highway

300,000=RAINBOW UNICORNS!!

That is looking darn nice Marshall! I think you hit the color dead on, I'll have to find some so if I get the bits and pieces I need to build my old Pete 386 or if I have a case of stupidity and build my Classic XL like my old Classic from my first Werner go round in 1999!

I'm guessing Harry don't care!!!

The last time I drove through there, there were enough parts laying along the roadside to build an entire car, complete with your choice of bumpers!!

On point #1, and if they were to offer some new trucks that would be worth my money, such as Meng is doing with the newer F350 and Moebius is doing with heavy commercial trucks, I would more than happily hand my money over for them to take! Even Aoshima is smarter than the American companies offering what at least interests me, I have not one but two of there US versions of the mid 90s Toyota trucks. Why did I buy them?? THEY ARE 4X4S!! Aoshima at least also gives the builder a choice in how to build the truck too, because on I have I traded for here, knowing full well that the super nicely done Super Swamper tires were already taken from the kit, but since I wanted to build a stock 4x4 truck, that was no issue, and Aoshima makes that an option that requires no extra effort on my part. They were smart enough to keep the stock suspension pieces in the lifted kit version, all I have to supply is a suitable wheel and tire for a stock truck. I may be in my own little world, but to me a 2WD truck is just worthless unless it's a 1 ton that can pull a gooseneck trailer, and even then, I'd rather have a 4x4. It is also the same way in the heavy trucks, why would I want an old, outdated 70s era 40' reefer trailer when I pull a 53' Great Dane just like Moebius' new reefer trailer every day that I'm at work?? Now on to point #2, in no way, shape, or form, did I ever say reissues are bad nor will I ever say that. I'm just saying that it would also be nice to see some new tooling along with the reissues, and AMT (sorry, round2 ) and Revellogram just seem to be happy being stuck in Reissueland when they could also be following Meng and Moebius' leads and giving truck modelers (big and small) more of what they want! Sure, there are reissues from both (AMT's vans and Revellogram's 1/16 scale rigs and the Peterbilt wrecker) that are high on my "Must Buy" list just because the kit may have not been around since before I was born or something I built as a younger builder that I would like to build again. That is illustrated perfectly by the reissue of the 1/16 scale General Lee reissued a few years ago. That was the first model I ever had at age 8, and I had to wait almost 30 years to replace the original I lost in a fire in 1997 and to build it again not only to bring back some childhood memories, but to build it again with the years of experience I have developed. Is it simply too much to ask to get a new issue of something I might pass on the road or be in the fuel island next to me at the truck stop or maybe a truck I'm driving?

Bummer you didn't get a chance to paint! On the other hand, maybe it's a good thing, because the new color looks close too. Have you thought of checking a local dealer for some touch up paint or just to find out what color Werner blue actually may be or be close to?

Yes, but for builders like me and many others that have commented here, we DON'T WANT A RUN OF THE MILL WIMPY TRUCK, WE WANT TRUCKS WITH KAHUNAS!! I think, regardless of price, the Meng F350 will be (hopefully) the first to fit that bill with many of us. I'm not bashing those of us who like slammed 1/2 ton or mini trucks, but there are many that want 4x4 lifted rigs, and rigs with something under the hood to pull a loaded trailer. The last modern offering I remember is the late 90s Ford F150, and all of the offerings were girly 2WD versions, with the exception of Lingberg, who was at least smart enough to offer theirs as a 4x4. I have seen numerous times in the pages of this forum that serious truck builders want 4x4 diesel powered towing rigs and Meng is the only one that seems to be listening. Maybe if AMT and Revellogram would get out of Reissueland and get with the times, maybe we would see more modern offerings from domestic sources instead of 70s era kits, some of which are older than I am! Maybe even if Revellogram or AMT would offer some new parts in the reissues (such as they did with the snow plow) and give us a choice of 2WD or 4x4, maybe some would buy the kit just because they could have the long awaited 4x4 version they've wanted but never felt (or have the skills) like modifying.

