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Everything posted by SpreadAxle
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My interest in trucks brought me into it at age 12, although I couldn't find truck kits at first, so I did a few cars and planes. My builds have all been trucks ever since I found that first Mack. I built steadily until my boyhood dream of driving a truck became a reality. After about 4 years of totally staying away from the workbench, I returned after seeing some really cool builds on a website last summer, and I am not looking back this time. It's great to be back.
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Who will continue when we die?
SpreadAxle replied to Luis Ayala's topic in General Automotive Talk (Trucks and Cars)
I never thought about it in terms of who shall carry the legacy after we are gone. I do agree with the fact that kids will look at a kit and say that it's too much work. Then again, while I know you're not losing sleep over it, don't let it get to you so strongly. I think it's cool that both the wife and kids build with you. Cherish that. There is nothing wrong with being passionate about the hobby, but don't stress. It will carry on, even with smaller numbers. -
nice job on this one
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Astrodyne--finished!!!!
SpreadAxle replied to phoneguy's topic in WIP: Model Trucks: Big Rigs and Heavy Equipment
Looking good. Neat concept -
Tim, you are absolutely right about that. This is my first major "plastic surgery". The frame, drom box, and trailer will probably be the easiest portions of this build. The engine wasn't too bad. I knew this would be a tough build, but I had to do this truck. It's so different. I would like to try the Peterbilt version eventually. I at least have a line drawing for it, and a spare 352 cab I'm not sure what to do with.
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I agree with you wholeheartedly on this one. I'm still pretty young myself, 29, but was raised with the old values. I know not all kids are, but I notice a lot more kids than ever before have just gotten lazy. I think they would consider a model kit to be too much work. I was proud to see that my 12 yr old stepson took an interest, and I credit all of you with part of that. I showed him some of the builds here and on truckmodeler.com, and he took interest. I bought 2 kits for him. He built one of them. That made me proud. It was a snap kit. He would like my help and the other, which requires glue and paint, but at least I got him started.
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It's done the same for me George. I learned a lot between building models and taking both automitve and diesel technican courses. These 3 things combined are why I tend to do most of my own work, incuding the custom stuff. I just wish my present truck's engine was part of my past learning experience, but it was only being introduced into the market when I started, and this truck is my first experience with it.
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Trucks have been my main interest since I was a toddler. I lived near the Hunt's Point terminal Market at that time, and the constant parade of trucks captured my interest. I'm a truck driver and I've been doing it my whole adult life. 95% of my builds have been trucks. Due to the difficulty finding truck kits, I didn't start there. My first build was a Monogram(I think) P 51D Mustang. Aviation was always my other interest. After the P51 came a Monogram 1/24 Mustang Cobra, and some commercial aircraft. A 727 and a DC 9. A Yenko '69 camaro was mixed in there. Now if I build a car, it's because I have a car carrier needing a load. I finally discovered where they hide the truck kits, and since July 1991 it's been trucks only ever since. There weren't many too choose from, until I discovered the Revell AG and Testors/Italeri kits. When I found out about AMT's MANY, MANY discontinued truck kits, I searched, and snatched up as many as I could over the years. I remember cleaning out one hobby shop that had quite a few. As my career started, my time at the workbench decreased. I've been in and out since 1997, when my last build was finished. I have seen numerous articles on how to take your models with you when travelling. A couple of years ago I tried it. It made those layovers enjoyable. I left the kits at home for about 4 years, but I'm back to taking them with me. I accidentally discovered truckmodeler.com, and it's that website that brought me back to my beloved hobby. That's how I found out about this forum, which has made things more enjoyable. I can't imagine stepping away from the workbench ever again. I forgot how much fun this is. Well, that's my longwinded post for the day. I loved reading the other stories on this post. Cool topic.
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Here is a mockup of the progress I've made so far as of last night. The cab still needs the sleeper front wall, rear cab wall, and the left rear corner to be completed. I finally got brave started the cab at least . The engine still needs a few things, mainly the lines. As for the frame, there are still some very challenging globs of paint to remove, but I'm doing that slowly to protect the plastic from constant exposure to the paint remover. There is a long way to go, but at least it's underway.
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I tend to post a handful of work in progress pix myself as my projects progress. However, when doing work in progress pix, I try to make sure that I only post the most detailed photos I have of the latest progress. That cuts down on the number of pix if you show the right camera angle. It is always so tempting to post all 10 or 15 pix you took that day simply because you're proud of your work, and you're happy to share it. Also, remember that after awhile, even a popular post subject doesn't get as many views. So when you make serious progress, post a new topic as an update. (i.e. 1971 Corvette update). It keeps the attention, and you can show off the latest progress. But don't do it everyday either. I would say, new topic when real, noticeable progress has been made where you can see a big difference. Then again, if you have lots of pix to share, post one or two as a teaser, and have the rest at a public photo site like fotki or photobucket. I personally have had better luck viewing photos on fotki. I hope my longwinded explanation helps. I will admit I post several photos at once, but I do try to limit myself to the best, most detailed photos I have. ismaelg was right about slow connections and long load times on different pages.
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1985 Dodge L700 4x4 Service Truck
SpreadAxle replied to Southgate's topic in WIP: Model Trucks: Big Rigs and Heavy Equipment
It looks like you put some work into this one. looks good. -
looks good
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1985 Dodge L700 4x4 Service Truck
SpreadAxle replied to Southgate's topic in WIP: Model Trucks: Big Rigs and Heavy Equipment
nice work -
I have one of those. :x I know this detail can be done, as I have seen it before on another builder's model. They look easier than they are. I finally decided after 12 years it was time to at least work around that part. :wink: I usually do body work last anyhow, so I finished the engine, and the frame is almost done. Just a detail or two more before I can paint it. I finished the sleeper, also. It's a door hinge for this particular truck. It's a different setup than most trucks. I know it can be done.
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I feel like I have the best guys working on my truck while I'm here. I've been staying away from the dealer except to get little reports because it is stressful. Thankfully, the truck is pretty much my only expense, so it actually doesn't hurt me too much. Not like it would a lot of operators with mortgages, children, car payments, etc. Kenworth will not let the warranty company bully them into performing 1/2 finished work, whereas other dealers wouldn't care less. Less than proper work is why I'm here now. The final phase of the battle is underway. It needs a new cylinder head due to small cracks that could get worse. Kenworth's been trying to make sure I get a new head, instead of having to reuse the old one. I know one thing, NEVER purchase a warranty from NTP! Live and learn, right? Thanks for the encouragement, Dave. I'm not giving up.