Help needed on my old friend the AMT Mirrors

[JerseeJerry55]

Hello all. I have a bunch of semi trucks in various stages of completion. So I could use suggestions on how to assemble my old friend...the AMT mirrors. Specifically for the White series cabs (Autocar, Diamond Reo, Road Boss, Western Star). Obviously the mirrors in the K-123 and the IH 4300 are easier to deal with but these AMT multi piece ones drive me nuts. What is the best glue to use for them? Thanks for any help.

[blazefox]

I just use superglue and hope for the best. Steady hand is needed.

[JerseeJerry55]

Thanks for the reply. So I suppose glue the top and the bottom of each frame on to the door AFTER removing the chrome then put on the mirrors? Why they never molded it in one piece I’ll never understand.

[DRIPTROIT 71]

I shake too much to put them together on the cab. I draw a templet of the door area and assemble the mirrors on the templet and then glue the whole assembly to the truck at once.

[JerseeJerry55]

31 minutes ago, DRIPTROIT 71 said:

I shake too much to put them together on the cab. I draw a templet of the door area and assemble the mirrors on the templet and then glue the whole assembly to the truck at once.

Thanks for the tip. I will try that.

[blazefox]

I start with the bottom bracket first then top and squeeze in the mirror. Not the best but it works. American industrial truck models has some nice metal ones you just bend.

[JerseeJerry55]

On 5/25/2019 at 9:30 AM, blazefox said:

I start with the bottom bracket first then top and squeeze in the mirror. Not the best but it works. American industrial truck models has some nice metal ones you just bend.

Okay thanks for the tips.

[Oldmopars]

I gave up on them, bent a nice paper clip to the right shape and glued the mirror on with Super Glue. The wire from the paper clip is better to scale anyway. I drilled holes in the cab to put the wire into. That way it holds and I am not fighting it.

[gotnitro?]

Good tip using paper clips 

[Ben]

Here’s what I do. I throw all the mirror parts in bleach, Super Clean, etc. and dechrome them. Then, after washed and dried, clean up all mold lines, spruce attachment points, etc.. Then take the mounts and drill holes for two tiny pins. These will match up to holes you will drill in the doors. This will make them easier to mount and make the attachment points stronger. Assemble the complete mirrors, fill any gaps that shouldn’t be there with a dab of putty, sand smooth and then carefully wash them. Then just spray the mirror assemblies with Molotow chrome.