question

blackbeard · July 21, 2015

what is required to stretch a 359 peterbilt hood to look close to a 379 hood

KJ790 · July 21, 2015

If you are looking to make a "cheater" 127" 379 by using the 359, then you will have to stretch the hood by 8 scale inches, fill in the cutout for the intake tubing, file off the ribs on top and replace it with one center rib (with rivet detail if you choose), file the rib off the sides of the hood (and add new rivet detail if you choose), file off the step on the back side of the fenders, fill the holes for the turn signals on the fenders, and use appropriate headlights. There are a few more tweaks I am sure, but this will give you a pretty convincing look. If you file the windshield opening in the cab so that the corners are less round and thin out the center support you can make the 359 cab look a bit more like a 379 as well. There will still be dimensional differences, but it looks good regardless.

blackbeard · July 21, 2015

thank you for your idea's and suggestions

KJ790 · July 21, 2015

That is actually how I made this 379: http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/topic/104045-peterbilt-379-and-timpte-super-hopper/

I modified a 359 snap kit hood and cab. The cab width is not quite right for a real 379, but it looks good on a shelf.

Force · July 21, 2015

How bad don't we need more modern Peterbilt and Kenworth truck kits.??
The kits we have available to us are from the late 60's and 70's, and if we stretch it, some might fit in the early 80's...nothing new for over 30 years except for the Moebius International kits of course.
Well Italeri has done some more modern American truck kits but they are 1:24th scale,

Edited July 21, 2015 by Force

blackbeard · July 21, 2015

very true

Jim B · July 21, 2015

The closest model to a 379 is the Italeri 378. Just needs to have a couple of minor hood adjustments, and the cab is correct for a 379.

blackbeard · July 21, 2015

james thank you very much for the info

mackinac359 · July 21, 2015

If you are going do a 'poor man's 379 long hood' out of a 359, the grille from the Revell snap 359 is perfect. You will need to remove the headlamps and clean up the weird molded on shapes on the side of the grille. Reshape the headlamp brackets and make outer turn signal lenses, then reattach the lamps to the side of the grille.

The cab can be subtly changed to look more 379ish. Square up the corners of the windshield, and reshape the roof slightly, also sand off the roof panel seams. The 379 family and the 1100-series cabs have differently shaped roofs, the windshield leans back more on 379 and has squarer corners.

While dimensionally not accurate, you can make respectable looking 379 long hood, or as I am doing here, a 389 using the Revell of Germany cab.

Tim

mackinac359 · July 21, 2015

If you really want to get into this.. I built these snap-kit 359's into 379-127 long hoods. Added to the kit hood, widened the cab to look more like 379. The windshield glass was attached to the outside of the cab. I used chrome foil to simulate aftermarket chrome trim around the glass. The headlamps are Italeri pieces.

Tim