Goodwrench3

After much debate, and after reading a lot of posts on various boards, I think I'll paint the 903 black despite the box art pictures. It sounds like (and someone please correct me if I'm wrong) while IH did have engines painted IH red, the 903 was an exception and was actually black. I've looked for a 1:1 photos of 4200's with the 903 (hard to find) -- and did find this one. Look forward to comments !

Well, now that I've got the front axle sorted out, I did some priming of the interior parts yesterday and got the radiator painted. Going to try to give it the traditional Transtar burgandy/tan interior.

Well... I think I'm gainin' on it. This is with .040" tacked on to the front of the axle mount. I think it needs just a tad more to center it up.

Working now on relocating the front axle on this kit and also on my BRBO 4300 kit. Hopefully when that's done the weather will finally look like spring here in Wisconsin so it will be warm enough in the garage to do some painting. Snow here today !!!

Well, here it is almost mid-May in Wisconsin and today we had snow. So much for trying to get some painting done -- just too darn cold in the garage ?

I dunno. AMT is famous for that. Look at the Freightliner cabover kit -- the front wheels stick out like an off-road truck if you don't narrow the axle. I guess we should be thankful we have the kits to build. ?

Very helpful post from another forum. This explains a lot: 4200 and 4300 Internationals had a 28-inch set back from the front bumper to the middle of the axle. Ertl got it incorrect as they used the 32-inch axle spacing from the 4070A Transtar.

Comparing it with this 1:1 photo.

OK - a test fit step now that we're getting further on this one. It sure looks to me like the axle needs to be moved forward a bit ??? I thought I was only going to have to deal with that on the 4300. Advice ?

Interesting. Thanks

Thanks ! It looks like AMT came up with their own "engineering" in the kit, as they have the chamber oriented horizontally on top the axle (like a pancake) vs. vertically behind the axle like in the photos above.

Thanks for those. They really don't show that air chamber in the kit instructions. Or is that an invention by AMT? Or something rarely seen on this truck ?

Thanks -- I wondered about that. I saw some guys recommending spraying Testors Dull-cote over the tires in Monogram NASCAR kits and wondered how that would really "stick".

Does anyone have any 1:1 photos of these IH 4200/4300 front brakes ? I've Googled myself to death and can't really find any photos that show that brake part in 1:1 trucks. Thanks !

Hi all -- What's the best way to "dull down" these 2-piece tires in this AMT/ERTL kit ? These certainly have the "Armor-all" polished look to them. Thanks !

Got the engine primered today. Looks like Sat. is going to be warm enough to paint it -- supposed to be 69 deg.

Cool -- and, as I previously thought that ALL "acrylics" were water-based (shame on me) - I THINK the Model Master "Acryl" bottle paint is water-based ? Thanks Tom!

That area between the wheel and the hub should be black, I think. What's an easy way to paint that without making a mess? I don't have the steadiest hand. LOL. I was thinking of maybe flowing some wash in that grove -- maybe a couple of times ? Or possibly using a water-based acrylic paint so that if I slipped and got some on the rim, I could easily wipe it off with a Q-tip ? Any help welcome. And thanks in advance.

Thanks -- I may head over to my local NAPA and look around. I've been trying to find a close match to the "burgandy" that IH put in the 4200 interiors in the early 1970's. Haven't found anything yet -- maybe Dupli-color has something close. It looks like this (the seats and door panels):

Huh -- that's strange. The Krylon can says it is paint + primer in one. I would almost worry it would be too thick ? But -- I do like the idea of spraying it over the cheap-O Wal-mart flat black. Then I'd be spraying enamel over enamel and wouldn't have to worry about lacquer "bubbling" the paint. I think I'll give that a whirl on the truck frame I'm working on now.

Well, while waiting for the glue to dry on some parts for my current BRBO 4300, I pulled the unfinished 4270 up along side and got some work done on it today. I'm hoping by the end of the current BRBO I'll manage a "two-fer" ! ?

Thanks -- I found mine and of course I don't have all the bits. LOL. The 0.0470" I have is close -- just a tad small. And a 1/16" is too big. The 0.0540" is probably just the ticket -- and is the one I'm missing from mine. I'll check my local shop Monday.

Well, thanks AMT. ? AMT decided to go "generous" on the chrome -- and some of the holes in the front wheels are filled with chrome. Suggestions on the best way to open these up without making a mess of it ?

I've seen those small cans at my local Ace Hardware store. It reminds me of this stuff -- I used this back in the early 1990's. I got it at an Ace Hardware store. This stuff was my all-time favorite paint. All I would do is prep the body by going over it with #0000 steel wool (no primer) and then spray a mist coat, wait 5 or 10 min, then one more coat and it was perfect (well, perfect enough for me!). Done. No polishing or anything.

Thanks. Good advice. Yeah - I'm sure I don't want to try to rush right to a mirror-smooth, deep, wet-look, high-gloss finish on my first body using an airbrush ! ? So as not to "hijack" this thread, if it's ok -- I'd like to message you about getting that first airbrush. Thanks again