Straightliner59

What if you cut them at an angle, and put them on an angled base, so that they elevate, as they go toward the back? I have often thought it would be a bit handier, if my display rack wasn't flat-bottomed.

You may have seen this before. A lot of interesting history, here. https://www.littletongov.org/my-littleton/littleton-history/other-topics/harleigh-holmes-coleman-motors

Big test coming up, as soon as the tacky glue sets.

I was just there, last night, Charles! I never knew about those trucks. I am going to dig around, and see where the plant was. I would guess just north of downtown Littleton. Your work is exceptional! Thank you for sharing it, with us.

That dump mechanism is slicker 'n snot! Very cool!

I use Alene's Tacky Glue, all the time! It works great! Just give it a few minutes to set up.

Thank you, Dan! Much appreciated! Thanks,Carl. Glad you're enjoying it! Thanks for looking!

Upon further review, I cut down the screen and the frame. Now, this truck looks like a Peterbilt! I got a lot of polishing done, too. Here's the update. Questions, comments and critiques are always welcome. Thanks for looking!

I got the grille surround cut and soldered. It's on its way to a polishing. I want to run it through the cycle, again, and work out the rest of those scratches.

The grille is assembled. I am going to keep my eyes open for some different mesh. Not that I don't like this, I just think I want something more open, so the slats are more visible. I wish I'd had enough of the stock I made the center bar from to have made the whole thing, alas...Eventually, this will get sanded, polished and shot with Alclad chrome.

Hahaha! I've noticed that! I will probably go with the stuff that's common, between them--certain lines, filters, etc. The components vary greatly, in appearance. Thanks for looking, Geoffrey.

I just got the second issue of a new subscription!

Getting some engine work done. Fortunately, there are a TON of reference photos for 350 Cummins engines. I will have to be careful, not to get carried away! Also shot the first primer on the reworked grille area.

Thank you, Bill. I will check these out, tomorrow, when I am off work. It should be helpful. I am looking to replace the row of rivets, where I cut out the cab section.

Thank you, Casey! This is the best info I have seen, yet!

Thank you, sir. After doing the math, I think O-scale 7/8" rivets will come pretty close to what's already there.

You are correct, sir! There's one in my stash. Nice kit!

If you've used them, how well do they work, and is there a particular sheet that works best to match the rivets on AMT's Pete 352? I am going to have a ton to replace, especially since the grille area needs to be reworked. I'm not sure I want to make all of them, by hand! Thanks!

Still killin' it, Francis! Excellent work! Love that little stuff, like the starter drive!

Well, there has been something bugging me about this cab, all along. Once I had finished the radiator, and started to figure out how I was going to do the grille surround, I realized that the opening for the grille was too wide. Looking at photos of 352s, the kit's grille opening looked squat and fat, compared to those on the real trucks. The "grille", which is just a frame with a screen, should be approximately the same width as the radiator. I decided I couldn't live with that. I added a strip of .040"X.100" Evergreen strip to each side of the opening. It closed the space up a bit, and, I think it looks better. Now, i am going to have a bunch of cleanup to do and a bunch more rivets to add! Dang it! This was supposed to be an easy one!

I applied a flat coat to the aluminum louvers. I worked on the radiator fins with a silver Prismacolor pencil, and an oily residue color from a Tamiya weathering kit. Next, I want to work on the grille surround, and build the motor. Thanks for looking! Questions, comments and critiques are always welcome! I have also included some better photos of the weld beads that can be created using tooling aluminum, a ball-ended burnisher, and a pebbled surface, similar to that pictured. It's perfect for doing welded aluminum tanks, welded panels, etc. .

Well, I went ahead and pretty much built the radiator. I wasn't going to do that, twice! It was a pain, working with those slats!

Thank you, sir! They are super-simple to do, as well! I had created rolled beads in tooling aluminum with a ball-ended burnisher. One day, I noticed that one of my cutting mats had a pebbled surface, and the light bulb went on!

I started working on the radiator assembly. Added some Evergreen for the front side of the top tank, and some .080" Evergreen angle to slide the aluminum louvers behind. They are all loose, here. I won't glue them, until I have them all made (17). Once cut from Maid-O-Metal tooling aluminum, I roll them under an old brass bushing I found, to give them a bit of a curve. Eventually, I will open the grille surround, and replace the open area with mesh, of some sort. The fuel tank is beginning to be wrapped with tooling aluminum. I will add thin strips to the ends, and make the tank ends using a doming block. One thing I like about tooling aluminum (among many!) is that, by using a ball ended burnisher on a cutting mat with a pebbled surface, it creates a pretty convincing weld bead. I'm posting a photo to illustrate it, but, I'm unsure how visible it will be. Thanks for looking! Questions, critiques and comments are always welcome!

Luckily, back when I was working in a hobby shop, the store moved. Since they got new displays, I was able to bring this home. It would be easy to build one from plexiglas, or another fusible plastic sheet. Plex might look kind of cool, and look artsy!