Frame Assembly Jig

[M. Scott Borden]

Fellow Addicts:

I had such unexpected positive feedback about the Frame Assembly Jig I used to start building my Italeri 1/24 Peterbilt 378-to-379 Conversion I decided to post the topic by itself just in case others might find it useful.

Here are several pics of the Frame Assembly Jig I built to make sure the frame is straight and flat. I glued (with thin C/A) 1/8" X 3/8", 1/4" X 1/4", and 1/8" X 1/4" spruce strips to the back of a flat, 1" X 3" poplar sanding block. It works great for Italeri 1/24 Peterbilt 377 and 378 frames; just slip the parts in place (interference fit), apply Tamiya cement, and weigh-down with weights.

I don't know, yet, if it will work for the Freightliner-based frames in other Italeri US truck kits. No worries, however. This jig is easy to make!

Scott

[Semi Trailer Mechanic]

That worked out good!!

As they say... If it's not square when ya start it won't be square when you finish!!!

Building something like this would be perfect to use when assembling the AMT 359 Pete. The last one of those kits I built the frame rails on it were severly warped.

Edited September 22, 2010 by Semi Trailer Mechanic

[CharlieBravo]

Great idea Mate!

I will build one for my Revell K100 as the frame is quite out of balance. Just hope I can get it apart without breaking it!!

Cheers

Chris

Edited September 23, 2010 by BjMckay

[clayton]

  On 9/22/2010 at 11:34 PM, Semi Trailer Mechanic said:

That worked out good!!

As they say... If it's not square when ya start it won't be square when you finish!!!

Building something like this would be perfect to use when assembling the AMT 359 Pete. The last one of those kits I built the frame rails on it were severly warped.

Yeah, those AMT kits are way out of shape. I had one were one rail was longer than the other,did not see that until I placed the hood and cab.

[chuckyr]

Ingenious! Thanks for the tip.