SpreadAxle

looks good. the purple truck in the background looks interesting.

By the way Diesel Dave, I saw you mentioned the box art. Looking at the A64B box art, it does look like the paint job I'm doing. This, however is the Autocar Dump Truck kit built as a tractor. I changed the cab color of the box art truck from the dump truck kit from red to black. The idea just came to me one day. Even when I used to build box stock, I always changed the color of the cab, using kit stripes. It was first change to al most any kit when I was a teenager. For instance, on AMT's Midnight Express Peterbilt 359, I painted it green and used the kit stripes. It's the biggest thing I do to customize. I used to wait to build a kit until I decided on the color. Now I at least get the frame done even if I haven't made a decision on a color.

Dave, do you have Duplicolor automotive paints in The UK? That's what a lot of modelers here in the states use, and they make the black for my Autocar. using these, I know what you mean about the fumes. I spent a lot of time as a child in my uncle's auto body shop, and the smell never was as potent as what you get out of some cans of Duplicolor paint. The Brilliant Black I am using right now is an example. Even when I was outside the dealership, I thought it was a little potent. That's why my cab only has one coat for right now, but definately could use another coat or two.

Here it is in its entirety from 1973. All 16 pages. This is slightly different from the kit dash, so I guess the kit is pre 1973, say 1969-1972 somewhere in there, but this truck is essentially the same as the kit Here is the NTC 350 Cummins engine under the hood in case you want to turbocharge the kit's engine. this is the same suspension as in the Autocar Dump Truck kit from what I can see. I hope these help you.

Here is the latest mock up. I figured I would show off my first ever real attempt at weathering. I'm going for the lightly weathered look of a truck that spends at least some of its day on dirt roads going to gravel pits, etc. A combination of light brown/tan weathering powder and ground up cigarette ashes I saved in a jar give this look. I wash my rig once a week, so I'm replicating that look here in scale. The cab only has its first coat of paint, but this gives you an idea. the stripes from the Autocar dump truck kit will be going over the black. the engine is officially installed, and I will complete the last few details tonight and tomorrow. Once that is done, I can finish the body work. I still have to run the a/c and power steering lines. Sounds a little ambitious, but when I built it 10 years ago, I threw every trick I knew at this truck. I wanted to build this in the same way, just as a Michigan train instead of a logger this time. Close up of the engine, sorry about the flash thanks for looking

I found an easy solution for weathering my trucks. I don't really do heavily/overweathered truck models, but even a clean rig like mine picks up dust and dirt. You know those weathering powders and such cost money at the hobby shop. I usually use the dirt, oil and such from my rig. Like 5th wheel grease, for instance. All I have to do is take my 1/25 scale 5th wheel, press it against my real trucks 5th wheel, and there you have it, a greased 5th wheel. Dirt off of the frame of my rig finds its way to the corresponding places on my 1/25 truck frames. I did inherit some stuff from my stepfather when he passed away, but I can still save a few dollars, instead of buying the expensive hobby shop stuff. For Oil leaks on a model , take some off of your car's dipstick and apply with a brush. It doesn't get more real than that. Sometimes, just look around your house, garage, car(or in my case, my rig), because you would be amazed at what you already have. That to me is the first place to look, is at the things you already have. You never know what's laying around the house or garage that can save you some some money. I once took a small scrap of cloth off of an old quilt that was being thrown away, and the sleeper in one of my trucks had a "real" blanket on the bed. If you do thinhs like that, you save.

Don't you dare start again!! :x lol. It gives a grayish/blackish color when ground up. It's good for mixing with other colored powders too. I know people who let their ashtrays fill and fill and fill, so those would be the ones to raid.

I like this one. You always seem to put some humor in your dios, and I like the HOT ROD school bus idea. That would be a great way to show up at school.

Oh ok. I thought maybe just heating a tire on the tread would work, this does look realistic. thanks for sharing that

Casey, this is an idea I've had for awhile. A shop. You did good on this one. I like it.

If you could find old showroom photos, like a brochure, that would be good too. If nothing else, just try to keep the interior decor right with the times.

Well, my favorite dio subject is anything that makes a truck look good. An interstate scene with the truck being driven down the road is my absolute favorite, although I would love to see someone(eventually I will be) do a truck garage diorama. I'm going to do maybe two bays of a big garage. One of the trucks will have it's engine somewhat torn down. Just strying to decide on the models, and a base. By the way, I see behind that piece of heavy equipment is a flatbed truck. Is it a B train? It looks like it. Cool progress so far. As to dirty models, I like them to a point, but usually, I like the lighter, daily dirt kind of weathering. It seems that ever since people started to weather their models, the 50 years of rust concept has always been what everyone goes for. I like them, but I would like to see more light weathering. That's what I tend to go for. You know, like it really has been driven, used, but not filthy. Like the truck I'm doing now, it has that look of being driven, and it could stand a bath, but it's not flithy. For those that weather haevily, there's nothing wrong with it, it just seems like no one goes for just a little.

That's a surprise, I thought it would be more

oh, by the way, when you paint the engine, up until the late 70's, early eighties, many engines in KW's were red. And this truck is from that time period.

