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Thanks! That's just the rationale I needed for my choice of gray paint on the Cummins NTC-350 in my 359! Why didn't I think of that reason before? I'll try to post pics of the truck later on.

Real dark grey, likely black. I saw one in a 1972 GMC Astro brochure: http://public.fotki.com/modeltrucks25thsca...tro1972-13.html

I guess seeing a picture of the V-903 in a GMC Astro brochure made me want to paint it gray. But it appears I'm wrong. Oh well, I've never gone for total realism, anyways. Actually, Peterbilt engines are white. Autocar engines should be painted the standard Cummins tan. Besides, it says nothing else here that Autocar had white-colored engines.

The engine is an 8V71 Detroit Diesel (not sure if it's an N or T). As for fitting the engine in, it's been almost a year since I built my Chevy Titan, so I'm not sure how I did it. According to the instructions, you're supposed to locate the engine to the bottom of the tabs on the frame inside & attach the front of the engine to the front crossmember. You probably goofed up somewhere & got the chassis crooked. After all, these AMT truck kits have some difficulties with fitting certain parts. As for the engine, I recommend painting the transmission the same color as the engine. That's all I know.

You heard Tim! Get a W-900/925 kit from Ebay (or wherever) before it's too late! They won't make it like that anymore! Well, maybe Revell AG or Revell/Monogram does... I just hope they don't do the same to the Peterbilt 359 in order to produce a brand-new Peterbilt truck kit.

Wow! That looks nice! Wasn't that the AMT T500 359 little window Peterbilt?

You know what's strange? The AMT-Ertl T600 has the old '70s-style Alcoa aluminum rims. I think they're cost-cutting there. Personally, I'd love to see AMT-Ertl reissue the Kenworth Alaskan Hauler, but I was told that the original Kenworth conventional tooling was redone to make the T600 kit. Anyone know anything about this?

For sure, this is real. There's a guy in the background.

Nice job! I was wondering what that rig looked like before it was bought back by Peterbilt & put in the museum. Keep on truckin', Tim! I always look forward to seeing your latest truck model!

Yeah, they should reissue more older kits. Speaking of reissues, if AMT can reissue the GMC Astro, then why not the Chevy Titan? Or at least include Chevy components (e.g. grille, logo, etc) with the GMC at some point in the future?

You've got a thing for tow trucks, eh?

Wow! That looks just like a vintage wrecker!

Cool truck! It looks like the front rims are from the Autocar A64B (man, I can't wait 'till that reissue arrives!). You hardly see any Diamond Reos today, so if you get a real 1:1 version, consider yourself lucky & keep it in good shape for as long as possible.

Personally, I think buying vintage truck kits on Ebay is cheaper than buying brand-new reissues. I scored an AMT Chevy Titan for $35 (s/h included) & an AMT T501 Peterbilt 359 for $25. Of course, that's because the boxes were pretty worn out & because the parts weren't in the original plastic baggies. Of course, a couple of parts were missing, but nothing too significant. The Peterbilt's box was falling apart, so I duct taped it back together. Also, the Pete was missing instructions, so I just looked for some on the internet. Ah, the wonders of technology. Of course, some kits can go for plenty of $$$. I once saw a GMC Astro 95 with turbine engine sell for over $100.

Well Tim, the most expensive Red Oval I found was a 2007 367 tanker truck priced at $287,500. But there's a price to pay for class, eh? Link to truck: http://www.truckpaper.com/listings/detail....B379022828BFE25

I'm wondering how much brand-new Peterbilt trucks cost over the years. The box of the T500 (not the original T500-500) AMT 359 "California Hauler", made about 1970, claims that they cost upwards of $20,000. The box of the T501 reissue, made about 1975, claims that they cost upwards of $35,000. So, they'd likely cost upwards of $100,000, possibly $200,000. However, a character in "Smokey & the Bandit" claims that Peterbilts are about $80,000. Now, Smokey & the Bandit was released in 1977, so how could the price of a new Peterbilt have jumped about $45,000 in two years, unless there was a huge crisis of some sort? Ah, the wonders of capitalism. Also, the box for the T501 California Hauler claims that Peterbilts were available with diesel engines up to 16 cylinders. I've never heard of an engine that large being used in a truck. Does anyone know if Peterbilts ever had such an engine?

That's funny, because the box for my AMT 359 kit (it's a T501) says it has Alcoa Front runners, but the kit contains the older type split rims. Perhaps this is a typo on the part of AMT?

Tell them I said thanks for founding this website! It's the perfect place for me to get answers about the subjects I model!

Are they the people who founded this forum?

I have questions about truck wheel styles. I know that the 10-hole (& also 5-hole) aluminum wheels are by Alcoa & that the 2- & 5-hole painted wheels are by Budd, but I'm not sure about the 5- & 6- spoke steel wheels. I think the 5-spoke wheels are by Rockwell, but there are different styles of 5- & 6-spoke wheels, so I'm not sure. Also, for some reason, the 5- & 6-spoke wheels are attached to the axle & use a tire with a hollow rim on it. If anyone can help me out with this, I'd be grateful.

Great! Now I know more about the Peterbilt 359! Thanks, Tim! As for the Alcoa rims, I thought the Front-runners were the split type rims. I also thought the non-split rims weren't available until the mid-70's. Also, who manufactured the 5-hole aluminum rims?

There were a number of issues of the AMT 359 kit with different parts, so they each had varying years. The first issue (T500-500) was introduced in 1969, so it's most likely a '67-'69. Here is an example: The second issue (T500) was introduced the following year and was practically the same kit, but with a sleeper & different decals. This one is probably a '67-70. Here's an example: The 3rd issue was introduced sometime in the mid '70s & had a Cummins NTC-350 turbodiesel (older issues had an 8V71 Detroit Diesel), CB radio, larger bumper, roof-mounted air deflector, & larger-windowed 1100 Series cab (older issues had a Unilite cab). This one's a '72-80, as 1980's Peterbilt 359s had square headlights & a different style of Alcoa aluminum rims. The newer AMT-Ertl reissues are the same kit. Here's an example: As for the Revell kit, the Revell kit is probably a '78-'87 because of the square headlights & more modern Alcoa aluminum rims. That's all I know. Maybe Tim can help you out.

I vote that it's a real motorcycle. It looks like it was pulled from an old magazine ad or something. (In response to #7: Whaddaya mean it's a real car!?!? There was a discrepancy that clearly said it was a model!)

Dual air cleaners with dual hoses!? Now that's an odd truck! I also saw a flat fender 351 with a fender-mounted air cleaner on that site as well. Speaking of air cleaners, does the Revell 359 have dual air cleaners?

I get mine from the LHS (usually Apple Valley Hobbies), Ebay, wherever. It depends on which kit I'm after.