Enjoy! Tim

The 1/16th scale PEterbilt 359 was back a year or so ago. Tim

Art Sweet! I presume everything is scratchbuilt here. Tim

Guys, AMT is now just a marketting name of RC2 company. The kits that have been reissued either by RC2 or by independent paid-for-limited-runs (Model King, Stephens Int'l) are of the kits that are KNOWN to be in condition to reissue. ALL of the AMT and ERTL truck tools are in China. The toolings are in questionable condition and have been gone over to determine what kits can be reissued with limited investment in repairs of the tooling. Example: This is why the Kenworth W925 kit can not be reissued, Ertl changed the tooling to the T600 kit, forever altering the W925 kit. THIS is why the KW Challenge Mixer never came back, and according to sources it WAS going to be reissued several years ago but the W925 part of the kit is ruined. We got the Paystar mixer instead. RC2 doesn't use Ebay as a "let's release this." Ebay IS a tool for seeing what is popular, it is also an indicator of "too many in the marketplace" kits. All we can do is keep supporting the independent distributors who spend plenty of money up front to bring the limited reissues out, and to continue writing letters to RC2 to ask them to continue to repair old toolings and reissue the truck kits. Tim

Gary Nice progress on the rebuild. Dark jade metallic? Cool Tim

Billy The DM800 is a heavy-spec'd tractor, the suspension is meant to haul heavy loads. In 1:1 scale the DM800 would be too 'strong' to be a car hauler. That spring ride might shake the cars apart. (lol)Unless you swapped the Mack "Camelback" suspension (called such because it resembleds a camels back) for an air ride from a Peterbilt kit. For a Car Hauler, I'd suggest the Peterbilt 359 (revell or upcoming Monogram) or a Revell Kenworth K100 COE. Tim

Billy The engine in the Mack DM800 would be gold in color. The transmission black. Mack interiors for those days would be a kind of light mint green. Think of an old school bus interior. Floors rubber black, seats dark brown/black. When MPC originally did the kit, they chromed a bit too many pieces for a working Bulldog, like the engine parts. fuel tanks, battery boxes.. these typically were painted items on Macks. The fit of the cab/hood will cause you some frustration, so you'll have to test-fit several times. Somehow the hood/fenders always looks a bit crooked. Chassis color: Standard was black. colors were optional. Body color? Your choice! Post any questions you have! I just finished one of the ModelKing reissues as a Highway Department tractor, mine is box-stock but weathered. Tim

Saturday, April 15th at the Peter White Library in Marquette, Michigan.. Sponsored by the Upper Peninsula Scale Modelers. I usually bring several new trucks, and the turn-out is always nice! Tim

On the Tips/Tricks forum of ModelCarsMagazine Forum, there is an excellent tutorial on scratchbuilding and prep work. A great read. Tim

Have you tried Decals by Gooche? Tim

Al, Nice trucks! Welcome to the forum. I love your signature/tag line.. in my own world. ! Tim

I like it! Tim

Dave Superb!!! Tim