dodgefever

Orange Hauler. Orange Crate has a an Olds.

I think you've proved the OP's point.

Most of my new kits come via Ebay, but often it's a case of seeing what's available at a reasonable price rather than shopping for specific kits. I had a long break from building too and in my mind kits should still be £5 - 6, so everything looks expensive now.

That one's gone. Oh, the irony. Good news that Gasser Madness is back up. I had some correspondence with Byron years ago, nice guy. RIP.

Those white/red line Firestones were found in late '60s AMT annuals. Could be the first issue with the Pepper Shaker box art? I think that was the last with the original custom parts: http://public.fotki.com/drasticplasticsmcc/mkiba-build-under-c/amt-instructions/automotive-cars--pi/chevrolet/1951-1960/amt-57-chevy-pepper/

Some people seem to be conflating objective criticism with outright rejection... I am happy these trucks have been released, but it doesn't mean I have to accept all the flaws. I have both kits and I will build them, but I'll also be correcting things which shouldn't need correcting. From plowboy's comparison, it seems pretty obvious that those parts were derived from the old AMT tooling. Remember, the first test shots had the same Dana axle as the AMT kits as well. Would you really expect to see exactly the same parts breakdown and exact same shape moulded parts locators (look at the block/trans locator and the top of the carb)? That's a big coincidence on kits tooled 40 years apart by different companies. Compare with the FE engines in the AMT '66/'67 Fairlane and Comet, or the '60 Starliner - those are streets ahead in detail.

Good job on that. First one I've seen with the trim corrected.

Don't bother with those Pegasus wheels, they don't look enough like Astro Supremes and they're oversize for 1/25. The chrome reverse ones are worse, they just look toy-like.

LOL. That's no excuse for not getting the basic geometry right. If they can tool up tiny sway bar links, they can do better with the fundamental parts.

Wow. That explains a lot.

I've found the front suspension needs some re-engineering to match the 1:1. The kit has the radius arms mounted outside, and parallel with, the frame rails. The real thing has the radius arms mounted under the frame rails and angled out to mount on the axle beams under the coil spring. The beams are also wrong; they should mount on brackets under the frame rails, not inside the crossmember and the driver's side isn't cranked like it is in the kit. It makes you wonder what they were looking at? Here's a photo for reference: ]

Good start, and much better without the whitewalls.

The trim was stainless, but the ribbed inserts on the rear quarters were aluminium.

Interesting build, thanks for pointing out the differences. I have both kits on the way, planning to combine parts to build my uncle's long gone Explorer - big block, 3 spd, two tone Grabber blue and white.

Looks that way, must be licensing BS. That would explain the change from 'Hemi' to 'Hot Rod' as well. Lame.

Not. That one is just as bad, and the one in the new tool '41 Willys isn't much better. The blowers in the '60s Revell kits and parts packs are much more authentic. There lies the source of our frustration: they nailed it 40+ years ago (same with the A firewall), there's no excuse for "good enough" now.

No, that's a Revell kit, completely different. You want the old AMT W925, Alaskan Hauler or T600.

That thing is an abomination. Whitewall slicks on mags, faux spindle mounts, header wrap, awful stance, tacky bodywork. Ugh. This is a gasser.

There's not much to the rear suspension on the 1:1 (I own one). The kit has a decent representation of the torsion beam and trailing arms, along with the coil-over struts. Those are the parts on the bottom of the upper sprue here:

Ford's Grabber Orange is similar.

I think your delay is more likely due to US Customs than anything else. I've sent a few things to the US recently (from the UK) and they've taken 3 - 5 weeks to arrive. According to the tracking info, they reach the US a day or two after posting, then they sit in Customs for weeks.

After some more digging, the body looks like it's a Daybrook. I found a few images of Gramm-Daybrook trailers with very similar bodies, and a Daybrook brochure with what looks like the same kind of underbody hoist.

Thanks for the replies. I'd ruled out those makes because I hadn't found any with the same body construction or hoist. The closest I found was a Galion, but still not identical.

Anyone able to put a manufacturer to this one? I've googled GarWood, Fruehauf and a few others, but found nothing matching. I'd like to build it, but need more to go on, mainly what kind of tipping gear it had... looks like probably twin underbody rams, but would be nice to know for sure.

  Wow, I like that. Are those old Revell parts pack wheels? I wish they'd reissue those.