highway

I used the Testor Custom Lacquer System Hemi Orange on this 09 Dodge Challenger. Here's where I probably will confuse everybody, or at least hear "You shouldn't have done that" and such, but the body IS primed, using the Testors Lacquer White Primer. The orange in these next two pictures, the engine and engine bay, WERE NOT primed, just sprayed on the bare plastic. If it were not hobby grade lacquer, I would never have sprayed the bare plastic without primer, as a few of the others have said. I have used Krylon lacquers before on bare plastic many moons ago, and they crazed the plastic like, well, crazy. Even if I use auto grade enamels like DupliColor, I always prime under them first.

Good dumpster diving Greg!! Like the saying goes, "One man's trash is another man's treasure!!"

It might just be the pic, Ryan, even though I found it on Detroit's website.

That is looking sweet, Ken! What did you make the APU housing from?

That I really can't answer, but here is a pic of a real Detroit Series 60 you could maybe match something to. Of course, if you have a truck dealership nearby, and from what I remember from my driving days I think there is a Freightliner dealer in Fredericksburg, you can get a can of the Detroit Diesel Alpine Green spray paint. You may even get it from a farm supply store like Tractor Supply, I know the one here carries some paints like that here.

That's a good idea, but if I remember the Revell tires, I know they have the webbing used to sandwich the tires between the wheel pieces, since this was a snap kit at one time. I can't remember if there is a hollow area to stuff the inside of the tires from or if they are solid around the bead. I replaced the ones on my 359 with Italeri Peterbilt wheels and tires from the 377 A/E kit.

Thank you very much.

Wrong on both counts!! It's a mean green Detroit Series 60.

Ditto!

I think my winning streak (in real or model anyway) may come to an end this week! I usually get a visual cue in the pics, but this one makes it tough!

I also, even though I've not used it for decals, have a Broderbund product called Printmaster Gold Ver 18 that came with a bonus DVD for Printshop Photo Projects. My mother in law uses Printmaster Gold Ver 4 (shows how old her version is!) to make cards on the holidays and many other projects. I'll have to give it a try.

Wonderful job, as usual, Tim. You sure do know your Peterbilts.

Sure, Ken, I'll allow you to nit pick! I think some of the reason it looks like the bars are blocking the headlights, along with the "9000" in the grille, may be the way the picture was taken. I think some of it is also because I don't have the final mounts built yet, and if you look real close in the center of the bumper, you'll see the strip of masking tape holding the bumper to the front of the truck. I might be a redneck, but I won't have tape holding the bumper in place for the final assembly!! Seriously, though, when I get the mounts finished and the look I was going for when I was building the bumper up and almost continually matching up to the hood, that will be fixed. The look after everything is done will have the headlights framed by the outer bar sections and the "9000" in the grille will also be framed by the center section.

Already one step ahead of you, Bradley! I do plan on removing the mold line and either respraying with Alclad or using Wagoneer81's idea and paint the uprights body color. All the sanding I've done to shape the bumper, I just didn't get the uprights done, yet!

Yeah, wish I would have bought it!!!!

With all those axles, I don't think DOT would care!!!

That is one beautiful Ford! I love the extended cab doors, and the paint matching inside and out is very impressive.

I assume you were directing this to me? Even though I don't have the kit, YET, a friend of mine is building one right now, so if you could, we both would find it very useful. PM me!

I have the front bumper done, almost! I still have to figure out how I'm going to finish it, whether I'm going to use Alclad to rechrome it or BMF, but I added aluminum tubing for the bars themselves, since the stock bars were too short! I also have to make mounts, if I can do what I'm planning, the bumper will tilt with the hood, but also be removable. Here's a few pics of what the finished bumper will be after rechroming or painting. I don't think this would be the view you want in you're rearview mirror!!

I don't know about the back wheels, they weren't too clear in the picture to me, but it looks like the front wheels could be sourced from an old VW Beetle.

Thanks, Rodney, my point exactly on the Dodge Tomahawk!! It has four wheels, but is still classified as a motorcycle! Thanks for the Monster Garage Trike pics, too, I have always wanted to build a model of that trike!

I'm planning on using this mural on my current project, a large custom sleeper tractor trailer. I found the picture I'm using for the mural on the web by searching for the type of picture I wanted, in the case lightning and mountains. I then saved the picture to "My Pictures" folder, and after I saved the picture, I used "Paint", found in the "Accessories" under "All Programs" in the start menu, to resize the picture to what I wanted. You can use almost any photo editing software to do this, I know I also have a photo editor with the software for my camera as well as a couple card making programs that I can also resize imgages with. I may end up redoing my mural more, and knowing this beforehand, I printed it on regular copy paper. I will not print it on Micro Mark decal paper until I'm 110% sure I'm finished with the final look. I would say just take your image you want as a mural and "play" with it until you like it, and do not print it on the decal paper until you have the image how you like it. Regualr printer paper is MUCH CHEAPER than decal paper.

Great links, Jim! I finally can put a correct WV license plate on my big trucks! By the way, Ryan, you probably will have to resize them, but not sure because I didn't download any, YET!

That only has three wheels, looks to me either two rims welded together or the front tires move independently, but a trike irregardless! Are you forgetting the four tired Dodge Tomahawk MOTORCYCLE!!! It had four independently moving wheels, but is still a motorcycle!!

Skip, you could make the door lifts from aluminum or plastic tubing very easily. All you need is one the size of the outer tube for the lift and the second the size smaller so it slides in the outer tube. If you do it right, the second inner tube should fit tightly enough that friction will hold the door open, but still be loose enough to close the door without damaging the door or lift cylinder. I have used this for tow truck booms with great results.