Rockford

Haken, as usual, you're right. I've got a bit confused!

If a truck's brakes were caged for towing all you'd see is the bolt head, it wouldn't stick out like in these Revell kits. The only way that would happen is full service air pressure, all brakes released and cage bolts screwed in just a few threads. Not something that would happen in normal use. Weird.

You're right Force, it puts a wrinkle in my socks every time I see those brake chambers, they just shouldn't be there.

Now the W900 is finished it's back onto the K100. I had started making a cast iron Holland fifth-wheel rather than the pressed steel type I had. I love the shape of the Holland unit, it's real 1970s in my opinion. I used a pair of pointed callipers to scribe the grooves on the plate, following the outer edge, then deepened them with a triangular file. Turning it over I added gudgeons, the substructure and the release handle. Fitted it to the sliding frame and it looks much better to me.

Like the Sunkist truck, looks great. I'm jealous of your Ford CL9000, they're as rare as hen's teeth now! There's a couple of the Snap Fit LTL9000s on eBay but, as usual, exorbitant prices that I can't (and won't) pay.

Well, this has been a long time in the making but I've loved every minute of it, it really was a labour of love. The W900A just epitomises what the American truck is for me (It's very closely followed by the 359 of the same era, especially with the Unilite cab and small aircleaner). This is the AMT Snap-Fit/Fast 1/32 Aerodyne. If built box stock it is very poor and I couldn't allow that to happen to my iconic truck so I entered into about 30 alterations to make it look right. I think the only parts that haven't been altered in some way are the steering wheel and the headlights (and that's because I had no spare Monogram ones). Mudflaps from insulation tape, Reyco rear suspension, Monogram wheels and tires, scratchbuilt (S/B) rear hubs, modified quarter fenders, S/B operable fifth wheel slider, S/B pogo stick, repositioned & de-chromed fuel tanks, S/B air tanks, S/B driveshaft, deepened battery boxes, S/B steering box and linkage, S/B PAS reservoir, fuel, water and bypass oil filters, S/B brake chambers, S/B radiator and engine, opening hood - detailed underneath, Monogram K100 bumper, plumbing and wiring (inc the firewall), S/B lights on the front fenders, S/B washer reservoir, flush fitting windscreen, S/B sunvisor, S/B mirrors and arms, S/B exhaust system, S/B cab mounts, repositioned sleeper steps, S/B firewall and self drawn stripes and license plates. I'm especially proud of the perfectly aligned hood and my sliding fifth wheel that doesn't fall off every time I move it, indeed I can pick the rear of the truck up with it! Less happy with the mirrors and arms, they fought me when I fitted them and the driver's side ended up a little funky but they don't dominate the truck and your eye seems to realise that they're in the right place, unlike the kit pieces. Pictured here with some of my trailer fleet.

Looks brilliant mate. You can be duly proud of that.

That does look good. Well done!

Thanks Graham. I'm really happy with it. I'm nearly finished with it now. Did some final fitting today. Bought some 1mm aluminium mesh and cut it to lay inside the chassis rails as a treadplate. Installed the mirrors but that didn't go as smoothly as I hoped. They look ok but not as good as I'd like. Built a screenwash bottle for the firewall from five pieces of plastic sheet. I've got to sort license plates now and that's it I think.

You might need patience, he might shelve it for another 30 years!

Well done Devyn, a typical episode for a modeller, from the depths of despair to elation thanks to some small amendment! Looks good.

That's going to look beefy

Thanks Gary, means a lot.

Couldn't resist a bit more fitting this afternoon. Fitted the stacks and put my perforation decals on the exhaust heat shields. Fitted the air filters. Added electricians tape to the air intake pipe to form the hoses. Fitted the pogo stick and piped it up. Still a few things I've got to do but I think it's going to look pretty good. I do like being able to open the hood and see a Cummins under there.

Happy to say that I managed to get the stripe decals on. After the Pepsi trailer I thought they'd be a doddle but I had an issue with the lacquer delaminating when I was cutting them out. Suffered a bit of the colour bleeding but managed to make them look ok. Added my ICC numbers and some Kenworth badges I'd saved from another kit. I'm still so happy with how it turned out.

You ADDRESSED your subject very well there, it has my STAMP of approval. I do envy you your hobby room, I can only imagine the mess I could make in a room where "she who must be obeyed" has no jurisdiction. 🤔

Looks good, did you sort your problem with installation of the interior? It's so long since I built one of these I can't offer any solid advice but can imagine it is all to do with filing the interior bucket.

Nice, thorough job.

Very nice.

I see, an extendable would be interesting!

That will finish it off so well. I don't want to hijack your thread but I remember finding this picture on the interwebs and I just thought it is the perfect American truck for me. The stance and the proportions are just right. It says everything to me about why American trucks are different to the European stuff. The reason why I mentioned an aluminium Fruehauf was because I had been watching a few episodes with this trailer. Bare ali. Either way it's an impressive looking combination. Can't wait to see the finished rig. I'll get to do one of my own one day.

That's going to be a good looking trailer. Glad you didn't lose your tailgate to the tree-rat.

Excellent building.

Going to be a bit of a chunky monkey! Good work. Are you going to lose an axle from the trailer?

The notorious Freightliner joint! I don't envy you that job. I'm sure you'll sort it.