
RoninUtah
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Everything posted by RoninUtah
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I think it makes a big difference- even though by itself it might not be very obvious, it contributes to the overall effect of a very thoroughly detailed build. Keep it up!
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1941 Autocar U60
RoninUtah replied to RoninUtah's topic in WIP: Model Trucks: Big Rigs and Heavy Equipment
Dankeschoen! -
1941 Autocar U-80-T tractor
RoninUtah replied to RoninUtah's topic in Model Trucks: Big Rigs and Heavy Equipment
Thanks! It has half an engine - the bottom and rear of the kit engine. Since this was not a tilt cab COE, I just built the parts that could possibly be seen. -
I did exactly the same conversion myself, a couple of years ago! I've always loved those round-front White 3000s. It worked well with the Dodge L700 frame and interior; the interior required some surgery, of course, but it worked. The only thing I would do different now is to center the smaller lights over the headlights instead of to the side- that's one detail that JF got wrong. I built it as a curbside model, so I didn't worry about the engine!
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1941 Autocar U60
RoninUtah replied to RoninUtah's topic in WIP: Model Trucks: Big Rigs and Heavy Equipment
Thanks, Sean! The trailer is actually an old resin kit from Herb Deeks that I built about 20 years ago. Wish I had gotten more at the time! -
1941 Autocar U-80-T tractor
RoninUtah replied to RoninUtah's topic in Model Trucks: Big Rigs and Heavy Equipment
Thanks, Jeff, I appreciate it! Yeah, the more I look at my collection of model trucks the more it seemed to me that it looked like a miniature museum. So, I decided to go with that- why not issue a press release! -
1941 Autocar U-80-T tractor
RoninUtah replied to RoninUtah's topic in Model Trucks: Big Rigs and Heavy Equipment
Thanks for all the positive comments! One minor correction: these were referred to as “Engine under the seat,” not “cab beneath the seat” which makes no sense. The “U” in U-series supposedly stands for “under.” -
1941 Autocar U60
RoninUtah replied to RoninUtah's topic in WIP: Model Trucks: Big Rigs and Heavy Equipment
Thanks! It snowed yesterday and it was cloudy all day- I was lucky to get a break of sunshine in the late afternoon to be able to take those pics! -
1941 Autocar U60
RoninUtah replied to RoninUtah's topic in WIP: Model Trucks: Big Rigs and Heavy Equipment
Thanks, Jeff- Interesting idea for those pigments- I might try those in an upcoming build. Since this one is a museum truck, I was fine with it looking pristine! -
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: The Northern Utah Transportation Museum is pleased to announce its most recent acquisition: a 1941 Autocar U-80-T tractor. Recently restored, this truck is an example of Autocar’s “Engine-Under-the-Seat” U-series, which was manufactured from the mid-thirties through the early 1950s, except during WWII, when a variation (the U-7144/8144) was manufactured for the U.S. military; over 11,000 of the military versions were manufactured. Our example has a GVW of 45,000 Lbs, and is powered by a 130 HP six-cylinder Autocar "Blue Streak" gasoline engine. It joins our 1940 Autocar diesel conventional tractor to showcase the late 1930s- early 1940s range of this important American manufacturer of heavy duty trucks. Cab is an AITM conversion on an AMT Ford C-series tractor chassis. Rear wheels are AITM; front wheels are Mack from the parts box. 3D printed resin parts include the fuel tank and the rear tires. The cab fit right onto the AMT chassis with a minimum of adjustment; the biggest hassle (as described in the WIP thread) was painting. But it turned out the way I hoped, so I’m happy
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Aerodyne………..
RoninUtah replied to mistermodel's topic in Model Trucks: Big Rigs and Heavy Equipment
Beautiful job, well done! The color scheme is perfect for it. -
Now that's a beautifully clean build, I'd say the patient survived quite well!
