Biggu

It was the excavator advertised in their catalog back in the ‘70’s that never materialized I always wanted and still do , that would be epic …

For tight cuts I use the back side of my #11 blade and just keep scoring the ‘cut’ line. I find , for me, that I have better control and the blade doesn’t wander. But I suspect you well know that procedure. I hope your cut goes well bud

Wow ! Fantastic ! Thats really well done. Take a bow , well deserved.

No kidding , we are definitely living in the golden age of modelling.

Thats a cool looking truck but I don’t think I could pull my fat backside into the driver’s seat….. it looks to me , to be rather difficult to climb in and out of, looks to be an awkward move or am I missing something? Also is the door wider than normal? That would help. Some good engineering went into this conversion. Lots going on here. Cool pic

What are you using to cut with Lee?

A Journey of 500 pieces starts with the first two…… I’m not sure about the box full of yellow plastic , but I get it. For an old mould ( mold?) it has held up pretty good, there is a little flash , and the heads had some shrinkage from the cooling process but nothing of anything big. These Ertl kits really were top drawer kits. I know there will be no serious fit issues unless I botch something up …… so we are off to the races …. I’m beginning to think it is the yellow plastic I’m going to need a break from not really the build ……thanks for checking in guys , comments and criticisms welcome …

I hope you’re right buddy, glad you are here. Hope to hear lots from you …..

Thanks Jeff , no need to sit in the back, please comment as you see fit and make sure I stay on the straight and narrow, great to have you along ..

Too cool. I love when old builds make it back to the bench …. Good looking truck and beautiful color combo, I like this a lot.

Thanks Lee. What will probably happen is I will start the rock truck and end up working steady on the Western Star ….. I’m hoping I can get them done but I’m sure the rock truck will be a very long term build, mostly due to the fact that there is a LOT of plumbing and that may get tedious over time. I am glad you will be sitting front and center, to help keep me on track …. This may be a fun project …… I hope. 🤭

Well , I picking my chair NOW in the front row so I get a good view ….. this is going to be exciting. I’m looking forward to it …..

That sounds really COOL. Got a start date?

Thanks, Warren, that's precisely why the 'possible' two builds.... if I stall out on the big one, I can change gears for a while to the other... sometimes a change of pace is all that is needed..... I have and am still gathering bits and pieces ( odds and sods for my buddies over seas LOL ) for the heavy haul Star.... so that can be a cleanser too.... 😉

Thanks Ron , whats on your bench now?

You’re probably right, I’m hoping the Star to be a ‘palate cleanser’ as they say ……..

I read that some guys take a nylon stocking and put it over the suction hose and thats how they find lost parts in the carpet monster. The parts get stopped at the stocking and can be retrieved ….. I love this engine and the color is Awesome!!! This is shaping ip to be a SHOW STOPPER!

Well, now that Mr. Peter Hayes is on the road, time to try my hand at something a little bit different ……so because the bar has been raised by so many of you guys, on fabulous scratch builds and added detail builds, it has pushed me to ‘think’ I might be able to make something of the re-issue AMT/Ertl IH Payhauler 350. I plan to plumb this truck as much as possible as this truck has MILES of hydraulic lines and plumbing for nearly every moving part has a hydraulic line connected. I am being inspired to do as much as I can, by the King of hydraulic plumbing on his Magnificent build, my good friend Brian Kerr. As my scratch building skills are mediocre at best I will be using the fabulous CTM 24097 hydraulic fittings kit. This is anticipated to be a long term build. The plan is also to weather it a little bit to, once again show a working rock truck….. it should have some oil, grease and dirt in the appropriate places. As this is anticipated to take some significant time , in order to prevent burn out on an involved build I will supplement this build with a heavy haul Western Star ….. and it will have some modifications and additions. Box art shots of the two victims …….I hope some of you will follow along as I wade through this one …. or two 😉

Thanks, Bren, your description on where 'we' sit is perfect, and I never thought of it that way, and I, like you do REALLY appreciate a 'show' truck , all decked out, and especially those all decked out ones ON THE JOB, there are some GORGEOUS gravel / paving trucks out there, and they look super cool when on the job..... but sometimes, there is one that just gets a little bit neglected here and there..... not abused, but just a bit neglected....

I can’t agree more !

Bren , you make me blush …. Thank you for your great observations, I really appreciate that . There are guys on this particular forum that have raised the bar very high , with scratch building, modifications, 3d printing ( to which you are most definitely one of them ) and at times have encouraged and pushed all of us to work harder and try new things. I am hoping that more guys will try a little weathering here and there occasionally and keep raising that bar. Thanks for the keen observations and encouragement, Bren, glad you liked my vision …..

Another big grille beauty with a perfect photo back drop. She looks clean, straight and powerful. GM/ Chevrolet had a perfect design for a class 8 truck. Nice job Lee.

Thanks ,Jim and Mario, I am finding it easier to build regular dirty working trucks than a show truck these days. I always seem to male a mess of them. Not to say I won’t try one again…..🤔🤔🤔

Thanks Lee..... even with all the lumps and bumps, I am fairly pleased with it, and it will sit proud on the shelf...... I have a few ideas of what might be next, just not 100% sure yet.....

More back dating builds.... this is pretty cool, and a nice fine job on the bumper, very straight and clean ! I like this.....