IHC CO4090A Super Transtar Finally Done!

[redneckrigger]

After more than a year and numerous revisions, my Super Transtar is finally done.  It is built as a retired oil field style truck that is now being used as a heavy hauler. I started with an Ertl CO4070A kit with a modified cab to replicate the Super Transtar. The frame was modified at the front with straight frame rails to add a powered front axle from Mark Savage, after a conversation with Gatormarcincebu.......THANK YOU for the inspiration!. The engine is a combination of a Sauerkraut and a Moluminum with plenty of kitbashing to make it into a Detroit 12V71TT. The Alpine Green paint is actually the result of what COULD have been a big screw-up................I accidentally mixed Model Master Acrylic and Enamel paint together to get this color, (old eyes never saw the Acrylic labeling), but it worked great, though the left over paint turned into Play-Doh about a day later! The pusher axle was adapted from the 4070 kit.  The rear body was built from plastic stock. The half baked effort at brake piping is from telephone wire. The winch is a hydraulic model from johnnytech10 on eBay. The exhaust stacks and headache rack are from rhino9905 on eBay. The front and rear drive tires and all wheels are resin from Mark Savage. The pintle hitch is from Class A Resin. The chain binders are also from Mark Savage. The grille is scratched from Evergreen strip.  Many tiny details and more are from the parts box and my imagination.  The tool box is from AITM.  The paint is PPG Shop Line enamels.  The air lines are from Earl Miller, with a little tighter winding given them. The detail decals are from Modeltruckin. The only thing I need to do now is add the logo decals which a fellow member has generously offered to help me with.  This was a very profitable build in that it got me back into the hobby and provided me with therapy for my ever increasing arthritis in my hands. It also allowed me to meet and get to know so many fellow builders on this forum, a benefit that has been priceless. I even took it to NNL East and was asked to allow it to be photographed, for which I was amazed!  So, into the display case it goes and on to bigger and better things!!!  Picked up a lowboy kit from DoubleTake this weekend, and I have a couple First Gear folding neck lowboys to put on her as well as a very neat all metal detachable neck lowboy found on eBay a few years ago. Thanks to all for the great words and encouragement given to me!!!!

Edited April 19, 2016 by redneckrigger

[redneckrigger]

[redneckrigger]

[angelo7]

Man this is a great build!!   Love the rear set up.  And the front axle is awesome.  

[DRIPTROIT 71]

Very nice build!!

[kilrathy10]

This is one serious build....Very nice work.....Lots of detail and loads of pictures.....Awesome....

Edited April 19, 2016 by kilrathy10

[slusher]

Excellent build and work. Great detail..

[ChrisR]

Awesome!

[gino]

very nice  !     I really enjoyed watching this one being built ! 

this is one great looking transtar !

[V8 Trucker]

very nice  !     I really enjoyed watching this one being built ! 

this is one great looking transtar !

I agree

[gatorincebu]

 

     Tom,

          I thoroughly enjoyed the build thread and the exchange of idea. The finished model is awesome ! You did a really fine job on this one.

 Just curious. What are you going to build to go behind it ?

 

 

    Be Well

     Gator

[Foxer]

That is a beautiful build, Tom!

Here you can see it caught my eye at NNL East, thou I you didn't.   Grats on getting it photographed.

[Tesla]

This has been a great project to follow and learn from. Excellent build Tom!!

[extmcdriver]

Excellent build, very nicely done!!!!!

[landman]

This has been a great project to follow and learn from. Excellent build Tom!!

X2

[tbill]

wow, how i missed this at NNL is a mystery to me, beautiful build!

[Jim B]

Fantastic looking Transtar.  Very well done.  You did a great job on the chassis detailing, and it even has a Vermont license plate.

[guitarsam326]

Very nicely done! Anything withba Detroit has my attention!

[redneckrigger]

 

     Tom,

          I thoroughly enjoyed the build thread and the exchange of idea. The finished model is awesome ! You did a really fine job on this one.

 Just curious. What are you going to build to go behind it ?

 

 

    Be Well

     Gator

Well, I just picked up a lowboy kit from DoubleTake Replicas, so that is a possibility, and I have a few other ideas, Fruehauf 40' flat, GD extendable, or maybe a kit bash of something else................the possibilities are endless! Am also working on a D-6 dozer rebuild of an old New Bright toy to put on as a load...............something different, as I don't usually go with the mainstream stuff, for sure!

 

Cheers, Tom

Edited April 19, 2016 by redneckrigger

[anarximis]

what did you get the front axle?

[redneckrigger]

what did you get the front axle?

That is an old resin cast from Mark Savage from about 25 years ago. He was a SUPERB resin caster and builder and marketed his parts for a while. I bought all that I could!

[redneckrigger]

wow, how i missed this at NNL is a mystery to me, beautiful build!

I got to the NNL early, and got in the door right at 9. I displayed the truck right away, but unfortunately had to leave at 1130 to make another commitment for my business. But, it was a SUPERB show, and I am SO glad I took the long drive to get there!

[SpreadAxle]

I like how it turned out.

[Truck parts]

WOW  !   That is a wild build.

[OlSchoolRedo]

This is one strong looking muscular build! Nice work on this one.