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West coast Freightliner
RoninUtah replied to leafsprings's topic in Model Trucks: Big Rigs and Heavy Equipment
I can smell the diesel smoke! Well done! Great job- the stirrups and those center point hubs on the steer axle are nice touches that give it a very authentic look. -
1941 Autocar U60
RoninUtah replied to RoninUtah's topic in WIP: Model Trucks: Big Rigs and Heavy Equipment
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Western Star 4900 FA plow truck
RoninUtah replied to BK9300's topic in WIP: Model Trucks: Big Rigs and Heavy Equipment
Man! That level of detail is absolutely insane! Wish I had that kind of patience (and knowledge)! -
Caboverdose
RoninUtah replied to Rockford's topic in WIP: Model Trucks: Big Rigs and Heavy Equipment
True, true! It’s amazing what he can do in this scale. This Pete is going to be awesome! -
1941 Autocar U60
RoninUtah replied to RoninUtah's topic in WIP: Model Trucks: Big Rigs and Heavy Equipment
More progress, now that the paint is finally dry enough to work with. Interior is basically done- the dash will attach to the inside of the cab. Interiors in these conversion kits were rudimentary at best, and the 1:1 Autocar interior was pretty spartan anyway. Fortunately I found a good pic on the internet, so this is actually fairly close. The steering wheel should be four-spoke, but I didn't have any in my parts box and a standard 3-spoke steering wheel just didn't look right. This steering wheel is actually from a Bulldog Mack which had been the chassis donor for my '49 Sterling chain drive; I thought it had kinda the right look. I'll attach it to the dash and cut off the other end below the floorboards when I install the interior. The chassis is pretty well done... I was toying with the idea of hitting it with a clear matte spray to knock down the gloss a little, but I decided against it- I didn't want to risk the paint crazing under the spray (I know, but I didn't have a scrap piece with the same green paint to test it on!) Also, I kind of liked the look- heavy steel coated in thick enamel paint didn't seem inappropriate for the age at all. The rear wheels are cool old AITM six-spoke resin wheels; I 3D printed the tires, scaled to fit. These things looks monstrous, but they used big wheels in those days! Next is cab glass, once that's in I can install the interior and then it's off to the races. With any luck I can finish this one over the weekend! -
1941 Autocar U60
RoninUtah replied to RoninUtah's topic in WIP: Model Trucks: Big Rigs and Heavy Equipment
Thanks! Didn't you do one of these a couple of years or so back? I seem to remember that it was amazing, as usual for your builds. -
1941 Autocar U60
RoninUtah replied to RoninUtah's topic in WIP: Model Trucks: Big Rigs and Heavy Equipment
I judged the yellow paint on the cab to be dry enough to do the green details. I think it looks pretty decent- a few fish-eyes to battle, and both the yellow and green will require some touch-up before all is said and done. Did a second coat of green on the chassis and wheels as well. The vertical grille bars will be chrome, as will the windshield frames. The windshield cranked open from the inside, so the rubber gaskets were actually on the outer edges, not the inner. Now I wait another 3 days before I can do anything more! -
1941 Autocar U60
RoninUtah replied to RoninUtah's topic in WIP: Model Trucks: Big Rigs and Heavy Equipment
Thanks, Jeff! I guess great minds think alike! -
1941 Autocar U60
RoninUtah replied to RoninUtah's topic in WIP: Model Trucks: Big Rigs and Heavy Equipment
Thanks! I’ve had good results with the Tamiya lacquer rattlecans too, but I need to pick up some lacquer thinner. I usually decant a little from the spray can for touch-ups, and need the thinner to clean my brushes after. -
1941 Autocar U60
RoninUtah replied to RoninUtah's topic in WIP: Model Trucks: Big Rigs and Heavy Equipment
As I predicted, painting was kind of a disaster. Entirely due to my impatience. I had my heart set on a cream and green color combo, one of my favorite classic combos. So, I set up my airbrush and shot a coat of Testors cream onto the cab, tub and dash, from the tiny bottle, slightly thinned down. Big mistake. Although I usually have excellent results with these paints, this one was about two or three years old and had started to separate. It shot uneven and too thin, with almost no coverage and running away from the high points. I gave up and cleaned off the cream as best I could, let it dry (not long enough, as it turned out) and then hit it with a Rustoleum rattle can of Marigold Yellow. I've used this paint before, and liked its results. Well, this time, since the thinner I used to clean off the Testors paint hadn't dried completely, the spray didn't cover evenly- too thick, except where the thinner had accumulated, such as door grooves and changes of geometry. I let it dry a little and hit it again, and it was somewhat better. Meanwhile, I used Humbrol green enamel for the chassis. It's a good, tough paint but it takes forever to dry. It shot reasonably well, but wound up kinda thick in some places and thin in others. So, three days later, I'm still waiting around for this mess to dry. I can eventually salvage it, I think, but it will take some careful retouching here and there to pull it off. [sigh] I need to learn to be more patient! -
1941 Autocar U60
RoninUtah replied to RoninUtah's topic in WIP: Model Trucks: Big Rigs and Heavy Equipment
Thanks, Jeff B. and Gary! -
1941 Autocar U60
RoninUtah replied to RoninUtah's topic in WIP: Model Trucks: Big Rigs and Heavy Equipment
That looks great! Thanks for sharing it.