highway

Thanks, Jeff. I'd kinda like a four door right now, too, since it's the only vehicle me and the better half have running. It get's really cramped grocery shopping, since I can't put anything in the bed because there's no tailgate! Of course, slammed and bagged (well maybe some tractor trailer bags in the rear ) ain't good up here when the snow flies!

I don't know, but I always thought there was an old saying "A cluttered desk means a cluttered mind". Is that true, Mark!?!?

I just hope I get back to my lucky streak I had after I first started playing! Harry's been doing too good a job fooling me lately!

That's looking great so far, Brian!

You know, Mark, I'm so envious of you getting that kit! That's one I'd like to get back from my early building years, and it's such a nice kit. Of course, I think even though my desk total is bigger, we probably have about the same building area, and my truck takes up most of it especially when I have it mocked up with it's trailer, and it's only 1/24 scale! You should see it when I drag out the 1/8 scale 79 Trans Am I have!

Oh well, but was any of your posts about your latest build?? I know at least two of mine were!! Wait, I think this just might be a third! The freshly painted frame on my big rig. Of course, I must have missed that episode of the Simpson's, because while I know about space cowboys and space trucking, I never heard of a space coyote! I know we're all joking around, who really cares how many or often we post, I know I don't!

Well, I do have to try to catch up with you, right?

BUT, OF COURSE!!!!!

Ok, I tortured everyone enough with my last post, so here is the big update. The frame is now in paint! It's just not any paint, either, it's another Rustoleum Colorshift color called "Gamma Green". I found it Saturday night when I went to Lowes to pick up another can of the "Galaxy Blue" Colorshift to put a couple more coats on the cab. I have seen, of course with the execption of the intense green, shades of purple and gold in the frame so far, and waiting for the rain to leave so I can see it in the sunlight. Anyway, enough chit chat, on to the pics! Here it is with the (finally finished) cab.

Who's ready for an update? Well, here's an update, I QUIT! I got so upset that I just couldn't keep my sanity and before I needed to be dragged to the looney bin, I took the biggest sledge hammer I could find and SMASHED IT TO BITS!!! HAHAHA JUST KIDDING!!!!! I had you all going for a minute, didn't I?!?! Ok, seriously though, I do have a major update, but you have to see the teaser update first. The teaser update is some in progress pics of the interior. I put some BMF on the door handles, since I like the shiny stuff! These are a few teasers of the idea of what the interior will be like when it's finished. Oh, by the way, there is one thing that is in pieces, but it's not because of a sledge hammer! The bumper is in a few pieces because I have been reworking it slightly, and it is nearly finished, so you'll see it hopefully by the end of the week.

Thanks, Jim, and technically you did use two colors, the flocking has just enough difference to set the paint off nicely.

I hope you do find it, you will love the results. The pictures here really does not do it justice. I was going to suggest trying to find it online at Lowes.com, but I checked not only the stores you mentioned, by my local store that I know had a full row of each as of Saturday night, and can't find it anywhere!

I agree with Don. What color did you use on the interior, Jim?

Did you check where they have the spray paints? That is where I found mine, and I also found another color at my local Lowes last Saturday call "Gamma Green" in the same Colorshift line.

Yep, don't get me wrong, the Monogram snaptites are nice, but I've had two of the AMT kits and both ended up being parts because there were major pieces missing. I just want to build one!

Wow, Jeff, if yours gets any lower, you could park it under mine!

Wayne, are you talking a base for one of the new ones or the one in the opening post? If it's the one in this thread, I'd say a good start would be one of AMT's 92-96 F150 kits, since it looks like there's a Ford truck somewhere under all that armor.

AWWW, Doug, you got my hopes up! When I seen the title, I thought maybe it was for AMT's kit.

Thank you for your service, Barry! Now on to your question, I haven't tried it yet, but I've heard the polishing systems for 1:1 headlights work well.

You're quite welcome, Jeff.

It's also nice they are giving us truck builders something at least this truck modeler has wanted for a long time, a MODERN truck! I know many of us truck builders are awaiting the release of the Moebius International Lonestar kit.

Jeff, welcome to the wonderful world of scale trucking. First, I built one of these years ago, and it was the first Italeri kit I ever built, and I've been hooked ever since. Italeri makes great kits, and since this is your first, the hardest thing is getting the multipiece cabs just right. I usually use the floor of the cab as a jig to keep the cab square as the glue dries, just make sure there is no glue that will get on the floor and glue it in too. As for replacing anything to make it more realistic, there really is nothing to worry about. The only part that even comes remotely close is the fifth wheel, because it is more a European style than most you see here in the states, but even that is not a major issue that demands replacing. The kit builds into a fine truck just as is. Secondly, and please don't take me the wrong way, but if you have a truck dealer near you, you can get most of the detail pics you need there. The reason I say this is because most of the details you listed are pretty much the same between all trucks, some pieces may be in different locations like air tanks, but all the lines usually run to common points like the brakes or air bags on the suspension. The same goes for the rest of the chassis wiring, the wiring for things like the lights might change some from truck to truck, but they all run to the same common points. The engine is about the only thing you might not find going to a truck dealer, but I found this site to be very helpful. http://www.jobbersinc.com/index.htm All you need to do is click on the engine manufacture and scroll through the pics until you find the engine you need. Most of them have nice detail pics of all sides of the engine. I know in the kit the engine is a Cummins, but not sure exactly which model. I hope this helps you out, and I look forward to seeing your project. Any questions, don't be afraid to ask, I've found many of us here are also drivers, so we can help.

I guess I'd better change the tires on this one then!!! They look too new for a container!

I can't help, but I'm interested to see what ideas come about for this. I have one of these on my "rainy day" shelf.

Looking good! I like the body color on the cam covers (or whatever they are ), nice touch!