Here goes nothing

[JerseeJerry55]

Hello all hope everyone is well. Well as the title of my post says I’m starting my Holy Grail kit the AMT IH Transtar CO4070A. Cab is painted Testors Extreme Lacquer Star Spangled Blue. The basic frame is assembled and have yet to decide on what color to paint it. Thinking Black but maybe something else will catch my eye. Still deciding on the front wheels but the drive wheels will be White as my unsteady hands probably won’t allow me to do a contrast paint on the spokes. Will post as I go along. Will make her a Loadmasters unit.

[Gary Chastain]

Color looks good

[Rockford]

Good start, nice kit, light blue chassis? 

[RocketFoot]

Looks great!  Love the color!

[JerseeJerry55]

39 minutes ago, Gary Chastain said:

Color looks good

Gary thank you.

[gotnitro?]

Looks good from here! 

 

[JerseeJerry55]

39 minutes ago, Rockford said:

Good start, nice kit, light blue chassis? 

Thank you. Not sure on light Blue will poke around and see what I come up with. 

[JerseeJerry55]

38 minutes ago, RocketFoot said:

Looks great!  Love the color!

Thank you.

[JerseeJerry55]

1 minute ago, gotnitro? said:

Looks good from here! 

 

Thank you

[JerseeJerry55]

2 hours ago, Rockford said:

Good start, nice kit, light blue chassis? 

I haven't found a picture on the internet as of yet with light Blue as a chassis color. However maybe Orange? But has to be the "right" Orange.

[Rockford]

It would have to be the "right" orange to work with the blue, but it can be done I'm sure. 

[Warren D]

Charcoal gray.

[JerseeJerry55]

1 hour ago, Rockford said:

It would have to be the "right" orange to work with the blue, but it can be done I'm sure. 

Agreed

[JerseeJerry55]

19 minutes ago, Warren D said:

Charcoal gray.

Maybe

[JerseeJerry55]

Then I got this in the mail today. Whereas the one I’m currently working on is going to be an O/O leased to tractor. This one will be a true over the road dedicated fleet tractor.

[JamesBC]

I will watch closely since I have that Rat Fink also, watch so I can learn how to.

[JerseeJerry55]

Continuing with the test fitting. So far so good. My next concern will be the front axle and turning wheels. A little unsure about the heat swage process.

[Warren D]

Heat swadge works fine, just hold an exacto blade over a candle.  Only issue I found with the new version of this kit is that the tie rod is just a tad too short.  You'll only see it if the wheels are straight.

[DRIPTROIT 71]

Looking good!! I've always used a pocket screwdriver for doing the heat swadge. I was able to do it as a kid on the original kit, so I'm sure that you won't have a problem. 

[JerseeJerry55]

2 hours ago, Warren D said:

Heat swadge works fine, just hold an exacto blade over a candle.  Only issue I found with the new version of this kit is that the tie rod is just a tad too short.  You'll only see it if the wheels are straight.

Warren thank you. So when you say it’s a tad too short will it not connect properly and not allow the process to work?

[JerseeJerry55]

2 minutes ago, DRIPTROIT 71 said:

Looking good!! I've always used a pocket screwdriver for doing the heat swadge. I was able to do it as a kid on the original kit, so I'm sure that you won't have a problem. 

Thank you

[Warren D]

16 minutes ago, JerseeJerry55 said:

Warren thank you. So when you say it’s a tad too short will it not connect properly and not allow the process to work?

No, it'll fit ok, just result in a noticable tow-out when the wheels are straight.  At least I noticed it, I suspect many don't.  Otherwise, it's probably the best fitting 1/25 scale truck kit I've built to date.

[JerseeJerry55]

9 minutes ago, Warren D said:

No, it'll fit ok, just result in a noticable tow-out when the wheels are straight.  At least I noticed it, I suspect many don't.  Otherwise, it's probably the best fitting 1/25 scale truck kit I've built to date.

Okay thank you. At this stage of assembly (just what you see in my posted photos) I agree with you. It’s kind of just build nothing to worry about here. Glad to have this on my workbench. After this is finished I have the Rat Fink issue I got in a trade. I might do that one as the Loadmasters Livery. The one thing I am 100% on with the current build, and the Rat Fink one is no stripes. I don’t trust my arthritis to allow me to do a good enough job. Plus in the instructions sheet the solid Red cab always was an objective of mine. 

[JerseeJerry55]

29 minutes ago, Warren D said:

No, it'll fit ok, just result in a noticable tow-out when the wheels are straight.  At least I noticed it, I suspect many don't.  Otherwise, it's probably the best fitting 1/25 scale truck kit I've built to date.

Warren based on your observation here is how I plan to display the truck. Replicating the instructions sheet photographs.

[Warren D]

If you display it with the wheels turned, you'll never see the slight toe issue.  Only when it's dead straight ahead and viewed from head-on will the fronts look a little toed out.