mackinac359

The kit would have to be buildable as both standard configuration in addition to the custom parts. Extra parts are good. Tim

Just how they used to look! The stripe and polished front wheels was enough 'bling' to set it apart back in the day. Tim

348 SBFA 6x6. The 348 6x6 used the 359 SBFA hood. The trucks were ordered as 359 6x6's but 'marketing' wouldn't let a 359 be built as 6x6 so it is a 348. Here's a 348 6x6 The fire appuratus units have the standard grille screen but the sides are extended lower. (the unit above is was for a mixer and the grille screen needed to be fixed to the radiator for clearance from the front PTO)The cab has the severe service windshield mask on the fire unit. Tim

Holy lonnngggg hoods !! Tim

Very realistic looking. Tim

How about a color on the fenders and roof in a nice metallic red, blue, or even orange? Tim

Wow! Very nice. Tim

The resin 358 hood is sort of close.. a tilt hood rather than a butterfly hood and the grille shell is wider than the fixed radiator of the 351/281. If (deleted) hadn't of ruined my masters for the 351, Eric would have it - it had hood, radiator, fenders and bumper - perfect for a Duel truck. Tim

The truck was a Peterbilt model 281, no kit has been made. The closest was the later year model 359 with the wide nose. The resin market has had several model 351/281 narrow nose conversions over the years. They still pop up from time to time. Tim

On the Mercury sleepers, they were factory options for Peterbilt back in the day. The factory would make the truck ready for the sleeper, the sleeper would be built at Mercury, the truck sent over there, then the sleeper installed and painted (or vice-versa) to match the truck, then sent back to Peterbilt for finishing and on to the dealer. Tim

Unless you are building a fresh from the factory model.. once a truck gets into the hands of its owner, anything goes ! Tim

Did you hear that? The sound of the bat cracking against the ball - the ball soaring across the field and over the stands.. a home run! Tim

Superb frame wiring and plumbing ! Tim

Great weathering. Tim

Nicely done ! Tim

This should fly off the store shelves !!! How about a modern Pete next ! Tim

The 4200 (F4270) was the first Ertl International conventional kit. It shared the air ride suspension the original Transtar (co4070) kit had. Power was a Cummins V903. The chassis was molded in black, cab and engine in light blue. Tim

Nice paint. Tim

Nice work. Tim

Rick became ill this season - caused by (so goes the plot) by an infestation of deer mice in his truck. The truck had to be cleaned and sanitized by a clean-up company. It really was filthy. When they pulled the mattress out my first thought was "they shouldn't have put that on TV."

Cool. Tim

For the Ice Road Truckers fans - the truck that Rick Yemm 'owns' is the Italeri kit. Does anyone have any 1/24th scale deer mice? Tim

Looks suspiciously like a Peterbilt 377385doesn't it. There is a backstory involving patents and shared design studios with unintended consequences.

Checking http://www.westernstar.com and http://www.westernstar.au, it appears that the Italeri kit hood is still available there. The other hoods offered for export from north America and the domestic hoods are the same with only lamp changes being made, then interior, chassis and other changes for the regional markets. I tried to direct link the photos from the WS site(s) but was unable to get them to work. Tim

Off the top of my head.. the headlamps are the most obvious. I'm not that 'schooled' on the WS product line between north America and Australia to tell without side-by-side comparisons.