Semi Trailer Mechanic

What's goin' on... My girlfriend and I saw this today. Definitly entertaining but it's nothing to take serious!!! Like any other movie it's got its share of unrealistic scenes and some bad editing moments. (So What) Like on CHiP's a blow out flat tire can cause a highway pile up but we still kept on watching the series. But then again if watching cars,trucks,and good looking chicks makes you complain ... I saw an advertisment at the theater that the will be showing soon. I won't spoil the details go see it.

What's goin' on... Interesting thread!!! This one's been on the back burner for 5 years. This one has been over a year.

What's goin' on... Paul as well as you other fellas. The last four trucking companies I worked for I was laid off from. Either they went out of business,merger,or cut backs. At first I thought signing up for unemployment benifits was a sign of weakness. I went six months the first time I was laid off because I was too bullheaded and too proud to go on unemployment and that only put me in a bind. If any of you fellas might think the same DON'T you don't know how long it will be between jobs. There's no shame. Make finding a job a full time job. Try to devote at least five hours a day thru the week devoted to the job hunt. After a few months being off work it's easy to get comfortable and the job hunt started slacking (this happened to me once). Stay focused ... and don't look back!!! Good Luck and hang in there...

What's goin' on... Not bad for your first truck kit!!! The stacks look out of scale other than that a really clean and well build truck. What brand of paint (and color description) did you use?

What's goin' on... In high school I had several old muscle cars w/ the air shocks and fat tires. REMEMBER WHEN a 69 Camaro or a 66 Chevelle w/ no rust could be bought for less than $800.00!!! One of my old cars was a 1972 442 that I had Pro-Trac front runner pizza cutters up front (they had tubes) and a set of Pro-Trac steam roller tires in the rear w/ a set of High Jackers. I sold it back in 1990 to an Olds Collector. This is on my list of to build projects. I'm going to use the 1970 Jo han Cutlass kit resin hood and bumpers the rims and tires are from the Glass Pack Corvette kit. Thanks for the compliments fellas!!!

What's goin' on... Here's the 70(1/2) Camaro reissue. I built this the way I remember hot rods back in the 70's thru the mid 80's. Building this seemed like an up hill challenge. I didn't want anything to do w/ correcting the few flaws that may or may not be seen. Thanks for looking.

What's goin' on... When it comes to SWIFT anything goes! I worked for SWIFT for four years only to be layed off a couple years ago. They downsized the company to reduce the driver to non driver ratio 5:1. For every 5 driving positions they wanted 1 non driving position. That was back then. Less than a year ago they started offering the trailer mechanics (at least those in the Columbus,Ohio terminal) their jobs back. I would have to take a pay cut to go back. I'm partialy tempted to call my old foremen in the trailer shop to find out what's going on just out of stupid curiosity!!!

What's goin' on... I "COMPLETELY" agree !!! I've been a semi trailer mechanic since high school over 18 years so far. In the 90's for about 5 years straight I worked two jobs as a mechanic and it ruined all interest in the car hobby. My old 1:1 1970 Chevelle sat for 10 years not being touched. Working on average 75 hours a week the last thing I wanted to do (and to date) unwind on the weekend doing of all things tinker w/ a car so I sold it w/ no regreats. As far as this hobby goes there's nothing more relaxing than sitting in a pair of cut off sweat pants and a pocket t-shirt w/ the stereo on and a cold bottle of BUD or a big glass of ice-T in peace and quiet. No air hammers no trucks running at high idle no welding fumes no air compressors screaming and no virbation absorbed by the joints from air tools! However I think a break from this hobby once and a while is good to recharge the batteries. I've learnd to becaome a homebody and I like it While taking a break from model building I like to play Pool on the game site Pogo.com follow a few model forums search the internet for future projects or whatever and watch a little more TV/movies.

