Q tip Posted January 10, 2014 Posted January 10, 2014 this is the second freightliner I've built since its re-release, the first had gotten broke and now will be built into a junker ,the second is receiving the normal build style that most everyone has seen me build, cut, chop and only glance at the instruction sheet when needed. the cab was built back in November and set aside to finish a few builds. with these older amt kits always seemed to have a steer axle that is too long, so by marking the center,and removing 1/16" from both sides of center,drilling a hole placing a pin and plating the top side lets the tires set under the cab as they should. after extending the cab the frame was too short, so by selecting a location after building the frame rails a clean cut was made and 3" was installed............thanks for looking....john
olsbooks Posted January 10, 2014 Posted January 10, 2014 Great idea on the wide front axle! Saw your comments about sparkly steering wheels on another thread and yes, remember those well...inlcuding the ever so popular "Putt Putt" orange sparkly. Wow. I remember we traded for one with it (in orange of course) and I was foolishly entrusted to the clean up/repaint of it. Bright orange frame, black cab and some wild red, orange, and yellow stripes. Oh it looked hot for the day...but was still nothing more than a womped out freightshaker with a 290 Cummins and 9 speed. Wound up on some farm I think. Also, I like your roof top air deflector. Any details how you made it? Struggling with a w900 single bunk sleeper roof and wondering how you did the curvature. One more for amnesia lane. Remember the "varishield" by KW and Pete that you could raise and lower going down the road? Would like to see more of the little "junker" single axle too. Nice looking; both of them.
Q tip Posted January 10, 2014 Author Posted January 10, 2014 the shield is a left over from another kit,the center section of the cab is what was left over from the junker, but I have in the past used tube cut in quarters to get a good side curve, and yes I do remember the varisheild..now here is a brain teaser, does anyone remember the shield kw tried that would open in the center and let the wind hit the front of the trailer to help slow it down?????..........john
Q tip Posted January 10, 2014 Author Posted January 10, 2014 heres a mock up of the steer axle and fuel tanks.....the vanliner image is loosly what i'm aiming for......thanks for looking,,john
purepmd Posted January 11, 2014 Posted January 11, 2014 John, you're right. The norrowed axle does make a difference. Pretty easy fix too. Great start on this project. Can't wait to see more.
olsbooks Posted January 11, 2014 Posted January 11, 2014 This thing is going to be slick John. Good luck. You stumped me on the KW one that would open. One of these days, must try an Aero Astro.....yuck...... CRST had a wad of them and it was like they were beaten with an ugly stick in that dull gold, the fairing shreading and flapping going down the highway and just covered in road grime. Like the maligned Swift, Schneider and JB Hunt drivers and their tired trucks a generation ago I suppose.....LOL Will be neat to see how this one comes out.
Old Buckaroo Posted January 11, 2014 Posted January 11, 2014 Very cool - something about those stretched frames and sleepers. I like your modeling style , just build as you know without hardly the aid of instructions. I would sure hate to fill those tanks up.
Q tip Posted January 11, 2014 Author Posted January 11, 2014 as a lot of guys that I've seen build some outstanding trucks on this fourm that scratch builds would probably back me up by admitting how much material they go through to get the right look. and the open top air foil, that was in overdrive years ago shortly after the t600 was released. the idea didn't work......thanks john
Kostas Parchas Posted January 11, 2014 Posted January 11, 2014 So far so good. You may add a headache rack when done the truck. Kostas.
kilrathy10 Posted January 12, 2014 Posted January 12, 2014 Now that's what I'm talking about....I absolutely love the stretch....Cab and chassis.....Great mods on this one....I know the next one of these I build will have the front axle mod, as well.....I was wondering what you were gonna follow that awesome 379 with.....Excellent work, so far....Maybe YOUR cab will sit level.... :D
Q tip Posted January 13, 2014 Author Posted January 13, 2014 done a little of work on the rear ends , since the wedge brakes were not going to cut it I dug through the parts boxes and found service brakes for the front drive and normal piggy back chambers for the rear, now they wont fit the springs,so...cut small details from springs and drill holes,,drill out tops of axles and install guide pins, first for placement and second for added support...and jt, I've got 3 projects going since the pete and after surgery, its good recovery , it keeps me from doing something I shouldn't........john
KJ790 Posted January 13, 2014 Posted January 13, 2014 done a little of work on the rear ends , since the wedge brakes were not going to cut it I dug through the parts boxes and found service brakes for the front drive and normal piggy back chambers for the rear, now they wont fit the springs,so...cut small details from springs and drill holes,,drill out tops of axles and install guide pins, first for placement and second for added support...and jt, I've got 3 projects going since the pete and after surgery, its good recovery , it keeps me from doing something I shouldn't........john Looking good! I love that reefer, is that scratch built?
Q tip Posted January 13, 2014 Author Posted January 13, 2014 thanks, and the refer, all I had was the box so the running gear,doors ect. are scratched. and well, the 1/32 snap pete is getting the business too!....john
Old Buckaroo Posted January 13, 2014 Posted January 13, 2014 Those are some other nice builds you have going there. That "Pete" looks like something I would of wanted to build way back. And I like your logging truck - I dont have to set an alarm clock here , every weekday morning I get to listen to a Big 'ole KW come off the mountain full retarder. That first load is always huge logs , most likely "Power pole" picks.
Q tip Posted January 13, 2014 Author Posted January 13, 2014 some of you plastic junkies may have found this trick, but for those who haven't here we go. I cant believe after near 40 years of building I just stumbled on to this. you will need 14 gauge wire,something flexable like high temp. wire you would use for r/c cars. put one slice down the center, gut out the inside, and now you have real rubber splash guards......thanks for lookin.......................john
kilrathy10 Posted January 13, 2014 Posted January 13, 2014 Outstanding job, Man.....Very nice work....Outstanding tip....I've never heard of that either....
purepmd Posted January 13, 2014 Posted January 13, 2014 (edited) Found this out by accident too. I was stripping some multi strand wire, looking for air line, and noticed that the outer sheath was very soft, flexible and would not kink. So I grabbed a metal straight edge, and cut it into strips, and there it was. works on K100s too. [ Edited January 13, 2014 by purepmd
Old Buckaroo Posted January 13, 2014 Posted January 13, 2014 Qtip what a great discovery. There is no stopping you now Mark - those are some beautiful builds.
Old Buckaroo Posted January 13, 2014 Posted January 13, 2014 (edited) Crud - double post - no one needs an echo Edited January 14, 2014 by Old Buckaroo
Q tip Posted January 14, 2014 Author Posted January 14, 2014 a lot of us go to the aftermarket for decails, resin ect. I'm guilty of it just because some parts and kits you can't scratch build. BUT, if you stumble onto something that cost basically nothing, and it works, i'll be the first to share it. after all when we set down to the workbench , we're all after one thing. do the best to our abilitys and learn from each other. OK , soap box theater is over...the frame is now painted , will post pics later. thanks............john
Q tip Posted January 14, 2014 Author Posted January 14, 2014 with the frame painted and a little bit of mock up, built new fuel tanks the others I had didn't seem to look right. the little beater is just there to reflect the same truck , just built differently......john
olsbooks Posted January 14, 2014 Posted January 14, 2014 (edited) Really nice looking John. Both of them. Confess I am partial to those 70's/80's air foilers. Will be real interesting to see what kind of paint job you throw on this thing. Just screams '70's era owner operator rig...with a sparkly steering wheel and shifter knob...LOL. The pipes, tanks, and rear 1/2 fenders look really good. Edited January 14, 2014 by olsbooks
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