OK, I got some stuff done.....finally

[SpreadAxle]

I'm making the Autocar into a Michigan train. Here is the first trailer. It's not totally done, but we can recognize it as a dump trailer.It's box stock, but with a modification or 2. The axles were all narrowed 1/4 inch on each end, and I added a landing gear crank. This is my first ever build of this kit. I like it, but the air lines are harder than they look. Anyway, at least progress is being made.

...and another pic...

..and a kind of/sort of mock up....

the next step is the engine and its compartment. Not much else to do with the truck in the shop again. That's what happens when you put the wrong turbo on an engine, it blows. LOL

[SpreadAxle]

Incidentally, the box is painted testors Aluminum plate buffing laquer. In person, it looks like real aluminum.

[SpreadAxle]

I now just have to build the dolly and the pup trailer. Also, This will have a set of tarps, and some safety chains for the tailgate, as well as, Maybe, the air locks for the tailgates. not sure if I will go that far, but I might.

These are the tarps I'm trying to make.

[Old Albion]

Ray,

These are coming on well. The hoses on this trailer are a pain. I built this kit about 2 years ago and got that irritated with them that I left them off. If I was building the trailer now it would have all the hoses fitted but I would use a different method of fixing the ends than shown in the kit. I would use small pieces of small diameter plastic tube glued to the air tank, valve etc. These would act as sockets to locate the ends of the hoses. Just a thought.

[Turbo590]

Ray,

Trailer is coming along "real" fine. Plumbing the airlines looks like fun..why is everything "so" hard at times?

I really like the hyraulic tank on the tractor..Please keep us all posted with the progress...Good Luck...

Kurt McLucas

[SpreadAxle]

Dave, that is a great idea, because the box shows that hoses go on the pins real nice, only to find out they are too big for those small hoses. I'm going to try that for the next one I build. Kurt, the tank is from the trailer kit. Thanks for the compliments.

[Diesel Gypsy]

She's Lookin good Ray,

I reckon you've got the box colour spot on there.

You said that your truck is in the shop cuz the turbo blew, aint that what its sposed to do ?

Hope your back on the road soon, green lights & a safe trip buddy.

[SpreadAxle]

At least I caught the problem early enough this time. Because warranty companies love to cut corners, I ended up with the wrong turbo, but the damage was done the last time it blew up in January. The injector cam was replaced but the valve cam wasn't, so now they have to do the valve cam. When the turbo blew last time, I couldn't shut it off where I was, plus the tell tale high pitched whine of a blown turbo wasn't the sound that this engine makes, so i didn't know what happened either. Thus the oil was thrown out, damaging # 2 cylinder. It's being repaired, but I hope these guys are allowed to do their job properly this time. I wish I knew more about the Cummins ISX or I would tow it home and do it. I knew the N14 well enough, but this engine is a bit more rocket science to me. While the dealership fights with the warranty on my behalf, I will be here in Memphis, TN.

....and now for some model truck news......

As to the trailer, it's in the truck, the Autocar is with me in the motel room. I'm working on some modifications to the NTC 350 I have under the hood, adding some more details, and rearranging one or two things. I also took the body parts outside and gave them their first coat of Duplicolor Brilliant Black today. Another coat or two is needed. So far so good. I dechromed the tank steps, they will be black like the tanks. I will post progress before I lay down tonight. I may glue the interior tub in ahead of the cab so I can progress on the underhood details while the bodywork is done. Not sure yet, let's see how the engine comes along first.

This Autocar is one of 3 resurrections(I hope I spelled that right) from my teen years. I have 2 Macks to redo, one of them being the very first model truck I ever built. The 1991 reissue of the AMT R model mack. I bought it as soon as I saw the nearest store had one. I left it home until I decide exactly how I'm going to rebuild it.

