highway

You're quite welcome. I've never had either kit, honestly I never have really cared for that Stang, but I know the AMT based on the older 70s molds, and if you have ever had older AMT or MPC kits, would have the same detail (or lack of) as most of the other older kits. The Lindberg version, I think, is also an older mold, so detail may not be very high on it, either. Like I said, I never had either kit, so I'm not 100% sure, but either should at least be a good start!

No problem, but I will be the first to admit I'm far from best of the best! Also, I'm not a professional mechanic, but I know my way around most anything mechanical pretty well, and have worked on most everything with wheels, even tractor trailers, so if you want advice or help, please don't be afraid to ask me! I enjoy helping whenever I can, and if I think you might be able to do something different, I'll let you know, and give you my suggestion of how to pull it off, not just say "That's not right!" or "I wouldn't do it that way!" like a very select few do. I gained much knowledge from the older modelers in the former club I was a member of, and they helped me become a better builder, and I enjoy helping in the same way. The easiest way I've found to post pics is through Photobucket, that's what I use. The pics come out nice, and it's as easy as copying and pasting. The way I do it is I open Photobucket in a separate window than the forum, then copy the Photobucket IMG code, then go back to the window where I have the forum reply open, then paste the IMG code in the reply. Here's a link to the thread posted in the Tips section on posting photobucket pics: http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=12248 I'll be watching for the pics!

I don't have any pics, but I think both AMT and Lindberg did a 72.

Jamie, will these help your memory? They aren't the greatest (I didn't take them!), but they may help.

That looks like a great start. Going from what I remember of them untarped, you're dead on or very close to it!

COOL!! I don't think I've ever seen a model of a glass trailer before. I've seen the real ones the Pumpkin Trucks pull, or at least, used to pull, but never a scale one.

I see it this way, Mike, if you like how your idea looks, go with it. The should be no reason for you to abandon that part of a build UNLESS you aren't happy with the outcome. Also, don't worry what others may think of how your idea looks, as long as you're happy, that's what counts! On the flipside of the coin, though, in cases where you ask for options and opinions, carefully read the responses just like the ideas you've gotten here, maybe even mock one or two of the best ideas up. Then if you still can't nail down the idea you like, take a couple pics of the mock ups of the ideas and ask us again! There are many wonderful builders with wonderful eyes for detail, I've asked for opinions a few times also, and sometimes someone will mention something I either didn't notice or never thought of. I, like most of the other builders here, would be more than happy to help anyone in any way possible.

Ok, thanks Harry. What did happen to these ideas, Gregg? Like I said to Harry earlier, I know Rome wasn't built in a day, but I think this was a very good idea.

Nice job!

I might be wrong, but since the DD cab is molded in three pieces, couldn't you just leave the middle section out of it to make a day cab?

Harry, what ever happened to this idea in the "Thread for Ideas for New Topics/Categories" thread that Gregg started? I know Rome wasn't built in a day, but I thought this was a very nice idea. So far the only section that was added from these ideas was the "Pickups, SUVs, Non-Commercial Trucks" in the Model Trucks section.

I don't know about the 454, but Monogram did make a couple 1/12 scale Chevys.

I second the second on the Pics, not sure about the bike part, though! Come on, let's see this steal!!!

It is actually a wrecker with fire department markings, there is nothing fire truck related except for the markings. She's all wrecker!

Different, very different!!

THERE'S NO ENGINE IN IT!!! That stinks, and I was going to get one, too! As for how good a kit it is, I don't know, obviously I've not bought one. I did read somewhere there is no 1/20 scale trailer kits ever made to go with it, so if you want a nice Pete 359 that you can have a trailer on, here's a couple suggestions, with engines, too! The Revell Pete 359 that was the former (well still is, just not marked)Snaptite builds nicely and has a Cat 3406 engine. Here's one I have in progress with a car carrier. The other choice is Revell of Germany's Pete 359, it is a full glue and is nicely detailed. It is the same kit that Revell AG based the (incorrect) Can Do wrecker from, and I believe is also the base for the recent 353 Revell AG just released as the "Westernlife" truck. If I remember, the 353 still has the rounded fenders in the kit as well as the squared off ones. These have Cummins engines in them, and can be very pricey. My LHS has the "Westernlife" on the shelf for almost $90! Either way you'd go, the 1/25 scale ones sound more detailed than the Lindberg, and would allow you to add trailers down the line.

