PettyKW43

Looking forward to this build, I like that you used the RTE suspension instead of the stock leaf that was included in the Ford tractor/dump kits . I would also swap out the wedge brake chambers to the s cam type (found in KW or Pete kits for example), no matter which way you go this will be a great build!

Great job on the restoration process! I have only a couple of my builds from the mid to late 70’s, they haven’t faired too well but after seeing what you are doing I think I need to save them instead of redoing them or using them for parts! I did the Convoy MACK Rubber Duck( before the awful ERTL kit , saw the movie 8 times to build it)using the AMT R 600 converting it to the RL 700 . I did buy the Duck kit for the front crash guard and decals, and hood ornament but that was it. Going to restore it along the same lines as you!

Wish I could post pictures of the brochures I have but yes a 3406 Cat was available in the LN series (9000) . So you would be correct but you will have to update your hood to simulate the separate grille surround, 3406 Cat was not available till 1974 and the Louisville line had updated their hoods by then . Hood update is easy just scribe a line around the edge and paint it Duplicolor bumper chrome to give it a anodized Aluminum polished finished.

Fabulous build! Goes to prove that Peterbilt built plane Jain work trucks as well. The only problem I have with it is now I want to build one, I need to finish my road train first!

If you have an AMT 352 Peterbilt on hand you can take a foil cast mold of the front vent panel and that would give you an accurate panel to add to the aerodyne cab. Or if you have a junk Pete cab cut it out , remove and file square the opening on the aerodyne cab and you are good to go. I’ve often thought that something was missing myself and that’s the fix I came up with. You can use the vent from the older K123 kit but it won’t be as accurate.

The aftermarket has the name decals covered and one could also model it beat up a bit and repainted as was the case with many old crawlers, or you could paint it red and white and put a crushed Pepsi truck under the tracks and blade in a diorama!

Interesting projects , I like that you fixed the poor fender to hood on the Ford ! I too have aquired the second issue 359, I haven’t decided on paint yet but that is a nice design! Wish I could figure out how to post pictures from my IPhone to share with you guys. Lots of interesting projects on this forum!

Big Bad Blue is a very close colour to Petty Blue. Will look great , interesting build and following this one , great build so far!

If you can find a set of hinges that are made for a Duster or Dart Street car that’s what you want . The Petty’s used A body Mopar hinges on their cars of that period. I just don’t know if a source for photo etch is out there but I would like to know if there is!

Mike’s Decals Powerslide line already has them ! I want several of these kits to build several noteworthy cars from the period!

Looking under the pancake engine heading I have a good idea now of the mounting, plus all the plumbing part of it the only thing I haven’t seen yet is the actual chassis, did the rails kick up or down to accommodate the engine . I could speculate or guess but I want to be as accurate as I can before I start this project ! But a big part of the fun for me is the research and the engineering of these things! I looked at a lot of pictures of Australian trucks before I began the road train project. If I can find out how to post pictures off an IPhone I will start a post if anyone wants to see it.

Well thank you Mistermodel, that’s fabulous info on that truck and thanks to all for their input! That’s what makes this hobby great!! As soon as the KW Road Train project and the 50’s Peterbilt 351 coe haywagon project are done I think the two story White Freightliner needs to be done! Not sure if I will go horizontal or vertical Cummins yet , depends on how much in the way of chassis shots of how the sideways engine mounts and plumbing I can come up with. Plus I don’t want another two year project!

I sure am gleening a lot of info from this column, I was always wondering about the grille differince . I always thought it was just the Powerliner that was a 4inch wider cab. And thanks to the info on the two story, I never thought about a trap door!

This has been a great topic and has answered many questions I’ve had in regards to Freightliner. I have one , I’m planning to build the two story freight shaker, with the sleeper compartment over top of the driver, does anybody know how the top bunk is configured as in the access to the bunk area , ladder? Grab handles? Opening to the top? I have an Allied project I would like to do! Thanks guys Rick

Nice build ! Displaying them doubles is definitely the most difficult part , I’m doing a Kenworth Road Train (4trailers deep) and I’m trying to figure out how I will display it ! 8 foot display cases are not too common .

