mackinac359

Something must be up on your end - the site is working just fine. Tim

By the time the BJ&TB truck was built, Kenworth had was no longer installing white engines. Peterbilt continued for a few years after. Tim

It is an International engine - and the color should be blue. Tim

Weathering on a truck is a sign of a dirty truck. I've yet to have someone ask me if I could build a model of their truck and "make sure you include the dirt too." Most of my models anymore are factory-fresh looking or ready-for-the-truck show. I have weathered some.. Tim

Wow! That's quite the collection. Lots of restoration possibilities. Tim

351/358 used the same cab as T500 - the little window until the end of '72, then they both were available with the 1100 series cab (same as T501). Most 351's after '72 were flat-fendered SBFA "Autocar Fighters." Tim

Blake, You're doing a great job as it is! You don't have to back-date the cab with the drip rail - that cab is the pre '61 cab. Here's an unrestored 351 that Robby Gaines photographed. You can see the angled fenders better. And yes, the fenders do mount to the frame (similar to the Autocar kits). You can leave the grille as mesh as that was an option. The shutter-only look was the older trucks or bare-bones models. Tim

You're mixing 358 and 351. 358 is a tilt hood and has the round inner fenders. 351 is a butterfly hood and the inner fenders angle downward to allow for the hood to swing out. If you are going for the 351, you will need to sand off the raised rib and row of rivets on the sides of the hood along with the rivet detail on the hood sides that is angled. Also, fill in the oil-fill check door on the right side of the hood. 351 will have the headlamps mounted slightly behind the grille/radiator. 358 would have them mounted on the radiator surround (like a 359 and the kit). You will also need to remove the triangle shaped step on the back of the fenders. 351 didn't have this. 351's steps were in the corner between the fender and the hood skirt (the lower hood panel)- which on 351 extends under the cab to cover the cab mounts. This part is called the "step board skirt." The skirt is shaped similarly to the kit lower cab panel just longer. On the page below I have pics comparing 351 and 358 which should help you out. Pre 1980 Peterbilts Tim

Nice color combo. Tim

The airbags used to have the logo on them. Tim

The entire hood would be painted - underside and all.(see attached pic). On the aluminum hood models, there are sound deadening panels under the top of the hood and the fenders can have a plastic rock liner (matte black in color). The polished aluminum fenders were on the special edition "379X" and looked really cool. Tim

I use "New Equipment Yellow" from Krylon. (generic Cat yellow). Depending on how rough the final clear coat is, I will wet sand or polish (3M rubbing compound) the finish eventually waxing (3M cleaner wax and Mothers Carnuba) it to a nice luster. Tim

Looks good so far. Don't forget to paint the underside of the hood and fenders the matching green. Tim

Jim, Yes, ear protection, safety shields on the glasses and a protector on my belt - keep the ears and eyes safe and the trucks safe from scratches. The model along with all the other goodies they gave him will be shipped well packed. I hope it makes it safe too! Tim

I've been on vacation. A truck vacation. 2 days of travel from Upper Michigan to Denton, Texas to the Peterbilt factory for their annual employee open house. I had a nice display of models During the open house a Make-A-Wish Foundation recipient was on hand - the crew in the Test department had contacted me earlier in the month and wanted me to customize a model for 12-year old Luke Neale who was coming from Australia to see the Peterbilt factory as his wish. He's a pure Peterbilt fan too. Here's the truck - a Revell 359 - I added door signs, custom license plates and some other items Here's the model being presented to him Here I am describing the model to Luke and his mom This was quite the event - and I am quite proud to have been part of it. While in Denton, I took my Denton Peterbilt 377 Fire Engine to the Denton Fire Department. They have on display a beautiful painting of the original trucks.(see attached photo) And finally - once I returned home I've been dusting and cleaning models and shelves - and came up with this nifty display on one wall. This link Truck Room 2010has pics of my Truck Room as it looks today and my factory display. Thanks for looking! After 2800 miles and week of motels - it is nice to be home. Tim

Dave Wow! The WF looks great !! Tim

If you're talking a north American class 8 truck from Mack, Kenworth, Peterbilt, Freightliner, International, Western Star - "chassis black" wasn't matte or flat black when new. The color is gloss. I'm not sure of what Ford and GM did in the 60's and 70's. The other makes painted the frames with gloss paint. I use Duplicolor black primer with Duplicolor gloss black. Tim

The photo angles make for a cool pic! Tim

Here is my plan for a 'proper' Sonny Pruitt truck: Revell of Germany W900. AMT W900 hood. Cummins 903 from Ertl IH 4270. Modify what needs modifying for the shorter BBC and wheelbase. Stripes from JBOT. The AMT hood WILL mate up to the Revell cab, the hinges and cab mounts will need to be adjusted. I have all the parts on hand.. I just need to build it someday. Tim

The truck that Paul has was used for many interior shots too. I like those pics on IMDB.. those are screen captures I posted on my Movin'On page from video tapes of the show long ago. Movin'On And my old-old Angelfire site MovinOn still humming along. Tim

Sweet! I love COE loggers. Tim

Nice crisp stripes! Tim

The 903 was from Cummins. It was only available (kit wise) in the Ertl IH 4200. If you were a fan of Movin'On, Sonny's truck (season 1) had a 903 in it. Tim

Kostas, In the early years of the 377, external air cleaners were very common. Tim

Looks like another General body? "Lets see the valve panel". It's the ROG decal and bits.