Rockford

They were just these things, I've never seen them before and probably won't again, but at least I know I'm looking in the right area. I use the middle section from the top.

Thanks Jim, they add weight I feel. Looks heavier, adds gravitas!

I'll add this to the WIP too, I'm trying to add the little things that make these snappers more realistic to the eye. Something I've wanted to do is the airlines for the trailer. Using garden tie-wire coloured black with a Sharpie I have formed the air and electrical lines, then either draped them over a convenient crossbar or made myself a pogo stick out of stock plastic tube of different diameters. I still can't replicate gladhands but they all look better. The yellow Mack has the livery of a Liverpool UK company on it so I used the old English three line system for that, all neatly stowed. Red for supply, blue for emergency and yellow for service with a narrower electric suzie on the right. English trailers of the era didn't use spring brake chambers, so the emergency line supplied reservoir air from the tractor to the trailer chambers and the tractor front axle only, using a lever called the Dead Man. So called because if you had to use it you were... I've also managed to deal with another issue on these kits, the lack of hubs on the drive axles. I found some cheap pens that have end caps the right size. I just cut them down, paint them and glue them on. Done the KW T600 so far but instantly looks better (righter?) to the eye. Before, it was like looking at a left hand threaded bolt! Just didn't look right for some reason. Now I've just got to buy another 24 pens!

All work pretty much stalled on things because the mother in law had a stroke to add to her Alzheimer's and schizophrenia. Try untangling that lot in an 89 year old brain, you can't work out where one illness ends and another begins, so it's been a turbulent month or so. Anyway she's stabilised in hospital now so life is a bit more settled. Been looking at the Trailmobile and regretted painting the whole thing silver. Always intended to do the chassis and underfloor in a grey colour. I don't know why I didn't. I had already bought the paint so I masked the box off and then DROPPED IT ON THE GARAGE FLOOR! Nearly had a stroke myself until I examined it and found all the masking had saved it. Shot the grey and all went well, no reactions etc... and I like the contrast between the silver panelling and the grey chassis. The grey doesn't stand out as much as the silver so the sides stand out more. To add more contrast I decided to use Ultra Bright BMF on the bottom rail. Looks good. Started adding reflectors and marker lights to break the sides up and add a bit of realism. Few more to add.

I've made my fair share of pig's ears over the years but I find the most frustrating thing about trying to build any kit now is that I drop everything. I'm sick of spending 50% of my modelling time with my head between my knees looking for something on the floor. At 57, putting your head between your knees isn't easy either! Its good seeing other mistakes though, makes me realize that it's not just me.

It looks grand! It's longer than the kit chassis but not overly much. Looks like something you would see on the road in the day.

Looks great mate, very brave on the masking for paint on the cab, I just can't summon up the courage (or the patience) to jump in and mask stuff off, too scared of ruining a job. This turned out fantastic. Well done!

Looks good, why are you doing it, for the longer chassis or is a leftovers job?

I've had one sheet tarnish after about 10 years, but have suffered a lot of sheets cracking but I feel that might be due to rough handling in transit and storage, too much flexing etc... I've only ever had one sheet of Ultra Bright Chrome - never again. So brittle you ruin it getting it off the sheet, never mind trying to shape it over something. Standard chrome is my choice and no, I've never had adhesion issues. BMF does spoil, but usually only part of your day!!

I use garden tie wire, it has soft single core wire inside because it is not for use in electrics. It also easy to pull the wire core out so that you have a realistic flexible rubber tube, then you just drill and insert pigtails made from the core wire at each destination and slot the outer sleeve onto them once they're secure. When it use that way it gives more realistic curves with no links or obvious bend points. Yes it is green but it colours easy with a Sharpie marker. I've had one roll that I've had for years and it does for all sorts of lines and cables. The inner core is good for fuel and brake lines. I'm not overly concerned about the scale diameter, I just know it looks right to the eye for heater hoses on 1/24 & 1/25 kits.

So, looks like the steering box is fixed to the front axle and not (as usual) to the frame. So whereas on other trucks the steering shaft down to the box is fairly rigid, this one has to flex enough to accommodate spring deflection on the front axle. You can see it's that way because the drop arm is at 90degrees plane to that of a normal box. I think the piece sitting on your cutting board, the left hand end sits on top of the axle, next to the spring u-bolts, or drops down in front of the axle beam and butts right up against it with the output shaft housing sitting on the axle beam. Maybe it was to eliminate bump steer, or confuse AMT builders. I know I probably haven't helped there.

