Pete68

Unfortunately I don’t have a original kit or I would show you. The marks are still on the cab where you mount them thought if you have a Astro cab there on the corners the look like mold lines.

Yes I noticed that too just on the right side. Glad you liked the thread.

The GMC Astro has always been one of my favorites of AMT’s line up of Cabovers. For some it’s a easy build and some it’s the biggest nightmare of Model Truck building. For my oldest Brother Chris this was a Nightmare in 1972 when he first bought his new AMT GMC Astro. My Brother Bill said his was just about finishing with it but struggling with the front cab mounts and the next thing my brother Bill said he knocked it off the kitchen table and said he was done with it. He moved on to the Ertl International kits which he built those very well. Back to the subject. I wanted to do a blog on the time line and various changes to this kit for awhile so here we go. In 1971 AMT announced it in there catalog with no box art yet. In 1972 we have box art. The kit ran till around 1974 then dropped. In the 1976 Catalog it appears with no box art and “Dragfoiler” air defector added also In 1976 the Real Truck was released with the “ Dragfoiler” air defector options. In 1975 the Real Truck had updates including the steps, turn signals and exhaust option . In the 1977 AMT catalog we have Boxart and another Astro was added to the line up the “Miller Beer” truck and Gift set. In 1978 Lesney/Matchbox co. of UK bought AMT and the GMC Astro was dropped till 1981. This is the debut pic and Model Boxart. This is the same year when they changed the grill to the smaller one that is installed from behind the cab instead of the front like the previous years. In 1983 Ertl bought AMT and the box art had little change. The instructions were also changed a little also. Ertl kept the Astro till around 1988 and it did not appear till 2004 with this Boxart and very disappointing mold issues. I had 2 of these poor kits both had cabs that were warped and the gray soft plastic and the yellow tinted chrome. Finally in 2019 Round2 Models save the day with this kit very nice cab and updated decals and super nice chrome. They keep the Ball rolling with this re-release of the Miller Beer truck. in 2021. Times sure has changed thought I would never see a warning label on a Model kit for age limits. That’s the World we live in now. I’ll do some comparison of the different grills in these kits and where Matchbox plugged the holes up on the cab that makes this kit so difficult to mount the cab hinges for some people because the instructions are very miss leading. Hope you enjoy this thread and see you next time.

Another great one Al looks nice and clean

Looks good Al. I like those front wheels

Great looking mock up its looking good

Updates are nice it’s shaping up.

Looking good

Looks like a good start

Your welcome sometimes the older instructions are clearer.

Nice. Looking forward to it

Warren I dug out my original AMT instructions and a WIP Mack I have. Here’s some pics hope this helps. This kit can be a nightmare if you let it. But I always like this kit and have tamed it’s dirt little secrets. Do you mean 685st?

Warren I’ll look at my instructions and one of my truck

The long nose GMC 9500 The long nose Chevy 90 Chevy Titan 90 GMC Astro 95 Kenworth K-100 Cabover Kenworth W-900 ex cowel and ex hood Peterbilt 359 ex. hood Peterbiilt 352 Cabover International 4070A Turnpiker White Freightliner Powerliners Brockways Mack 700s but they were mostly used in marine use. If your looking for this engine in 1/25 scale it’s in Tyrone Malone Super Boss kit.

Glad you liked them Dennis. O scale is about as big as I’m going in the Model RR field. I still need to build a couple log trucks myself. I have one in mind I redone a old Rick Manz 1/50 International Westcoaster resin cab years ago it’s just about done and it fits perfect on the Revell KW frame I’m pretty sure Rick Manz used this frame on all his limited edition models he built because all of the Resin cabs I have of his fits that frame.

I had my heart set on you building the Coke lol. The white frame would look nice with a blue/white cab hood sleeper with the traditional GMC tri color stripes dividing it. Just a thought Warren has a good idea too now that you can get that sleeper from Dave’s Models.

Yes especially the 12V71TT twin turbo

I think he will be ok on the interior tub just need to add slam lock door handles. I drove a 1992 that still had the “ Tuck n Roll” or as Kenworth advertised Splendor option interior it was pretty cool.

Any color ideas??? That’s the way I like to build them box stock with a little updates.

That’s going to be sweet.

Your welcome Dennis. Keith Wiseman of Wiseman models also sells a log trailer but it’s more pricey than Dons and I like Dons better. I bought 3 of these before the guy sold his company to Keith the suspension is junk and hard to work with as for Dons just falls together very simple with the same results. What truck do you plan on using to make your log truck? Thanks for the complement on my trucks they were fun to build. Here’s a couple of my favorites of the NP.

Looks good. I had a lot of fun building mine I cut off everything needed off of the AMT frame and transferred it to a Monogram Freightliner frame and it fit perfectly. Here’s you a couple pics to look at how it turned out if you decided to go this route.

Looking good so far sometimes it’s hard to keep it with our budget but in the end it’s worth it.

Yes it is and I think a lot of us has a GMC Astro in the stash somewhere lol.

Here we go! I’ve always been intrigued with this truck the very first time I saw it. The more I studied it the more interesting the truck got. It first appeared in Season 2 episode 2 aired September 16 1975. I’m almost positive this was a debut truck for the New options for the upcoming 1976 GMC Astros. AMT also updated there existing kit as well by changing the Grab handles, exhaust, Grill and changed how the Front cab mounts are glue on by fill the Holes where the old ones mounted. This is why you see some GMC Astro Model Cabs mounted so high. They also drilled holes where the Grab Handles go and added the New “Drag Foiler”. Getting back to the real truck. The most it appears we’re in Season 2 Episode 18 that aired January 27 1976. They painted the bottom yellow now and it stayed that way till the end. It’s final appearance was in the last episode “Sing it again Sonny”. I’m going try to build this truck as close to the Movie truck as I can it may not be exactly like it but close enough for me. Hope you enjoy.