Jürgen M.

Interesting! So this is actually a single bunk cab with an aerodyne roof? Been away from the US too long it seems! I'll be watching!

Thank you Jeff! Looking at your Hayes, just as one example, I must say your skills are not any less than mine or anyone elses. I really appreciate your words and hope this build will reach expectations!

Now it's blue: Next will be masking the ends and the underneath frame! Then chrome!

I added a support frame and a front module where the air lines will be attached. I screwed it onto the tank to stabilize it and made a cover to hide the screws. It's not after a real trailer, just my own idea!

Steve, I think it's great that you're keeping up the 1/32 fraction! I've been thinking about reducing my self designed Mack cab and hood to a 1/32 scale and building the Rubber Duck in a smaller size! Keep that up. You're doing a wonderful job on these. Having to build up the details a 1/25 truck kit already has and then exceeding that in such a professional way! I can just take a bow!

Thank you Steve! Unfortunately the rear crash guard broke off! Nothing I can't fix though! I just painted the chassis and the tank with primer. When it's dry it'll be painted the same blue as the truck. Then, when that's completely dry, the tank ends will be masked and I'll put the chrome on! I think that will lead to the best result! Same procedure as last time! No turning back now anyway!

OK, manual polishing won't work. I'd have to apply more pressure and my electric polishing machine is too big. Maybe I should try to build a smaller one for modelling. Should be an excenter polisher though to avoid hologramms! I'm thinking of putting a primer on the whole thing and then the chrome spray! That should look pretty nice! And it would look more like the truck tank!

Thanks! That sounds like a good plan! 👍 I'd be glad to give you pointers eventhough I'm not a specialist for tankers, I just did some research and tried to copy it!

Thanks guys. Glad you like the idea! Wasn't sure at First If it's the right way to go!

Thank you Jeff! I'm sure it won't matter if the trailer tank looks different than the one on the truck! Of course I could also just put chrome spray on it to make it look alike! I'll have to think about that!

I admit it, I just couldn't pause so long! I printed a few more parts of the trailer telling myself that the whole rig would look good for a while standing in the workbench till the showcase is finished! 🙈 Also I thought about how to make the tank for the trailer. The one on the truck isn't quite as I expected it so I thought of something else. I designed a structure around which I would wrap a styrene sheet. That way I would created a smooth surface. Then I found something even better than styrene sheet. 0.5 mm aluminium sheet. I cut it to size and drilled holes to be able to screws it onto the structure so it won't slip away while wrapping it around. I also screwed it on the sides to keep it in place. Unfortunately I made some dents into the sheet. Made me a bit upset at first but then I thought it doesn't matter. It's supposed to be an old rig in everyday use so why not have some traces of that? The screw heads will be the marker lights. I'll just put colored lenses on them. The front end will be covered by a piece of styrene sheet which will be painted blue together with the rear cover, just like the truck tank. I might try to polish it so it gets a chrome like surface.

Looks great Ron! A real jewel!

Very impressive! I've scratch build mirrors by using 0.5mm brass rods and styrene sheet. The actual mirrors were made by using the shiny side of aluminium foil glued on with a glue stick from my kids! Here are two examples: My selfmade Diamond Reo: The brackets are AMT, the rest is scratch! I just put the rods through the holes of the AMT brackets so you can even move the mirrors! ...and the recently built Autocar DC75T: Here the whole mirror construction is scratch! Mirrors are printed. Hope this is not seen as hijacking but it's easier to explain with pictures!

This will be a very nice build! A printed aerodyne might be a challenge! 🤔 But I've got enough ideas at the moment to keep me busy for another one and a half years at least! But I'll keep it mind! Meanwhile I'll be watching this!

Looks really cool Ron! Sorry to hear about the unlucky Paintjob but you managed IT like a pro! Keep going! 👍

Yes, Gary, I know the feeling! Been in the road a lot too and now I've got so many ideas, I'll probably be busy with till end of 26! I took would tend to the round fenders in this case since it's a resto rod. Just fits the Image better! Any other variation would look better with the other ones.

I agree! I didn't mean to say they were actually meant as 1/24s, just that they have the size! I have 1/24 scale rims from European trucks and they fit these tires perfectly! You're probably right about the modification of the tools and that they must have taken away a bit too much! Anyway, whatever the reason is that these tires are too large for 1/25 rims, we're all modelers who know how to approach these problems! Good luck James in finding the right rims!

I usually use these soft rubber Revell tires! They fit rims from 18 to about 25 mms in diameter! You can also vary the width of the rims from 7 to about 10 mms. If you fill them like shown above maybe even up to 12 mms! Depends on your own taste! Of course if you want rougher looking tires they're not first choice but for road use they do the job!

Looks really nice! 👍🧑‍🎄

No, Not really! It Just means that I won't print cabs in one piece anymore! The horizontal printing lines are too hard to hide. What I meant was, I will print cabs broken down. Front, rear wall, doors and roof will be designed and printed seperately and virtually mocked up to see if everything fits! The parts will then be printed lying down flat which will give them only a slight structure which will be easier to cover up by just painting them! My next project will be the first one to be designed and printed that way and I hope it works out the way I expect! I'll introduce it sometime in January.

Oh, OK! Thanks! I thought it was a newer variation of a Cruiserliner I didn't know! 😂 As far as I know it was only built till 83 or so! Again I learned something! I'll have to check it out!

Wow, can't wait to see that one! Since theres no pic yet I have to ask this a bit embarassing question: I know of course what a Mack Cruiserliner is, I've got two of them but what is a Stevens International Mack Cruiserliner? Did I miss something?

I'm following this closely cause I decided to design a new engine so I don't always have to use my "standard" not really authentic, self designed Cummins NTC 290. The plumbing on these things and all the little peripheric parts can make you crazy! At least if you don't have the routine in building engines Like me! I'm not even the one eyed among the blind concerning that. So Jeff, it's up to you to show me how it works! 😂

I actually believe that these tires are 1/24 even if sold as 1/25! I used 1/24 rims for my General and they fit perfectly! Otherwise I would have had to print some!

Hey Ron, nice build Idea! I'm also a fan of old and rare trucks. My next build will show but it's a surprise! No hints till I finish the trailer for my Pete! I'm anxious to see this one painted. Sounds really authentic what you have planned!