Jim B

I know you're all dieing to know how I solved this problem,. Well, after further review it turned out I had the exhaust manafolds mounted on the opposite site of the engine. Duh!!! All better now.

Is it hard to put on? Well, that depends on what you putting it on. It's pretty simple, and the packets come with instructions.

Trey, Welcome to the world of truck modeling! Bare Mtal Foil (or BMF) can be gotten at most hobby shops, online at places like Micro-Mark, or from the Bare Metal Foil Web site.

Um, Tim, according to www.imdb.com "White Line Fever" was released in theaters 16 JUL 75. Wouldn't that make the Blue Mule a 1973 or 1974, assuming that they shot the film in 1974, then did post production in early 1975?

It actually turned out to be the exhaust manafold on the engine. It's like it was too low or something, so I'm going to dry-fit the engine into the frame then mount the manafolds. I haven't gotten much further than assembling the frame & engine.

Ouch. Now my head hurts!

I saw that one, too. Isn't that site great?

Think it turned out ok!?! That truck is amazing! I love your attnetion to detail, the frame & engine labels, the Alclad. It's great.

Thanks, Scott. What do you use for the Red Oxide? You mentioned that these were colors of remanufactured transmissions. If it was a new truck with a new engine & transmission, would the transmission be black? Guess it depends on the manufacturer, right?

Oh, ok. Thanks. I knew it was something like that.

You should be able to get the modern KW battery boxes here http://www.brlmodeltruckshop.com/index.html along with a more modern cab & hood. Tim, didn't Sonny's trucks have the torsion bar suspension? That would make them 1973 & 74 W925s, right? If I remember correctly the Movin' On kit & the Watkins KW kit both had spring suspensions (since they are basicly the same kit with different decals) which would make them W923s. Right?

You saw a gray V-903? Do you remember the year? I've seen Cummins Grey tuch-up paint, but I don't know when it was used.

The frame is straight (well, as straight as an AMT kit can get). It's like the exhaust is too low and is hitting the frame or something. Maybe I'll try moving them up.

I'm curently working on a GMC Astro and I have some questions on the engine. First: what model Detroit Diesel is this engine? Second: how in the heck do you get the engine in the frame? There is so much torque on the rear mounts when I try to make the front sit down I'm affraid that I'm going to break something. Any ideas? Third, I'm pretty sure that the engine should be Alpine Green, but what color should the transmission be? Thanks,

There's also http://www.brlmodeltruckshop.com/index.html He has most of Monkey Claw's stuff, and some modern KW battery boxes & things. You can check out http://www.modeltrucks.com.au for modern engines. He has a Cat C15 (not listed, but he has it), and a Cummins Signature 600 on the way. Good luck!

Tim, Do you have a car carrier in your collection? Looks like it'd be a real challenge, but if anyone could pull it of, you could. Doesn't Peterbilt offer this direct from the factory on the 379?

Tim, There's a photo on one of your "Movin' On" sites that shows one of the actors "working" on the engine. The photo is a little grainy, but the engine appears to be tan. Is that just my immagination?

The engine in that kit s a Cummins (NTC350, I think). Anyway, the engine should be tan.

Minor set back on the Ryder truck. It looks like it had a run-in with one of our cats. Cat - 1, Truck - 0. Minor damage, snapped off a front wheel & one side of the tie rod. Guess I can look into those two-hole Budds now!

I heard that, too. I think I heard it here from Tim, but I cannot remember. I don't know if that applies to all KW conventionals or just the W-925 & not the Alaska Hauler. Maybe they should make new molds. Like that's going to happen!

Dylan, Don't hold your breath!

This poses an interesting question: when did Cummins paint their engines grey? I always thought the older ones were beige, the N-14 series gloss black, and the Signature 600 & ISX red with chrome or black valve covers respectively. I sort of have a list going of engine colors by engine manufacturer, truck manufacturer, & the approximate years. It isn't all inclusive, and probably not totally accurate; but here goes! Caterpillar (all engine models) - yellow (exceptions noted below) Cummins (NTC-250, NTC-350, & NTA-370) - Beige (exceptions noted below) Cummins N-14 - Gloss Black Cummins Signature 600 - Gloss Red w/chrome valve cover Cummins ISX - Gloss Red w/ gloss black valve cover Ford (either Caterpillar or Ford make) - Blue (not sure about a Cummins N-14, probably black) Detroit Diesel 6V71 & 8V71 - Alpine Green Detroit Diesel 8V92 - Silver Detroit Diesel 12V71 - Alpine Green or Silver Peterbilt (all engine models from ~1950 - 1985) - white Kenworth (all engine model from ~1950 - 1975) - white Mack (pre-1990) - gold Mack (current) - grey International (all engine models) - gloss red Well, there you have it. Hope it helps. Please feel free to post any & all corrections. Thanks,

I don't know who owns the Autocar name (considering they're out of business), but the copyright thing is a little crazy. I was email the onwer of modeltrucks.com.au about his Cat C-16 engine, and how it ian't on his site any more. Aparently Caterpillar wanted $5000 for each Caterpillar item that was produced. That's a lot of resin engines at $40 each to cover that kind of expense. I think you can still get them, he just doesn't advertise it. Sort of like Dan's Model Truck World and the Canadian trucking company decals.

Another thing to look ut for is there is a 3/16" gap between the back of the cab & the front of th van. This is for the optional chome exhaust stacks that run up the back of the cab. If you don't use the stacks (like me), you'll have a big gap between the back of the cab & front of the van, so you might want to play with the positionng of the mounting rails & the van body. Yes, the engine should be Ford blue & the transmission should be aluminum.

Rumor Control has it that the Frank Gortsema Marmon COE & conventional molds are now owned by Dave Natale / AITM. Will he ever produce one? Who can say for certian. You could always ask. http://www.aitruckmodels.com/ He currently does not have one listed on his site.