highway

Yeah Jim, I have that pic somewhere, too. The only thing I don't understand is to me that pic looks to dark compared to the Series 60s I had in my trucks. Most were about the same color as this pic of a 8V-71 or maybe even a shade lighter. Either way, there's a Detroit dealer not far from me, and I'm planning on getting the paint there.

Well, after a week of thinking (well more like sulky and being overly depressed ) about not completing this for the other site's community build, and staring at it almost every waking hour since it's way to big to fit back in the box, I started working on it again. There is finally something under the hood! No, it's not the kit engine either, I just couldn't stand the thought of a Cummins under the hood of this beast. I'm sorry, I just don't like Cummins engines, the only good one I ever drove was a 444 Big Cam (I think) that was in a 1974 White Western Star wrecker I drove that could probably pull your house off its foundation! OK, enough gabbing, here's the new engine, which just happens to be from an Italeri Peterbilt kit, a Detroit Series 60. I have to do a little front engine mount modification, but the rear mounts fit perfectly, and the small doghouse in the firewall looks like it was made for this engine. I just have to find some Alpine Green and wait for the snow to leave town and spring to come so I can spray it!

Wow, I'm surprised after almost 15 hours, anyone hasn't at least asked "What happened to those?" or "What is inside those poor horrible boxes?". I'm highly disappointed in all of you!!!! Anyway, like I said, it was a lucky stop at the hobby shop yesterday. The owner just happened to be cleaning out the back room, and these and about 6 garbage bags full of kits like them, mostly aircraft though, were on their way to the dumpster. In 2004, we were hit in this area by flash flooding caused by the remnants of Hurricane Ivan, which dumped about 9 inches of rain on the area in a small amount of time. The shop was hit hard with about 6 feet of flood water in the shop, and the owner was trying to salvage what he could at first cleaning up some of the less hurt kits and selling them without boxes, which I helped him out getting some of those too. Yesterday he looked at me and said anything from the flood that was left that I wanted I could get at $5 a kit! I ended up with 7 kits, and got them out of the flood beaten boxes and bagged them up. EDIT: I was even surprised by the Dancing Lowrider Crown Vic Police Car, it must have been just high enough not to get water, just some moisture damage to the box, the electronics for the dancing motor and the lights STILL WORK!!

Yeah, remind me NEVER to try to find your house to raid your stash!!

I don't think AMT made any, but Monogram (Revell) makes a 1926 Bulldog. They just reissued the tanker version just a few months back, and there were also earlier log and dump versions as well.

Brian, I just noticed something. Where's the John Deere hot rod!?!? Is it not worthy of being in your 2010 builds!?!?

Beautiful job. I can almost hear the kids in the back seat yelling "Are we there yet?"!

It's called an ignition shield, Blake!!! All older model Corvettes that had a radio had these installed for shielding to prevent engine noise being transmitted through the stereo because of the fiberglass body. The only Corvettes that would be correct with a regular style distributor cap that would be visible would be a radio delete car, where there was no stereo ordered from the factory. The way Nick is detailing this is 100% correct for a Vette with a stereo, as most of the connections at the distributor will not be seen once the shield is in place. Great work so far Nick and wonderful reference work!

Here's what a lucky stop by the hobby shop got me today.

Not a problem!

Come to think of it, I've had a couple Freightliners that had "Freightliner" on the OEM airbags.

That would have made a nice "Real or Model" picture for Harry! Wonderful work as always, Tim.

The real aluminum wheels are from Kit Form Services, known to truck modelers as KFS. Here is a link to their home page. KFS Home page Click on the "Metal Parts" tab and scroll down to AL-19 and AL-19a.

I agree! I would like to see you post one of your builds as a work in progress, it would be nice to watch one of your projects from start to finish.

And hopefully some taillights, too!

Got any pics??

Ok, now on to the trucks themselves. As you said, the Kenworth kits from AMT and Revell of Germany can both contribute to building a "correct" truck, be neither on their own will build one straight from the box. The sleeper is the first issue, the AMT will be correct for an early version, but the Revell is correct for a later in the series version. The Revell kit, as you said, is a better starting point for the later version, but has an incorrect engine. One thing you might try is use the AMT Cummins in the Revell kit or one of Revell of Germany's Peterbilt trucks as an engine donor, since they have Cummins power in them also. As for the rear suspension, I'm not sure what suspension was used on the original TV trucks, but here is a possibility you might take in mind. You can use the Revell kit to build a replica of the TV truck and just keep the suspension that is in the kit. I found these pics online, and I can't remember the site where I found the in progress pics, but I think I remember this 1:1 replica has a Peterbilt rear suspension in the rear. This is a pic of the finished truck. Now on to the BJ & the Bear truck, I know at least with the generic Kenworth cabover, since that is the only one I'm familiar with, the reason for the long frame is becasue of the original race truck haulers from the 70s, the "Papa Truck" and "Hideout Truck" haulers. The later issues are generally those trucks without the hauler beds, resulting in the mile long frame. The best solution I could say to do is just cut the frame to the proper looking length. If you need also, I have pics I've found online of replicas of both trucks, if you're interested, PM me and I'll email you what I have. I'll also try to find the site where I found the pic of the Movin On replica being built, because there was also a BJ & the Bear truck on the same site. Here's a pic of the Movin On truck picking up the BJ & the Bear rig!

Frank, I'll start with the decals, since that's the easiest part of you're questions, JBOT decals offers correct decals for both trucks. JBOT Movin On Decals JBOT BJ & the Bear Tractor Decals JBOT BJ & the Bear Trailer Decals They are offered in multiple scales, and with the mention of the dry transfers from the AMT, I would guess the AMT with those is a 1/32 scale snap kit, as I have this old Tropicana reefer that has dry transfer decals, too. Jerry, who posts here as "phoneguy", at Modeltruckin.com also offers the BJ & the Bear decals, again in 1/25 and 1/32 scales (at least), and offers them as truck only or trailer only, but he also has a complete truck and trailer set as well. Modeltruckin BJ & the Bear Trcuk and Trailer decal set

Clayton, you are exactly right, that Allison is the same as the engine pack kits from AMT from around a year or so ago. There have been a few different issues of it, and I've seen them on ebay now and then. The kit this was in was from around the late 90s and had "Compitition Parts Pack" on the box.

Or even maybe try one of the headlight polishing kits found in auto parts stores.

Sure thing, Ben (I hope that's OK ), I will get you added in the morning. I was at the mother in law's all day working on her computer, so I just don't feel like editting the list right now!

If this one even turns out half as nice as your Ford lowboy with the tank, this will be a stunning build! I'm watching for sure.

Frank, even though you found what you needed, here is another great site for kits needing instructions, the Drastic Plastics instruction site. This is a link to the home page. http://www.thedpmcc.com/instructionsintro.html

AWW geez, thanks Dennis! Even though the build might be over today, this build won't be! I'm already thinking of ideas for a normal engine, and at least I don't have a deadline now, so I can add all the extras I wasn't going to have time for!

That is looking great Nick!