Plastheniker

Beautiful paint scheme, excellent detailing, super clean work

Good work! IMO daycabs have generally more character than sleeper cabs

Thanks for the latest replies! As mentioned before I build all models (car models as well) as curbsides, i. e. there are no movable parts (including the cab), and I omit everything that is not visible when the model is displayed or turned upside down. When modeling the engine to this extent I followed a set of pictures of a real HTD-950 but today I can't tell what engine it was. As already mentioned there were at least two resin cabs. One seems to be still available. Maybe it should be said why IMO both cabs are unusable. The first one is a sleeper version. The left and right front segments of the ribbed valance and the radiator shutter are conspicuously misaligned. Since all castings show this shortcoming the cause seems to be a distorted mould. IMO re-aligning on the casted cabs is impossible. The second one is a daycab version, formerly sold by The Backyard Shed and Aussie Resin Models, now obviously available by Sourkraut's Model Trucks. The radiator shutter isn't replicated at all. The seven ribs of the valance are simply simulated by five recessed lines. The headlights are too small, the casted wipers are still those of the C-seies and the cab protrudes too far beyond the valance. All in all the impression is crude and unrealistic.

Good idea, very different!

Thanks for the recent replies! I reviewed my old Ford H-series files. Kevin (mistermodel) is right.

The trailer is really different, I like the (ice cream?) van.

As always excellent workmanship and a very beautiful colour combination.

Thanks for the comments so far! I am sorry,I don't have any WIP pictures. While building I find taking pictures or making notes very disruptive. For the same reason I stopped writing magazine articles long ago. I build all models (car models as well) as curbsides, i. e. there are no movable parts and I omit everything that is not visible when the model is displayed or turned upside down. When modeling the engine to this extent I followed a set of pictures of a real HTD-950 but today I can't tell what engine it was. I am quite sure that I used the kit headlights. When iserting the lenses with gloss acrylic clear I use to paint them finally. Maybe this gives more depth on the pictures.

Hi, I always thought that a Ford H would make a very attractive model but sadly there was never any styrene kit. There were (maybe still are) two resin cabs available by various casters over the years. Both had salient shortcomings that made them unusable. IMO the only way to a realistic H model is converting the cab of AMT's Ford C-600 or C-900. AMT's cab is well-proportioned, but before starting the conversion some minor shortcomings should be tackled. The ribbed vents behind the doors are missing, the door handles are moulded, the chrome windscreen sealings are too wide and the mirror brackets are too thick. Initially I underestimated the sacrifice of time for this conversion considerably and particularly the ribbed fairing turned out to be quite demanding. All in all I spent nearly 500 hours for the tractor.

Thanks for the latest replies! I am planning a major styrene/resin tire tutorial but I don't know yet where and when. If you send me an e-mail address by PM I will send you the link later.

Clean work, period-correct colour combination! Besides the obsolete plastic tires there is a second shortcoming still in the latest reissues. The side panels have a very salient wood grain. This is unrealistic because absolutely no manufacturer would ever paint them without prior filling and sanding to make any wood grain disappear completely.

Colour is spot-on, perfect work! Your wife is right (wives are always right!), pictures with plain (not necessarily white) backdrops look best.

Your wire wheel solution and the mesh in front of the radiator are great improvements particularly in this small scale!

Obviously not the best kit but cleanly executed as always!

The 1:1 car is not my cup of tea but here it's an attractive model.

Unusual idea, excellent execution!

Thanks for the recent replies! Thanks for the interesting background information about the American truck market after WWII. Considering that Czechoslovakia was a communist satellite state of the USSR until 1990 it is really amazing that the Czech manufacturer Škoda (later LIAZ) tried to enter just the American market. To my knowledge there was no such attempt in Western Europe. In the meantime I did a little research. Exactly as you said Mercedes appeared on the American market not before the late sixties/earliy seventies with a few medium-duty L-series trucks. These were not assembled in Germany but in Brazil. When I travelled through the U.S.A. in the eighties I saw several L-series trucks that looked more or less different from European models. Knowing this the picture of the mid-fifties' L 326 with running lights remains puzzling.

Thanks for the comments! I wonder if descendants of the L 6600 were sold in the U.S.A. too. A historic sales brochure of the L 326 in English indicates the size of the fuel tank in US gallons A photo of a 326 tractor shows running lights. To my knowledge these were used only in the U.S.A.

Good job! I still remember the poor AITM castings. It was a good idea to avoid the Mack F version and its unrealistic grille.

Thanks for the further comments! More or less considerable front overhangs (also on COE trucks) were and still are a common feature of almost all European trucks. These overhangs keeps wheel bases short and by this turning circles small. Many European countries are mountainous and all have historical towns. This makes roads often narrow with sharp bends, construction sites and company premises are often cramped. Therefore good manoeuvrability and visibility are particularly important. BTW this is also the main reason for the complete disappearance of conventionals in Europe appr. 30 years ago.

Unusual and very interesting model! I like the historical pictures from your album.

Thanks for all comments! BTW these pictures inspired my build most:

Beautifully executed, fantastic photography!

Particularly attractive colour combination!

Thanks for the comments so far! Maybe you find the following contemporary X-ray drawing in high resolution interesting, that shows the simplicity of the 6600's design: