Rockford

Very nice Pete indeed

Nice work

That is some truck! It doesn't have a Salem paintjob it has a Saaaaaaaalem paint job.

i added airlines to the rear of the cab too, Euro Suzie type rather than the straight hoses still in use in USA. Sadly, this is my last Monogram 1/32 Snap kit tractor but I have two trailers still to build.

Can't say this is one of my favourite subjects. It's the beginning of the end of the trucks I fell in love with all those years ago. The chrome and steel of the old trucks is hidden behind the sterile aero kit and it does have exhaust stacks but they're relegated to behind the cab. Peterbilt 359 or KW 925, even LTL9000 it's not! However, it turned out ok. I added brake chambers, top and bottom flanges on the chassis, brake lines, converted the 10 hole alloys to 2 hole Budds on the rear, filled the empty rear axles and fabricated hubs on the rear axles. Tried adding white stripes but the decals turned to jelly when I used setting solution. Looks good with a van trailer but you see how all the aero kit comes to nothing in front of a tank or container trailer.

I added the finishing touches to this kit and posted it in the "Under Glass" section.

Well done Steve, your cars deserve the spotlight! The effort and research you put in is amazing. I think I'm doing ok if I get all four wheels to touch the floor!

Looking excellent. I have one in my stash. The moulding in mine looks pretty poor, in silver styrene. That's the Ford Pinto engine. I think it was bored to 2.3 litre in USA but in Europe we got a 1.6 and a 2.0 in the Cortina then later on a 1.8 in the Sierra. It was a great engine, loved to rev but they were worn out by 100,000 miles. Probably why the Americans didn't like them. I like these Tbirds. For an 80's car they've stood the test of time well. Shame they never made it to Ford Europe showrooms.

Looks like you're altering the steps to the later type...? Any other mods you plan? I know some people move the headlights but if you haven't it's too late, mind you, I've never really seen that they were THAT wrong.

Thanks for the kind comments lads. I'm quite happy with it. The chassis colour didn't need any polishing at all. I'm looking at finishing it this weekend. Was watching the Kenworth W900 and the Freightliner cabover on eBay this week but the prices were too much for me. They were original issues but built and still went to ridiculous (in my eyes) prices. I have my two dry vans to finish after this.

To mix species, your Bulldog is a real chunky monkey, looks great. On a shelf, in your collection that will look as good as anything else. I bought the 1/32 Monogram trucks because I had them when I was a kid and was sorry I ever got rid of them. I find them quite enjoyable and deliver a decent result with a bit of effort. You can't go nuts on detailing because it's not there! I like that you can mock them up without gluing anything so you can finish your day's work and sit looking at it. The size difference makes a difference too. Lot to be said for them.

Like the finish. You must have ironed out all of the flaws in this kit by now. It's years since I touched one of these but I recall the finished result was worth the trauma. You'll boss it mate.

I successfully used methylated spirit yesterday. Took Tamiya acrylic off easily without any plastic damage.

Gents Thank you one and all for your input and suggestions. I use automotive rattle cans and so always use a primer out of fear of a reaction because the solvents are too "hot". I would also be terrified of the paint peeling with the use of masking tape to apply the primer without some form of rubbing down. So, taking all your suggestions into account I shall use the wire wool method, then primer and topcoat. Thanks again everyone, you guys are so very helpful.

I'm doing this AMT Trailmobile van and in want to spray it using rattle cans. My issue is that the usual method of using 800 grit wet and dry paper will seriously damage the mass of rivet detail on the skin of the van. How do I establish a key for paint? I'm thinking of a toothbrush and some sort of water-based abrasive paste but can't think what. What do the aero builders use?

Having quite a Snaptite fleet now, I needed some trailers to go with them. Got the AMT Trailmobile van and the Monogram van for decent prices on eBay and was desperate to get them done. I love plain white or silver boxes. I've got one white already, the fridge van, so I might do the Fruehauf white and the Trailmobile silver. Both kits are a mixed bag but the Monogram Fruehauf is decidedly better engineered than the AMT. A drawback that they both have is ride height. Because they both have the sliding duals setup the rails stack up to make them sit too high. I've cured it before by just fixing the duals and deleting the slide rails but I was wondering if I could retain the slide feature and still lower the ride to a more realistic level. The rails sit on top of the ribs across the floor of the van. I eventually decided on channeling the ribs and dropping the slide rails into them up to the van floor. This allowed the slide rails to sit further in. Though the difference is marginal, the visual effect is far from it. Both trailers now look great sitting behind my GMC. On the Fruehauf I also used the two hole Budds I made for my Aeromax, they look fantastic, I wish they were easier to do because I'd make a few more!!

This is more to show everyone (including myself) that this is not a stalled build. The weather has finally broken and spring has landed. Temperatures have been reaching double digits on some days and the big shiny thing in the sky has returned. So I can finally get some paint on the Aeromax. Chose a two tone scheme. Was going to do the top cap of the cab in the darker colour but then thought against it. That's why I left it loose, otherwise I'd have cemented it on before painting, never mind. The turquoise went on beautifully but the light blue seems a bit more porridgy and didn't settle as well, however, I'm sure it will polish up ok. Really happy with the duals, they look like proper axles now, from above and below. Can't help mocking it up but have to be careful because the paint is still a little soft. Leave it to cure now. Then a polish and final touches. Thinking of a white stripe on the cab.

He's levelled off the rear fender line at the top and the rear dropglass opening. , For me, that loses the car's identity and I don't look at as a Grande Mustang. It becomes anonymous. You've got admire the work but not a car I'd want. It was proper, Ford styled and built Mach1's that used to make me drool, not massaged ones.

Looks brilliant! I love the old ali vans. It's all GRP now isn't it? Looks like AMT did quite a 1/43 range in the day. I've only ever seen the 359 Pete and KW cabover.

That's the exact kit I was talking about in your other post, my first American Truck. I think I saw that box art and couldn't stop myself. As young kid in Liverpool I didn't know what a Peterbilt was, or a conventional. It was like something off another planet in comparison to the weedy little "lorries" in UK. When you look at the parts you realise what a great little kit that thing is! In contrast, I've just started the AMT 1/32 Trailmobile van snap kit and its horrendous! Your progress looks great so far. BTW I look forward to seeing the lady driver if that's what the "Medium Duty wench" refers to. ??

Those Petes look beautiful. Brings back memories. An AMT 1/43 Peterbilt 359 was the first American truck kit I'd ever seen. To a kid in GB in the 70s it looked like something from another planet! It was the version that had the black stripe decals on a white cab and hood. I built it as per the instructions but didn't have a clue what anything was because it looked nothing like the trucks I'd seen over here. You've done a wonderful job on those kits though. The smaller scales do make life a little easier on storage but do take it out of you as age creeps up! I struggle with 1/32.

Got the magnetos wired up, not my tidiest job, don't know whether I'd have been better starting at the magnetos rather than at the plugs working back, never mind. Got the motor plate shaped and dropped the engine and gearbox in to check the height, looks ok.

Welcome Arnaud.

Well I'm 57 and never had a stroke and spend 50% of my modelling time searching for stuff I've dropped so you're not doing too bad. Welcome!