Semi Trailer Mechanic

What's goin' on... I was goin' for that old school look! As far as the front suspension mishap goes ... D'OH!!!

What's goin' on... Here's my Revell 1968 Firebird. Thanks for looking!!!

What's goin' on... I prefer not to use enamel but when I do here's how I apply it. Turn on the tap (hot water). While that's warming up shake the can until the water is hot then warm the can until it's almost too hot to hold. Start spraying just before the part to be painted then across it. Using the same direction,distance from the work, and travel speed each pass until you've completed the first coat. Don't try to completely paint it in your first coat. Wait about a week before the second coat. This might seem like overkill but enamel dries from the inside out. Example after a few hours the surface might seem dry but underneath it's still wet hence the reason you get finger prints on it after several hours or when you try to polish it the paint might get tacky or gum up (even after a day or two). Speaking from experience!!! The rule of thumb I go by is when you can't smell that first coat gassing out anymore then it's completely dry then do a light wet sand if you choose to. Next spray the second coat using the same techniques as above and again wait another week or so before the third. Repeat until you got a perfect paint job by "your standards". Then wait another week beforel you finish sand and polish. The best thing to do is start out painting the body. While waiting between coats you can do your homework looking for good reference pictures, posting questions to other model builders on this forum and other forums you may or may not belong to. Then start assembling other areas of your project. Engine,trans, interior, any tirework/detail and so on. This is the first project I used that technique on. It took four coats to achieve this finish. The picture doesn't justify how well it looks!!! GOOD LUCK!!!

What's goin' on... Well... If he's near Old Man's Cave he might get lost in those foot hills!!!

What's goin' on... 36 here.

What's goin' on... Ray Speaking of Matlack terminals there was one literally walking distance from my old townhouse. I applied there and was offered a job for a trailer mechanic. I turned the job down because it was union. I would have been hired for day shift but I could get bumped from that shift and any time because I would have had zero senority. At the time I had a second job at nights so running that risk was out of the question. Less than one year later Matlack shut their doors. Talk about dodging a bullet!!!

What's goin' on... Very Nice!!! That color green is perfect!!! When Stevens International reissued the R-Model Mack a couple years ago I used that to build a Matlack replica. A friend of mine had an old set of the Matlack decals that he let me have. I'd talked to a former Matlack driver and he gave me a little insight on how the trucks were equipped. To make it exact the truck (kit) needs to have a PTO,driveshaft,and a pump for loading/unloading the trailers. If I remember he said that the older R-models had the steel square tanks and most had the heavy duty Dayton drive hubs (six spoke) instead of the five. I wanted to show you my version. I too used Tamiya green but it's too bright and used a set of Plaskit aftermarket (six spoke) hubs. Seeing your truck and knowing the color green you used I almost want to strip the paint repaint it and find another set of Matlack decals and do it right. WELL DONE!!! Here's a couple pictures of my version. The last picture is a Peterbilt I scratchbuilt one of those pumps I had mentioned it's located behind the fuel tank.

What's goin' on... Here's the latest update. Out of 20+ pics these are the only two that were worthy of loading. I'll get better shots later on. For the most part this is a box stock build w/ the exception of the tires and rims. These are MRC's Crager S/S and Firestone Wide O oval tires. As is this is mocked for fit! I'm going for the old school look! No fuel injection or 17+ inch rims and so on... Most of the under carriage is done except for some touch up paint work and the traction bars. The rest looks like it's almost done but there's alot more to be done. Thanks for looking!!!

What's goin' on... When it comes to modern trailers for the most part you're on your own(scratchbuild). I know of a few aftermarket kits. You can get a couple AMT Great Dane vans and make a 53.

What's goin' on... Dave WELL DONE!!!

What's goin' on... WELL DONE!!!

What's goin' on... Kurt Thanks for the compliment. Some fellas like the large car trucks I however, I like well kept fleet (trucking company) trucks and trailers. I guess you can call 'em the blue collar man's truck.

What's goin' on... This is the Watkins W925 that I bought and built several years ago. It was completely stripped rebuilt and detailed for the trailer that's hooked to it. Thanks for looking!!!

What's goin' on... Here's my Kenworth w900. This started out as a rebuild of one of my older projects. This link here show the beginning to the end of this project. http://www.flickr.com/photos/9495602@N02/s...57607023292098/ And then this link here shows the trailer. http://www.flickr.com/photos/9495602@N02/s...57605758542458/ Thanks for looking!!!

What's goin' on... This weekend I managed to get alot done to the W900. I decided to do away w/ the headache rack and install a tire rack in place. Here's the latest work in progress pics. Thanks for looking and any interest in this project!!!

What's goin' on... I forgot about this web site. http://www.supershowrigs.com/index.html

What's goin' on... If you got the capabilities try making your own. I use Bare Metal Foil decal paper. I'll find an image online down load it to the comp then open a "WORD" file. Insert the image on the "WORD" page and edit the image and add text as needed. Unless you have an ALPS printer use the "white" decal paper. Once you've got a logo made print it on standard paper to see if it's ready to go or re edit. It's best to make enough logos that'll cover the entire sheet then print it off. Allow the ink to set up at the least 4 hours then spray them w/ clear coat and let that dry over night (that 's what I do). Here's a project where I found a trucking company logo online edited it and here it is.

What's goin' on... You got it!!!

What's goin' on... Well Done!!! You even made the troller motor!!!

What's goin' on... I'm not really into lowered trucks so I haven't tried lowering a truck. For the front axle try installing the axle on top of the springs making it an overslung axle. Use an exacto knife and cut the top of the u-bolt details off. Cut a small square piece of styrene plastic and mount that directly under the axle. Use a pin vice drill and make the holes for the u-bolts. Using either fine round stock styrene or brass make your u-bolts and on the bottom use Plastruct hex rod for the u-bolt nuts. Drill a hole thru the center of the nut so some of the u-bolt will protrude thru it for accuracy. For the rear. I absolutly hate this supension details Revell tried to replicate! I've always kit bashed an AMT 359 for the suspension. Getting back on topic here. Cut off the trailing arms and move them up on the hangers. Try using the air bags from the AMT 352 Peterbilt or try using a rubber o-ring. Good Luck Something else you can do is look into trucks that have car carriers/stingers. These trucks have low profile suspensions on them that if the rack wasn't on it ...... it would look like a low rider. These trucks have 255.75.R22.5 tires on them opposed to having the 295.75.R22.5 11R22.5 11R24.5 or the low pro 24.5's ect ect ect.(low profile) to help w/ the lowered stance. You could use the tires/rims from the Testors die cast 1:28 scale rigs to replicate these. Here's a few pictures I took when I worked for Swift Trans. for future building reference. Note how low it sits!!!

What's goin' on... No, not the movie I got it from. Here's a hint ... BACON

What's goin' on... Plastruct styrene scratchbuilding supplies has exactly what you're looking for!!! As a matter of fact I just bought some this evening. I purposly used this large of a picture so you could see the details.

What's goin' on... UNBELIVABLE That's right!

What's goin' on... Thanks for showing you're progress! I'll have to try that!

What's goin' on... "You're an island of reality in a sea of diarreha"