B.R.B.O. 2022 CF Freightliner Pusher

[DRIPTROIT 71]

I will be starting this one later this year. I still have to finish the Paystar and I have a 4070a project ahead of this one. I have been wanting to build this for a long time, so here goes. This kit is new, but I can’t get close enough to it yet to get it out until we finish getting all the Christmas stuff packed back up. 

These trucks were used to push trucks over the mountain in the snow.

[vincen47]

This will be a neat project. I’m not familiar with this operation from years past, so it’ll be fun learning more about it. 

[kuhnj]

This will be a really cool build!

 

[Pete68]

Nice one  Brian 

[Dutzie]

Great subject. Can’t wait to see the progress. 

[OldTrucker]

A really different subject for sure! Should be cool!

I heard of them but never ever saw one!

[gotnitro?]

Fantastic looking project looking forward to your build 

 

[steveracer]

Wow. This is going to be interesting! 

[Mopar - D]

Very interesting subject to build Brian. Are you going to weather it like the picture?

[DRIPTROIT 71]

Thanks for all the comments guys! 
 

4 hours ago, Mopar - D said:

Very interesting subject to build Brian. Are you going to weather it like the picture?

Thanks Dan! I haven’t completely decided. I have considered trying a snow covered base though. I have a couple of projects ahead of this one yet. But I am gaining ground.

[Sam I Am]

You always seem to find great subject matter.

[Mopar - D]

Brian here’s another idea you could always build the CF truck being pushed and put it on a highway with a 4-6% grade. 

[doorsovdoon]

That'll look cool, sounds like a great project.

[DRIPTROIT 71]

Thanks for all the comments guys! I’m finally starting this one. The AMT day cab set up is a 63” cab, the AMT sleeper cab is an 86” cab. My reference truck appears to be a 72” cab. I figured that these cabs fit together poorly, so why not go for it and make it right.

63”cab:

86” cab:

72” cab

[Bronzekeg]

looking great, I'm following.

[Mopar - D]

Nice start Brian looking forward to seeing more of your progress updates.

[DRIPTROIT 71]

Thanks guys! Body work, body work, and I ain’t no body man. ?

[TruckerAL]

Love the shorter sleeper on here. Good progress!

[Mopar - D]

Brian for not liking body work your doing a great job. I found these pictures on Pinterest not sure if you have them yet. 

[Mopar - D]

[gotnitro?]

Tough looking little rig ! Good work getting the sleeper cut down, all those rivets and uneven seams really make these swaps alot  more work. Good thing archer sells the rivets to replace them if you decide to go that route

[DRIPTROIT 71]

1 hour ago, Mopar - D said:

Brian for not liking body work your doing a great job. I found these pictures on Pinterest not sure if you have them yet. 

Thanks for posting those Dan. I’m not sure how many of these CF had, but two are the only ones that I can find on the internet. The newer round door daycab # 216-6781 and the one with the door open is the older square door 72” sleeper cab #88-1175. The older one seems to be a bit of a “Johnny Cash” truck as it has a regular Freightliner grille emblem and square doors with lever locks. I figure this was a retired repurposed truck.

Since reference pictures of this particular truck are very few, and the truck seems to have been modified over the years, I have used a little creative license on it. I used the back wall with windows since the back can’t be seen in the photos and I like the windows. CF liked 903 and 903T Cummins, so this one will have a 903T in it. I’m not sure about the transmission yet, but it may get a 5 speed.

[DRIPTROIT 71]

On 1/29/2022 at 9:16 AM, gotnitro? said:

Tough looking little rig ! Good work getting the sleeper cut down, all those rivets and uneven seams really make these swaps alot  more work. Good thing archer sells the rivets to replace them if you decide to go that route

Thanks Jeff! Rivets arrived today. I’ve never used them before, so I am a bit concerned. How well do they do under hot (lacquer) paint?

[gotnitro?]

Spraying hot paints over the rivets ? Hmm unsure, I used tamiya fine white or gray over mine then their same paint . You'll definitely want something of a topcoat thats not terribly thick to avoid covering them up..hence your lacquer plans 

[DRIPTROIT 71]

2 hours ago, gotnitro? said:

Spraying hot paints over the rivets ? Hmm unsure, I used tamiya fine white or gray over mine then their same paint . You'll definitely want something of a topcoat thats not terribly thick to avoid covering them up..hence your lacquer plans 

Thanks Jeff, that is one of the reasons that I like lacquer. I thought that it may melt the clear decal material under the rivets though.