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Dave Metzner

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Everything posted by Dave Metzner

  1. I just got photos of revised ProStar Mock-up - only one more item to fix.. Hope to have it start tooling within the next week or so! Then maybe I'll have a first test shot by mid June or so! Dave
  2. John, The trailer came out really nice - I reallly like the CN decals and the LoneStar makes a great looking rig! Thanks for posting the photos! Dave
  3. The choice of wheels for this kit was just a simple case of economics for us - the 10 hole wheels are done - the tooling is paid for, so in an effort to control costs on the trailer kit we elected to use the existing wheels - We're also using those wheels on the ProStar, for the same reason.. Perhaps we'll be able to add a different wheel to our kits at some point in the future. Since we're new to the big truck segment of the hobby we've tried to be a little conservative with our tooling budgets. Once Pro Star and Great Dane are out on store shelves we'll have a better feel for how we can budget for tooling costs etc. going forward and I hope that we'll be able to add some variety to future kits like different wheels. Thanks for your support. Dave
  4. We are working on Box art for the Great Dane trailer now--It's One of several projects that our art director is working on. I'm sure that we'll post it once we get it done.. I knew that the MaxxForce 11 and 13 were based on European engines jus didn't remember the specifics. My recollection is that Navistar acquired all of Cat's over the road engines when Cat decided to get out of the over the road truck business..
  5. I have had boxes arrive that looked like they'd been kicked all the way from China to my door... This box came in really good shape - We have learned to double box everything - this tends to reduce the number of balls - o- cardboard that I get. The real problem with this mock-up was that it was just not packed well. This ProStar is a 15L ProStar same as our LoneStar - The 13L is also available in ProStar in real life. However we don't have tooling for the 13L and it is an entirely different engine with no parts comon to the 15L. The 15L is a decendant of the Cat C-15 I'd have to do some digging to find the linneage of the 13L..
  6. We ship mock-ups back and forth pretty regularly. The big reason that this got destroyed is in the way it was packed. It was packed as a complete model sitting on it's wheels inside a foam box without support under the bulk of the model. The first time it was dropped probably broke the frame - each time it was dropped or thrown after than just compounded the damage. Every so often they let somebody who doesn't understand that plastic models are easy to break pack these things at the factory - that's when I get a box-o-parts! Can't lay the blame on the Post office we know how they handle packages.. It's not their fault that our guy did a lousy job of packing this thing. When this goes back it'll go back as sub-assemblies each one in a plastic bag or wrapped in bubble and submerged in peanuts. so that it is imobilized inside the packaging. NOT sitting on it's wheels in the bottom of a box.. I'll probably go so far as to remove the dual wheels and bag them up separately. It may not arrive back at the factory totally un scathed but it won't be a pile of parts. Yes the frame is shorter than LoneStar - the ProStar is a 217 inch wheelbase - while LoneStar is 260. That 217 looks real short when you sit it next to the 260.
  7. The Post Man brought me a package this morning - in it was the ProStar Mock-up.. When I opened the box I found the mock-up had been prety well trashed en route from our factory! Here are a few photos of today's project! After most of the day re-constructing the mock-up I have a ProStar to show our licensor for their approval... Going to make arrangements tomorrow to drive it over to Navistar's offices Dave
  8. Sorry, there will be no Thermo King logos etc.. we have no license for that right now. Dave
  9. Yes the kit will have a set of current Erb Transport decals - to match the LoneStar..
  10. The Tractor is Houe of Kolors Passion Pearl.. Dave
  11. Here are some shots of a second test shot of the Moebius Great Dane 53 ft reefer. This is pretty much what the finished model will look like. there are only minor adjustments to be made in areas of the model that are unseen when everything is stuck together Dave
  12. HI Kostas, I do not have the ProStar in hand yet. the photos are of the tooling mock-up which is still at the factory. I anticipate that the mock-up will be sent to me within the next week or two - for final approval by the licensor once a few minor corrections are made to it. Once the licensor has seen it and approved it - it goes back to the factory to be used as a tooling reference.. I may be able to get some shots of the trailer with the Mock-up while I haveit. I do not anticipate having test shots until perhaps the end of May Dave
  13. Our new ProStar is a 15L Maxx Force powered version it is 125 inches BBC while non 15L versions are 122BBC - the hood, bumper and grille of the 15L powered ProStar are all different from the earlier ProStars in your photos.The grille of the 15L truck is wider than the earlier one. Also the angle of the photo of the mock-up may not be the best. Hood and grille of the mock-up should follow CAD files for real pieces from Navistar..The older two piece Bumper on the Mock-up is not right - but the last set of 3D files that I have from the factory for this piece show the newer 3 piece bumper Here are some Photos of two 125BBC 15L ProStars - The Black truck has the older 2 piece bumper the Yellow one has new 3 piece bumper Also please notice the small filler panel between the front edge of doors and rear edge of hood - that small filler panel represents the 3 inch difference between 122 and 125 inch BBC dimension and is the easiest way to tell that you're looking at a 15L ProStar.
