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Would there be any interest in a tractor trailer community build?


highway

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The other night, myself and a few other members were talking about tractor trailers in the chat room. Then the idea of doing a community build came up, which I had actually been thinking of beforehand. What I would like to do now is just test the waters and see how many others would like to participate, so are you up to it?

There would not be many rules, the only major requirement would be the truck must be road legal. I'm thinking more along the line of anything you would see if you would pull into any of the nation's truck stops, not any crazy rigs powered by jet engines or Space Shuttle booster rockets. Now, that doesn't mean you couldn't build something like AMT's Super Boss or Bandag Bandit race trucks, but they would be the load on a truck like the Papa Truck or Hideout Truck haulers AMT produced for those kits.

Also, that does not mean you could not customize your truck, there are many highly customized trucks running the U.S. Interstates every day. Trucks customized just like this one I'm currently working on are fine, that's where I got a lot of inspiration for this build from, seeing nice rigs like it in America's truck stops during my driving career.

HPIM2110.jpg

I was also, at first, considering allowing American rigs, but after thinking about it and talking it over with a friend of mine on the phone the other night, that just would not be fair to our friends from down under and across the pond. Since I know there are talented builders in the truck forum from all across the globe, I figure it best that any truck, American, European, Australian, or otherwise can qualify, just staying to the one main rule of being a road legal truck for that area of the world.

I would like everyone's feedback and their thoughts, not only on participating, but also on starting points as well. I'm an active participant in quite a few CBPs, and some require a fresh, unstarted kit to start or a built up that will be disassembled and rebuilt, while some others allow a partially started kit as a starting point. If we would go with the partial started point, the kit can not be near completion, like these two or my bullwagon.

HPIM1521.jpg

HPIM1526.jpg

I also just want to let you know, too, just because I said tractor trailer in the title and have mentioned it quite a few times, and the pics are all of combos, this does not mean that you have to build a full unit. Anything is welcome, from a Ford C-600 or Ford Louisville delivery truck to a tractor only or even a heavy duty wrecker, trailers are purely just an option.

If this idea does get off the ground, the main rule is have fun with your build, just keeping in mind it has to be a road legal truck, and being a trucker for a little over 12 years, I know my DOT regs! :D I'm also thinking, since I have five builds for three different CBPs, including my Ford livestock hauler, that have to be done before the end of this year, I will not start the official build thread until late December so we can start after January 1st, we'll get the holidays out of the way first! Who knows, maybe you can even ask for a truck kit for Christmas for the build! ;)

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Is the second rig the Italeri Volvo??? How is the detail and fitment of that kit?

I would definatly be interested in this CBP, I'd just need to get ahold of a truck.

Yep, that's the one with the container. The detail is not bad at all, the big downer is there is no engine. It's just a curbside with the lower engine molded into the frame. Of course, the frame is one big plus, since it is molded in one piece. No fussing with getting the frame rails straight! :D It's been a while since I worked on it, but I think there were some separate crossmembers to install, though.

I'd be happy to have you join up, and since, like I said, I wouldn't actually be starting the build thread until after the holidays, you have plenty of time to get ahold of something to build! ;)

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Wow, that sucks that there's no engine, especially for the amount those things are going for on Ebay. Still one of my favorite late model rigs though. I've been looking at some of the Italeri Pete's too. Guess I might have to stick with the Revell Pete or KW though.

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Can i enter my rig Matt? it doesnt have a trailer but it is a Semi that you would see in America's truck stops. :D

If your talking about the wrecker, you'll probably have it done before I even start the actual build! ;) Of course, the idea you were talking about doing after the wrecker the other night in the chat room certainly qualifies! Just make sure you have your oversize escorts! ;)

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Wow, that sucks that there's no engine, especially for the amount those things are going for on Ebay. Still one of my favorite late model rigs though. I've been looking at some of the Italeri Pete's too. Guess I might have to stick with the Revell Pete or KW though.

Yeah, the lack of an engine is a downer, but I was at least lucky I only paid 25 cents for it! I got it at a show kit raffle, even though I don't think they really wanted to give it to me! :D They tried to hand me a tank (what do you expect at an IMPS show ;) ) and I asked the guy handing out the kits if I could have it since I do build trucks and don't build tanks.

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;) A quarter??? Wish I could catch a break like that. I've wanted one of those Volvo's since I first seen them, just could never afford it. (Wouldn't wanna sell it to me for twice what you paid for it would ya????) Plus shipping of course. :D
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I would definitely do it if I were not deployed. Other wise I would enter the orange W900 with flatbed trailer.

Do you know if you'll be back near the first of the year? I won't be starting it any sooner than that.

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Highway,

Sounds like a great idea to me after you decided to let Aussie builders join in too. I have a kit set aside that would be perfect for this and as I was planning to build it to Aus specs anyway, building it this way would be fun. With your start date I can now take some extra time researching it and finding the right aftermarket parts to make it come together and fit with the build guidelines. I'll definately be interested in this!!! Keep me updated, thanks,Codie

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Are you talking about one kit being passed around from member too member and each one does a little bit work??

No Clayton, everyone has their own kit. We build our own kits to our specs as a community.

Thanks for the assist, James, it was a late night last night! B)

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Highway,

Sounds like a great idea to me after you decided to let Aussie builders join in too. I have a kit set aside that would be perfect for this and as I was planning to build it to Aus specs anyway, building it this way would be fun. With your start date I can now take some extra time researching it and finding the right aftermarket parts to make it come together and fit with the build guidelines. I'll definately be interested in this!!! Keep me updated, thanks,Codie

You are one of the builders that had me rethink that! B) I know a few other guys are from your neck of the woods, too, and Kostas is from Europe and Sergey is from Russia (I think), just to name a few of the top of my head, so that's why I decided not to limit the builds just to the American rigs. :(

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i'd be interested, have you a build time for the build ? My new work schedule doesn't leave a lot of build time per week.

As of right now, the only firm date is starting after the first of the year. The time limit is open to suggestion, but will probably be no longer than one year and no shorter than 6 months.

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I'd be interested, would these be trucks operating today or could they be from the sixties or seventies?

Rick

Rick, any year truck will qualify, it could even be something like the recently reissued 1926 Mack tanker from Revell! Any scale is welcome, too. If you want to do a 1/32 or even a 1/87, that will work.

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well matt it sounds like a great idea matt i need to get a few things out of the way first my self i do have quite a few trucks kits to build lol. like that pay hauler B). i might use the aussie kenworth with a low boy........... :( but the thing is should be right hand drive? or left? :(

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i might use the aussie kenworth with a low boy........... :lol: but the thing is should be right hand drive? or left? :lol:

That's up to you, Blake! :lol: A friend of mine has that kit, too, so I know it can be built either way.

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Glad to see any truck as I have a few in mind to build count me in

Good to hear! That is one of the reasons I'm keeping the rules to only a few, so we can have fun and get some trucks off the shelves and on the workbench. :lol:

Edited by highway
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Rick, any year truck will qualify, it could even be something like the recently reissued 1926 Mack tanker from Revell! Any scale is welcome, too. If you want to do a 1/32 or even a 1/87, that will work.

Cool, count me in! I don't know exactly what I'll do, but I have plenty to pick from.......... :rolleyes:

Thanks,

Rick

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