whale392

That's what I'm here for Matt. I may not know semi trucks well (you guys have been a big help to me so far), but I do know paint and graphics..........ok, maybe not so well either; but I do have a boatload of opinions I am willing to share!!

Semi Trailer Mechanic: thank you for positively adding to the content of this thread with not only pics, but personal observations and reviews of the products you used. mardtrp: don't know what rag you were on when posting, but get off it quick. Yes, they may be somewhat out of scale, but at least they are an option I wouldn't have known about before they were shown. To those who have positively contributed to this, I extend a hearty 'Thank You' to you for all of your assistance.

Well Dave, I am in the process of 'collecting' the Fujimi Initial D series myself; primarily the AE86s and Itsukis' (Iggy) AE85. So far, the kits are nice and come with some extra parts options that I will be transferring and adapting to my Aoshima AE86s.

My dads first new car! His was red with a white interior and a 361/3spd stick. Nice looking build. The kit is a hodge-podge of a 62 Fury, as there were running changes in the assembly line that could have the chrome trim in different places and have either 2 or 3 taillights per side. The chrome trim on this car depicts a mid-year build, but the taillight arrangement depicts an early build. If you do a late build, the trim stays the same, but the taillights (from outer to inner) would be red-white-red. Oh, and there really isn't any color to the hubcaps, but I have seen the center 'bullet' and the PLYMOUTH lettering done in body color.

Lucky enough to own a real S14 huh? Must be nice, especially if it looked like the model.

Hobby Lobby, scrapbooking stores, and sometimes places like Wal-Mart (in their craft section) is a good place to find embossing powder. Best bet........Scrapbooking stores. Nice looking 57........colors really bring it to life.

So now that I am further into this kit, I have a few more observations. It appears the ride height is too high (based on the KW W900s I see on the highways (and suprisingly there are quite a few), so I feel it has to be adjusted down a hare. Also, the distance from the aft sleeper wall to the first set of tandems is about 2' too short...also remedieable if you have a second kit or some scratchbuilding skills. Complete and total lack of any brake detail is somewhat bothersome, but again, parts-box raiding will solve this. No PoGo stick is also a bummer, especially since they included the standplate for it (access steps are also missing). The headlights are fine, but the amber signal stalk will have to be relocated to the headlight bucket top of the fender, centered between the headlights. However, for $23.00, this is a great kit and well worth it for its' trip back down my memory lane.

Thanks for the replies guys...looks like it is time for me to stop by the hobby shop or go online to see what I can find. I got the gaps filled and the bodylines matched up/smoothed out on the sleeper tonight, so it is time to start putting some of the removed detail back on before paint.

You asked for our opinions on the sleeper graphic length/size. Being it is printed off the computer versus being painted on, I would stop short of any surface irregularities that would cause issues with the graphic laying down smooth. There used to be a trucking company called 'Circle C', and their trucks were completely muraled; some of the best-looking paintjobs I had ever seen.

How would one go about adding rivet detail back onto a truck model? I had to remove some rivet detail when I joined the sleepers on my Kenworth W900Aerodyne (to stretch it)? Does Tichy Trains still operate and sell stuff like this, does saurkraut sell them? Any tips, tricks, ideas, or thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

80's floppers........I love them. They still had styling of the real car they represented, and they were loud and fast. Keep building, I'll keep checking the progress!

^^^This guy would know if it deals with Peterbuilt!^^^

By the time the kit in question was issued (early 1980s), the CAT 3406 should have been New Cat Yellow.

Don't worry Cliff; I was kidding about not posting my builds (guess I should have used the smiley icon!). I just don't take pics of what I do.....that is why I might not post, not that I am scared (ok, mayyybbbee just a little ) I do look to your builds for inspiration for my 'Bee. Only problem is it is quite a ways back in the build line-up. One day Cliff.........

Maybe I won't post my 'Bee build Cliff. Next to your detailed build, mine won't even look as good as chopped liver! Beautiful so far..........I keep looking in for updates and ideas for mine.

One more for the Easy-Off original formula (yellow can) oven cleaner. Takes the chrome off in one minute or so.......stuff also takes hobby paint off and WILL NOT harm the plastic underneath (even the clear 'glass' parts).

Excellent job on the wheelwells, engine bay, and paint. Now, for some constructive critisism if I may take the liberty; you have done said above mods/paint flawlessly, hope you will be working on getting the wheel/tire fitment perfected or it will ruin the whole look of the build and kill all the great craftsmanship you have put into the build so far.

<--saves your photos for reference for his build. Looking killer Cliff!

Good looking second-gen. As a Mopar and Mustang fan, I do not really care for the Generals offerings, but can appreciate all forms of automobile.........this Camaro, if it were real, would sit proudly in my drive and I would be proud to drive it. Excellent job on her, and the grill and vents opened up really do set it off as looking far more real than a straight kit build.

That is a VERY NICE looking model of a pretty truck. I had to look 3 times before I could tell it was scale versus real!

Well there Yj, if you really wanted to get technical and this were a true 'Concept' in the purest form, then you would have seen the 'then brand new' 4.6L OHC engine (as it was introduced in the 1991 Lincolns and Mercury line of luxury cars) sitting between the fenderwells. So really, I do not see the 3.8SC as a very far stretch for this build. By the way, this is a killer look for the car, and too bad either Ford or ASC didn't do it.........very nice.

If the rest of the build goes as the grill does, this will be one VERY nice looking 'Bee.

Must've been your initial thread (in the 'under glass' section that had the pics of the 'Bees you were going to build. No biggie.......I have been following since the first post, so I know where you are going with these. And yes Cliff..............HOT will most definately work as a descripitive!

We used to use the term for anything that was looking outstanding (or smoking hot in the female case). Anything that would seriously turn a head was 'Dead-Sexy!'. Yup......we had issues back then.

Looking dead-sexy Cliff!