dieseldog1970

Looking sweet!!! Nice job!!

Nice work on the truck...it is looking good!! If you think the fuel tanks on the model were tough to do, imagine what it was like on the line with the clock ticking!! As far as engine color...they were installed as they came from the OEM supplier: Cummins (red, black, and tan - depending on model), Detroit Diesel (green/aqua), Caterpillar (yellow), Mercedes (after Frieghtliner bought WST - silver).

Looks awesome!!! Great job!!

Ok....I got one...2009-2010(?), I was running a plow truck on the Coq (yes, as in Highway to Hell) heading north from Kingsvale towards Merritt. I was asked to stay late until the next shift came on, in the fast lane with about 6-8 inches of snow on the road and still coming down. Road is completely covered and I know I will not be able to make two passes each side to clear the road, so I figure one in the fast lane both ways to make it some what driveable. I have a front plow and underbody down, sanding as I go, doing about 40 kmh., as I come into an area known as the Comstock bluffs. This area is nothing but corners with no-posts (k-rails for you non Canadians!!) on each side as well as down the center of the road, I am running tight to the left hand side posts (the front plow will bump along as you clear the snow - sometimes sparks, sometimes little chunks of concrete fly off) concentrating hard because I know that the posts will end and I DO NOT want to go into the median and across traffic!! My two way radio crackles to life, the boys from the Coldwater yard in the crummy want to go by me, so I slow down to 30 kmh, they go by with roto lights on and 4-5 vehicles with them. I glance in the right mirror, nothing to see...so I pick it back up to 40 and continue. Now, like I said, you bump along these posts...so as I am trucking along, I feel a bump...now in my mind, I think, THAT does not feel normal! Just as this little tid bit of info exits my brain, I have a pickup truck coming across my plow sideways from the right!! It seems that the driver wanted to go through all the snow I was putting into the slow lane, and turned the wheel to the left because he "thought" all that snow would push him off the road. Now I have never had this happen before, so I kick in the clutch pedal, and pop the truck into neutral, he comes across in front of me, slams the left front of his truck into the no-post, some what straightens out and gets over to the right shoulder. I stop my truck and radio my foreman about what happened, he says he will be on site asap. I slowly bring my truck across the road to the shoulder, pull the brakes and get out...the driver exits his vehicle and the first words out of his mouth..."That's the stupidest effin thing I ever did!!". He is not hurt except for superficial cuts from glass on his hands, but he will be a tow job off the hill, left front smashed in/ blew out both his driver side windows on his crew cab/ and the box is creased front to back from coming around the plow, I have zero damage to my truck. I fill out an incident report back at the yard, and go home. Fast forward a year, winter shift is starting up, and I am talking with the supervisor about the incident, he tells me that the driver approached ICBC regarding me "only" letting certain vehicles pass me, but they forwarded the incident report to them, included in the report....the first words outta his mouth!!! ICBC finds ZERO fault to the plow truck operator...100% to the driver of the pickup, so if you can learn anything from this....NEVER, EVER pass a plow truck on the right!!!

This is a tough one Harry....seen Midnight Oil quite a few years back at an outdoor concert with Hot house Flowers, World Party and The Tragically Hip (who sound JUST like their CD's live!!). Couple years back I seen INXS here in Kamloops, J.D Fortune did an awesome job (IMHO)...turn out wasn't as good as it could have been, but have been a huge fan since Kick debuted. AC/DC....man...they are on the bucket list, chances are pretty slim now with Brian out, not sure about Axle...the jury is still out on him taking over, hearing mixed reviews...some good...some bad??!!

Google Western Star 6900....if you want to see some pics of a non street legal but oh so cool full size Tonka toy!!

I want to see this so bad....my favorite car....favorite MOPAR....I would go broke buying cases of these to feed all the build ideas I have in my head!!!

Great job!!!!

Awesome build....can't wait to see the finished product!!!

