Chuck Most

I do like the first one, but these are a bit more up my alley- This one really has some kind of bizarre charm to me... This one's just too goofy for me not to like-

I'm guessing it'll be a curbside, but I don't care- I'm more than a little intrigued.

Ten years ago or so, this would have been how I spent my typical Friday evening. Very cool!

Shhhhhhhhh..... I'll be using those hubcaps on the long bed version of the kit to disguise the fact that my "F-250" only has five-bolt wheels, but don't tell anybody.

They should- these kits and the Tuff Truck are based off the same tooling.

Love it! Same color I want to paint one of mine once they're out- like this one only in nicer condition.

Believe it or not, that is a fully functional vehicle- you drive it lying down.

The truck is sold, but the pics are still up! To update to 1984 specs the AMT kit would need the Ford lettering and "Gear and Lightning Bolt" emblem removed, the latter replaced by a Blue Oval. Widen the wheel openings slightly, and find a different powerplant- the 534 had been out of production for a couple of years by the time this one was built. The CAT V8 from the AMT Louisville would be a good choice- this one does have a 3208. I believe 1984 was the first year the C Series used the Blue Oval on the nose... feel free to correct me if I'm wrong there. http://www.purplewave.com/cgi-bin/mnlist.cgi?100429A/5476

I still think it's a logical enough idea- what you're proposing could be done for way less than tooling an all new kit, and since the aluminum wheels would already have been in the original version of the kit, they could just throw those in as an option. I'm sure some people would feel miffed if they only suggested cutting the kit frame rails rather than providing shorter ones, but who here hasn't shortened or lengthened a frame? If the idea is to appeal to the dedicated truck modelers that would be a small concession, since they're probably familiar with the ins and outs of modifying a kit frame.

That would be a great stand-in for the AWOL ram head on my '40 Dodge.

One in every crowd, right? Sure there's all sorts of aftermarket stuff- resin, PE, decals, what have you, and it is fun finding and buying stuff like that. Waiting 4 to 8 weeks for it to arrive? Not so much. And since you're on this whole affordability shtick, consider how much any of that would add to the total price of the project. A kit, a set of resin Budds, a day cab panel... you might have a hundred bucks tied up in a project with just those three purchases. I know. I've done it. Let's face the facts- the days of buying a kit with the money you saved mowing lawns Saturday mornings are long gone, unless you own a successful groundskeeping business. I did screw up the pic, but my point remains, you can build an eye-catching semi tractor without resorting to shiny stuff and wild paint. And come on, Mitchell... doesn't the idea of a kit that includes a set of Budds appeal to your "no-bling" sensibilities? Even a little bit? They wouldn't need to offer many options beyond that, if any at all- just a kit that could serve as a base for something less flashy than your typical lux owner/operator rig. Less is more!

I certainly don't object to that idea- a few choices never hurt anybody. If it could be done in a cost effective manner an optional feature or two would be nice.

Bling and top-end equipment might sell models, but I do think it's about time the other end of the spectrum got a little more attention. Besides, you don't need to have a bunch of fancy polished parts and wild graphics to make something that's an attention-grabber (if that's your thing). Even a bare-bones fleet tractor can look pretty good with the right paint scheme. May I present Exhibit A- Nothing even remotely "blingy" about an Estes ProStar, but it sure does stand out in a sea of refrigerator-white examples, does it not? (And not that it's anybody's business but mine, yes, I do intend to build a Moebius LoneStar as an Estes day cab. Got a problem with that? ) While it's true I do like custom trucks, and when it comes to car models I'd gladly have a Shelby GT500 instead of a base model V6 Mustang, when it comes to Class 8 trucks and tractors my expectations are a bit different- I'd really like to see some more workaday subjects. I'd love to see a kit that comes with two-hole Budds and less chrome than a Model T. I like seeing realistic looking (if fictitious) markings, not the tacky graphics you find on many kit decal sheets that look like something out of a '70's van customizer's drug-addled nightmares. Not that all graphics are bad (the yellow Italeri DAF XF 105 comes to mind ), but I'd rather just see duplicates of factory stripe graphics, when applicable. I'm more of a "casual" heavy commercial modeler, I only started building them about five years back, but even I can see the appeal of offering something that wouldn't exactly be Large Car Magazine material if built out of box. And it looks like the "hardcore" guys agree. Give us something basic... we can handle it from there. Even if they did a "decontented" modified reissue of the ProStar like some have suggested, I think even something like that would be a great start.

Dude, wrong forum. I think it goes here- http://thecabe.com/vbulletin/forum.php

It's the kit Cummins, and the paint is Cummins Beige by DupliColor. I think I got it at O'Reilly.

Yep, that's mine. So far the thing has done nothing but amaze me. After sitting dormant for so long I was stunned by how little work was needed to get it back up to operating condition. Take a brand new backhoe and leave it out in the elements for a year, and the electronics will have been chewed up by mice and the engine will be seized. Not so on an old girl like this one.

Thanks again guys!

I'm pleased by the fact that this old backhoe is not only up and running, but all of the attachments work just fine... all this after the thing sat outside for over thirty years. And only a couple hundred bucks have been sunk into the thing at this point- mostly on hydraulic hoses. It'll need tires fairly soon, but overally, quite happy now. In case you're wondering, it's a 1949 Minneapolis-Moline RTI with a Lull loader and Sherman backhoe.

Here's a KW from yesterday-

I'd loved to have seen the look on the guy's face when you dropped that bombshell.

I like it already.

Jeez... awfully particular about lamps aren't we? I have to ask... what is there to review about a lamp, other than "It lights up the room"?