Chuck Most

Well- test fit the CAT into the chassis today- there's actually suprisingly little room in front of the engine considering how long the hood is! And as you'd expect there might be a few ground clearance issues with the oil pan. I'm thinking of rectifying that with a remote sump.

Very nice! This same kit was the first semi I actually finished, and this thread brings back a lot of memories... mostly memories of what I should have done to make my finished one look better! I think if I ever build one of these again I'm going to toss the kit ladders and go with the 'stirrup' type side steps. And yeah- that front plate bracket does interfere with tilting the cab- pulled mine right off the hinges the first time I tried to open the cab.

Wow... that's made up of Lego bricks? That looks so cool! I don't know what else to say but... cool! I wish my kit-based rigs would turn out that nice.

Nice! Blow it up to 1:1 and I'd live in it.

You see quite a few trucks like that in good old Gratiot County- though some have a (usually fake) 6" diameter smokestack in the bed and a chrome plated... ah... reproductive pouch let's call it hanging off the hitch reciever.

I can't say I blame you there!

Alright... time for a mockup, no? All but the last eight scale feet or so of the frame is roughed in- I'll start on that once I figure out what suspension/axles I'll be using. Still may or may not use the Mercury sleeper box, but right now I'm leaning toward using it.

If they're going to do '80's-movie themed Christmas ornaments, call me when they finally do the Eric Freeman 'Garbage Day' ornament based on Silent Night, Deadly Night 2.

You'd also need to widen the fenders- how much I'm not sure, but the fenders on a 500 were also wider in addition to having a larger openings. The grille opening is the same size. I know a guy with a '54 and '55 F-500 (same as a '53)- I'll see if I can get over there this weekend with a tape measure and find out for sure.

I want to do one of those as well- it's that grille and hood I'm worried about. I'm not that good with curves and symmetry- put them together and it's pretty much hopeless. Chassis, axles and drivetrain shouldn't be a big deal- C-channel for the rails and I think if nothing else I can modify a Plymouth or Hudson engine into the REO six if need be. I'm thinking the Chevy cab might be the best starting point- sad thing is even though I had a '46 Chevy right alongside the REO for years, I never got around to measuring them to see how close they were in size.

I don't think I've ever seen anybody model a field sprayer truck, even though I've thought about it quite a few times.

One of these? http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5172/5484928262_638203fc7d.jpg That was the civilian version of what I have.

What Leo said. The cab used on the Sterling was the 'new' Louisville cab, which was introduced as a 1997 model.

Olaf glonzo blarney quantum glockenspiel?

Nice! Much better than the one I built a few years back (and no longer own). Though mine was basically an '86 El Camino parts donor kit, which had no engine or wheels when I got it. I didn't know what the Regal nose was from at the time, but I now think it was an old AMTsnap-together NASCAR kit. I also added a Vortec 4.3 V6 from a '95 Sonoma and some American five-spokes.

Never knew IH sleeper boxes of the period were done by an outside company- I'd always assumed (I know, I know...) they were designed and built in-house. Learn something new every day. Interestingly I am thinking of trying out a Mercury sleeper on a Transtar, glad to know it would be correct for an earlier version of the rig if nothing else.

And now we're up to THREE versions I'd like to build of the new ProStar kit.

No, I think they clearly used two different land speed cars- the sides flanking the electric shaver don't quite match.

As do I, but for whatever reason EVERY project I start ends up requiring a great deal of it. I passionately hate bodywork, but I always take on projects that need a bunch of it. I think I'd have done a two-tone for the interior- seat and door panel inserts in a matching (or close to) body color, just to break up the sea of white. Not that the all-white treatment looks bad, mind you! But all in all, very nice work on this one.

I remember a reviewer in SAE saying something along the lines of "this author perceived quite a few inaccuracies in the body", but I don't remember him going into any detail as to what those inaccuracies were.

Love that IH despite the rather unfetching Bronze hue it's painted.

I like the paint scheme- and the wear and tear! I'm currently building one of these (mostly) box-stock as a kind of dry run for the Maxiumum Overdrive Green Goblin version I plan to build one of these days.

It's fixed on the current '52 convertible as well. Just pre-ordered a couple of Olds Coupes from my local shop... I'll be waiting until after I've peeled off the shrink wrap and at least have it in the pre-paint mockup stages before I pass any final judgement upon it.

Looks to be based off a '47-53 GMC truck- a couple of AMT '50 Chevy kits and a LOT of scratchbashing would have to fill in the blanks. Actually found a vintage ad for something that looks very similar- http://yngfire.com/index.php?topic=1374.30

Keep the paint scheme as it is. I know the feeling- some of my best projects are ones that came along due to parts being seemingly magnetically attracted to one another.