Big Rig kit ?

[hippie6]

I was looking at 2 different big rig kits today and wondered what might be the better one? First is the White Road Boss and the Other is the White Freightliner cabover. Are either of these kits worth the $$ or should I wait for the Diamond RIO kit to hit the shelves? I'm looking for a "low line/ no frills truck from the '60's, '70's or early '80's and is currently on store shelves.

Hippie6

[Junkman]

I'm not entirely sure whether I really understand what you are asking. There is no way we could tell which truck you prefer to build.

One thing all AMT trucks have in common is that they were state of the art when they were first released and they can be built into superb models, even by today's standards. Add to this a sheer unlimited aftermarket industry catering to model trucks, and your possibilities are endless.

[disabled modeler]

I have built all three of them as a kid and thought they were great kits myself. The Diamond REO and the White Road Boss are great kits to build....I am waiting for the Kenworth cabover to show up around here....built one as a kid and loved it too. The choice is yours to make....I like them all and think there all good kits to build with good detail.

[Aaronw]

Well at the prices Round 2 is asking all of those re-issued kits are a bargain. It happens both the trucks you mention do have known fit issues but if you ask around in the truck forum there are people who can help you identify and fix them before they get you. I'm not familiar with the Diamond Rio.

The frieghtliner is kind of tricky because of the way the cab goes together. It is in 3 pieces allowing it to be issued as a day cab or sleeper by changing which interior and middle section they put in the box. Other than that I don't think the kit has a lot of issues. The Roadboss just seems to have more problems all the way around. The IH 4300, Chevrolet Astro, Kenworth cabover and Ford C cab should be fairly easy to find as well having been re-issued within the past year or so. All of thse are retailing under $40.

Revell also has 2 snap kit semis, a Peterbilt and a Kenworth that are pretty good and cheap (around $20). they are pretty nicely detailed even though they are snap kits.

All of these kits have some quirks, but they are cheap. The Revell of Germany, Italeri and Moebius kits are much higher quality being newer but you will pay $60-100 for them.

[regular guy]

hippie

right now these AMT kits are available

they are yearly issues

when stores run out that's it

hobbylinc has AMT tractors for @$25 and trailers for @$20

their shipping is fair

which one?

road boss is conventional and other one is a cabover

that have become extinct

diamond reo is from before anybody's time when

freight moved on 'routes' lots of 2 lane roads

[Aaronw]

The Diamond Reo is of similar vintage to the other two kits, late 60s early 70s.

[Guest Johnny]

Speaking of the Freightliner Cabover. I have to wonder why they didn't just make it a 2 in one kit? That way you had the choice of the Sleeper cab or the day cab in either single or dual drive!

[cowboysevens]

On the shelf for amt/ertl round 2

Kenworth K123

International 4300

Freightliner dd

White road boss

These are all good quality kits to build and as stated by the others , you can get all kinds of aftermarket goodies to make them look just about anyway you want. As far as the better kit for parts and fit id have to say the IH 4300 is the best, but I'm more partial to the kenworth K123

[Semi Trailer Mechanic]

Like everyone else said all of these kits are availiable. I personally like the Diamond Reo. That just has a good look to it. The only real problem w/ that is the wheel base is more proportioned to it being a day cab. Adding the sleeper makes it look out of place unless you lengthened the wheelbase. As mentioned Round 2 has made these kits extreamely affordable. When I got back into truck modeling 10-12 years ago the old kits were going at fair prices on ebay. A few years later went sky high. For example The Freightliner Dual Drive kit now under 35.00 I saw a few top out on ebay at over 200.00. The Payhauler 350's were at 300.00 just to give a few examples.

It all boils down to what style truck appeals to you the best. Someone mentioned Revell's 359 and w900 snap tite kits are decent to build if you're looking for a basic kit to throw togather.

Scott