ReduitRetro

Wow!...an extremely nice build! great job.

Looks real good, a nice clean build too!!

Looking Good!!

Good looking build!

Yes, you are absolutely correct on the wheels, as that was exactly what I was thinking when I seen them. The only way to fix the "look" of the wheels were to indeed modernize them. Thanks!

This is very clean build...nice job!

Hello all, I've been away from the website for quite a while now, and thought I'd jump back in by sharing this quick little build I completed recently. This was a fairly straightforward build, with just a handful of modifications to suit my needs. First, the bed was stretched approximately a scale 6 inches or so, as the length of the bed in the area ahead of the wheel openings appeared to be too short when compared to a real truck. The hidden side panel storage boxes were eliminated by filling in the panel lines, and filling in the passenger side fuel door due to the kit not having duel tanks anyway. Next, the chassis was also lengthened to accommodate the bed. The front bumper in the kit also had to be modified, as it represented the '81-'82 year models that featured integrated turn signals, but were moved to the lower corners of the grille starting in '83. The interior dash pad also needed to be corrected, mainly on the passenger side because the general shape was changed to a more pronounce squared off profile starting in '81. The a/c vent panel and both door panel details were also updated as well. (Anyone familiar with these kits from back in the MPC day's knows the interiors were not upgraded from the original 70's molds, just basically the front fenders, hoods, and grille's were changed to keep kit current to newer year model's). The kits engine was treated to some basic detailing, including a parts box chrome air cleaner, a set of spark plug wires, heater hoses, and fuel line. Lastly, I added the exterior body side, cab, and fender well trim of the "High Sierra" so that I could more accurately duplicate the 1 of 2 factory two-tone paint job styles available at the time. Thanks for stopping and looking at this build, and any comments would be greatly appreciated.

Great build!

Wow!...you have another one built that I have in my stash of "to do" builds! I agree with you that the wide fronts look the part perfectly...another nice job!

Good looking unit! I've had an original issue on my shelf for close to 20 years now that I have not gotten around to building...your build is inspiring me though! Nice job.

Looks good, I forgot about lowering the headlight buckets on my build, but at least I remembered to narrow the front axle. I have another of these old vintage kits in my collection slated to be built (as a well used and somewhat abused unit), and plan to open the doors as well. I'll be looking forward to seeing this build to completion.

Looks like its going to be a great project for sure, definitely a fan of the spoke wheel option on this build. I'll be following this one!

Yes, I will be using dual air cleaners on this build, I have an old Ebay junkyard build I bought several years ago just for spare parts. From just casually looking at Vortex air cleaners, they appear to be basically the same size around as the one in the kit, but a little taller in profile, mainly because of the outer polished intake screen between the main canister and the lid. On another subject is the "baby moon" wheel hub covers, I know I want to have them on the drive hubs, but not sure on the steers. Anyway, thanks for your help, and I'll see about getting some dimensions.

Thanks again Ron, I will be using the stock tires in the kit for steers, and later on for the trailer, as I plan to scratch build a food grade tanker for the completed truck. I cant remember the seller on Ebay without looking, but I purchased a set of Peterbilt "oval" holed styled wheels, and another seller had "lugged" drives that I also purchased. I don't know if I will use the stock bumper, or a Texas bumper, or the stock air cleaners or Vortex units. The bumper would be easy to make, but the Vortex air cleaners would be nice to have if you can 3D print those.

No, everything was scratch built with the exception the transmission, fan, oil and fuel filters, alternator, starter, and turbochargers. These parts were removed from the kit supplied Caterpillar V-8 and in some cases highly modified to work with this build.

Yes, I,m currently trying to determine which transmission I plan to represent on this build. I know I don't want to do an 18 speed, due to it kinda being overkill, so i'm leaning 13 speed. Once I lock down which 13 i'd like to model, and rather or not it will have an external filter and cooler, i'll get it plumbed up. Any feedback would be appreciated. I've been driving big trucks for over 25 years, and currently drive for a well known worldwide freight/shipping company, so a lot of the old school truck info I,m gathering from tech sheets and reference photos. Thanks again for your interest.