What's goin' on... Tim You definitly know how to make these newer Petes out of outdated kits. I too live near a Wal-Mart distribution center in Grove City,Ohio less than a half mile away from my front door. Also the company I work for sends me there on service calls doing repairs on common carrier trailers. I have yet to see a green Wal-Mart truck. You are doing a hell of a job. By the way. Great job on the Brockway in the MCM Truckers Corner!!!

What's goin' on... Benjamin I use Plastruct 1/100diamond plate. My local hobby shop carriers this it can be purchased directly from Plastruct. http://www.plastruct.com/Home.html Here's a current project I've got on the workbench where that diamond plate is being used.

What's goin' on... Looks like you put alot of work into this!!! WELL DONE!!!

What's goin' on... Looks like you've got your work cut out for you!!! I know of a couple fellas that drives OTR that would build model trucks in the bunk. I sure how what ever you've got the CSC in stays sealed in the truck. That'd be a mess if ya hit a pot hole or hooking to a trailer and that stuff spilled all over the interior

What's goin' on... Clay Back in the days (How pathetic I'm 36 years old saying back in the days GEEEZE ) when cartoons were on TV every Saturday not the news there were short educational cartoon clips between commercials and the cartoon called School House Rock. There was a skit where there was a little guy singing SLOW DOWN ...DON'T GULP ...CHEW NICE AND EASY ...CHEW,CHEW CHEW, Your food. Just thought I'd share that w/ ya!!! Glad you're ok. I've had the windpipe capped off by a piece of food once longest couple seconds of my life.

What's goin' on... Uwe As mentioned already that the color is called Alpine Green. Tamiya has a color in spray can that's close to being a perfect match.At this time I can't recall the exact name.

What's goin' on... Thanks for the compliments fellas!!! Yes that's supposed to be a Miller stick welder/gernerator. Several tools I scratchbuilt and other were from the FUJIMI (sp) tools kit. There's a couple more things I'd like to add to this then I'll probably start the interior. Later on I'll take some better quallity pictures as this progress'.

What's goin' on... Here's my latest project. This is the Model King / AMT 79 Ford 3/4 ton 4x4 I'm building as a trucking fleet service truck. So far the "Business End" is finished up. Next I'll concentrait on the interior. Thanks for looking!!!

What's goin' on... Clay That's it. Tamiya semi gloss black. I'll weather it later on. Thanks for the compliment!!!

What's goin' on... Here's the latest update. Thanks for looking!!!

What's goin' on... Clay I too will keep an eye on this project as you progress. A hobby shop near me has a few different Galaxies and I've been tempted to get a couple. This one looks like it's got a lot of potential and the directions for detailing it are endless. I was thinking about getting one for a flat bed trailer load. (Being shipped from the MFG to the dealer)

What's goin' on... Does anyone know if the instructions for the Model King release F350 4x4 kit are posted somewhere on the net, beit a website,online photo album and so on? Thanks in advance!!!

What's goin' on... Dave Thanks!!! That'll work perfect!!! At this time I keep my collection of kits and all my builds in a storage unit I seldom go to. That tipper (transfer trailer) is there and I forgot all about that. Come to think of it...that's one of my built trailers that doesn't have a truck for it.

What's goin' on... Tim Again fantastic job. On the other forums you posted this ... you didn't show the interior. The Newspaper,and especially the Motor Carrier Atlas are perfect! You'll see me do that in the near future as well!!! This has got to be one of my favorite of all your builds.

What's goin' on... Aaron Thanks for the FYI on the MEK.

What's goin' on... It could use a little Bare Metal Foil. Other than that a JOB WELL DONE!!!

What's goin' on... Yesterday (12.19.08) I took the day off work to have some time for myself. (and a 3day week end WOO HOO) I went and pulled an incomplete project out of storage and finished it up. Some pieces were lost and a few things got broken but I did the best I could to finish it up!!! This is the Fred's Towing R/G W900 I built based on a truck that belonged to a since fallen flag trucking company Berta Bros. from Canon City,Colorado. Here's the truck I based it on. Still not sure which trailer I'm going to pair up w/ this... Thanks for looking!!!