As far as I know....they never painted any of the engines before they were installed into the frames, used as is from the OEM's, and I asked my lead hand many questions about the history before I started working there in 1993. Now maybe the picture of the rainbow WWS was built for a show(?)...and could have been painted for any number of reason's, but with the number of show trucks that I recall going down the line...never seen it myself in nine years.

Back in 2008, I had the pleasure of running a Volvo 880 with a 600 hp D16, very nice truck to drive with plenty of power for the hills, it was loaded to the gills with a kick butt stereo with sub!!! Ac/DC sounded AWESOME thumping through that sound system!! Also drove a couple of plow trucks on the Coq, both had Cummins N14 and 18 speeds...besides my passion for Western Stars...these are one truck that I would not hesitiate to drive again!!!

Very sharp build!!!!

Looking good so far!!!!

Since most OEM's are different, I can only comment on my time at Western Star while employed there from 1993-2002. The motors and transmissions were bolted together on engine line, as received from the vendors, most of them were painted a semi gloss black, when I first started there...we had some of them painted a primer red. If I remember...these were the Rockwell transmissions, all of the Eatons from the day I started to the end were the black I mentioned before. Hope that helps some what!!!

For the original movie...Dodge sent over 5 Alpine White Challengers for the production company to use for the movie, 4 of them were 440 4spd cars, the fifth was a 383 auto. They actually used the 383 car to tow the camaro into the two D8's at the end of the movie. If you wanted to build one to represent the car from the Fox remake, you could use a HEMI motor, they showed one on film, but it was actually in a Charger...different air cleaner. Good luck...can't wait to see more!!

Texting and driving....I see this on a daily basis in my travels working for the city....and quite a few people yakking on their phone as well. I have many co-workers who as soon as they are able...checking their phones...one guy basically lives on FB, but we have a company policy that has a zero tolerance for cell phone use while driving...you get a free day off!!! It is a good thing that GM now has wi-fi in all their new models....that will definately stop people from staying off their phones!!!!

Lookin' good Chuck!!!!

Awesome build Chuck!!! Love the color choice...seen a few run down the line with the paint jobs that reminded me of the old MOPAR High Impact paint from the '70's, but they usually had a black frames!!!! You are building some mighty fine Star's lately....keep it up!!!

SWEET!!! Very nice job on this.....!!!!

Hey Micheal, check out my thread "Life on the Line"...I took some pics while working at Western Star Trucks in kelowna. I believe that there is one taken of the right side (drivers) while on engine line...it is of a C15 Cat, but could hopefully still useful for ya!

Looks good!!! Nice colour choice!!

Up in pineview.....I was down working between tranquille and fortune the other day plowing snow!!!

Looking at the size of houses and lots.....I am going to guess downtown? Or perhaps between Fortune and Tranquille???

I found this forum while going through Rocketfin, don't know if it was a link or what....but I was hooked as soon as I started snooping around!!! I come on here daily and I start at the top and work my way down...now I may not check every single post, but if it peaks my interest...I will check it out. I am blown away by a lot of the stuff I read a see, there are some very talented builders spread out through every section...my hats off to all of you!! Now if I see a bit of dust in the paint, a sloppy detail job on a undercarriage or whatever...I see it, but I sure as heck not gonna throw someone under the bus because of it!! This is stuff I notice and file away for the day I build and post, nothing against anyone...everyone is at different levels of skill, and it takes a lot of courage to put yourself out there and asked to be critiqued. The only thing I have contributed here is a story of me working at a truck plant 12 years ago...does it help build better models? I don't know...maybe the pictures I posted help someone else...and if it does that is AWESOME, I am glad I could help out in a small way. One thing I do before I hit the post button, I read through it ONE more time.....especially if I am commenting on someone's build...this way, whatever I am trying to say will not be taken the wrong way. And this just a hobby, we are not brain surgeons or building a piano....sit back, enjoy what grabs your attention, don't like something...oh well, not the end of the world...just don't click that link! Build on....and stay thirsty my friends!!!

LOL.....got caught up in my little story......that build looks really good.....nice color choice and stance!!!