Tony Bryan

The figures you quote are purely speculative and anyone can fudge these to make it look either way, good or bad if you like, so I can't see where your agrument is, not many die cast sell for $100, nor do many truck kits sell for $20 Why have a forum general discussion area then, all I see is 2 or 3 guys saying the same old thing, self appointed experts with authority on everything modeling

Buy it direct from China, and you'll pay less than $60 usd for it, and delivered in less than 10 days, it where I got mine

Excellent build and a great subject, is all I can say,

Auslowe have one http://www.auslowe.com.au/

Well said Anthony, the problem is the people here that are offering there "sound" advise about how well it won't do are like you said, car builders, and in fact have done no research into what truck model builders want, so with that in mind, how do you really know what is wanted in the market place? You may know a lot about your subject, in fact maybe more than most, but it has really no credibility with what is really wanted, nor where it is wanted, If construction models where not a big seller then why has revell released there bucket wheel excavator?, in 1/200 scale it doesn't seem main stream, but obviously it has some merits to be developed in the first place KFS in the UK, saw many years ago and researched what would sell, gee a single man operations put out 2 construction kits, but it didn't stop there either, he produced a modular trailer in various configurations, and a wind mill transporter,as well as a euro low loader all high end stuff, but sold very well, if it didn't then I doubt his company would not be here today, and now is producing 1/24th scale Military models, which is not a standard military scale, would have to ask why??? Risk, well there is always a risk, some sit on there hands complaining while others are doing The key would be for any company willing to risk new tooling would be to do there research, but in a way that wouldn't offer to many choices, and by that I mean don't offer 6 brand with 12 different products as a survey but limit it to either a dozer or an excavator, The thing is also, Moebius already have a good business relationship with International, then, development would be easier to produce a dozer of theres, or a scraper or loader from yesteryear Drake Australia, took a gamble with there own die cast range, to the tune of $120,000 in fact, there first 2500 models sold out in 3 weeks, which showed them what really the market place was for truck models, yep, 1/50 scale, the sales where very unexpected because they under estimated the market, What is there next move???? To increase there range of 1/50 models and trailers, as well as develop and release a 1/24th version of there trailer which in fact is going to be produced by Italeri, now here is something interesting, they are NOT a model company, in fact they build trailers, but with a lot of insight they produced there own models Maybe some people making the decisions for models should look out side the BUBBLE the sit in an research world wide , it would give a far more accurate perception of what is wanted, with the biggest markets being outside the States If moebius can produce the world ugliest truck the "lone star" (great for a donor kit by the way) and have it sell then it really shows what people want, ............ something new, and not a re issue that is inaccurate, that you need to spend more money on aftermarket parts to correct the floors Like many, this is my opinion, so let the slanging match begin.................

That was 40 years ago, you may not know this but times have changed, and so has model building world wide,

Great project, TRT in New Zealand are mainly into fire engine bodies, and make trailers as a second business, even though they make a nice trailer, and are more than happy to share there drawings, I don't think they are exported to Australia, but one company from New Zealand does, and that is modern transport engineers They build a similar trailer for heavy haulage here in Australia, and is used by companies such as Heavy Haulage Australia, Lampson's etc, The trailer was originally designed for Lampson's, to carry this crane, and is 5 rows of 8, extendable swing wing with 2x8 widening dolly, the whole unit is designed for 130ton Here is a pic This really caught my eye when I first saw it, and am also drawing this in cad to have cnc cut in 1/16th,only the detailing left to go I have all the assembly pictures, and had a tour of there factory when they where assembling another for Lampson's They run a similar hydraulic suspension as you have design, this may help, the hydraulic ram is inside the frame on the right, and pivots on the left in the frame itself Dolly in the back ground, (jeep as it is known in the States), and the idea behind the Hydraulic goose neck and suspension is to be able to lift the trailer over small obstacles Your project is a fantastic one, I like that you are doing something from the bottom of the word, or top, depends how you look at it, and really look forward to seeing your progress, and what rig you come up with to haul it Auslowe also make a nice rim that you could use for this, they cast the tyres in rubber and the rims in resin Have fun

Another great model, look forward to the F cab

Spectacular to say the least, 1000hrs, now that is dedication look forward to see what you build next...

Look forward to seeing another one of your builds come together, they always look exceptional

Ben, not really suitable for exhaust stacks, for 2 reasons, 1.you can't get the exhaust stack off the rollers when they have been bent, and 2., they don't roll all the way to they edge, due to the rollers not being tight to each other, they only way it can is if the etch is still on the fret, and again you can't get it off the roller, I do have one of these rollers and they are great, but do miss the ends by about 3/8 of an inch, when I make my guards, I allow for the extra and trim it off when I have formed it The best way to roll the etch shields is to use a dowel, or machine yourself a former from acrylic, slightly undersize to allow for the spring in the etch and roll it on your bench, the more you roll it the tighter it will form around your dowel, then you can just slip it off your former

What a great build, love the paint work

another master piece in the making

That reefer looks great, and the decals from Jerry are real good for this kit, like the idea of the 2 hole buds also

That is very cool, and a great idea using the shock for the ram,

Sergy, You have done an excellent job building this, with some fantastic detail, makes the truck shine,

Have you asked Eric at P&P?

That is looking great, love the extra detail and all those heavy duty bits

That is a great job William, look forward to more updates, when are you going to master one and have it cast?

That is very cool

William, I do hope that you are doing a 1/16th version of each of these as well

Yes the Jaymar one is a 362, I have one, but have to tell you it ain't work casting, it is junk, you would be better of mastering another cab, and casting it different, to how this is, like I said before Jarmar or North coast hobbies as they are called now, castings are rubbish, they are cast in fibre glass, and are pulled out of the mould before they have fully harden, so they are warped, I'll take some pics and post them

Yes you are correct there, over 3 kg's to just cast to hood, I have cast a few 1/16th parts, and have a few more to do, but yes it is costly, I have also mastered a 36 inch bunk and areodyne roof, here is Australia, we call them High rise sleepersa Gold nugget style, there where many fitted to a SAR (Short Australian Right hand drive) KW's, which I have also mastered a conversion, including the 6 rod suspension, and Henrickson HAS 460, and new Alcoa rims to suit wether I cast this and offer it for sale is still up in the air, which is basically due to cost and if it is worth the return, considering that the kits will be around the $70 mark, and just a engine kit are $80-90 There was a few companies here that where doing 1/16th parts, 6v71 and 8v71. 3406, 350 and 400 big cam, as well as conversions, like pete 352,KW S2, and SAR and short hood W model think there was also a LTL, these ended up at JayMar and where made of Fibre glass, and they where junk if you can find a pre Jaymar cab or conversion then it would be much better than the JayMar stuff, The cabs are un workable Matt Burnett is having Porky cast his 1/16th stuff, so watch his website for any updates

I would love to know how a double blown GTO goes, reckon it would go real hard Love both your trucks, they are sweet, bring on the 1/16th KW's and Phoebe Cates wow that is going back a few years, even I had a crush on her....... I think I still do...

Very cool indeed