bitner Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 I'm sure everybody who loves trucks will recognize this one:) I started out with a Watkins tractor/trailer set from AMT. The reefer trailer is pretty much stock except for leaving off the fuel tank, and adding a spare tire rack. I shortened the wheelbase on the tractor by 18", and added torsion bar suspension, like the truck in the opening credits. You can just make out the ends of the torsion bar on the passenger side of the truck when the camera shows the drive line and front rear end. I also added another battery box to the passenger side. I painted out most of the chrome, as per the movie truck, and just left a few pieces here and there. Both the tractor and trailer were painted flat black, and the coated with model master gloss coat. The decals are from Modeltruckin, and were a bear to get right on the truck. It took some patients to get them to settle down over the rivets. There are a few misalignment's but they are acceptable. The trailer decals were nice, but it was almost impossible to get all the tiny air bubbles out from under the huge side decals. All in all it was a fun project and I'm glad I finally have a scale model of my all time favorite Kenworth. Now I just have to dig out that Trans AM model in the closet to go with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwc43 Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 Great looking truck. I had no idea they made the decals for this. I always wanted to build one. I just watched the movies again last week. Reason being, that I just bought a Revell metal Bandit T/A off of e models and I wanted to check it for accuracy. I'm going to try some sandpaper on a pencil eraser on the dash board before I paint it gold. I hope to get that circular polished looked to it like the orginal T/A has. Got any links for decals and kits? I'd love to have the set myself. If I could find the kits and decals I'd also like to do the Moving On KW and the K100 Aerodyne CEO from B.J and the Bear. Have no clue where to look for the kits or decals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murphy's Law Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 (edited) Linky for decals from several movies... Edited October 11, 2009 by Murphy's Law Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murphy's Law Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 And super job on the Bandit's rig! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bitner Posted October 11, 2009 Author Share Posted October 11, 2009 Thanks guys, here's the link to the decals: http://modeltruckin.com/store/index.php?ma...;products_id=97 cheers: Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwc43 Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 Thanks for the links guys. Hope I can do it justice and make it look as good as this one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mackinac359 Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 PERFECT! Snowman would be proud. Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpreadAxle Posted October 12, 2009 Share Posted October 12, 2009 You did a nice job on this one. Right down to the gold KW tags. How did you do the doorhandles? Pretty accurate looking from what I can tell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kostas Parchas Posted October 12, 2009 Share Posted October 12, 2009 That is really nice!!! Kostas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janne Herajärvi Posted October 12, 2009 Share Posted October 12, 2009 GRRREAT!!! I love that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buba39 Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 nice work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bsoder Posted October 14, 2009 Share Posted October 14, 2009 A classic!...outstanding job Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 Wow Bill, you've done a beautiful job on the Snowmans rig!!!!!!!! I told Brad to get in here and check it out! I have his decals as well. Really cool stuff! Looks like you did your homework when you built it. Where did you find the information such as the correct wheelbase? What is the correct wheelbase? Really nice work!!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stangman Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 Great job on this Bill!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bitner Posted October 16, 2009 Author Share Posted October 16, 2009 Thanks guys: It was a blast to build. Ben I just guessed on the wheelbase. I actually just took a scale 18" out of the frame to what it looked like in the movie. I must have watched the opening credits 5o times to catch little things like the torsion bar suspension. There are actually 2-3 different trucks in the movie so I tried just to get the 73' right, such as the gold Kenworth emblems. Cheers: Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim B Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 It looks great. What engine did you use? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 Hey Bill, on the big side mural trailer decals, did you apply them over black or did you paint that area white behind them? I was worried that the decal may be a bit translucent and that if applied over a black surface, the black would show through a little? Kind of like when some white decals are put over red paint and they appear pink afterwards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brizio Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 Very very nice job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Modelsbyroni Posted October 25, 2009 Share Posted October 25, 2009 (edited) I STILL LOVE IT. CUZ I'M EAST BOUND AND DOWN, LOADED UP AND TRUCKIN' Edited October 25, 2009 by Modelsbyroni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Winter Posted November 3, 2009 Share Posted November 3, 2009 Hey that's cool, I gotta get around to building that exact truck, I'm working on the Bandit's Trans Am right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rronning84 Posted November 15, 2009 Share Posted November 15, 2009 Wow that looks great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
streetjudge79 Posted April 21, 2014 Share Posted April 21, 2014 Great job! I’m going to be starting one of these myself shortly. Where did you get the Coors beer cases for the trailer? Thanks, Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kilrathy10 Posted April 22, 2014 Share Posted April 22, 2014 Definitely some good stuff......Great work on the tractor and trailer.....Just a beautiful piece of work.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
checkmate Posted April 22, 2014 Share Posted April 22, 2014 Great build of an iconic truck and trailer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trailking120 Posted April 23, 2014 Share Posted April 23, 2014 Very nice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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