DOT is gonna get you for the flaps! Fabulous build, nice colour scheme! Wish hadn’t sold the one I had , my favourite tractor! Going to have to get one and build it!

Nice to see a model of a modern tractor, fabulous build!!

I’m glad Hiway saw the point I was trying to make, there’s too many negatives being put out let’s put our efforts into positives and building great models of all subjects!

As an aside to my previous post, I think all modellers should be behind any new endeavour pertaining to this hobby whether or not you are interested in the subject or not. I myself am not the slightest interested in say the new Star Trek kits that are coming out but I’m excited for those who are. My point being ,that for this hobby to continue and for us as whole to see new product be it new or reissues we should encourage it and leave the I won’t buy that on shelf!

I can hardly wait to get my hands on this one and I hope that this new kit manufacturer is successful, look at Moebius and what kit subjects they have tackled! This a great hobby and any signs of growth are welcome. Whether or not you are a fan of NASCAR or not this is great! I’m a fan of different subjects and this one of them and nice to see different subjects being tackled. While NASCAR has suffered in recent years suffered in recent years its on the upswing! I agree a Street version would be a better option, this will work considering the subject. Unlike current stock cars which by the rules are all pretty much the same the older cars were all pretty unique as such you won’t be building the same car over and over again!

This kit was introduced in 1971, and was never reissued. Production numbers I don’t know if they are known but were probably low. I worked for a hobby shop for a while and the owner said that the preorders on the kit were poor and AMT took a wait and see on the kit as whether or not a second run would be warranted! I don’t think that the demand was high judging by the rarity of the kit today.The kit was the T519 W925 Kenworth Conventional with the mixer added in. All parts to build the truck as a tractor were included in the box less the sleeper box. Have heard of a few that had it in the box by accident. The torsion bar suspension was a bit difficult to get right as was the case with the other two KW’s. Thus the reason the Hendrickson walking beam was added in on the second issue kits. One should be careful if you purchase an early second issue of the Kenworth as the frame rails still have all the mounting points for the torsion bar and that includes the cross member mounts ( the #3was also changed with the suspension).

I forgot to mention that the Kenworth torsion bar suspension was available in 38000 and 44000 pound ratings.

The plastic floatation tires was a typical wayof including one off tires that AMT used for many of their earlier kits . It wasn’t till the Autocar dump that we saw vinyl floatation tires and funny but they didn’t get used again till the Turnpiker custom Peterbilt, all 10 of them !

I have always wanted to build this kit but was never able to find it! The reissue is something that is doable , since the W925/923 is back available! Even if the tooling for the mixer is gone , a new tool for the mixer would and probably is being considered. One has to look at where Round 2 has gone with some of their recent reissues throughout the catalog. Let’s hope! As to the suspension, the torsion bar would have been theoretically workable but not a likely choice. You would have been under the thing greasing it daily and replacing bushing regularity! A Big 6 would have been a more likely choice ! Close in kit form is found under the Autocar dump kit! Let’s do this one around 2

You have scored a pretty rare kit with this KW, it has the torsion bar suspension . A little tip for you to get it together so it fits and sits right, install the torsion bars to the chassis with a white glue that will hold them in place, then assemble the drive axels with the brake backing plates. One you are done then install the axel mounts on the front drive axel as close to the brake backing plates as possible this will show you how much you will have to remove from the mounting points on the torsion bars, that’s the reason for the temporary white glue mounting. After you test fit and trim remove and reinstall the torsion bars then the front drive axel . Then level the chassis on a flat surface( I use a flat piece of tempered glass on my bench) once the front drive is solid then install the rear axel mounts and file fit and install after the axel has set up slightly install the drive shaft in between this the time to check the alignment of the axels before the glue cures. Engine is white 95% of the time in a Kenworth and Peterbilts as well!hope that helps ! Take your time and dont rush this part. Hopefully I was able to help ! Any othe Kenworth questions you might have ask away. Good luck with the build, Rick.