cavejohnson

I guess I should add that my setup used what looked like a piston. So when you extended it, it allowed grease to move into the bottom of the tube for support, when it was compressed it made a bit of back pressure but after a couple of seconds it would stablize.

Hmm. I did a small replacement ram on a die cast auto transport that was 1/25th. I used some aluminum hobby tube (I guessed the size). As for making it positionable I stuffed a bit of Mystik No.2 high temp grease in the tube and that created a nice substitute.

I have seen a Caterpillar V8 with individual valve covers, but it wasn't a truck engine.

Well, it showed up at my door about an hour ago. Got into the box and suprisingly enough 90% of the parts were still attached to the sprues. As for the NTA-350... the driver's side of the block is gone. Must have fallen out during packing or something because in that picture (ebay picture) it's there, but it isn't now. So tomorrow I'll be giving Mr Natale a call and order a 12V71

Those will look great when they're done! Nice work on the hood. I had the T-900 kit and I thought the same thing, I ended up getting one from Sourkraut (western star one I belive) and it looked great. Then the shelf the T-900, my W-900, and my Pete 377 were on got knocked off the wall by my idiot roomate So now the bullbar is on a Ford LTL-9000 (oddly enough it fit perfectly).

I just got the old California Hauler kit off of Ebay (I think it was the one released mid 70s). I'm still waiting for it to actually show up but I know it's going to be a bit of a mess. The cab and hood have already been painted, but the lady who sold it sent me a lot of pictures and all of the parts are actually there! Me thinks I'm going to get AITM's 12V71 kit rather than use the 350 cummins. (What do you all think?) Oh, and does anyone have any suggestions for the best way to remove the old paint without destroying the polystyrene? Thanks!

I never said they were ALL easier. I did a Fujimi Ferrari Testarossa and will admit it was very difficult. Heck, right now I'm looking for a Fujimi F40 because they're challenge but quite fun! But most of the people I know who build models try to go from a 50 part Ford Mustang to a 300 part Revell Germany Peterbilt.For some it 's easy, for others it's difficult.

Great job! I love those old swing fender Dodge trucks. My grandpa ran one sometimes when he worked for Convoy (before it turned into AAG) It had a 6V-71 and a 10 speed. So in my opinion, Great choice for an auto transport!

I totally agree. The first model I ever built was the Australian Western Star when I was 13, It wasn't easy, but I stuck with and it turned out great! Model cars are a lot easier than trucks, not as many parts nor details. I always suggest that people start with a Revell kit like the Aerodyne KW or the Pete 359, they're great ways to start.

I've had the same issues with some of AMTs kits. Some of them work really well like the K-123 and the Road Boss, But the White Freightliner wasn't so hot. The cab never came together right and the finish of some of the chromed parts was sub standard. I didn't really want the Lonestar because I Think they're kind of ugly, after some of these comments though, I really don't want it now!

I just bought an old Louisville kit on ebay... the box says "Ford/Caterpillar V8" I know a lot about trucks...but I've never seen that engine. It looks like a 3208 had a love child with a 8v71!

Sure! I will add some pictures in a bit of the engine, but basically i modified the block using a 3408 and 3406 i had, routed the compressor to the back and added a cover for the gear drive, screwed with the 3406 valve cover, moved the alternator to the drivers side, and added a home made 1693 decal to the aftercooler. If anyone wants i can upload a scaned copy of an old 1693 spec sheet i have.

I have a camelback on the way, but no idea where to get an old Thermodyne

I figured so, I got Mack tanks, stacks, and a battery box from AITM and debating on wheels I should use. My big question is wheelbase, I'm going to leave it as a tractor but have no idea what an appropriate wheelbase for one is. I also know I'm going to make a supercharger and make that 250 into a 300 for some added zing.

I'd love to see either a resin or one of the big names make a Freightliner Powerliner or some of those newer Aussie KW cabovers.

Here's a Mack B-73 L cab I got from AITM a while back, I'm going to modify this frame I found in a box (looks like an AMT cabover frame setup). It looks like it has a 250 Cummins and a 10 speed (White-Freightliner kit?) and a Reyco suspension. Anyone have any helpful suggestions as to what I should or shouldn't modify to make it more Mack like? Yes, the paint isn't done.

It's almost finished, still have lots of little things to do on it. Not sure why the decal got this weird glare. The cab is sitting funny because of modifications I did to the engine to turn it into a Caterpillar 1693...so I have to fix a few bits before I permanently attach the cab

A side note on the color: That was the newer Ringsby orange, before they bought United Buckingham their trucks were bright orange like Interstate's (and had more intricate paint jobs). If anyone out there is doing a 1970s Freight hauler truck, My suggestion would be to use either the AMT Freightliner or this Kenworth K-123 kit and give it a 335 Cummins. Some companies like Ringsby tuned some of their trucks that pulled doubles or triples up to 380s, and in the early 70s, Ringsby had very few of these Kenworths with 1693TA Caterpillars that ran through the Rockies, typically from the Denver terminal up to Montana. Then in 75 or so, they bought Mack F-700s that had the tuned 380 Cummins.

Yeah, but it's not Interstate orange. I mixed various oranges with bits of red and yellow to make the Ringsby orange. Interstate orange is sort of like safety orange, Ringsby is more florescent and a bit more red. Also, Interstate and ICX (yellow and black) tended to have more chrome bits, Ringsby trucks were kind of cut and dry, hence my 5 hole steel wheels and the painted exhaust stacks.

Here are a some pictures (sorry they're a bit dark) of the AMT K-123 and Fruehauf 40' van. I haven't finished painting on the trailer, but I just have to make the posts white, the interior needs put in and the trim needs finished on the tractor, as well as the tractor's fuel tanks need painting but I ran out of primer The first one is the tractor-trailer combo, second is detail of the decals I made from old pictures my Grandfather had from his time at Ringsby United.