On the bench - something old

[mackinac359]

Around 7-8 years ago Warren Willis formed a resin casting business called Silver State Specialties. Warren started to produce some way-cool 1940's and 1950's Peterbilt conventionals.

Warren sent me a couple of blemish casts, that is, casts with flaws that weren't good enough to sell. I've had one of these blems sitting in a box just waiting to be repaired and built into something.

I spent a lot of time repairing the warp and twists in the fender/hood section, along with filling in voids in the cab (note: SilverState casts that were sold to the public were free of these faults).

I used an AMT Peterbilt 359 as the donor kit - the model will be a 1946 344 in fully restored/updated form. Inspired by a 1948 Peterbilt 344 owned by Teresi Trucking of Lodi, California.

Teresi's 344 is featured in the book Peterbilt: The Class of the Industry by Henry Rasmussen. Pages 55-60 feature a nice spread on the truck. The casting I have is the older version of the 344 hood with the screen/vents on the side of the hood so I decided to make an older unit. Similar tricks, just slightly different.

Ken Goudy will be making the door signs for me.

Thanks for looking!

Tim

[randx0]

cool truck,I like seeing alternative truck subjects that are a little different .Is that frame correct for that truck or is there a lot of details changed?If it is a correct frame how far back would that frame be accurate and is there a lot of change in chassis technology through the years

[mackinac359]

Thanks.

The frame is 100% INCORRECT for that age Peterbilt. Back then Peterbilt used a "fishbelly" frame rail, narrow at the front, tapering to wide at the middle, then narrow at the rear suspension.

Air ride wasn't available back then either. Mine is a "restored updated" unit.

The correct suspension would be something like a Page and Page spring or a simple leaf spring set-up. Single drive with a tag axle would be common too. (remember the Peterbilt in the movie Duel.. it looked like a tandem drive Pete 351.. it really was a 281 (single drive) with a tag axle.

Tim

[mackinac359]

Randy

Continuing with the frame issue...

The straight frame rails became standard with the model 359 in the early 70s. The 351 and others had the fishbelly until then too.

Straight aluminum rails were available in the 1960s.

Tim

[randx0]

thanks for the info .I like trucks but lack even a general knowledge about them making it difficult to "fake it".however I am paying attention to you guys here and when I feel ready I will tackle a few probably starting with the ford c and the dodge L-700 when I get comfortable enough I want to build my transtar co 4070a detailed and period accurate.Thanks again for the quick response.

[ns4ever]

love it, your stuff is as amazing as ever. never knew the duel truck was a 281 either. learn something new every day.

andy-b-

[studioman3]

Tim

She's a beauty, nice work.

But hey........No red ovals?

I musta seen Duel a 1000 times, hope to see another 1000 lol.

Tim

[mackinac359]

Tim

The red ovals didn't debut until 1950-51.

Before that the nameplate was a rectangle with script, and the first Peterbilts had raw script.

Tim

  studioman3 said:

Tim

She's a beauty, nice work.

But hey........No red ovals?

I musta seen Duel a 1000 times, hope to see another 1000 lol.

Tim

[fkuaso]

looks great as usual tim. when you gonna do an old cabover?

[mackinac359]

Old cabover? Like a 50's 350 COE? I did one of these several years ago. Green with dark green wheels and frame, livestock body.

Tim

  fkuaso said:

looks great as usual tim. when you gonna do an old cabover?

[mistermodel]

  mackinac359 said:

Thanks.

The frame is 100% INCORRECT for that age Peterbilt. Back then Peterbilt used a "fishbelly" frame rail, narrow at the front, tapering to wide at the middle, then narrow at the rear suspension.

Air ride wasn't available back then either. Mine is a "restored updated" unit.

The correct suspension would be something like a Page and Page spring or a simple leaf spring set-up. Single drive with a tag axle would be common too. (remember the Peterbilt in the movie Duel.. it looked like a tandem drive Pete 351.. it really was a 281 (single drive) with a tag axle.

Tim

This truck is amazing.You could say it is 100% accurate because It would be a replica of a restored oldie turned show piece.With the old ones beining repoped and the aftermarket offerings you can build in 3 styles-show room correct,beat up and still trucking,or a restored jewel.

[Old Albion]

Tim,

Superb old Pete! I always liked the older trucks. I went to the ATHS Truck show in Hutchinson in May. Loved every minute of it, the trucks, the people everything! Took lots of photo's and have some great ideas for future builds. Thanks for posting and keep up the great work!