T800 Kenworth, early model flat roof

[Gary Chastain]

Going thru all the kits I have and decided the next build will be a combination of a nearly completed frame I built a couple years ago, a T600 Kenworth kit for the, lights , cab and interior and miscellaneous parts, a twin steer kit from (I have no clue), wide front steering tires/rims. Will need to find/build a 60 in flat top sleeper. Truck will be built with a 20ft flat bed and possibly pulling a 20ft flat bed trailer. My builds always seem to be very fluid and change as I progress. A quick mockup.
 

I went thru my kits to just find a kit to build right from the box, simple and easy. Sometimes I have no idea why I do what I do. Just no explanation. 

the inspiration 

[cdntrucking]

KFS has a twin steer axle kit, believe its white metal. Nice project!

[Gary Chastain]

Getting some direction in this build. Gathered a ton of photos and measurements to build a logging truck like my neighbor’s truck. Got the 26ft truck bed and the 26ft trailer bed roughed out. Got some parts ordered from STSupply and a K100 to steal the correct suspension for the truck. Now I can get the frame length figured out. 

[Scott Eriksen]

That will be some build Gary !! 

[Scott Eriksen]

............that's my tire and wheel budget for a year right there,,,lol

[Gary Chastain]

9 minutes ago, Scott Eriksen said:

That will be some build Gary !! 

Thanks, I wish I could find the cab like the red truck has. I bought one from a 3D printer guy and wow, what a mess and not even sure what scale it is. 

[Gary Chastain]

29 minutes ago, Scott Eriksen said:

That will be some build Gary !! 

This is the 3D printed cab I have. 

[Scott Eriksen]

3 hours ago, Gary Chastain said:

This is the 3D printed cab I have. 

...........something in between 1/24th ........and 1/35th!  lol ......the boom on my Holmes is not quite 1/25th more 1/24th but was advertised as 1/25th on Shapeways

[Gary Chastain]

Trailer coming together

[vincen47]

On 1/20/2024 at 5:10 PM, Gary Chastain said:

This is the 3D printed cab I have. 

Who’s the 3d printer guy (so I know who to stay away from)? 

[cifenet]

Wow, I guess you don’t do anything that is easy, Gary!  
 

This one also looks like it will need some extensive fabrication work.  Can’t wait to see how it will all turn out.

 

 

[Gary Chastain]

10 hours ago, vincen47 said:

Who’s the 3d printer guy (so I know who to stay away from)? 

It was an eBay purchase, I thought about building that cab as 1:24, but it still looks to big. 

[Gary Chastain]

6 hours ago, cifenet said:

Wow, I guess you don’t do anything that is easy, Gary!  
 

This one also looks like it will need some extensive fabrication work.  Can’t wait to see how it will all turn out.

 

 

Yeeeaaaaa……I really wanted to do a box build, something simple ……but here I go again. 

[Gary Chastain]

14 hours ago, vincen47 said:

Who’s the 3d printer guy (so I know who to stay away from)? 

[Gary Chastain]

I have been searching for the late model cab for some time and Global Scale Model Trucks came out with a long hood and short hood, so I ordered both. I want to use the short hood version on my logging truck like my neighbor’s truck. Hopefully hear in a couple weeks. 

[Gary Chastain]

Global Scale Model Trucks, review of the cabs I just received last week. Karl has been outstanding to work with and always answers my emails. I purchased two T800 cabs, one long nose and one short nose. I will be using the short nose on this truck build. 
The scale on these two cabs is pretty good comparatively with the AMT T600 Kenworth. The hoods from GSM are a little wider than the AMT kit and the aftermarket T800 hood I have. The GSM hood and cab do fit well together, but there is no shelf on the firewall to capture its placement. The GSM firewall is totally smooth, so using a firewall panel for the detail and location shelf could be added. The T600 cab material thickness is .056, the GSM cab in the same location is .076, Karl did a good job of keeping the thickness appropriate and the finish is very smooth. Using the interior tub from the T600 fits loose by about .100, although it could be widened to fit easily. The GSM interior as shown has no door panels, but those could be fabricated easy enough if you desired. The aftermarket T800 uses the headlight assembly from the T600 and fits well, the GSM has a headlight panel molded in. The grill area on the GSM hood is molded in, the T800 grill is fairly simple and easy to fabricate. I will probably remove the grill and fab up my own grill and screen for the extra detail, that is only personal preference. I will remove the molded in turn signals, again only personal preference so I can add more detail. The hood thickness on the GSM hood is .057, on the T600 hood is .046, again very good on the thickness.  I will also remove the air breather cans and remount to the cab, again personal preference and I can add to ton of detail to those units. All the glass glues in from the outside of the cab much like real life trucks and cars these days as opposed to glueing the glass in from the inside like the T600. There is an ample shelf to glue the glass in. I will not be using the mirrors from the GSM kit. I am up in the air about using the bumpers but again it’s just me being picky, they are good parts. All in all I will buy more products from GSM. I will add more detail about these cabs as I build, but for now still chasing parts. Need to find a correct motor/transmission combo for this build. 

[gotnitro?]

Awesome review ! I've been looking at the GSM products online, but never seen one up close. The finish looks very good comparatively, and should be easy to paint 

Which engine are you planning for this build 

[Gary Chastain]

3 hours ago, gotnitro? said:

Awesome review ! I've been looking at the GSM products online, but never seen one up close. The finish looks very good comparatively, and should be easy to paint 

Which engine are you planning for this build 

The neighbor,s truck has a straight six, I am guessing it is a Pakcar motor. I heard A&N is coming out with a Pakcar motor. 

[Gary Chastain]

3 hours ago, gotnitro? said:

Awesome review ! I've been looking at the GSM products online, but never seen one up close. The finish looks very good comparatively, and should be easy to paint 

Which engine are you planning for this build 

The finish is pretty good, the detail is good, will let you know about paint. 

[Gary Chastain]

Just ordered a MX13 engine from A&N. Yes it is 1:24 scale, Not sure if I will be able to use it but we will see. 

[Gary Chastain]

A&N just sent me a message with a delivery date of August for my engine. 

[DRIPTROIT 71]

Very nice! Thanks for the review!

[Gary Chastain]

I have been collecting parts most of the summer for this build and it has morphed a little from the original post title, but I thought I would just continue this post so the journey could be followed. Received the second lift steering axle, and the 3rd and 6th lift axles. Now have the cab and hood I want to use (see above). Have the front fender flares as well. Also have a donor kit to steal the rear drive air bag suspension . Did a mock-up to start building a frame length. I did learn that the frame size is larger than the road tractor, figure that out shortly. 

I will scratch build the logging crane

I am still in pursuit of the engine, I ordered the Pakcar mX15 motor but have learned since that they use the Cummins X15. Not sure how they differ. 

[gotnitro?]

glad to see this build back on the bench!  looks like you've been stocking up 

[BK9300]

Going to be a great looking build!