TUFF TIN

I love truck models and this unit is absolutely SUPER! Mike

Bubblenose.................. Freightliner Bullnose.................... Kenworth and we used to call the Pete's................... 3 story Pete's. Mike

Just checked your new site. Good luck as you have a lot of work ahead of you. Always enjoy your work as it is such a benchmark for the rest of us to shoot at. Mike

Tim just "P'd" in his puter. Mike

A 53 foot trailer in 1/18th scale would be 35 and 1/3 inches long. That's as close as I can get. Mike

This is a neat project and you did a lot of work on the fenders but if you would widen the tire opening it would make a more truer look. Most of the difference in a F-100 and the bigger trucks is the size of the wheel well opening. I don't want to seem like I'm picking on your work.................. just saying. Mike

Well, I'll try and show you the real thing. The first one is an early Pete and if memory serves me ccorrectly it was for sale in Reno at the ATHS Show in 2002 for a decent price. This picture I found on LCM of it being towed backwards. Hosted on Fotki Gordon Fast Freight, now Gordon trucking built 2 of these up in the 70's. Number 76 and number 80. I think this is 80. They used 350 Cummins, 13 speed Roadrangers and Pete air leaf rears ,spread. I drove for them then. Hosted on Fotki Tim has explained pretty much what they are and I was around several that were built and drove a few myself. It was just a way of life in those days. But................. in the 50's when my real KW was built they were knocking out about 6 trucks a week or maybe that was a month and when I retired 15 years ago the plant was knocking out 23 units a day and most likely didn't want to slow production with glider kits. Mike

Just finished my KW as a Glider. Even got a new fifth wheel and I strapped it down to the frame and used cardboard under the strapping to keep the primer from scratches. Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Mike

Tim; Where do you get the vinyl for the stripes and does it come in colors? Mike

I tried to add a picture of my Peerless model trailer but it didn't go so go to my Fotki at................ http://TUFFTIN.fotki.com and look in the Model Truck album. I used picture frame wire and they hook like shown on the back of the bunk and and run full length across the front. To make the loop for the tied end I simply made a loop in the wire and then took a single strand and wrapped it and knotted it by passing it under the wrap and over the wire. There is a close up of a tow starp I made that you can see a bit of what I mean. Mike

You nailed it! Also the big back window would be correct if the truck was new with a sleeper and the owner turned to hauling logs. Tail lights.............. drill holes in the back of the stinger and mount them behind them or build a small box on the side of the frame and double stack two round lights. Just a thought. Now............... how much would it take to get a small box of those logs sent to Arizona. Mike

Nice looking Pete and I like the colors. Bubblenose is a Freightliner term as Bullnose is to KW. We always called these Pete's 3 story Pete's. Mike

These type things have bothered me for a long time. I used to build street rods and then Ford started telling re pop people that they couldn't use the Ford logo. My thoughts are.............. Ford should allow them and offer them for sale in their own show room. What a boon to Ford with the free advertising. I think Paccar should do the same. I guess if I make my own decals and display them on a model that the computer police will be after me. That sucks!

I/24 scale is what they call 1/2 inch scale. 1 half inch equals 1 foot in 1:1 Mike

William, That is fabulous! Is that what you took to Florence? Mike

Very nice models. The scratch builds amaze me. All you need now is a contract to log. Mike

Love those LT's. Great work William. Mike

I have been looking at this for a few years with Ford going after the after market hot rod parts suppliers. In my opinion, Cat, Cummins, Ford or Joe Blow should become a dealer and offer the products named after them in their parts rooms. It is great advertizing. Mike

Tim Please tell me how to add my name to my profile as I checked everything and found no way of doing that. Mike

William, I have clicked on your profile and e-mailed you that way and I have copy and pasted your address and sent one that way but I guess I'm not getting thru. Check your junk mail. My address is.......... tufftin@msn.com Mike

William; I sent a regular E-mail yesterday for the pictures but didn't hear from you. Did you get it? Mike

Great pictures William. I wish that they would have marked them for location as they could be anywhere in the day. By the way, my son still logs in the northwest. Lives in Eatonville, WA and been logging out of Enumclaw, WA. so........... I once in a while get a copy of Log Trucker Magazine. Mike

William, Nice research and very interesting. After WWII, just after, a neighbor had several old GI rigs converted to log trucks in Bellingham, WA and some were the soft top type with no roof. They were red with black fenders. Rumor has it that a driver of the topless truck ran over a skunk and it pitched it into the cab. Man! That would make your day. The owner was was Abner Ludtke. Ludtke trucks still run up and down I-5 hauling freight