Rootbeer and Champagne Freightliner

[BigBad]

Sounds almost tasty doesn't it? Actually I built this rig about 3 years ago and its my first build since I was a teenager.

I saw the truck kit at a local hobby shop and decided it was time to build again. Most of the paint stripes were rather obviously painted

except the medium brown in the middle which is automotive tape. It's a little rough but I think still looks okay.

Anyway, I just wanted to paint this Freightliner in these colors for kicks. The brown is Testors modelmasters rootbeer brown

and the metallic beige is Dupli-Color Toyota touch-up paint.

I had some trouble with painting, I think I had encountered a phenomenon called "degassing" because when I laid the second color on top of the first,

it started bubbling like crazy... Didn't leave enough time between coats I guess. One day was not enough.

So I removed part of it from the roof and left the base champagne color there.

I wanted to see what this truck would look like with spoke wheels,

so I swapped the ones from a Chevy Titan I bought some time later. I cut the exhaust stacks and put in aluminum pipes instead.

I should have put something bigger but they were the same size tubing as the kit pipes. Then I put on some plastic wire for the CB antennae.

The flatbed Fruehauf is simply built out of the box.

Edited July 31, 2012 by BigBad

[pete3522]

nice job especially the paint

['70 Grande]

Really nice paintwork and build-quality! Did you use the kit-supplied front tires, or are those front tires from another source? (They look slightly-larger in overall size to me, but maybe its just that the spoked-wheels are slightly smaller).

[slusher]

Man, thats sharp. great detail awsume build.

[camaro73]

Very nice! Paint Looks great and the flatbed is right at home behind it.

[mistermodel]

Realy nice.the spokes are a great addition

[BigBad]

Really nice paintwork and build-quality! Did you use the kit-supplied front tires, or are those front tires from another source? (They look slightly-larger in overall size to me, but maybe its just that the spoked-wheels are slightly smaller).

Mark, all the tires are kit supplied and the same size on this truck. The wheels are also the same diameter.

Of note: Ever since I built it, I find the front axle a little wide for the cab, not by much but still a bit wide, so that would be something to watch for somebody who wants to build a Freightliner.

Thanks for the nice comments guys!

Edited August 1, 2012 by BigBad

[towman1271]

Perfect color combo....NICE

[mackinac359]

Very 70's. Nicely done.

Tim

[Yahshu]

That's real nice.

[BigBad]

Thanks! Apparently, there's nothing like an old Freightliner to get some attention! I had fun building that beast even if it wasn't perfect to start with... I could have refined the stripes a bit with better masking tape, but I have great material to work with now. Maybe I'll have to make another one with OEM factory stripes and a DD 8V71, two snorkel air intakes...

[camaro68]

Very nice job well done!!

[Badluck 13]

Colors and scheme looks great for that Freightliner,spokes is a nice touch too.

Edited August 2, 2012 by Badluck 13

[trick my mixer]

What can you say but awesome. Nice paint. If I was ever gointg to build one I would for sure change the stacks . In my opinion they look to skinny for scale. They look like they would fit a 318 better. None the less super build. Like it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mistermodel]

Lucas ,good point about a 318's little peashooter stacks. this kit has a little 250 .

Robert ,Ive come back and looked at this build many times

Edited August 4, 2012 by mistermodel

[BigBad]

Lucas ,good point about a 318's little peashooter stacks. this kit has a little 250 .

Robert ,Ive come back and looked at this build many times

Ha, the more I look at it, the more they look like straws! I just might cut them down and put some 3/16" pipe instead for less of a kiddy look.

I'm happy this truck can be of some interest Kevin, thanks!

[Bricksonwheels]

Awesome model

[Renegade]

Great color combination. Very clean build. All you need now is a load for that trailer.

[clayton]

Looking at all them stripes make me dizzy, It's a Sharp job.

[BigBad]

Made ME dizzy! Thanks!