Pete 359 at last

[Rockford]

I've been scouring Evilbay for the original Snaptite trucks. I'd love the KW Aerodyne conventional and the Freightliner cabover but the other week I scored this, a built 359 Peterbilt. It had the original decals in good condition though the chassis was painted white.

It had all the usual Snaptite problems that I have to deal with, awful mudflaps, quarter fenders too high and I just couldn't leave it like that. I relocated the quarter fenders and wanted to adapt the Monogram mudflaps to take my electrician's tape versions but it looked clumsy. Then I had an idea, I took some aluminium tube I had, crushed the ends in a vice until they were oval, then filed one edge through to form a U shaped channel into which I can insert my mudflaps. I drilled a hole through the chassis, threaded it through and bingo! The whole thing is much sturdier than the kit version and looks more realistic.

Then I thought the truck didn't look right overall. After much thought I worked out that it was too long, Peterbilt wouldn't waste weight on a needless length of chassis so I removed 14mm from the chassis which brought the quarter fenders right up to the fuel tanks, a much more realistic appearance that I'd seen in many photos of real trucks.  Then I gave the chassis a quick coat of semi gloss black. End result looking much better and I can let it sit happily now until I get round to doing it properly. 

 

Edited September 20, 2021 by Rockford
Added photos

[Jim B]

Looks really nice.  I like the upgrades to the flaps, and the shorter frame.

Yes, Peterbilt would waste weight on a long frame:

They'll build you whatever you want.  That black Peterbilt has a 350" wheelbase.

[Rockford]

You're exactly right mate, they build to the nearest inch as I remember, my statement wasn't very clear.  The look I wanted was like this, the standard, single sleeper workhorse that has just enough to get the job done. 

[Jim B]

4 hours ago, Rockford said:

You're exactly right mate, they build to the nearest inch as I remember, my statement wasn't very clear.  The look I wanted was like this, the standard, single sleeper workhorse that has just enough to get the job done. 

Personally, this is the look I prefer.  Same with COEs.

[Pete68]

Nice find and they are getting harder to get. Great job on the mud flap brackets. I have a few of these very fun to build 

[Mopar - D]

On 9/20/2021 at 4:06 PM, Rockford said:

I've been scouring Evilbay for the original Snaptite trucks. I'd love the KW Aerodyne conventional and the Freightliner cabover but the other week I scored this, a built 359 Peterbilt. It had the original decals in good condition though the chassis was painted white.

It had all the usual Snaptite problems that I have to deal with, awful mudflaps, quarter fenders too high and I just couldn't leave it like that. I relocated the quarter fenders and wanted to adapt the Monogram mudflaps to take my electrician's tape versions but it looked clumsy. Then I had an idea, I took some aluminium tube I had, crushed the ends in a vice until they were oval, then filed one edge through to form a U shaped channel into which I can insert my mudflaps. I drilled a hole through the chassis, threaded it through and bingo! The whole thing is much sturdier than the kit version and looks more realistic.

Then I thought the truck didn't look right overall. After much thought I worked out that it was too long, Peterbilt wouldn't waste weight on a needless length of chassis so I removed 14mm from the chassis which brought the quarter fenders right up to the fuel tanks, a much more realistic appearance that I'd seen in many photos of real trucks.  Then I gave the chassis a quick coat of semi gloss black. End result looking much better and I can let it sit happily now until I get round to doing it properly. 

 

Stephen great improvement! I like how you shorten the cab wheel base and pushed the trailer wheels to the back of the trailer. 

[Rockford]

Thanks gents, I think one of the things that drew me to American trucks was the unique stance the Bridge Law gave them, although in the pre-interweb world I had no idea why the tandems were at each very end of the trailer. My first sight of an American truck was Movin' On, Sonny Pruitt's KW stole my heart at first sight. 

In GB everything was set up for manoeuvrebility, all squeezed together. 

[Dutzie]

Nice work!

[Rockford]

Thanks Brian, sorry for not responding but I didn't notice you'd commented. It's really just a stopgap so I can bear to look at it on the shelf until I can get to it properly. I've got so many projects on the go now and I'm so slow at my work nowadays.