Goodwrench3

Next task is going to be surgery on the "Y" exhaust to convert it to single exhaust. Not looking forward to that. Haven't done something like that before -- so getting it to look like I didn't cut it etc. will be a bit of a challenge.

A bit of the interior work done too.

Moving along slowly. Took a break to work on something else for a while. Test fitting the drive wheels and tires from Moluminum with the kit steers.

Another area that needs work -- the front crossmember. This one shouldn't be an open "U" (and of course shouldn't have a pin sticking up to go through the oil pan). The triangle cut outs are there because of another issue -- to clear the fuel filter on the left side. But--the crossmember is actually not located correctly because the fuel filter should not be directly on top of the crossmember. So -- filling this crossmember and removed the pin. We'll deal with the fuel filter later.

The valve covers on the FE 360 engine in the kit were a disappointment. Luckily the valve covers from an AMT kit FE engine fit well and match the ones I've seen on every '72 F-250 360 engine (with the "Power by Ford" on them).

There are several things that are "off" with this kit -- it's unfortunate. But I like the truck. I'll keep posting "issues" for those that want to build a closer, more accurate replica of the 1:1 '72 F-250 4X4. If you just want to build the kit out of the box and don't care, you can disregard these items. Thanks for your interest !

Let me re-state... If only they would re-pop an elliptical tanker kit. ? AND come out with an elliptical tank kit in 1/25 scale ?

I've started this as a club build and thought it might be a good idea to document all of the issues/corrections/fixes etc. that I've run into. First issue is the rear springs. The top of the rear of the spring extends above the mount and this interferes with the box sitting properly on the frame. It needs to be filed down level with the mounting plate. In the image, the spring on the left is the standard kit rear spring. The spring on the right has been filed down as described. Note also in the 1:1 photo how the spring should have been molded -- note how the top of the spring at the rear is below the top of the mounting plate. More to come...

If only they would make an elliptical tanker ?

I hope Round 2 keeps the "beer wagons" rollin' out !

Glad to see the beer wagons rolling on !

I've got one of the latest re-pop Miller Beer kits and I was extremely disappointed in the mold quality -- especially the pins on the walking beams and the holes in the brackets on the axles that are supposed to mate with those pins. Terrible quality. The pins on the walking beams are actually "sunk" in what looks like styrene that "sunk" after it was molded. I'm tempted to throw out the rear axles an suspension and replace it with a resin one.

Thanks ! It's box stock. Nothing was done to modify the stance -- but I needed to do some filing/sanding to get the body to sit down onto the chassis properly.

RE: "the sleeper assemble tried my patience." Yeah I'd agree with that. I've got mine sitting on a shelf not finished because I'm just not happy with the sleeper. In order to get it to sit straight (vertically), it seems like you need to shim under it. But then the "snorkel" doesn't want to line up with the rear cab window. It seems really to get it to fit right, you'd need to modify the rear cab window so the "snorkel" fits and there are no gaps around it.

RE: "filler primer" -- are you talking about this stuff ?

Thank you!

Thank you !

Agreed! Building the kit is just half of the enjoyment for me -- I love digging around and doing the research on the model. There are so many "issues" with the AMT truck kits that you learn if you look at how the 1:1 truck was actually built. The July 2018 issue of Wheels of Time has an excellent article about the K100's (also written by David Eichelbaum).

Looking ahead at the cab. Wil's truck in the "In Tandem" pilot episode had that odd "J step" option in the attached image. It's hard to see in the TV video on YouTube, but you can see it when he gets out of the truck at the truck stop. The AMT kit has the "First cab access package" so I'll need to make the "J step" option by hand. Note: Image attached is courtesy David Eichelbaum from his ATHS webinar "Evolution of a Legend: The Kenworth K100, 1963-1984".

Got the sleeper interior tacked in today. Still working on the modified fuel tank "J" brackets.

A bit more done over the weekend. After some guidance from some knowledgeable K100 people, I worked on modifying the front pair of fuel tank "J" brackets to remove the bracket at the bottom since the support brace would be between the rear pair of brackets and not the front. The front pair would not have that angle bracket at the bottom on them -- only the rear ones would.

Still plugging away. A LOT of chrome stripping and a LOT of parts clean-up. Rear suspension is tacked on now, so that is one nail-biting step done.

Thanks for the advice ! Yeah I did think about trying to whack off the "Y" on the exhaust pipe. Just wasn't sure how well it would clean up.

Working on this KW cabover to be built into a "likeness" (note -- not replica) of Wil's truck from the Movin' On pilot episode "In Tandem". I say "likeness" because I'm sure there is a lot in the AMT kit that isn't a "replica" of Wil's rig in that episode. Close is good enough for me ! I'm not sure I have the skills to convert it to a single exhaust version for example. Maybe it's easier than I think -- very open to suggestions and help !

Thanks all !