Welcome Teddy. I came back to the hobby after some time and you soon start getting back into the swing of things, I'm sure you'll soon be building kits like you never could before!

I recently used the Ultra Bright BMF and it was pretty awful. Nothing like the older ordinary stuff. Terrible adhesion and really brittle. That car is beautiful though! Great job ?

Great execution of a very good kit!

I feel I've achieved the look I wanted. The Fruehauf is looking good. So pleased with the paint finish using a Hycote rattle can. With such a big flat surface ang blemishes would stand out but all turned out excellent! I used the extra bright Bare Metal Foil on the upper and lower rails. That stuff is a pig to work with, brittle, doesn't stretch like the ordinary foils, doesn't adhere as well either. I took ages with a cocktail stick working it into all the rivets etc... but I got there. Used ordinary foil on the bulkhead at the front. On the Trailmobile In experimenting with my mudflaps using electrical tape I've realised I can change the colour as it suits me, so I've gone to black. Looks ok. I still need to finish the pipe work and few other things I can't remember. The two are looking good together. Still want to work out a way to replicate the airlines between the tractor and the trailer.

For me, this is the perfect stance for the American truck, and that is what I am trying to achieve with my trailers. The bridge law gave American trucks a look that no other country had, with the duals spread as far apart as possible.

You certainly have! You'll have to give us a step by step on one someday.

Floorpan looks great, love the blending. Grille looks brill too!

Impressive work there sir! Looks great.

I always have something on so that I'm immersed in the past. Spotify quite often but also old TV on YouTube like Movin' on (I'm waiting for the day when Will and Sonny just deliver a load and get paid), BJ and the Bear. Also listen to Overdrive Radio. I have played Twinsticks Garage's restoration of his Peterbilt now and again.

Good change of tack there mate, looks great in the emergency colours and that huge gumball machine on the top really closes the look! I agree on the import charges. I used to buy a lot from the States but not now, our government rips us off as soon as it lands in GB.

Thanks everyone, very kind comments. Funnily enough I did scuff the treads with a sanding stick but obviously not too well ?. I'm thinking of adding a BMF strip along the lower side rail, just as a highlight, but I'm not entirely sure. Sometimes less is more and I like the plain Jane workaday look. Fruehauf is still to come. It's looking good but when I photograph it all you can see is a white box! Update on that next.

Had a spell of decent weather last week, though still cold of a night, daytime temperatures were about 12C and humidity not too bad so decided to paint my trailers. Using Hycote rattle cans I primed both, then masked the roof off on each and will leave them grey primer. The Trailmobile is looking good, the slider still works but I do like the tandems all the way back. just been experimenting with my mudflaps out of electrical insulation tape, the curvature depends on how you tension the tape as you put them together. Need to look for some marker lights and reflectors to finish up, but looks good.

I've not done anything for a week or so because I finally got my cataract surgery!!!! They had to use ultrasound to shatter it because it had got too big. Anyway, after a week and a bit I decided to try doing some work and the difference is unbelievable, I've got my depth back, when I use a blade or a drill I know exactly where to place it instead of chancing things. I decided try my new eyes out by doing some drilling because they say to avoid dust, so no filing/sanding. I first drilled all the location holes in the slide rails of the tandems. I used a template for the Trailmobile because the rails were just plain. The Fruehauf had dimples in the rails which I used to locate the drill bit. I then added the airlines for the sliding bogie. I had to deal with the fact that the Trailmobile axles were too wide and stuck out past the trailer sidewalls. The outer wheel wouldn't sit all the way on the stub axle and the inner wheel was too fat to allow that. I trimmed both accordingly and the tyres now sit snugly under the van sides. Looks much better. I know it would have been easier to do all this before I fitted the slide rails and built the rear bogie but I seem to be working backwards all the time on these two vans. The end result is ok I think.

Maybe because it's such an iconic car we expect the kit to equal our admiration for the actual vehicle? It's been my first love for decades. I've only ever built the Revell snapper '57 although I've got about six Tri Chevy kits including the 1/12 Revell Bel Air.