Warren D

Nice build, as I said in the other thread, I've never seen a civilian truck with the military style NDT tires like this kit has for the rears.

Nice job. I had built up one of those 30+ years ago, wish I still had it. I recall the mudflaps swung forward touching the tires near the bottom of the flap. I recall putting a pair of small supports off the frame to keep them from rotating. To this day, I still don't understand why they chose the military style NDTs for the rear tires. I can't think of any civilian truck that ran them, they are marginal on dry pavement and just plain horrid on wet pavement. Best on dry dirt roads but still not as good as many other choices available at the time. They also seem a little small.

The track width looks ok, maybe just a little overhang. Blade is way wider. Might make extensions for the trailer. I guess I'm thinking of some "hidden" supports under the trailer. I wasn't concerned with the tires a much as the frame but I see your point.

More of speculation, just wondering if anyone has put a diecast 1/25 dozer on the AMT lowboy trailer? I have an old almost-glue-bomb lowboy trailer that I will be rebuilding. I just obtained a First Gear IH TD 25 dozer that I thought would make a good load. Well, I guess I didn't think it through, the dozer is cast metal and weighs quite a bit. I suspect the trailer won't be able to take the weight. I have the AMT dozer kit but probably won't get to it anytime soon.

What happens when they go down hill??

Does anyone know what the tire size is that is provided in the Autocar A64B kit? Looking for real tire size, not actual model measurement. IE, 12x24, 11x22, etc. Thanks

I did hear from him a week or so ago, said he has been busy with work and doesn't have much time for e-mails. My last order was about 4 weeks to delivery, FWIW.

Thanks but I have plans to make them from scratch. I have rod stock in hand and step material coming from Auslowe. Tank straps and fill will be scratch also. I'm not planning on doing a detailed engine, but do have one and a ten speed tranny in the parts bin.

I'll be following this thread. I asked Auslowe if they would consider making one, even if was only the superstructure/booms/winches. I think the body/deck is easy enough to fab and there are lots of different looks to the body. I have the 1/25 First Gear Holmes body that I'm either going to use as a pattern or modify for my next project.

I did mention the steps in the original post, and will cover the tank build when I get to them. I don't have the emblem cast in but there are a pair of silver decals that read RL700L. I haven't inspected all the little bits yet so there may be something else. The silver decals appear too large for the hood anyway.

Well, it'll be a first for me, first all-resin build. I've done some conversions and a few 3D prints, but never all resin. Should be interesting. I will be making my own tanks, and have parts on their way for that. I did get the front axle mounted a couple of days ago, will have to post a pic. The front axle needs to move forward a hair to make the front tires sit right in the wheel wells. Working on the cab next, getting the back of the cab as well as the back of the interior cut out for the pass thru for the sleeper.

This really makes me wish someone would make parts for a Holmes 750.......so many ideas.....

My guess is that you could have one hoist on the truck and not need dump trailers. Probably cheaper and there aren't any hydraulic lines to hook to the trailer, less chance of leaks?

I've started the AITM Rubber Duck Mack. I'll be posting some of my thoughts along the way, as well as some photos. First issue is the fuel tanks. The early AITM Kits came with short tanks, and their website and instructions still show this. The kit now includes long tanks as that seems to be the version seen most often in the movie. The first unit truck had the longer tanks. I will probably end up doing my own tanks as the kit tanks have 3 straps while the movie truck only has 2. The steps are also different and I have parts coming from Auslowe that should enable me to replicate the movie look a little better. I started work on the chassis, the resin frame was almost perfectly straight out of the box. It appears to have some metal reinforcement. I've been cleaning parts and going thru things for a while now as well as doing some research. One thing I found was that someone on a different forum thought the space between the duals waas too wide. After taking a look I decided that the gap did look too wide so I narrowed it. It might still be a tad too wide, but looks ok to my eye. The rear suspension went together ok, some adjustment needed to get the unit to sit square on the chassis. I will be doing a mock-up of the cab next to be sure the front axle placement is where it should be. That's about it for now, not much progress but I don't have much time this time of year. With a rainy week ahead, I might actually get something accomplished. I do my chassis work on a sheet of glass as seen in the photos below as it is the easiest way I've found to have a totally flat surface to work on.

Thanks

Finally heard back from him, he's been busy.

Just curious if anyone has received an order from them lately?

Does anyone make these in 1/25 scale? Just about every truck in this area had them years back and I had them on my pick up and K5 Blazer. They worked very well and I still see them on vintage trucks at shows. I don't recall ever seeing them in the aftermarket but I sure would like to add them to most of my builds. Thanks,

Looks interesting. Is this based on something you've seen or more of a "what if"?

Looks good. Interesting spacing between the rear axles, is that straight from the kit?

Great News! According to their FB page, Nigel has decided to continue on and keep developing new products. The overwhelming support of the truck modelling community has apparently over-shadowed a few complainers.

I hope the outpouring of support convinces Nigel that the MAJORITY of his customers are not only satisfied but grateful that he contributes so much to our hobby.

Thanks for posting this Tom. I saw the FB post the other day and was going to post a notice here but, as old age sets in, I forgot. We all need to support Auslowe in this, I don't know which forum they were being attacked on, hopefully not this one. I can't understand why someone would trash a vendor over shipping issues but in these days of the internet when one can hide behind a screen, I guess it's easy to stab someone in their back when you don't have to look them in the face. I have reached out to Auslowe in support, hopefully the more people who do will have a positive effect on their upcoming decision. They have unique items that just aren't available anywhere else.

Just to add a note about the AITM RD kit, it now comes with the longer fuel tanks which were in all but couple of the scenes of the movie. The instructions and website photo show the small tanks. I asked Dave and he said he had many comments that the longer tanks were correct for the 1st unit truck whereas the short tanks were on a 2nd unit truck they crashed into the jail.

Agreed. So many cool wreckers at truck shows, Autocars, Brockways, Diamonds, Internationals, all old school. With the cab offerings from AITM, you'd have tons of choices.