Rockford

You're exactly right mate, they build to the nearest inch as I remember, my statement wasn't very clear. The look I wanted was like this, the standard, single sleeper workhorse that has just enough to get the job done.

I've been scouring Evilbay for the original Snaptite trucks. I'd love the KW Aerodyne conventional and the Freightliner cabover but the other week I scored this, a built 359 Peterbilt. It had the original decals in good condition though the chassis was painted white. It had all the usual Snaptite problems that I have to deal with, awful mudflaps, quarter fenders too high and I just couldn't leave it like that. I relocated the quarter fenders and wanted to adapt the Monogram mudflaps to take my electrician's tape versions but it looked clumsy. Then I had an idea, I took some aluminium tube I had, crushed the ends in a vice until they were oval, then filed one edge through to form a U shaped channel into which I can insert my mudflaps. I drilled a hole through the chassis, threaded it through and bingo! The whole thing is much sturdier than the kit version and looks more realistic. Then I thought the truck didn't look right overall. After much thought I worked out that it was too long, Peterbilt wouldn't waste weight on a needless length of chassis so I removed 14mm from the chassis which brought the quarter fenders right up to the fuel tanks, a much more realistic appearance that I'd seen in many photos of real trucks. Then I gave the chassis a quick coat of semi gloss black. End result looking much better and I can let it sit happily now until I get round to doing it properly.

I started this WIP and it's bad manners not to finish it I think. I fashioned an airtank out of chubby sprue and worked some brackets for it. I also removed the ugly mounting boss for the fuel tank and filled the hole. I actually filled the hole first, from inside with offcuts and sprue, then left it to set and filed the boss away. I piped up the brake chambers too and bent up a new handle for pulling the pin on the 5th wheel. All was going well and then I scored one of the crown jewels... a Snaptite Peterbilt 359 off Evilbay for only £10!!!! It was built and needed work and I just couldn't wait so I got diverted. Anyway, it's presentable now and I can come back to the T600.

Wow,!

Fantastic work! The reefer unit looks brilliant, must have taken an age to do. I'm amazed at people's ingenuity on these jobs, like using plumbing pipe for the corners! As I follow my wife around shops I do find myself looking at everything and wondering if I could use things on my models. First class stuff this though, and such a personal project.

What an impressive job! I wouldn't know where to start with this, nor where to end it! Fantastic work.

A well thought out approach which yielded excellent results.

I'm speechless, they're fantastic.

Great job you've done on this. Can't go wrong with a KW, especially an Aerodyne.

Nice job, the weathering is excellent. Great build.

Nice job there, you can be proud of that.

Nice Transtar, built this myself many years ago. Daycab appear to be trend lately.

That is such a clean build! Love the half fenders, how did you do them?

Not much to report. Having filled in the open topped differentials with sprue and offcuts I roughly ground them into shape with my die grinder and some files, then used filler to develop a finished shape. Filled the hollow leaf springs too. In the last picture you can see how the duals started out. Built a battery box from the remnants of the sleeper and filled the joint in rear wall of the cab. I machined some brake chambers and brackets. Will add flexi lines to them as well as slack adjusters etc...

The grille looks great with the real mesh in there. What colour did you use for the dump body? It looks really bright silver, I might use that on my ali wheels. Got to say, this is looking great.

I tried using oven cleaner to strip the chrome from the wheels, grille, stack and tanks but after two days it didn't work any better than household bleach. It stripped the chrome in seconds but not the lacquer beneath. Never mind. I'll only be fitting one tank and I'll be ribbing it down anyway to remove the seam. I'll do the grille in aluminium and then foil the outer edge and the middle bar. I added top and bottom rails to make the side rails C-Sections, added some fillets to the crossmembers and filled the diffs with sprue and offcuts from the kit. When it's all solid I'll start shaping the diffs roughly then use filler to finalize the shape. I filed the plastic representation of the flap off the top of the quarter fenders and replaced them with electrical tape, as I do with the mudflaps.

Thanks gents, sometimes it's the little things that make all the difference. I'm pleased with them, which is a rarity!

☺️

Thanks for the kind comments gents, JIm you're right that is GREEN! Don't know whether it's worse to look at than the old red version. At least I shouldn't have any bleed through problems with the paint. Here's Kermit next to his full length stable mate.

I've never seen this build, it looks grand! Good to see 1/32 being built. These kits can really look good with a bit of work, and that one does! I love Aerodynes, even the name is great. I know, I'm wierd.

Just looks utterly real! Fantastic model. Well done. Hope you're safe from the fires over there.

You're right about the shorter frame, does look better. Good looking build, even with one contact lens hanging out!

That's one cool truck! Well done.

I can't stop myself. The T600 is about the only 1/32 kit you can get at a decent price now. I picked this up for £20. I didn't know whether to do a single drive tractor, a short frame double drive or a straight truck. I settled on the shortened day cab double drive. I've done most of the following on my first T600 day cab but quickly:- I cut the sleeper off, used the sleeper rear wall for the rear wall of the cab. Marked and cut a large rear window this time. I took all the deck plating off the chassis and will detail things accordingly. I filed the slider detail off for the 5th wheel and it left it looking too high. So, I cut the mounting off the chassis. Drilled some sprue down the middle and then cut four pieces off, two for the 5th wheel and two on the chassis. They act as gudgeons through which I threaded a piece of wire to act as a hinge pin. Still pivots and looks a lot better!

Great to see another 1/32 going together! Lovely work.