Goodwrench3

Hey all: Doing a bit more reading in the old threads, and there was a few mentions of an aftermarket front axle for the kit : "The width of the front axle on many AMT kits is a problem. I tend to use the 1/25 metal axle from KFS because its about 3/16" narrower so wheels sit under cabs and hoods. This gives a much more realistic appearance." Anyone know if this "KFS axle" is still around ?? Thanks

Awesome ! Thank you ! the BMF and Sharpie is a great way to get that razor sharp black edge on the straps and also on the bands. I'll be using that trick on mine for sure! Great tip!

Darn perfect from my view !!! How did you do the tank straps ? They look fantastic !!

That gauge panel is amazing !!! Did you hand paint all of it ??!!?

What did you guys use to glue the cab sections together ? I assume something fast drying -- i.e. CA ?? I can't see trying to clamp them in place and waiting for model cement to dry ? Thanks

Well... after much consternation over which kit to start after my 23-year "break", I went to my "warehouse" and left the "holy grail" kits there and decided to build this rig. I figured I needed one under my belt before I tackled those really special kits that I am somewhat afraid to touch (yet). I told myself "start SOMETHING!". 20+ years ago I built several NASCAR 80's stock cars and got really comfortable doing them. But those big rigs sat on the shelf -- mostly because I didn't have the knowledge to do them correctly. I still don't. But I want them built and It's time to learn I figure ! I started this past weekend -- here are the kits. Engine is underway and so is the frame. I gathered a lot of info on the "gotchas" of this kit and that was really helpful so that I don't get too far along without realizing there are some pitfalls with this kit -- this is a GREAT site ! Unfortunately, I'm traveling all this week so no build time until this coming weekend again. Looking forward to all comments, suggestions, help, tips, etc.

10-4. Just wondered.

Awesome guys -- thanks for all the info. I'll try it on this rig I'm working on now

Hey -- Got another one for ya ... Assembling the Cummins engine -- the fit of the oil pan to the block seems funky. Note in the photo below how the front lip of the oil pan extends out past the front of the block a bit (yes I sanded the rear where it is against the bell housing so that the front of the pan would rest on the pin molded in the block): When I placed the front cover on the block (see photo below), the front lip of the oil pan is about flush with the front cover except for the area where the front cover doesn't extend to the side of the oil pan. You can still see the lip of the oil pan: Any help/advice much appreciated ! Thanks

Thank you Buckaroo ! If you need to touch up with brush paint after spraying with this, are you just using something like Testors flat black ? Curious if you can then see the difference or if it's close enough were the touch up doesn't stand out. Thanks again! Great forum here for us guys that need a little extra help as we come up to speed.

Also -- thanks for the post of the brochure photo ! Would you happen to have any that show interior photos ?

Thanks ! It's funny -- I was reading a back issue of Scale Auto (April 2013) last night and there was an article in there where he is using this exact stuff.

Hey guys -- I see you referring the the Wal-Mart "ColorPlace" spray paint (flat black) as a primer. How is this paint to use as a color coat -- i.e. with no primer under it, but directly on plastic ? I'm thinking for the semi truck frame, suspension, axles ?? Sounds like the Home Depot "Quick Color" is a winner for this too ? I'm getting ready to spray the frame and suspension on my Freightliner DD kit and saw this post. I was going to maybe shoot it with something like the Tamiya TS-29 semi-gloss black spray lacquer until I saw this post. Another guy over on Hank's Truck Forum also mentioned the Wal-Mart spray paint -- but he shoots it with the flat black first, and then sets the frame right side up and lays down a wet coat of the gloss black (without moving the frame or turning it over). Sounds neat as it gives some variation in the tones. Thanks !

Cool. Thanks. I just looked at the re-issued Freightliner DD on the Round 2 site and the posted instructions there -- looks like they corrected it in those instructions.

What type of putty do you normally use for this kind of filling ? I've seen posts about "don't use this or that" because of shrinking over time, etc. Thanks!

Hi all: I just started on an AMT "Pabst" beer wagon dual drive Freightliner COE this weekend myself -- interesting reading here ! There also seems to be a mis-print in the instruction sheet about the frame cross members ? Here is the section of the sheet I'm referring to: Note the instructions say "2 Mid crossmembers (2 pcs. each)". Well, I can locate the two cross members shown in the diagram - but only * 1 * piece for each of them (not including the brackets on either side that are glued to them). Here are the cross members in the kit -- note they are *1* piece each -- I don't see anything else that would go with them: Am I missing something ? Or is that a mis-print ? It also seems a bit strange there isn't a more "positive" cross member attachment in the frame -- there's only these 2 pieces and one in the very rear. Other than that there's only the from engine support. Thx

Thanks for the GREAT reply !! You actually answered ** 2 ** questions for me ! 1) First the transmission case color - thanks. That explains a lot. So it wasn't really dependent on whether they used a Spicer, etc. Just got shot with the frame color. 2) the frame color itself -- "Chassis color could be any solid color the customer wanted. " I never knew that! Thanks again !

On the side of my AMT "Pabst" Freightliner kit box it says Pactra "Star Blue" -- well Pactra is no longer around and I've been trying to find a comparable color in Model Master or Tamiya.

What did you use for putty on the fuel tanks ? It looks like they turned out fantastic after sanding ! Thanks

Hi all: I'm working on an AMT Freightliner COE with a Cummins NHC-250. I'm able to find 1:1 pics of the Cummins itself, but never bolted up to (as Johnny Cash says) a trans-a-mission ;-) The kit instructions show it to be painted the same color as the engine, but I'm not so sure about that? Thanks for the help. Any pics would be wonderful.