Mike77

Ditto here. I can honestly say I probably wouldn't have done the truck I'm doing for the BRBO on my own...it took the contest for me to decide to go out on a limb and see what turns out. Thanks Clayton!

Well, after 2-1/2 weeks since I started this thread, which I had to dig out from page 3, I finally have the first update! I haven't made a ton of progress, but then again there are still nine months to go. I've decided on a style...long & low. Some people like that, some don't, but I've never done a stretch so I thought it'd be cool to give it a go. I've taken the T600 cab and did that side window drop thing for better visibility. I've seen 900Ls with and without them and I think it looks sharp. I noticed the 900L has squared door handles rather than these with triangular tops...I may or may not change that depending on my mood. I also widened the little lower window on the passenger's door and added the tab to the left side where the air cleaned elbow will go since the T600 only had one on the right side. As for the sleeper style, I see a lot of them have the hi-rise KW studio sleeper but that somewhat cancels out the "low" part of long & low. So, I might stick with a flat top double sleeper if I can find a KW version. If not, I'll go with a 63" Peterbilt sleeper which seems to be easier to find. Which sleeper I use will also determine whether I convert the T600 roof to an Aero roof and blend it into the sleeper top. I had finally found some resin single hump fenders that I could easily make into double humps, but then I found these 3D fenders that I really like so they'll go on this build. I had mentioned in another thread that I have some parts on the way (thanks JT!) so I'll be working on getting the frame stretched pretty soon.

I worked at a nuclear power plant for 17 years and they'd bring rigs like that in to move transformers, steam generators, etc. I always though it was cool how those trucks would dwarf a road-going truck, yet the load they were pulling would dwarf them! As Tim Taylor would say...MORE POWER!!!

I've seen that orange Pete when I Google for truck pics. It's cool in it's own way but a bit over-the-top for my taste. I've done a little cab work on my BRBO project and I'll post an update this weekend. It's been a slow start but I have some parts coming from JT that'll help to kick it into gear.

...for someone other than me! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VW5AJ8l7UCs

Thanks Sean. The thickness of the spray is usually why I try to avoid the big store bought spray cans whenever possible, but sometimes there's no other option. I used rattle can Chevy engine enamel on a 1/18 diecast Vette once and even though it went on thicker I was still able to make it come out nice.

Thanks guys, I appreciate it! I guess I needed to think outside the box...I was only thinking along the lines of model paints, I never thought to look in farm equipment stores. We have a couple of Farm & Fleets nearby, and I'll check for the Rustoleum too.

What do you guys use to best replicate Caterpillar yellow on engines? I've seen "dark yellow" in the hobby stores and at least the label on the can looks relatively close. Is there and actual Cat yellow available? Please keep in mind I'm talking about rattle can or bottle paint. Thanks in advance!

Pretty cool artwork, love the blue K-123. Funny, in 40 years of building I never noticed that oddball front tire discrepancy. Now I'm gonna see it every time I look at the box. Thanks a lot!

I was thinking the same thing as Sean, it could almost be the real thing rather than a model! Great job on both the model itself and the photography.

Should be a great build to follow. I haven't built a Pro Star yet but I'm glad JT mentioned the instructions being simpler. I've built hundreds of models in my lifetime and I found the Lone Star instructions to be more complicated than they really needed to be.

Thanks Clayton! It was actually this one before I swapped sleepers & pipes...

I'm glad you did, there are a ton of great looking KWs here and I missed this thread altogether. Here are a few I did years ago in 1/16...

x6

Looks awesome Sean! I'd like to do one sometime in the future and I hope it comes out even close to yours!!!

Good find! I'm looking forward to future AMT releases because for months now all of my area Hobby Lobby stores have had nothing but an endless supply of California Haulers and WF COEs.

Thank you for the input guys. I have a resin semi truck hood that has a very slight warp to the sides. I want to straighten them by gluing a piece of styrene to the insides to keep them straight, so there will be very minor stress to keep the resin straight. It sounds like some type of epoxy would be the wisest choice.

I know super glue can be used on resin, and of course standard model glue is fine for styrene, but what's best to use when mating resin parts to styrene parts? My hunch is to use super glue but I know it doesn't grab styrene like model glue does. Any help is appreciated.

Don't be discouraged by other members' projects. Remember, the only thing that'll be seen on the calendar is the finished truck, you won't see plumbing, wiring, hose clamps, etc. I know from the get-go that my build won't have that stuff simply because I don't have the knowledge and ability to do that kind of detailing. Kudos to the guys that do, I'm just not one of them. As Dirty Harry said..."A man's got to know his limitations." Build you're entry as if you're just building it for yourself. If it gets votes and happens to make it into the calendar then think of that as a bonus.

Slick black Pete! Did you make those rear fenders or buy them?

Thanks for the support guys, I very much appreciate it. I haven't worked a lot with resin but I know getting a resin hood to mate up with a kit cab takes a lot of tweaking. I don't know nearly as much as most of you guys about trucks but I've seen so many W900L's on the road that I thought it'd be a neat project to take on. At first I was worried about trying to stretch one truck into a 10-month build but I don't think it'll be a problem with this one!

This will be my attempt at an entry for the BRBO, a Kenworth W900L. I'll use the cab from the T600 which will have to be reworked some of course, and I picked up a W900L hood conversion from KJ at Double Take Replicas. I have the "what" now I have to decide the "how". I'm not sure if I want to make it a long & low west coast truck, a standard sleeper or a big sleeper, or even the possibility of a wrecker body. Time will tell but I guess it's good to have choices!

Nice, clean build...looks great!

Very nice, I may have to try making some like that.