BigBad

Ohhh, this is getting better all the time! By the way, are you going to use those aluminum tanks I see in the background on this Lil'ol GMC? Sure is lookin' good with these wheels. By the way, a work of art cannot be rushed. I am partial to this build...

Got to be the show winner... Mighty impressive! This thing has got to be like scale 1:12 .

Well, i don't know much about trucking but, if I was in the market to buy a new International truck and my money bought the fuel, I'd buy the most fuel efficient truck and make it look as nice as it can. The Prostar posted by Chuckyr would come really close to what I'd like to get. As a matter of fact, I will have at least one or four but much smaller than 1:1 coming the end of this spring! One will be tagged to wear this paint scheme for sure.

L'express du midi is a division of a trucking company called Transport Audec. They are headquartered in Ste-Catherine, a town near Montreal, Quebec. I took pictures of these trucks at a car and truck shown in their hometown. They have a fleet of W900s, T800s and newly at least one T660. They all are well dressed up as they wear the same paint scheme, either red and silver or blue and white. They are all equiped with polished aluminum wheels, fuel tanks and whatever can be polished... Just is. Even their trailers are as detailed as the trucks, so basically the trucks you see in these pictures represent the fleet. Most of the Audec fleet is silver and red and specializes in pulling bulk fluids in tankers, the Express being mostly blue and white specializing in solid freight including wood products mostly on flatbeds and tarped B-trains. Quite a striking fleet to look at and some of the best looking W900L's on the road. Inky posted their internet site that pretty much details it.

Pretty neat huh! This truck is as nice a new and probably better than.

Sergey, have a look at the Neo-Seminole Kenworths post under the 1:1 Reference theme, I posted some pictures of a nice Bullnose Kenworth that has been meticulously restored not too long ago.

Uploaded with ImageShack.us Other pictures of that Bullnose: Uploaded with ImageShack.us Uploaded with ImageShack.us

A neat T660 with a classic Kenworth paint job? Have a look! Uploaded with ImageShack.us Uploaded with ImageShack.us Uploaded with ImageShack.us To compare with a classic: Uploaded with ImageShack.us Uploaded with ImageShack.us Uploaded with ImageShack.us With a neatly restored Bullnose: Uploaded with ImageShack.us

I have to agree with you both, there isn't much to be done as far as customizing goes except for paint and wheels. Like TJ said, it's going to go into the paint as well. Classic paint schemes such as the kenworth "Seminole" don't seem to fit as good as on a straight conventional. But then again... Kenworth has a paint scheme that is as classy as the old Seminole, it's similar, (I call it Neo-Seminole...) and looks pretty sharp on a T660. I'll show a couple pics of one later in the 1:1 reference section. I agree with Tim about the classic look of the more traditional long hood Conventional though. Anyway, I have gone on a tangent and wish to say that I am happy to see new truck kits, can't wait to see this Prostar!

Now that is one thing I'd like to understand, why is it that most truck (drivers,afficionados,lovers,whatevers...) don't like the newer trucks? Too many spoilers, fairings, not enough chrome, not enough external components such as air filters and fuel tanks? I know I like the exhaust stack each side of the cab unlike the Prostar and many others. But I can appreciate the 3 styles of trucks. The Conventionals such as the W900, the aeros such as this Prostar, and the cabovers like the Pete 362 or GMC Astro. I think the newer trucks can be pretty stylish, they might be too car-like in their styling? Maybe the nose is droopy? In real life though, getting 7-8 MPG instead of 4-5 can be an incentive to get better aerodynamics.

Yeah, that is one slick paint job. I didn't know the bumper flipped that way. That is going to be another nice kit feature!

Great news Dave, thanks a bunch for the follow-up! Looking forward to this one! AND the Great Dane, I'm pretty excited about these new kits. Prostar's one of my faves. Definitely the best lookin' aero-truck out there.

Jim, that is impressive work so far, your friend must be beside himself watching this build. Just love that "air" suspension!

More detailsl!! Hahaha! Well this is sure turning out to be one of the best builds! Keep at it Kurt. This is a rare subject and worth making right. It's coming along just fine then.

That's real generous of you Chris! The T600 is coming in probably next week though. So I think I'll be sticking to this cab and sleeper. I'll be ordering the hood and the wheels this week. I 'm going to check for that signature Cummins engine too (Thanks Jim!) I've got an Italeri Peterbilt in the works right now, but I think it's going to be put aside for some time... And get to this Kenny instead. The W900L is such a classy truck...

So, I got the inspiration from the "James Bond Kenworth" topic the other day. I would like to start on a latest model W900L with the "elongated cab side windows". I found an AMT T600 to get the cab and sleeper, I am going to order a hood with the rounded cowl from P&P, then I was planning to use the frame of the Revell W900(not snap). Does that make any sense? I'm going to get myself some 10 hole buds and a steerable front axle from KFS to fit on this puppy. Anything I should look out for? This is going to be a stock over the road tractor, no 300" frame no custom fenders, just a stock looking Kenny. Is there a resin Cummins ISX out there?

So! How's this one coming along???

Lots of diamond plate on that one! Good work! I really got to get myself a GMC General again... Did you lower the suspension on the GMC?

Yep, try www.ppvintagekits.com, they have the W900L straight cowl hood with the square headlights (very similar to the 900B) and the W900B cab to go with it if need be. It's the long hood so it should be a nice fit on the Revell (not snap) kit.They have good quality parts. Is the paint scheme in the picture the one you're going to replicate? Man, that truck is going to look sweet... Keep us posted for the build!

Lookin' good from where I'm sittin'! Is that "CN rail" red-orange I see on the fenders?

Yeah those would be great but since they don't make the FLD anymore we'd need the cab also. How about it? Need a cab for a master Eric?

It's actually the first time I can say that rust looks good! I like your detailing...

Yep, that is a pretty convincing job you did there. I like the no frills, built for work and it looks like it did! Nice job! So I guess the Transtar beside it is brand new from the factory and freshly lettered...

Alright Mike! Yes the eyes ARE different, aren't they? Man, when I got back to this hobby about a year ago I couldn't see clearly enough up close. It was a lot better some 30 odd years ago! I got the glasses and everything's good again. So about those wheels, you should have a look at what Tim Ahlborn did with a similar "snap" Peterbilt 359. See it on the www.timstrucks.com in the "workbench" section, it really is a nice piece. He changed the kit wheels for two hole buds with resin tires, it does a nice job. Keep at it man it's really coming along!

I'm blown away... Can't believe this guy! Top notch work Sergey!