truckabilly

Very nice trailer.

Exactly like the others say. Great looking build with slight weathering and the enviroment in the background make it look very realistic. I like it very much.

Never been a fan of this truck but I like the version on your picture very much. It is very interesting project that you started and I look forward to seeing the progress. You can add me to the list of your fans and I wish you good luck with this build.

When I test fitted the wheels and tires I found that the tire sides are in close contact with each other. So, I added rims that squeez the tires a bit more and open the gap that should be visible between the duals. It makes the tire sides more rounded too but I can live with that. The tires fit the disc outter rims okay. This close the tires are in the "box" set up. The inserted disc is not visible. Here is the the disc The disc on the left has new rims added. The disc on the right is the box stock. This is how the duals should look like. Disc and tire fit okay on the outside... ... and on the inside too. The side is rounded a bit too much but ... the show must go on.

Would love to see a real one too. The closest one I know of is in a museum in Belgium. Looks a bit like a circus wagon but still it´s Peterbilt 351. Thanks for the info Greg. I will correct it if it´s possible. I added yet another detail to the trailer. I didn´t like the way it looked in the box. It´s probably the lock that anchores dolly to the reach.

http://public.fotki.com/modeltrucks25thscale/model_magazine_articles/car_modeller/cm12_mar_1992_air-r/#media Is it the one?

Thanks for the offer Sean. I will ask you for advice probably when the time comes. Now I have to concentrate on finishing the truck. I find more and more details that need to be done before I start the painting. Like the nozzels for cooling the brake drums. I don´t know the exact route of the water lines as I couldn´t find a pic of the 351 Peterbilt with this system. I took the inspiration from the Hayes truck pictures. Now back to the trailer reach. I added the locking mechanism to the length compensator. It´s functional appart from the springs. There should be some water valves in the cab but I don´t know where to place them. Under the dashboard or next to the driver´s seat? Does anybody know? Thanks. Till next time...

One of the features that this type of logging trailer has is the length compensator. It´s not included in the AMT kit as most people probably arrange the tractor and trailer in the straight line. But it is not that difficult to make one, so I did it. Using the K&S aluminium tube inserted in a plastic tube I got this telescopic feature. This is the real one. Here is the difference between the straight position with the compensator fully retracted and "in curve" position with the compensator extended. I added yet another detail to the truck and that´s the bar across the frame that supports the wheels of the trailer when loaded onto the truck. Here is a funny load of my wife´s knitting-needles. The logs included in the kit are much too short for my version of the truck. Gotta get me some wooden sticks probably. But they´ll be too heavy, I´m affraid.

Very nice build.

Looks pretty good to me. I also like the frame color. Applying the decals over the rivets is always a tough job to do. Have you tried some of the magic waters... tensol, hypersol or whatever the companies call it? Sometimes they work pretty good, sometimes the decals just don´t react at all. Nice build though.

Thanks a lot for your positive feedback. I went on a little further with the fenders and covered them with CTM diamond sheet. Don´t know if it´s a factory option. I just thought it would look better this way. It still needs some trimming on the edges. I only had one sheet and it was not enough to cut the fenders as one-piece unfold pattern. The edges are separate parts glued to the main fender body. I wish my hands had more skills in them. I have to work with filler (putty) now in very fine manner. I wonder how it turnes out. Thanks for looking.

Hey man, I like your style. These are nice details that you´re adding. That fuel filter is something that I´d like to try myself some day. Cool build.

Well done so far. Looking forward to seeing more.

Sure looks beautiful. I like it too.

Thank you Arnd. I am adding a few pics of the chassis and the rest of the truck sprayed over by white surfacer which is better for the yellow - beige color that I plan to paint the truck with. The axles are still moving up and down in their suspension. Thanx for watchen

Thank you guys. Finally I got me the auxiliary transmission. I added a crossmember and mounts to it. I also modified the cardan joint to move in one axis. The engine is in the middle of weathering and it still needs some parts to be added yet. I ripped off the seats and replaced them with a differenet arrangement. The driver´s seat is low back and no air ride any more. Different is also the passenger seat. The base of the driver´s seat probably does not have all the components but I haven´t seen a pic showing it all. It looks a bit light to me now. I was trying to replicate this...

Awesome builds with fantastic details. What powered the mixer units while they were travelling on the truck?

Thank you all for explanation. Not being truck driver myself I always appreciate this kind of info.

Well, got the aux gearbox now. Can somebody tell me why there are two linkage rods coming in the box? And where are the other ends of them? Are they running from the same stick?

Nice wrecker, looks good in black. Cool idea with the guy standing inside. A little difference from usual driver sitting behind the wheel.

Thanks for the tip, Old Buckaroo. Maybe I will use it for a different project. I worked on the pedals, shifters and floor weathering. This is how it turned out... Here is the original pedal group... Some close ups... I also added pedal details under the floor... I have also the clutch linkage ready although I don´t know if I am able to insert it in that cramped space. This and inside frame mounted steering box gives me shivers. I wonder if I am able to put it all together in the end.

Thank you, guys. I played a bit more with the floor and added tinny mats as seen here These are just trial photos. It takes a bit more work to get more realistic look. Also working on the pedals, shifters and heater.

Wonderful job so far. You´ve made nice changes to the kit. The engine looks far better now.

Thanks guys. Here is a story of the floor. It´s about how a nice snow white plastic sheet changed into this ugly, neglected and dirty floor... The engraved wood pattern probably didn´t work as much as I thought it would. But another effect took action instead and by mistake actually. The first layer of color was matt Revell 89 I believe. I turned it into gloss by a layer of Sidolux (something like Future). Not only it made a glossy surface but it also protects the Revell enamel from destroying by a subsequent oil color. I dipped a tip of sponge into burned umbra, spent most of it on a paper and then "painted" the floor with what remained on or in the sponge. This made a fine wood-like pattern. I left it drying for a day which wasn´t enough, I think. I sprayed a dull coat of GSI clear to get a dry look of the floor. But something went wrong and the paint cracked in lines across the width of the floor. But... you wouldn´t believe it but it looked good. Just like old dry wood. So, I used some dry brushing and chalk powder to make the stains. Does it look good or is it too much?

On the front part I had to rework the fenders as I used a sheet much too thin and it broke. Here are the fenders after repair. The sub assembly of the air filter and exhaust piping gave me some hard times as it barely squeezes into the space provided. Something must be wrong but it´s no wonder since all dimensions are just estimated. The passenger won´be able to open the door to the full swing and the exhaust pipes will be in close contact with the fender and air filter elbow. I wish I had a clearer picture of that part on the 351 L. I hope I can make everything fit okay.