[SpreadAxle]

Well, I did some engine work. It's not officially installed, just dropped in for now, as there is more to do. I'm not going to go crazy, but there will be some more things done, then, I can officially install it. As to the rust on the exhaust manifold, which rubbed off a little and will have to be redone, that was a trick I accidentally discovered. I left water in a metal can for a few days, maybe a week or two and didn't notice it there, when I went to dump it, it was a little rusty, and the powdery portion of the rust sloshed around, so I took a brush and applied it to the manifold. When the water dried, I had genuine rust. I'm sure if it sat longer, it would've been darker. It wasn't a soda can, I believe it was tin and contained candy originally. Anyway, on with the show. The body parts, although I forgot the battery box, got their first coat of black. Now comes the wetsanding, etc. I'm excited to see this coming together. I've decided my weathring will be fairly light. Just daily dirt, but on a truck that's only a few months old. In other words, still shiny, but definately away from the showroom.

Right front...

...left front...

...rear shot...

...and the overview.

Hopefully I can get some more things done tomorrow on the engine. I can grease my 5th wheel too. I may as well. I already weathered the 5th wheel a little. Probably too much for as new as I want this model to look. Oh well. It's a working truck anyway. Thanks for looking.

[Old Albion]

Ray,

This is coming along great. Like your idea for the rust on the exhaust. Think I'll try something like that.

Hope you get your truck sorted out soon.

Good Luck!!

[Diesel Gypsy]

She's coming along just fine Ray. I like the powder blue colour.

I hope them big wheels are roll`in real soon.

[SpreadAxle]

Well boys(and girls if any are here) she's till in the shop. I'm glad to have this shop working on it over a lot of others I've been too. The head needs repair, but once that is done, I will be back to work. So, back to the workbench. I will be working the engine some more, and possibly lightly weathering the frame. thanks for all the support. kenworth has little rooms with a bed above the dealership here, so I've been staying there, but I'm back at the motel now. I've been studying, and taking notes. I did some bodywork, but we have some more painting to do. I at least want the cab done and the radiator in place this weekend. Some of my details will be easier to do if the cab is ready.

I will be doing some of the things you see here, like the radiator brace, and some of the hoses, but again, I don't want to go insane. I want to see her back together before I turn 30, and that's in Jan, lol.

This, by the way, is the Autocar Dump Truck Brochure from 1973. It will be in 1:1 truck reference.

[SpreadAxle]

Here is the latest mock up. I figured I would show off my first ever real attempt at weathering. I'm going for the lightly weathered look of a truck that spends at least some of its day on dirt roads going to gravel pits, etc. A combination of light brown/tan weathering powder and ground up cigarette ashes I saved in a jar give this look. I wash my rig once a week, so I'm replicating that look here in scale. The cab only has its first coat of paint, but this gives you an idea. the stripes from the Autocar dump truck kit will be going over the black. the engine is officially installed, and I will complete the last few details tonight and tomorrow. Once that is done, I can finish the body work. I still have to run the a/c and power steering lines. Sounds a little ambitious, but when I built it 10 years ago, I threw every trick I knew at this truck. I wanted to build this in the same way, just as a Michigan train instead of a logger this time.

Close up of the engine, sorry about the flash

thanks for looking

[SpreadAxle]

By the way Diesel Dave, I saw you mentioned the box art. Looking at the A64B box art, it does look like the paint job I'm doing. This, however is the Autocar Dump Truck kit built as a tractor. I changed the cab color of the box art truck from the dump truck kit from red to black. The idea just came to me one day. Even when I used to build box stock, I always changed the color of the cab, using kit stripes. It was first change to al most any kit when I was a teenager. For instance, on AMT's Midnight Express Peterbilt 359, I painted it green and used the kit stripes. It's the biggest thing I do to customize. I used to wait to build a kit until I decided on the color. Now I at least get the frame done even if I haven't made a decision on a color.

[Semi Trailer Mechanic]

What's goin' on...

Looks like a good project. I have several pictures in one of my EPSON albums a fella took for me at work who pulls gravel trains up near Bay City Michigan. He took the time to edit/lable everything. Check em' out they might help?

http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/AlbumIndex...31982333&f=

[SpreadAxle]

Scott, I appreciate that, and I will go check on that. However, I must warn you of a rule here. Jarius enforces this law. Your name must appear, and since, like me, you're using a nickname, go to your profile and put your first and last name on the signature line. If not, Jarius will send the MODEL POLICE DEPT S.W.A.T. after you! 8) Just kidding, but on a serious note, it's the one and only thing he asks. I believe he's like site admin., or the moderator, something of high rank here.