BigBad

Another well put together Pete. This one looks all business! Not all trucks are pretty to look at, especially some SBFA's but this one is right on the money. I'm learning all kinds of new expressions here, SBFA, SFFA, FEPTO... Cool stuff! Great job on this one Tim.

Just a suggestion, why not try to take the AMT tanker and add two straight styrene flat pieces (same lenght as the tank body) at an angle at the bottom to make the taper and another one for the (apparently flat bottom)? Then make plugs for the front and back of the body to fill the new tapered shape. Leave the standard petroleum piping off, build the new transfer tubes and hardware out of styrene pipe stock from evergreen. I think you should get pretty close to what you're looking for. Any way you make it is not cheating, it's the results that count, get creative! I've seen great looking chemical tankers made out of pvc or abs pipes to get a smaller diameter tank body then use the suspension components and wheels from the amt Fruehauf tanker trailer. Anything goes, as long as it holds up, really! Look up "Scott WP" in the Flickr photo site, he has one built up like this.

Justin, you have the right to your opinion, but "hideous"?? I've seen worse than the Prostar from more "prestigious" companies, AND some classics aren't much to look at either... But I have to agree that a Workstar would open up some interesting opportunities.

Interesting choices! Here are mine: (mind you, I never drove trucks, I just happen to like them...) Modern classic: Kenworth W900L Modern Aero: International Prostar Old school Aero: Freightliner FLD 120 Old School Cabover: GMC Astro with SS wide grill, Ford CL 9000 and Peterbilt 362-110 Old School Conventional: Ford LTL 9000 and later style Peterbilt 359 with square headlights and 1100 cab. One thing I miss from the older trucks: the OEM style stripes... Really bold designs from just about every manufacturer, especially Peterbilt and Freightliner with the multicolor schemes and Kenworth for their K100 Salem scheme (BJ and the Bear) and the W900 Seminole scheme (Watkins). GMC, Ford, International and Western Star all had beautiful choices.

Uh-oh! If Dave says something like this in this section of the forum It's bound to be interesting! A Prostar maybe? An up to date 53 foot reefer? Let it start, the anticipation will go through the roof! Who will have the best guess? It's only good fun anyway...

MAN! Look at this rig! If I didn't know, I'd say it's the real thing... Great build!

Hmmmm, while the Lonestar is a great truck and also a great kit, also areally interesting subjsct in this case, I can't wait till a Prostar front end is produced... Or the whole truck kit for that matter!

Brian, I am usually a GM fan, but this year Road Runner is one of the better looking Mopars along with the 'Cudas in my opinion. I like this one, good color, split front chin airdam, stock rally wheels... Real nice! Now get on with that Lonestar wrecker!

Actually Jeff, the tow truck you see at the top with 2 headlights is the "Harley Davidson" edition, so that is sort of the range topper. The ones with 4 covered headlights are the regular Lonestars, if there is such a thing...

Hhaha, told you it was awesome! By the way, that's a nice Road Runner you have as an avatar. Model or driver? It's kinda blured so I can't tell.

If you go to the "basketsbythebrowns" (TMC Main) site on the august gallery, you will find an awsome Lonestar with the Revell Can-do wrecker body. That is one nice piece!

Yep, absolutely and the Titan too... And while we're at it, why not put some optional stuff in the kits as well? You know, like AMT used to do with the GMC Astro and Chevy Titan, they had optional single or dual exhaust, two sets of chrome square tanks and plain drum type ones, the GMC once had optional grab handles and rear view mirrors and that turbine engine or the Detroit 8V-71, even high back or low back cab seats and a dragfoiler and optional cab clearance lights and horns! In the new kits, where applicable, I would like to see, get this, Optional WHEELS! Like a full set of 2 hole discs and a set of aluminum colored or chromed 10 holes, half back fenders or full, would a day cab panel as an option be a real big stretch on some kits? How about, like others mentioned here, a construction kit? Only construction preparing parts such as super singles with the rims, PTO's with the related bumper, hydraulic oil tanks. then maybe a straight truck body kits, like a dumper body, a tanker, a cement mixer, dual steer front axles with wheels and tires, lift axles, high traction drive tires... A little like Italeri does, but for North American trucks. The manufacturers probably already had a look at this... But guys, if you are reading this, I confirm that we want these! You will sell them. Thanks for looking!