Hello, wasn't sure how to let members who were following this build know the engine was completed, so I just started another post topic. Please refer to the "Big Scale Big Cam Pete 359" in the WIP section for details on this build. I'm building a stretched frame, long hood version, '79 Peterbilt 359, with steerable front wheels, custom tanks, tool boxes, opening cab doors, custom Pete oval 10 hole wheels, with a fully hosed and wired engine and chassis, and scratch built smooth bore food grade tanker trailer to top things off. A big project, but with the caliber of my fellow builders here, you must step your game up from time to time. Thanks again!

Lol!...thank you sir, I got lucky with the hose material you mentioned. It is the elastic string that new clothing, shoes, etc, would have attaching their sales or info tags. It comes in several different sizes, and I normally use it for glad hand hoses on my 1/25 scale builds. And no, I've only used Chevron Delo 400 in this engine since new.

Hello again everyone, I have pretty much completed the engine at this point, and will be setting it aside to turn my attention to the rest of this truck build. As stated earlier, this engine is indeed 95% scratch built with the exception of a few modified components from the kit supplied Cat 3408 V8. This particular 1/16 scale Cummins NTC-475 Twin Turbo inline 6 features parts such as: Horton pneumatic fan clutch, Holset turbochargers, York a/c compressor, Fleetgaurd fuel and oil filters, Delco Remy alternator, and AlliedSignal air compressor to name a few. Once installed in the truck it will of course be plumbed and wired, as well as the chassis. As you can see the engine was slightly weathered, as I really wanted it to appear to have had some miles on it since its last "in frame" service. Thanks again for following along on this build, and your feedback, comments, and suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Thankyou, I myself have been building models since the mid 1970's. My late Grandfather introduced the hobby to me, as his oldest son ( my uncle) built models before he joined the military in the early 60's. Unfortunately, he was killed while serving in the Army in 1968. I guess my Grandfather thought I would enjoy models also ...and he was right. Thanks again to you and all who enjoy my builds.

Thankyou!..you do indeed have a very good eye there noticing that tensioner pulley bolt!

Thanks for the feedback, yes this is 1/16 scale.

Yes, it appears I did forget those lines. From pictures it looks like one line goes into the water pump itself, or the block just behind it, and the other to the water manifold as you stated, at the forward coolant manifold bypass tube junction block. I will add these lines, as I need to better replicate the a/c compressor mounting brackets and the aftercooler inlet tube before I begin painting. Thanks again.

Hello fellas, Just to let everyone know I may not have linked the updates to this build correctly. I believe this was the first of a total 3 installments on this build. They are titled Complete Bull Hauler part 2, and Complete Bull Hauler 3. Please check them out for the complete W.I.P. build. For the completed Under Glass presentation, look for the posting titled Cattleman's Classic Cabover. Thanks.

Hello again gang! Sorry for the delay in uploads, but we all know how things can go when life continues to get in the way of plans. I've basically completed the engine at this point, and with the recommendation of Ron from my earlier post, I did go ahead and decide to do a variant of the Cummins BigCam , and done the somewhat infamous NTC-475 Twin Turbo. As stated in my last post, I simply did not want to use the kit supplied Cat 3408, so feeling adventurous, I decided to scratch build a Cummins instead. Lots of work went in to this engine, with everything being made , or highly modified to represent the exterior components on the engine. Items such as the coolant manifold, oil cooler, water pump, after cooler, hydraulic steering pump, exhaust manifold, a/c compressor, belt pulleys, brackets, hoses and piping, fuel lines, etc...all hand to be hand fabricated. These pics are all of the completed work in bare plastic (in the raw). So please stay tuned for my next upload, as the engine will be painted, and somewhat weathered. Again, thanks for your continued interest.