OK, my two cents on the subject of touching my models at a show for ANY reason, be it to be judged, photographed, or moved for any other reason such as table space, etc... TOUCH MY MODEL AND I BREAK YOUR FINGERS!!! At most of the contests I have attended I never have had a problem, and the shows I've judged have been the same way, because they had a strict "NO TOUCH" rule. If we needed a model touched for any reason, we found the owner and had them move it, simple as that. I feel it should be like that no matter what, there are ways to find the owner and, for example, a magazine wants pictures, leave a note with the model for the owner to bring it to the photography area or find the owner and ask them to move it there. If it comes down to displaying or seeing hidden details, then make sure they can be seen if you want them seen. I learned at an early age, a simple mirror no larger than the model (for those who like to throw a tizzy about bases) and the old square clear tubes toothbrushes came in at the time were perfect to show off the underside of a car. I even won one show in particular just because the judges could see under the car and the detail I was displaying and the other model another teenager had they could not. How do I know for sure that was why I walked off with the first place for that one?? I overheard the judge telling the other kid's mom while she was throwing a soccer mom tizzy fit why her son's great model was beat by mine, and the judge said to her "because we could see underneath his, and we could see that his driveshaft was even painted the correct color". For the record, it was a NASCAR and the driveshaft was painted the correct white. So, are you saying that my tractor trailer should be separated when I want it judged as one unit just because it can be separated.

I don't wear a tie and never have and never will, but this was my daily commuter for quite a few years: The satisfaction of knowing that if by the time you reach your destination and need a parking space, you can throw the Prius, Smart Car, or Mini taking up a full parking spot in the bed and park there or just park over the lowrider in another spot!

Wow Erik, a LOT of difference between the years! At least in my old beast, you can find the engine! Yeah, and even with less junk hiding it and no turbo, it actually gets better mileage than the new computer controlled twin turbo trucks. When I was still driving it full time (until life made me park it for a few years, even though I hope sometime this year it will be back on the road) it averaged 15 MPG!

I hope you can get some painting done, Marshall, I want to see it in color before I go back to work Wednesday! I'm hoping this crazy winter will end soon too, I'm getting tired of it being 53 degrees when I leave and 30 miles up the road it be snowing!

Kyle, since you bring up gas prices and compared to the price of this kit, this kit is a steal compared to what it would take to fill the tank on the 1:1!! My 1990 F350 diesel takes 38 gallons to completely fill both tanks and since I'm guessing the 1:1 prototype probably holds at least that much or more, at current prices in my area ($4.459 a gallon), it would be $169.44 (at 38 gallons) to fill the 1:1! Believe me, the only diesel I'll ever own again is this kit, the 1:1s are way too expensive!!

As a trucker myself, I'm sure he did more than freak! It's a wonder he didn't have to go to the hospital to get the driver's seat surgically removed due to what we call "the pucker factor"!!

Close Mike, close. The bed is a Century, which is very close to the Challenger unit from the kit and if I remember correctly, Century may actually make the Challenger units too. As for the truck, it is a much newer Pete 389 than the Pete 359 that the new release and the old Can Do is based off of. In the original Can Do releases, it wasn't even correct for the Pete 379 Can Do actually was, even though Revell made a poor attempt to make a 359 a 379.

They stopped replacing my decals!!

Actually James, that Mustang is most probably HO (1/87) scale. Lindberg at one time was big in making snapfit kits that were for double duty as train layout pieces. I have a few, an old cement mixer, an old GMC (maybe) box truck that was like a U-Haul style truck, and a school bus (IIRC) from that series, and the Mustang appears as if it could be from that as well. They also made quite a few big rigs that were truck and trailer kits for the HO Scale line. The only thing I find funny comparing the Mustang box to the kits I have and have seen from that HO Scale line, they usually have "HO SCALE" somewhere in usually prominent lettering on the box art. I wouldn't be surprised if you look closely at the box or instructions, you'll more than likely find HO Scale somewhere.

Yeah, I know, but I wasn't talking about being in the big ride. You never know, you might get an itch to show up to a Pittsburgh model show!

The Cummapart in my Pete was the exact opposite, I could go 65 but it wouldn't pull a hill for nothing. It seen a 6% coming up and it started dropping speed, I was lucky to be doing 25 at the top of the hill!

