DRIPTROIT 71

Worked on the dash today. All the Ertl kits with this cab use the same dash with the Speedograph and the tachograph. I decided a regular speedometer and tachometer would be better for this build. Here is a picture of a Paystar dash: Here is the dash from the kit: I used a dash out of an old 4300 to modify. Here it is with the new speedometer and tach:

I like it!! It looks great!!

Looks great so far!!!

Thanks Gator

Looks good!

Looking good!

Thanks! I sent you a PM.

I recently got 2 from Gary. One is in the Paystar that I am building. Don’t go by the website for Jamie’s stock either. Check with him by phone or email. By the way, Very Cool project!! I like it. As far as box length and wheelbase, if you know how wide a sheet of metal is on the side, the box seems to have 6 full sheets up the side with a row of rivets in the middle of each sheet. The front sheet may be a little shorter. Also it looks like Petty also ran a C Cab Ford with the same box or an identical one. This must have been a popular box of the day, K&K insurance(Dodge), Holly Farms(Astro), and Hawaiian Punch(C cab) ran similar rigs as well. Maybe you could find info on one of those trucks. Looking forward to seeing more of this one!!

Looks great Ken!

I think that they have been discontinued.

That rig looks Awesome! But be careful! The weight man is going to be eyeballing a big bed like that one. Make sure your logs are caught up!?

I went back and measured the Scenes Unlimited tires and they vary some in size too. I guess as they cure the size may change some. The quality is excellent though.

Scenes Unlimited version is the best that I have found.

I went back and measured them and I am glad that I did. They are listed as 1.75” which would be 43.75” in 1/25th scale. Here are the measurements of the four that I have: 1.685”, 1.69”, 1.68”, 1.66” A couple are taller on one side than the other. One is especially bad. I hadn’t noticed this before. They are listed as 16.2mm wide. Mine are: .665“, .625”, .65”, .62” They list 19mm centers. mine are: .74”, .725“, .725”, .74” I don’t think that I would recommend them now unless you are building are dirty mud slinger.?

The frame and suspension is heavy duty on DM. The U frame and suspension is more like the R-Model frame as far as kits are concerned. The DM kit has the older dash and flat back cab, whereas the R model kit has the newer dash and extended cab. The flat back cabs were an option on U Models up until the late 70s and possibly into the 80s. I built a U model a while back to represent an actual 1978 model truck that had a flat back cab. However, I cheated and used the Dm frame and just lowered the front suspension a bit to make it simpler. I did put the newer dash in it. Mi e was also single axle,so it had lighter rear suspension when finished. Once finished, most don’t notice the heavier frame. Maybe you could call mine a DUM.?

I personally understood your original post to be about preference. We all have different preferences. I like banjo music. Many people hate it. That doesn’t make either of us wrong. With that being said my preference for models is arealistic build. When I build a model, I try to make it as close to something that exists or could exist in the real world as I can. I sometimes even try to calculate weight into the factor. That doesn’t mean that I get it spot on every time, but my goal is to create a build that reflects the real world. Things like the mirrors on the snap KW kit, though usually unnoticed, the design out of the box wouldn’t allow the doors to open on the real thing. One bracket attaches to the cab and the other to the door. This kind of thing bugs me. Yet, I have seen some folks take that very kit, do an excellent job with it, and make it look far better than I ever could, bad mirrors and all. My point is that my preference has nothing to do with ability. Of course people say that I like weird stuff.?

As you can see, the front side and tread is pretty good. The backside will need work. For the price, I would probably purchase again. I hope that these help.

I ordered a set of the 44” boggers. The quality is no where near comparable to the rubber resin ones that Scenes Unlimed used to offer or the vinyl ones American Satco used to offer. However for the price, they are not too bad. Probably similar to BNL tires. They do have some air bubble holes. The back side will have to have a lot of excess material removed. If you like, I can post some pictures later.

I wish that I would have known that a couple of weeks ago.? I had already went with the older kit style tanks. They are already plumbed and everything. Thanks though. I will keep that in mind for a future project. While we are on the subject, I heard a rumor that you are working on the old style tilt hood for the Paystar. If true, do you know when it will be available? Also, is there any type of product list to know what you have available? Thanks! Brian

Thanks Jim!! Thanks JT!! Thanks! I look forward to seeing yours! Thanks! It’s meant to represent a fresh paint job on an old body to make it ready to sell. Thanks Larry!! Thanks! This one showed up on Ebay. Charles mastered it as a W500. I’m not sure who the caster was and if I am not mistaken, Charles no longer has the masters. There is a 66 300 on there now, but the fender flares might need to be widened, depending on what kind of build you were going for. Thanks Carl! Thanks Doug! Thanks Chris! Thanks so much! Thanks Francis for all of the kind words and encouragement! Thanks Don! Thanks again Vincent!

Amazing craftsmanship! Looks amazing!

I agree. The 40% off sale on kits is usually about every other week too. I just check the weekly ad before I go to the store.

Wow! Every time that I look at this build I am amazed! Truly incredible work!!

Thanks JT!! It is actually the logger kit that was molded in orange. I haven’t decided on a color yet, but orange is on the possibility list.

I like it!! Looks great so far!! Looking forward to seeing more of this one!