Old Albion

Kurt, You could paint the hinges or leave them polished. I painted mine they were OK but you have to make sure that the top coat covers all the primer/base coat otherwise you will see different colours in the hinges. Thanks for asking how I've been. This year has been a busy one with work and other things, when I get home at night I just haven't had the time or energy to make progress. I still keep a check on this forum and my other favourite forum ATHS and of course Tim's web site. You cannot spend 5 minutes looking at Tim's web site maybe an hour minimum. Doesn't leave much time left to build trucks. I'm still working on the Autocar A64B and when I get to it, I am enjoying the escape of doing something totally different and relaxing. For anyone thinking of building the Autocar it is a great model with lots of potential and well recommended. I should be finished about Christmas probably start the trailer in the new year. I bought a new PC this last weekend (Just got on the Internet tonight). This thing has a mind of its own and does what it wants. Quite scary really. Like something of a Terminator movie. According to the lady in the shop it has 1 Terabite of memory. I always thought a terabite was a something from the Upper Jurasic period. Anyways this thing has the windows Vista programme. Its similar to XP but different. I bought it because my old computer was starting to struggle and I may have a go at making my own decals. So I wanted something that could cope with most things I could throw at it. I'm quite looking forward to finding out more about it and seeing how far I can go with it befoore it scammbles my brain or it blows up. We'll see who gets the better of who!! Enough waffling from me. Good Luck with the Freightliner and keep us posted on progress. Best Wishes Dave Bates

Kurt, The Model Car Garage hinges are very good. I used them on my Autocar twinsteer dumper for the hood hinges, the 351 Pete for the door hinges and the butterfly hood hinges. I am also putting them on my A64B Autocar doors and butterfly hood. They are a bit tricky at times but with a little patience the result is worth the trouble. Check my photo albums for details. http://public.fotki.com/oldalbion/ Good Luck! Best Wishes Dave Bates PS Thanks for reminding me I need to get some more hinges on order.

Tim, Looks like you had fun. You must have felt proud to have been invited by Peterbilt to put on a display of your trucks at their factory. I have often thought that you could write a book of the history of Peterbilt using your model truck builds, PS. Did they give you a drive of one of the real toys? Best Wishes Dave Bates

Matt, Have you any plans to make a 389 conversion kit complete with the 1950s style womens spectacles head lights? Sorry about my comments regarding the head lights but they look so similar to a pair of spectacles that the women wore in the 1950s, well, here in Britain anyways. Dave Bates (Edit: "Cat eye glasses" is what they were called here - Tim)

Chris, Very Impressive looking truck. I like the short frame conventional daycabs. I remember the first T600 Kenworth I saw was at a Chemical Plant in Utica Illinois back in 1989. We had supplied a new machine to the Plant (P Q Corporation) and the Kenworth brought the first load of Sulphuric Acid for processing. Very impressive truck looked very modern back then. Didn't get to close to the trailer though. Thanks for sharing. Best Wishes Dave Bates

Kurt, Very Impressive build, we don't see many models of Freightliners particularly conventional ones. That adds extra interest to a great project. I look forward to seeing your progress photo's. Best Wishes Dave Bates

Kurt, Very Nice!! The engine looks great the light discolouration on the exhaust to simulate heat is vey convincing and the Head Ache Rack as everyone has said is superb! As always with your projects I will keep a close eye on progress. Thanks for sharing it with us and Good Luck with the rest of the build. Best Wishes Dave Bates

Tim, Another superb looking trailer. I'm glad that after so many years you decided to start building trucks and trailers again. Your hard work and efforts certainly help to inspire me. Shame you cann't keep hold of all your trucks and trailers. Lets hope they go to a good appreciative new home. Best Wishes Dave Bates

Tim, Josh, I agree. I ordered some 379 conversions from Matt, they arrived about a month ago. The detail is superb, he even moulded in the the under hood strengtheners. Thanks Matt!! Excellent conversion kits. Best Wishes Dave Bates