Rob, Chucky just will never get it! I'm sure somewhere earlier in this thread I specifically told him that comparing this kit to a big rig kit was like comparing apples and oranges, and is obvious that hasn't had time to sink in! Honestly, I see the price issue (which really isn't an issue with me) like this, I would rather spend a premium price for what clearly appears to me as a premium kit than spend $20 or $30 dollars on a mediocre kit and then spend another $50 on resin to make the vehicle I want when I can spend the $70+ dollars on the kit of I want in the first place. I'm not trying to sound as I'm bashing resin casters either, because I buy more than my fair share of resin (mostly big rig stuff, which also can go into the $80 price range just for a cab transkit not counting the donor kit at another $70-$80), but if the subject is available in plastic, I'd get it first.

Nope, just line of sight of a cell signal. I have found sometimes it loses signal where the satellite based system would have signal. I don't know if the sat based system couldn't handle all the new functions of the new unit or what, but it is more or less a larger version of a smart phone now. It has not only the messaging, hours of service, and nav functions, but it also has internet capabilities and, when equipped with a scanner, can also wirelessly send the company copies of the bills of lading and other paperwork as soon as the load is delivered. It also can inform the company if you have had a "Critical Event" such as a hard braking scenario or if the cab tilts more than 5 degrees, a possible rollover event, as well as how long the truck has been idling or been over the set speed for "overspeed". You can even play solitaire on it and plug a USB charger into it to charge your phone!

I see a trip to Autozone in my future! That explains a lot too why you said in the thread I have with the new Qualcomm antennas why you said you still had a dome since you had the old Qualcomm in it. And a couch, Werner couldn't even splurge for a real engine!!

Yeah, but now I guess you'll have to come over this way sometime so the coffee can be on me, I don't cover MO anymore!

666! I honestly don't know, I didn't have my ruler in my back pocket, just my phone in my front pocket and just happened to remember that the subject had come up and it was an opportunity to get a pic of them off the truck. A rough (and hopefully close enough for rivet counters) guess is about 8 inches square and 3 inches high not including the hump sticking up in the middle. I'll check when I go back to the yard tomorrow, I think they may have one or two training units there too, and see if I remember my ruler and get exact measurements if they have any off the trucks there. Not really sure Jonathan, but I do know that they operate through 3G cell signals now, not a satellite signal like older Qualcomm units used. Also, as a side note, the unit most commonly hooked up to these new antennas is called the MCP200, and this is what the unit in the truck looks like on the home screen. It also has onboard navigation, and this is what the nav screen looks like. I will also remember to take some better pics (I was quickly taking them as I was cleaning out the unit I was driving at the time after a worker's comp injury and the company was on it's way to pick up the truck) and get measurements of the unit. I'll also make sure I get pics of the side of the unit and also with the slide out keyboard out and of the mounting bracket. One big difference between the pic and the way the screen of my current truck is that the "Hours of Service", the second tab not lit up on the left side from the top between the "Messages" tab and "Navigation" tab, IS lit on my current truck. That is how I do my electronic logbook, everything is recorded through that tab, and all fleets using electronic logs (to my knowledge) use the same unit and tab. No more paper logs, other than for if the unit malfunctions, and that is very rare.

Well, since it has been a while since i checked in, I figured I would let everyone know I found a new and better job last month. I traded the blue Intertrashional for a (at this time anyway) 2006 Freightliner Century painted a nice Pumpkin orange! That's right, I joined the Pumpkin truck fleet, Schneider National, and I'm working in their Dedicated Services fleet running out of the Walmart distribution center in Wintersville, OH delivering to stores in the western PA, northeastern OH, and most of WV. My time at home has greatly improved, I can come home almost every night if I choose to, and I have regularly scheduled days off every week. I'm enjoying the new job a lot more, and I don't have the hassles of the last job, especially with trying to get home.

Ok, I know at one time there was another thread here somewhere that brought up the discussion of the new style Qualcomm antenna, and the best pic I could supply was this one from the ground of the back of my 2012 Pete that had one on it hiding up in the roof fairing. Well, a couple weeks ago, I started a new job and doing orientation, it dawned on me to get some pictures of the antennas they had for the Qualcomm training units in the orientation room. The days of the old round dome are gone, they are square and flat now.