Wow, these do look pretty good! Where are they from? Oh, and by the way, I apologize for Modelltruck, this Austrian model truck parts supplier does good business, I dealed with them some months ago and got really good service. Sorry for that.

Holy Moly! Now that's a heavy duty truck tire! Actually that's not bad.

YOU sir, are soooo right! I know, it's just because I couldn't see how else I could get a super single or a decent front tire for a heavy duty truck or tractor. Yes, there is Sourkraut, KFS, Modelltruck and so on. But either they are out of almost everything or they are sooo complicated to order that I'm feeling ... Stuck. I just don't want to bother with half finished internet sites.

Well, that's it, you guys pushed me to get that Revell W900! It's on order now. Now to get that Detroit 12V-71...

Hmmm... Yeah, and those kits are not easy to find. There must be a way to copy these by casting them in some sort of rubber-like compound. Suggestions are welcome! By the way, Tim, you seem to have an endless supply of these tires, who's your supplier?? How do you get them? Anyway, I understand Revell using off the shelf stuff. I did just that when I was a teen. I used tires from what must have been an old 1:16 formula 1 racer or an indy car. These tires had straight threads, no lettering on the side exept for a big Dunlop logo, I have to say they were a little bit wide, but still fit. I put these on my International F-series dump truck at the time, they were actually pretty convincing for what I wanted to do. Whish I still had that scrap box... Oh well.

So else from these kits, which kit do these tires come with? Goodyear Gt radials are definitely not for class 8 trucks. I used to see these tires on 78-82 Corvettes and Trans-ams back in the day. So a 20 inch rim at 1:25 scale comes out at .800 inch. A 1:16 scale 15 inch rim is .9375.So I'm a little confused as to which car kit would use these tires. There must be some Revell car kits using these that is currently for sale. Have any idea? Maybe guys used to bigger scale cars? Why? I want these tires for my truck kits!

I like the moving rear axles! good work! Lots of work, lots of details to make it look right, great stuff, Dave!

Wow, this is the right color for this wrecker, good choice! Comes out great! I like the aluminum finish on the wheels, they do look better this way. Now I really got to find me the tractor version of this... Definitely.

Yet another great looking replica! I like the toast and sandwich graphics on the drom! I like the different metal finishes you use for the "shiny" parts. One tastefully done Pete...

Thanks Brian! You are right, these truck are nice. The first time I saw one, I was amazed at how modern these looked, especially compared to what they replaced. I have to say the Kenworth T2000 was there first but I think Volvo brings good futuristic looks to Aero trucks. But that's a matter of opinion. I like most class 8 trucks anyway. I see you're into muscle cars and dioramas, great job on the garage with the orange 69 Z28 and Boss Mustang!

So, this is the Caterpillar CT660, you read right, Caterpillar! In fact this is an International Workstar under the skin. Both companies are collaborating on this truck. As a matter of fact the Caterpillar engines called CT are also called International Maxxforce. So they have been at it for some time. It reminds me of the Mack Titan a little. I think it looks a little toy-like too. It's going to be a love-hate thing as far as the looks go.

Another thing that bothers me (a little), is the fact that some models dissapear and seem to never return. Take the Italeri Freighliner FLD 120 aero. This kit is nowhere! This is one truck I still see all over the roads and I would love to replicate, I'd buy 3 or 4 of them right away, I've got an iteration idea for each one. Sorry, conventional fans, I just love the way this truck looks... They would look good against my Volvo VN. Talking about the Volvo, aren't those kits out of production? Yes they could have put an engine a transmission and a poseable steering axle, but why don't they do exactly that in the next revised issue of a nice VN780? You know, get the interest back into these. Never understood why this kit wasn't complete to start with. Again, these truck are all over our roads. I want to replicate what I see every day.

Anthony, Italeri can make this easily, most of the molds are already there, they need what? The hood, the battery box tops and some hardware to relocate the front axle? I hope it's in their plans. This is too easy to pass up. This would be a good subject to restart that American truck line, they could even interest the Australian with a right side steering option.