Thanks for the info, Mark.

I love the link!!

Nice builds! Dave Marcis drove a 41 car?? I always thought his number was always 71!

Bravo!!! I feel the same way, I build what I like, yet I do take a critical eye at my builds so if I ever do enter them in a show. I know there are many, especially a select one or two in the Model Trucks section, who feel 1/24 scale and 1/25 scale don't mix, and I'm usually the first to reply "WHO CARES!!!". I have always, even when I competed regularly in shows, built for myself first. If it looked good to me, I won, whether or not I won a trophy at the show. Since I think all good threads need pics , this is my current project. Sure, some may not like the big custom sleeper, but I do! Some may say the huge front moose bumper doesn't look right, even my better half has told me that, but I like it and think it adds a rough look to the truck. I've also been using this as a test bed for new ideas and things I've not done before. This is my first frame and sleeper stretch, it's also the first model I've ever used regular automotive Bondo filler on as putty. It is also the first model I've used color changing paints on, and will be the first to ever use Alclad chrome on to rechrome parts. I have also felt sometimes hearing some of the nit picks not only on this forum, but at shows as well, some people need to have some imagination when it comes to builds, and maybe take in consideration the builder may have not built the model to be a perfect replica. One case in point from personal experience was a show I helped judge. The builder built a nice International truck pulling an extendable bed flatbed trailer with a load of pipe on it in a military paint job. One of the other judges, who was a member of the club I belonged to, was also helping the host club judge, and he was helping judge heavy commerical, too. He had no idea what he was looking at when it came to heavy commerical, but he was judging it anyway. I, at that time, had about 8 years experience driving and working on trucks. He was one of the types that could not see past the build to the story behind the model, and thus started nit picking the truck apart. His first nit pick was the thickness of the door the builder cut open, he thought it was too thick. I shot that nit pick down telling him that doors on trucks are NOT thin, and also since this truck was built as a military hauler, it could be armored. His next complaint was the wall thickness of the PVC pipe the builder used as the load, he said the real thing would scale out to almost one foot thick. I shot that down with the fact some larger concrete drainage and sewer pipes can easily be that thick. Next he complained that the weight of such pipe would make the weight of the load beyond the legal allowable weights. That was quickly shot down after I gave him a very detailed explaination of the US DOT legal weight standards, plus the fact again that the truck was built as a military vehicle, the US military vehicles are EXEMPT from the DOT standards!!! This finally shut him up, and in this case, imagination won over techincallity, and earned the fine build a first place award. This proves, even if the builder may not even realize it, there is a story behind every build!

That's the way I feel...close is good enough! When I drove wrecker about ten years ago, I hated stretching that cord to the back, and then the owner bought a new light bar, a wireless remote. I loved that thing, no long cable to stretch , just plug it in the trailer light socket on the back of the wrecker bed then hang the bar on the back of the truck! The owner bought the wireless not shortly after I got a ticket for not having lights on a truck I was towing from Columbus, OH back to back to our shop in Wheeling, WV because on of my friends who worked there with me put the light bar back in the wrecker, but not the stinking cable!! I didn't know I didn't have it till I hooked the truck in Columbus! Oh, by the way, wish I could afford the fuel, but I have enough fun paying for the fuel in my 1:1 Ford diesel!

Nice!! I really like the light bar, you hit that almost dead on. I say almost because the ones I used on the real ones usually had two taillights per side, one for brake and one for turn signals. I think this is the first wrecker build I've seen with the light bar, nice touch! By the way, you can pass the scrap yard and tow that old bulldog to my house!

I'm not 100% sure, it's been a long time since I was under the hood with a Series 60, but I believe the heater hoses came off the water filter near the bottom right (as you're in the cab) of the engine near the water pump. The AC compressor was near the right top hand side of the engine and the power steering should be on the left hand side. I have an old Clint Freeman Components Detroit and also the same 377 you're working on, I'll look in the morning at both and see if I can jog the old brain cells!

I've never seen a flat sided O ring, either, but couldn't you use Evergreen half round rod for some of those things?

Actually, Chris, the suggestions you gave is EXACTLY how a friend of mine made a regular cab dually out of those kits. He started with the AMT regular cab Chevy, I can't remember if it was the 88 or the 90 kit, and added the dually bed and stock wheels from the Monogram F350 dually. The dually bed fits perfectly on the full detail kit's frame. If you'd like, I have a pic of it I could PM you.