  14. Yes the headlights will have clear lenses - they'll be similar to the arrangement on LoneSar - I don't know how long it takes other companies to get product to market - LoneStar project started in Spring of 2009 and kits shipped in spring of 2011 - I'd say 2 years - maybe even a little longer from start of project to having kits on the boat.. ProStar might get done in between a year and 18 months - but alot of ProStar is lifted right from LoneStar.. I don't think that we're doing things all that much faster than anyone else.. Dave
  15. Here are some shots of the new Moebius ProStar Mock-up Yes it has LoneStar badges on the door - we'll fix that. The cab on the mock-up may be a modified LoneStar piece.. I think that the front bumper is an older version and may need some tweaking. Newest bumper is three pieces and has slightly different appearance. I don't have the mock-up in my hands - we'll probably fix a couple things before it gets sent over for a final hands on review. It looks alot like a ProStar to me.. Hope to have mock-up revised and in my hands by early April Dave
  16. Nothing to report regarding future plans for more trailer kits. There are a couple things we'd like to do. We'll make more solid plans after we get this one done and on the store shelves. as to gap between trailer and top of tractor frame - When it's on the LoneStar is just clear the tops of the rubber flaps on the 1/4 fenders. I don't think that you'd want it to sit too much lower. No rivets on the front wall once you have the reefer unit on it ther's not much left to see.
  17. The rear suspension does include Surelok it does not have all the actuator linkage detail which is pretty small but the locking pedestals themselves which are pretty prominent are included..
  18. Here are some shots of the bottom of the Great Dane. The mudflaps have the great Dane logos as raised detail It will be possible to build the trailer without the Reefer unit and fuel tank Thanks, Dave
  19. Only the front and rear walls will be chrome. There will be decals - one option being Erb Transport as they run lots of Great Dane reefers and lots of International Tractors - this will give you the trailer to match your LoneStar if you chose to paint it in Erb livery. There will be a second option - Honestly I haven't seen it yet so I can't say what it'll be. I'll turn one of the test shots over and shoot the bottom of it tomorrow - try to get photos posted in the next couple days for those who want to see what would be the greasy parts. Dave
  20. I have first test shots of the Great Dane reefer. I've built two of them - there are a few fit issues to be addressed but for the most part it goes together well. Here are a few shots of them - the one with extended landing gear had one leg of the landing gear that got bent over and not noticed until after I'd put the camera away - it has been fixed.. If everything goes according to plan kits should ship from the factory around the end of April and be on store shelves by end of May. Thanks for looking, Dave
  21. Here are the two ProStars with MaxxForce 15 at the truck show last year. Dave
  22. Here is that custom LoneStar from the Midwest Trucking Show last year - It's called Blade. To me it's cool but probably a useless vehicle - I can't imagine that anyone's going to hook a Reefer to that thing ad make a cross country run with it! Just cleaning the wheels on that thing would be an all day job! Dave
  23. The copper colored, Grey and silver ProStar is one of the two Maxx Force 15 ProStars that Navistar had on display at the Midwest Trucking show at Louisville last year. That is a special show truck paint job. That's a handsome paint scheme.. The Blue LoneStar show truck that was mentioned here was in the Navistar Booth at Louisville.. I have pics of it somewhere, If I can work up the ambition I'll chase themm down and post them.. The first test shots of the Great Dane arrived yesterday - been working with them - Got one almost complete - need to see how it looks behind a tractor... I hope to have photos to post in the next day or two..
  24. The Prostar has a shorter WB - but same rear axle spread - Only real change is length of frame rails and drive shaft.. Of course the ProStar has exhausts that mount behind the Sleeper - so the exhaust system is new for the ProStar Kit I should see photos of the Tooling Mock-up for ProStar around March 5...Could have it here for Licensor review a week or so later if it looks good in photos... The last set of 3D files I saw really look like a ProStar.. Might have something that looks like a truck before too long... Hope to have 1st test shots of the Great Dane in the next few days.. Stay tuned! Dave
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