Well boys(and girls if any are here) she's till in the shop. I'm glad to have this shop working on it over a lot of others I've been too. The head needs repair, but once that is done, I will be back to work. So, back to the workbench. I will be working the engine some more, and possibly lightly weathering the frame. thanks for all the support. kenworth has little rooms with a bed above the dealership here, so I've been staying there, but I'm back at the motel now. I've been studying, and taking notes. I did some bodywork, but we have some more painting to do. I at least want the cab done and the radiator in place this weekend. Some of my details will be easier to do if the cab is ready. I will be doing some of the things you see here, like the radiator brace, and some of the hoses, but again, I don't want to go insane. I want to see her back together before I turn 30, and that's in Jan, lol. This, by the way, is the Autocar Dump Truck Brochure from 1973. It will be in 1:1 truck reference.

that sure looks good

Trailers, my biggest beef! Not that I don't love the awesome tractors I see built, But it's a personal perference of mine, that my tractors all have trailers, which is why I tend to go on eBay and mostly buy trailers. About 5 yrs ago, Amt/Ertl gave us several reissues, including the dump trailer, lowboy, the tanker,the Wilson livestock trailer, the Great Dane extendable Flatbed, and the Great Dane Dry van, and the single axle car carrier. Since they are recent issues, they will be easiest to find. As 4 Revell AG, they brought back their tanker and the car carrier. Italeri has a 48' American reefer, and dry van. And they had a 40" container, but the chassis needs to be Americanized. I wish we could see more updated versions of the older trailer kits. Like more current moving vans, livestock vans, and maybe some different tanker bodies. And of course, for me, flatbeds and dropdecks. Additional trailer manufacturers would be nice too, like Utility. How did the kit makers miss these? As many as there are out there. I will be doing my 2006 Utility from scratch in the future. The pix and measurements are almost ready to post in the 1:1 reference section, just a few more notes to add. I want to share as much as I can for those who wish to try. Trailers like flatbeds, dropdecks, logging trailers, and some dumps and tankers would be easier to scratchbuild. You would need a suspension, and tires, but you can buy suspensions aftermarket too. Anyway, good luck to you.

Clint Freeman Components used to make one. In 2 sizes. Keep an eye on Ebay for one. the 2 sizes were because of sleeper roof heights. Flattops had a large wing, and high rise sleepers and cabovers had a smaller wing. I hope that helps a little. They were the same width by the way. Clint Freeman in unfortunately out of business, but if you do get his wings, you have to make the mounts, which are easy to replicate. Good luck with your project.

Well, I did some engine work. It's not officially installed, just dropped in for now, as there is more to do. I'm not going to go crazy, but there will be some more things done, then, I can officially install it. As to the rust on the exhaust manifold, which rubbed off a little and will have to be redone, that was a trick I accidentally discovered. I left water in a metal can for a few days, maybe a week or two and didn't notice it there, when I went to dump it, it was a little rusty, and the powdery portion of the rust sloshed around, so I took a brush and applied it to the manifold. When the water dried, I had genuine rust. I'm sure if it sat longer, it would've been darker. It wasn't a soda can, I believe it was tin and contained candy originally. Anyway, on with the show. The body parts, although I forgot the battery box, got their first coat of black. Now comes the wetsanding, etc. I'm excited to see this coming together. I've decided my weathring will be fairly light. Just daily dirt, but on a truck that's only a few months old. In other words, still shiny, but definately away from the showroom. Right front... ...left front... ...rear shot... ...and the overview. Hopefully I can get some more things done tomorrow on the engine. I can grease my 5th wheel too. I may as well. I already weathered the 5th wheel a little. Probably too much for as new as I want this model to look. Oh well. It's a working truck anyway. Thanks for looking.

That sounds like a cool idea. Without enlarging the pic, it looked like you were making a brick parking lot for it. I paid more attention to the model when I did enlarge, than the base. I might try that one for my home workbench. Then again, it would work well in the truck too. I have to sort of hunch over when I'm at the fold-down desk in the truck, this may help.

At least I caught the problem early enough this time. Because warranty companies love to cut corners, I ended up with the wrong turbo, but the damage was done the last time it blew up in January. The injector cam was replaced but the valve cam wasn't, so now they have to do the valve cam. When the turbo blew last time, I couldn't shut it off where I was, plus the tell tale high pitched whine of a blown turbo wasn't the sound that this engine makes, so i didn't know what happened either. Thus the oil was thrown out, damaging # 2 cylinder. It's being repaired, but I hope these guys are allowed to do their job properly this time. I wish I knew more about the Cummins ISX or I would tow it home and do it. I knew the N14 well enough, but this engine is a bit more rocket science to me. While the dealership fights with the warranty on my behalf, I will be here in Memphis, TN. ....and now for some model truck news...... As to the trailer, it's in the truck, the Autocar is with me in the motel room. I'm working on some modifications to the NTC 350 I have under the hood, adding some more details, and rearranging one or two things. I also took the body parts outside and gave them their first coat of Duplicolor Brilliant Black today. Another coat or two is needed. So far so good. I dechromed the tank steps, they will be black like the tanks. I will post progress before I lay down tonight. I may glue the interior tub in ahead of the cab so I can progress on the underhood details while the bodywork is done. Not sure yet, let's see how the engine comes along first. This Autocar is one of 3 resurrections(I hope I spelled that right) from my teen years. I have 2 Macks to redo, one of them being the very first model truck I ever built. The 1991 reissue of the AMT R model mack. I bought it as soon as I saw the nearest store had one. I left it home until I decide exactly how I'm going to rebuild it.

I like what I see so far

Now this is a good looking truck! nice work as usual Dave.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!!! Gregg broke the rules :shock: But I wont tell. If My rig wasn't in the shop, AGAIN, I would go for it. You have to love that warranty when it only lets the shop do the work only 1/2 right. Anyhoo, good luck with the sale. I just sold the hauler body only on ebay(kept the KW) and managed to get $30.50. It generated much interest, but that's still not bad for only part of a kit.

Yeah i just bought the wrecker body only for that one. I figured it would be better to do that than pay $100 plus for the whole kit, although I would have made use of the truck too. What are you looking for as far as tires.