Ivor The Engine Driver Posted July 3, 2021 Share Posted July 3, 2021 This is a proof of concept project. The concept being: can a recently turned 70-year-old who hasn't built anything in 30+ years still create a semi-presentable model? I decided to find out after hearing that a new Transtar cabover was in the works and that at least one aftermarket vendor was selling International Emoryville cabs. These trucks resonate with me because I drove both for a time after getting out of the U.S. Army in 1972. Because I had my doubts that I could do justice to either of the Binder projects, I opted to build the AMT/MPC DM600 Mack to see if any modeling chops remained. At first I was going to build it straight out of the box, but mission creep set in, and it has evolved into a logging straight truck. Frame was lengthened two scale feet and I kluged up a pusher axle. This my first attempt at weathering. Well, second attempt. The first attempt looked like the Mack was assaulted by a toddler with crayons and eventually went down the kitchen sink. Frame paint is Tamiya orange. The dirt is a thinned tan craft paint thickened with very fine sand bought at a model railroad store. Rust was via the salt method. Working now on the tires and log box. Also looking for reference photos of the Mack 630 engine so I can do some plumbing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mopar - D Posted July 3, 2021 Share Posted July 3, 2021 Henry welcome back to model building! I also had about a 30 gap in my model building to. Your Mack is looking good so far looking forward to seeing more progress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockford Posted July 5, 2021 Share Posted July 5, 2021 I think I was a 20 year absentee and am still trying to get back into things. Looks like you're doing a great job on this project anyway! You'd never dream you'd been away! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivor The Engine Driver Posted July 5, 2021 Author Share Posted July 5, 2021 Thanks. But I did need to disassemble the frame the first time because it was crooked. And I did strip the paint and weathering once because it was so bad. Before giving the frame another go I bought a Taurus kit, and coated and recoated the poor thing with mud, paint, dust and oil stains until I worked up enough courage to try the frame again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivor The Engine Driver Posted July 6, 2021 Author Share Posted July 6, 2021 We had a nice, quiet stay-at-home July 4th weekend and I made good progress on the stake bed or whatever it is loggers call these things. Made it of styrene strips. Working on the wheels and tires now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doorsovdoon Posted July 8, 2021 Share Posted July 8, 2021 Very nice work so far, and welcome back. Only last year I got back into model making, I hadn't built anything since the early 90's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivor The Engine Driver Posted July 23, 2021 Author Share Posted July 23, 2021 Think I've finished with the wheels and tires. Drive wheels are from the kit. I glued small strips of square rod around them to add some character. Front tires are two-piece plastic from an old Tamiya parts pack. Added an eighth-inch spacer to create floats and glued on some more square rod. I don't know where the low profile floats came from -- they were in a bag of modeling parts I bought. The mud was an acrylic tan mixed with fine grain decorative sand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mopar - D Posted July 23, 2021 Share Posted July 23, 2021 Looking good Henry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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