Bill, This is superb!! It looks like its right out of the 1960s, the spoked wheels the paint scheme the detail and the excellent scartch building skills have made a very impressive truck. Look forward to your next build. Best Wishes Dave Bates

This looks good so far. I like the orange and white paint scheme. I prefer the old paint schemes from the 60s and 70s. A lot of the modern paint schemes look, well pretty drab to say the least. Just my opinion though. This paint scheme looks great. The frame and engine would look good if they were weathered. Look forward to the finished article. Best Wishes Dave Bates

Interesting Project. Since its release we have seen that Snap Pete put to good use and some excellent trucks built out of the kit. Good Luck and keep us informed about progress. Best Wishes Dave Bates

Jim, This is a very impressive project. I was amazed to see that you had used the C series cab, I never thought that the C series could be adapted into the Falcon? Was the real Falcon a development of the C series or was it the other way around? Looking at the photo's it looks right so far. I will certainly be watching for future apdates on this one. Good Luck and Best Wishes Dave Bates

Jim, This is a superb looking truck. I like the wheels, engine details and the paint work. Excellent work. Thanks for sharing your build with us. Best Wishes Dave Bates

Bill, Thanks for the photo's. It looks like the engine was the one that Hendrix used to model their aftermarket resin V12 detroit. I have 3 of these engines in various states of build. There is one on E-bay at present if anyone is interested: ITEM No: 170260501994 The engine in the Super Boss looks great. Best Wishes Dave Bates

Kurt, I'm looking forward to the photo's of this build. I agree with the other guys an over the road tractor unit with an end dump or a tanker of some kind. The Detroit Diesel would look good and be an interesting change. Good Luck with the build. Best Wishes Dave Bates

Jerry, Very nice indeed!! Colour scheme looks good. We don't often see a Freightliner Conventional. Nice addition to your collection. Best Wishes Dave Bates

Bill, This is superb! A lot of imagination and hard work has obviously gone into this. Once again your scratchbuilding skills have produced a very differant and interesting truck. The colour looks great in the sun light. I always prefer photographing my finished trucks in the natural daylight. It really does make them set them off. Best Wishes Dave Bates

Bill, Superb build, I like the shot of the engine. That big Detroit certainly takes some space. When I was fitting the V12 in my Autocar deciding how to plumb in the exhaust pipes was a problem. I like how the Bandag team got around this problem by plumbing the exhausts through the air cleaner holes. "Turn on the tap of common sense and out flows a simple solution." Do you have any photo,s of the engine on the Super Boss? Best Wishes Dave Bates

Matt, I got your PM. Thanks for that, deliver as one consignment when you get all items together. No rush. Jerry, Thanks for the info on Hobby Lobby. I will check it out. Best Wishes Dave Bates

Matt, Great to see you casting again. I just placed an order with you for some stuff. I just need to get my hands on a couple more 377 kits. Best Wishes Dave Bates

Tim, Looks like you've got a full workbench there a real production line. I'm always impressed by your ideas and the lengths you go to produce the trucks that you want to build. Reading your posts and looking through your web site certainly inspires me and I'm sure all other modellers. Good Luck with the many projects. Best Wishes Dave Bates

Jeff, I wonder if the hoods are the same between the KW and the Pete just a different radiator grill?? I saw some of the T660 KWs same colour as your photo when I was in the US in May this year. They do look very nice. I wonder if one of Tim's 386 hoods from AITM could be adapted to fit the KW cab and frame? Best Wishes Dave Bates

Jim, Great start to the truck. I like the extras and the paint scheme, unusual but works very well. Look forward to the finished photo's. Best Wishes Dave Bates

Ray, Great looking truck. I like the simplicity of it. It looks right, not to much chrome and fancy bits. Looks ready for a hard days work. The photo shots look good outside in the natural light it really sets the truck off. Best Wishes Dave Bates. PS: Are you still running the 379 Pete. Hope your having more luck with it than the Lemon!!