My own Sundance

[Force]

On 11/22/2023 at 4:36 PM, Rockford said:

Well, great minds think alike Charlie, I fitted a couple of bosses through the side rail, cut the crossbar and inserted the brackets and it looks ok. The bosses will blend in better when everything is green. Looks much more like the real thing. 

In the photo of the real thing they've moved the deckplate to behind the 5th wheel for a stunt where Sonny unhitched a drawbar trailer from the pintle hook fitted to the rear cross member. The deckplate was only held by rubber straps. 

That goes for the deckplate forward of the fifth wheel too.
Here is a picture of one of the 1975 trucks and I believe the 1974 trucks were the same...note the 1975 trucks did not have any grab handles on the back of the sleeper.

[Rockford]

Good clear picture that, thanks. You can see from that picture that the pogo stick mount is mounted with the upright facing the back. Not the usual way but Kenworth seemed to do that then, the brochure for the W900 has it the same way, but not as clear. 

Edited November 25, 2023 by Rockford
Added pics

[Rockford]

Got my air filters mounted and made mirror arms from 0.8mm ali wire. I've got to make the braces to the cab roof and scuttle panel but they can be done after paint. I used the T600 kit arms as a pattern and then cut the mirror heads off and transferred them across. Look better than the kit stuff if a little rough. 

[Gary Chastain]

Lookin good,  well done

[DRIPTROIT 71]

Amazing work!

[leafsprings]

Fantastic detail work. Factory photos are excellent reference materials. Unfortunately, I cut a few corners on my build,  really wish I would have tapered the rear frame with a  45* cut, the earlier version pre '73 AMT frame came boxed.  

[Rockford]

13 hours ago, leafsprings said:

Fantastic detail work. Factory photos are excellent reference materials. Unfortunately, I cut a few corners on my build,  really wish I would have tapered the rear frame with a  45* cut, the earlier version pre '73 AMT frame came boxed.  

Thanks very much. 

They do, with the "crooked KW" stamped out of the rear crossmember. The fact that it's the "crooked" emblem dates it to late sixties early seventies (I'm sure someone knows what year it changed). 

Your build looks great though, I don't think any of us could do a perfect Sundance, there were so many of them used by the studio and they didn't care about accuracy so we just do our best, and yours is excellent.  

[Rockford]

Here is the truck mated to my Trailmobile dry van. Looks right to me. I want to do an aluminium Fruehauf dry van as you mostly saw it with in the series. Typical that I've got six van trailers and none of them are right for it. 

Bought my paint. I had to settle for Rover British Racing Green metallic as there just aren't the stockists of automotive spray bombs anymore. Still cost me £22 for primer and topcoat!!!!!! I'm wondering about getting a gold to do a base coat under the green to maybe lighten the shade, knock the blue out a bit. Not sure if it would work though. 

[The Brush]

Hi Great work on the kenworth, details really make it. I used that same colour on my Mack b61  but over a silver ground coat to lighten it a bit more.

Graham.

[Rockford]

19 hours ago, The Brush said:

Hi Great work on the kenworth, details really make it. I used that same colour on my Mack b61  but over a silver ground coat to lighten it a bit more.

Graham.

I'm glad someone like yourself thinks along similar lines. I might try test panels on some scrap to see what effect different colours have underneath. I was even thinking of what effect red oxide primer would have rather than grey. 🤔 

Edited December 13, 2023 by Rockford
Text corrected

[Rockford]

I still have considerable work to do on the tractor but I'm itching to start work on the trailer, particularly the suspension. The 1/32 Monogram Fruehauf vans come with the F2 spring suspension that has the wide side brackets. There was another version Fruehauf did, I think it was 'F2 Lightweight' because it had smaller brackets and crossmembers (I've worked extensively on both but never found out why the difference). This is the version Pruitt's truck used. After extensive Googling I established that the kit pieces could be modified to suit, which made things much easier. 

I took the original pieces and as well as doing my lowering procedure (documented in other builds) I reduced the size of the side brackets and crossmembers. I held everything in line with drill bits while I bored the holes through each set of brackets for the new tubular cross members. Added some 0.75mm strip around the edges to replicate the rolled lip. 

Results look really good I think. 

[Gary Chastain]

Enjoy watching your builds, nothing is off limits to modify 😉well done

[Force]

On 12/11/2023 at 9:49 AM, Rockford said:

Thanks very much. 

They do, with the "crooked KW" stamped out of the rear crossmember. The fact that it's the "crooked" emblem dates it to late sixties early seventies (I'm sure someone knows what year it changed). 

Your build looks great though, I don't think any of us could do a perfect Sundance, there were so many of them used by the studio and they didn't care about accuracy so we just do our best, and yours is excellent.  

 First you have to decide from wich season you are going to build your model as the trucks from season 1 and season 2 are slightly different.
At least the Crooked KW bug hood emblem was changed 1973, the doorhandles and vent window was changed 1972 and the AMT W925 kit is from 1971.

When it comes to how many trucks were used I can answer that, the studio ordered 2 new 1974 W925 VIT trucks for the first season and 2 new 1975 W925 VIT trucks for the second season, they might have used one or two more, one was for sure used in the "Big Switch" episode where they used both green 1975 trucks and one black truck with the same arrows except that it had the rear part of the arrow on the doors.
Some say they also supposed to have used a 1973 truck in the first season but I haven't found any evidence of that in my research, both 1974 trucks have gold emblems like the 1973 50th anniversary trucks had but they were listed as 1974 and the VIT package was new for that year and wasn't available before that.

