Warren D

I found a sample of 3M matte black auto wrap on Amazon for under $2 delivered. It'll be in tomorrow (supposedly) so I'll know better when I see it but the think it will be thin enough. It's a 3"x5" piece so should be plenty. I have several fine grit papers but the backing seems too thick.

Cab is painted and detailed, window glazing going in. Slow process as only 1 or 2 windows can get put in at a time. Several hours drying for the glue needed in between. Builders note: do pay attention to the instructions when they say to cut slightly bigger than the patterns. I left an extra 1mm around the pattern and they fit very well with just minimal trimming to fit. If you cut along the edge of the pattern, they WILL be too small!! Waiting for some matte black auto wrap to see if I like that for the non-skid areas. Once that is done, the interior and cab can go on. Then it's just the lights and mirrors after the bucket is attached. While the end may be in sight, it's still a ways out there.

Thanks, I'll be doing photos outside in the sun when I'm done. The yellow really pops!

Thanks, it'll be factory new.

I've resolved the issue of the coated rod not being long enough as provided. I made my safety railings based on photos of several loaders and when compared to the railing heights from the kit instructions, mine are noticably taller. I think this accounts for the apparent lack of material. I'll defend my heights as they are closer to the several machines I've seen than the kit references. Halves are mated, hydro lines run and wheels just went on. Will take a break the rest of the day to be sure the glue holding the wheels on sets up.

It's here but that was 8 years ago. Might be easier to see the pics here: https://pbase.com/baywing/autocar than search that far back.

Yeah, when I did my D8 I ended up mixing a custom yellow using a variety of yellows until I got what looked good to me. I like the old Cat yellow which I remember from 50 years ago, much different than what they use today. I've used white to lighten and desaturate. It also depends on what you are shooting over, I like to use white undercoat under yellow.

I've rebuilt a few of the ones I did in the late 70's. My first rebuild was an Autocar (A64B) tractor which is now in it's second life as a mixer.

Pollyscale CSX yellow. My stash of Pollyscale is running low. For some reason, the Pollyscale yellows only look "right" when under natural light, ie, outdoors. Under LED lights, they turn a little greenish.

Some decent progress made, though there have been a few small issues. The small c channel provided is not enough to do all the handrail mounts as described in the instructions. Luckily, I had some Evergreen 262 (0.080 aka 2.0mm) in stock. There is also a miss in the instructions. My photo shows that the steering pistons bump the frame and the photo from the instructions shows that some of the interfering material has been ground off. I hate doing things like this after paint but a very small round Dremel grinding bit did fine. I've also noticed that the coated rod used for the railings as supplied in the kit is not enough. I got the railings done but there isn't enough left for the headlight stalks. I'll need to find some brass rod of the proper size, hopefully I have what I need on hand. Decals went on fine, I was a little concerned with the kit being older but everything went very well. The main 2 halves are sitting waiting for the final gloss coat to set up, then on to mating them. Meanwhile, the interior is almost complete, just a few more hours there.

I would think there were more Generals built without the sleeper than with. I did one a while back with a roll-off container without needing to stretch the frame. Hope the box will fit the frame without a stretch.

The loader is 1/24 so it's a tad larger than the hauler rig. I doubt they'd take the wheels off when hauling, when I put it on my lowboy, about half the tires were on the deck so if the scales were the same, I think about 75% of the tires would be on the deck. Deck outriggers would likely see the whole tire supported. Not sure how the height be......

I think you're going to need a bigger trailer!

Minor update, back to work now that the Convoy Duck trailer is done. Base coat is on, now on to the railings and smaller bits before gloss coat and decals. Bucket is done, except to attach to the body. I'm going with the factory colors and as-new so no weathering. This is a monster, 16" from front of bucket to rear bumper. Photos don't show the screen over the rear grill so I'll go with just the louvers that are molded in.

No worries, I never thought you were suggesting I hollow it out. There are those that would, however! LOL!!

Thanks, I've seen those pics on the net.

Yeah, I have seen photos of the trailer from the bottom, just a few (too few!) bracing rods inside. I guess to be accurate to the movie, I should have hollowed it out!!! Thanks for the compliment

Thanks Thanks. I have the Widow Woman's trailer done, Brockway 361 is stalled for door decals. Someone said they had them but wouldn't sell them until they finished a couple of small details. That was 2 years ago. I also have Pig Pen's Mack in progress but the decals are holding it up again as the colors on the ones from a popular vendor are out of register. I have plans for the bus but the guy who casts the bus body no longer makes them.

Thanks! Thanks Jeff!

Thanks Bill

The Mack was the AITM kit, but I made lots of mods to get it closer to the unit 1 truck. There is a build thread for it here several years back.

Thanks! I have no idea who cast it, but they did a good job. Lots of resin, though. I thought the all-resin AITM Mark R700 was heavy but it feels light compared to the trailer.

Calling this one done:

Calling this one done. Last pic shows it hitched to my Mack.

Looks very primitive. Barely a step up from a team of horses!