mackinac359

You're gonna have people falling all over themselves to get this cab !! Tim

Nice! The tractor is perfect! Tim

The difference between the last issue of AMT kits of the Astro95 and the Titan90: Grille Front nameplate/bowtie Cab door nameplates. Decals. Both kits have a Chevy bowtie on the steering wheel. Everything else is the same (just like the real truck). In the original issues, the GMC had an option of a turbine engine and automatic transmission. The Bison and General kits are completely different without much being directly interchangeable without subtle modification. Tim

I have wanted to build this truck for a while, or one of its siblings for Autore Oil of Cedarville, Michigan. The Peterbilt part of the equation is no problem - the pin stripes and graphics are the problem - until I bought the large decal sheets from Kit Form Services! KFS Decals The stripes are easy to use, they don't break into a million bits while working on them. Here's the cab and hood painted. Here's the cab after striping. Now comes the graphics - thanks to Charlie Rowley's exquisite talent the Autore Project is taking shape beautifully. Thanks for looking! Tim

Based on a '76 359 SBFA I saw in Marquette, Michigan a few years ago, I went with a more large-car look. I've combined the AMT Peterbilt 359, the Revell of Germany Can-Do Wrecker ( built-up body by Bob Spear), the sleeper from a Monogram snap KW W900, a resin setback axle hood and bits and pieces from the parts boxes to create The Big Hook. More pics are on my site at TimsTrucks.com workbench Here's the inspiration truck: Thanks for looking! Tim

My comment about the visible seams was not aimed at any particular kit ('cept the Revell Los Angeles Peterbilt 359 based kits as that seam is the most noticeable - and the AMT Peterbilt 359/352 seams on the unplated plastic). The side seams are fixable on the LoneStar and Italeri tanks. On the LoneStar, the fuel tanks aren't visible unless you convert it to a daycab or omit the chassis fairings - and then you're going to have to do other modifications. Think about this.. a pesky seam is the only dislike noticed during building? What does that say for the kit? That says a LOT. A LOT of good things. Tim

Mark, I agree! Why the kit manifacturers insist on putting the fuel tank part seams in visible locations is beyond me. The Revell of Germany Pete tanks are the worst for the seam location. Tim

The early T2000's had the bumper molded to the hood. This changed a few years into the run. Tim

Cool ! Tim

Comparing John's build (and the kit I just got in today) to the test-shot I built in December - there are small but noticeable differences. The interior has more texture - carpet on the floor for example is on the plastic (not as bold as the flocking) but wasn't on the test shot. The exhaust shields have engraved vent/mesh, the test shot didn't. This really is a nice kit. John, yours is looking sweet! Tim

The cab looks so much better with the lights down lower. Tim

Looks cool ! Tim

For photo editing, there is a free download program called Paint.net. It is easy to use to reduce the photo size, crop, add text, etc. Paint.net Tim

Very nice! Tim

Pretty purple painted Pirkle Peterbilt Pacemakers presented perfectly, perhaps proudly placed purposefully pointed perpendicular - properly packed product partially paired, passenger's prefer Pabst.

Nice wreck. Cabovers.. when the crash happens, you're first on the scene. Tim

Two different scales - reminds me of Tweety Bird when he ate something that made him super-sized. Tim

Pirkle was started by Otto Pirkle in Madison, Wisconsin in the 1950's. A largely owner-operated carrier running reefers with dairy/cheese from Wisconsin to the west coast/California and vegetables and such on the return trips. Most Pirkle trucks were dolled up with multi-stripe paint schemes and for the era lots of dress up options such as aluminum wheels, dual exhaust, bullet roof lights, dual air horns, etc. Back in 1973 for the 1st AMT Model Truck Contest, I entered a Peterbilt 352 wearing hand made (from Gene Olson's business card) Pirkle door signs. The model was brush painted and had quite a few kit bashed items. I took 48th place in the Junior category in the contest. (48th out of 50 - my prize was an additional year subscription to Owner/Operator magazine). I have a 40-year-later version of the build in the works. Here are a couple of Pirkle trucks from the web: Here's the big P version from 'just before the end' Tim

That must have been the later Pirkle.. I don't remember those. Only the small banner on the cab door. In the 80's (different owner) they had a larger version of the banner on the trailers. Then they went out of business leaving many drivers unpaid - or so the story goes. Tim

I've already got 3 badged as Pirkle and one trailer.. the last one I built in '04 but I made my own logos on paper or decal paper myself and they look, well, cheesy. Tim

I received decals from JBOT today - a handful of stripes for COE and conventional projects - and some much needed logos for my favorite fleet from the 60's and 70's.. Pirkle Refrigerated Freight out of Madison, Wisconsin - they look perfect! Tim

Built models with features that you aren't happy with become great candidates for rebuilding, parts donors or weathering. Tim

I say go for the big kitty. Here's one from the 1990 377 brochure. Tim

Lots of work in this! Tim

The easiest fix here is to cover the grille with Bare Metal Foil. Tim uote name='lrlocke01' timestamp='1303582688' post='457393'] I am building one of these for a buddy of mine. I need the front grill in chrome. The chrome is coming off on the one I have. Does anybody have one or know where I could look for one? Any help is greatly appreciated.