Edited December 14, 2023 by Force

[Rockford]

1 hour ago, Force said:

 First you have to decide from wich season you are going to build your model as the trucks from season 1 and season 2 are slightly different.
At least the Crooked KW bug hood emblem was changed 1973, the doorhandles and vent window was changed 1972 and the AMT W925 kit is from 1971.

When it comes to how many trucks were used I can answer that, the studio ordered 2 new 1974 W925 VIT trucks for the first season and 2 new 1975 W925 VIT trucks for the second season, they might have used one or two more, one was for sure used in the "Big Switch" episode where they used both green 1975 trucks and one black truck with the same arrows except that it had the rear part of the arrow on the doors.
Some say they also supposed to have used a 1973 truck in the first season but I haven't found any evidence of that in my research, both 1974 trucks have gold emblems like the 1973 50th anniversary trucks had but they were listed as 1974 and the VIT package was new for that year and wasn't available before that.

You ARE the authority on this subject Håkan!! I was waiting for you kick into action. Thanks for the excellent information.  

[Force]

Well I have picked up things here and there...just kidding. 😉
I have gathered all information and all the photos I have found on the subject and watched all the episodes of the TV series several times closely as I have both seasons on DVD, lots of times frame by frame to see details like the license plates and some other stuff.
I have the VIN numbers of the two 1974 trucks from the first season and also the build sheet for one of them, it's the one now owned by Mark Stracener now under restoration, formerly Paul Sagehorn's truck.
I'm planning to build one of these trucks myself but I gladly share the information I have to help other builders.

Edited December 14, 2023 by Force

[Rockford]

Which season's truck I'm building has already been decided for me because the AMT kit has the older style, stepped air cleaners with the chrome covers on the bottom. 

Here's a question Håkan, did the season 1 trucks have the pintle hook on the rear cross member? If so I'll have to build one. 

[leafsprings]

One thing I noticed in the KW factory photos is the white or silver radiator shutters? I left my grill alone, not sure if white or silverwashing would do the trick.

Edited December 15, 2023 by leafsprings

[Rockford]

7 hours ago, leafsprings said:

One thing I noticed in the KW factory photos is the white or silver radiator shutters? I left my grill alone, not sure if white or silverwashing would do the trick.

The Kysor radiator shutters were an unpolished aluminium as I recall, which takes on a whitish appearance over time, with weathering, but that would be a difficult appearance to replicate in a solid grille moulding at 1/25 so in 1/32 it's beyond my capabilities I'm afraid. 

[Force]

19 hours ago, Rockford said:

Which season's truck I'm building has already been decided for me because the AMT kit has the older style, stepped air cleaners with the chrome covers on the bottom. 

Here's a question Håkan, did the season 1 trucks have the pintle hook on the rear cross member? If so I'll have to build one. 

Yes they did, at least on the truck used in the "Life Line" episode 4 1974 wich the picture below is from.
For information, Moluminum has a nice pintle hook.

[leafsprings]

Don't believe the lug tread tires are available in smaller scales, but ST supply carries the lug tires(above photo) in 1/25, they are very nice, just picked up a set.

[Force]

8 hours ago, leafsprings said:

Don't believe the lug tread tires are available in smaller scales, but ST supply carries the lug tires(above photo) in 1/25, they are very nice, just picked up a set.

They look nice, but they are 11.00-20, the Sundance trucks had 10.00-22.

[Rockford]

Piped up my tandems, did my usual alterations to the landing gear to make it functional and just had to mock it up. I know it's a minor change to the rear suspension but to me it makes such a difference. I'm very pleased with it. Still a lot of work to do tidying up and making things fit but I think I've caught the look. 

[cifenet]

What a great build so far and it is coming out fantastic!  
 

It really is looking good, and I have to remind myself multiple times that this is 1/32 scale!  
 

Keep up the good work!

[Rockford]

I decided I had to do something about the wheels on this trailer because the shallow wheel moulding really spoils the overall look of the model. I've often considered doing it but always chickened out, not this time!

The 5 spoke wheel is so well cast so I want to keep them, I just need to recess them to the correct position between the two tyres. The outer tyre has a flat backing that needs to be removed so the wheel move inwards. 

Took the boss down on the back by about 4mm and shortened the stub axle to suit. 

Then I needed a new wheel rim. I used 20mm electrical conduit cut to 5mm slices, then split it and took a section out so that it would fit into the 18mm wheel opening. I made them really tight so that they push themselves round and leave no gaps. The joint between the wheel and the rim just look like the strengthening rib in a rim. 

Boxed them up, what a difference! I'm really pleased with them. I should have done this a long time ago! 

Also added a square crossmember at the rear and cut the rear pan-type crossmember away. There's only one thing missing now - a side loading door. Thinking to be done. 

No I'm not going to do anything about the tyres. 

Edited December 20, 2023 by Rockford
Text editing

[Rockford]

Watching The Rockford Files (obviously, I'm a fan) and I just glimpsed this gorgeous K100 Aerodyne in the Fibreglass Specialists, among the exotica. Never noticed it before. Nothing to do with the project but never mind.