first truck today

[kenworthman90]

I went a head and got the revelle lighting w900. Any info on customizing this one by the it was $24.99 with 25% at hobby lobby

[Jim B]

Good first truck purchase. It is a little simplified (one piece frame, one piece cab & sleeper, no brake details, skinny tires), but it can be detailed up quite nicely. The engine is a Caterpillar 3406, and is quite nice. Here is an article from 1991 that will help you in detailing the engine:http://public.fotki.com/modeltrucks25thscale/model_magazine_articles/car_modeller/cm08_july_1991_cate/ As for the tires, well, they could be replaced with some AMT 11:00x20 wheels & tires or the Moebius Big Rig Wheel set. There is a nice W900 P/E detail set out there, but it's more than the kit, so it probably isn't worth it in this case. Here it is if you're interested: http://www.czechtruckmodel.com/catus.php

The kit is a 1976-82 Kenworth W900, but if you remove the AeroDyne sleeper (which was introduced in 1976) you can "back date it" to a 1973. Here's one I did a couple of years ago before the reissue:

The stacks are from KFS, and I did relocate the marker lights that are molded onto the headlights to the top of the headlight bucket were they're supposed to be. The wing on the sleeper is an aftermarket item. Kind of wish this kit has a visor.

[Petetrucker07]

1st off, congratulations on coming to the darker side of modeling. Trucks can be tough, aggravating at times, but worth it in the end. You chose a pretty decent starter truck kit.

Its bit limited, but a good platform to start at. You can lower it, stretch it and thats about it for basic mods.

You can lower it by cutting the "axle blocks" off, shaving a few leaf springs, if its still not low enough, alter the rear shackles, thats the front. The rear you can trim the air bags down till it sits level.

To stretch it, just cut the frame after the cab, before the suspension, and not on a cross member. Leave some room inside the frame raile so you can either, #1 double the frame with the right size styrene channel, #2 box it with close to same size, some what thick flat styrene, or #3 a combination of those and a smooth, around .030 thick sheet styrene deck plate the length from the cab to the 5th wheel. You will need to strengthen the frame or it WILL sag, the longer you go, the stiffer it needs to be.

If you can, a good idea to get is a set of moebius rims and tires. Youd need to do some fab work to get them to fit, since kits are all different how they mount tires. The Revell rims can be a bit tricky to get seated right on the tires, that and they are kinda odd looking, IMO.

There is a guy on ebay that sells stacks. I havent tried them on a KW yet, but the are long. They have the elbow, no muffler, and a curve out tip.

This is what i did with the Revell Pete from the same historic series as the KW.

It has the stacks i was telling you about. Aluminum drop visor, resin rear fenders, Moebius wheels and tires, aluminum bumper, slammed, blocks, leafs, shackles and air bags cut up.

Edited December 16, 2014 by Petetrucker07

[kilrathy10]

First of all, I'd like to welcome you aboard......The guys are right about this kit being one of the best starter kits to get you going on this side of the modeling world.....There is a lot that you can do with this kit, but my suggestion is to build it box stock....Just the way it comes, first.....Then you will see how the kit goes together and find out what may give you trouble should you want to customize.....I don't know your experience with models, in general, but that would be my suggestion.....That and go and buy another one just like it....I, almost NEVER build a kit I only have one of.....You never know when a bad paint job will sneak up on you, or if your hood suddenly sprouts wings and flies into the dirt.....(Am I right, Clayton?)...... And use a 40% off coupon for it, this time.....Just pull it up on your phone....

[Petetrucker07]

Had to bring that up didnt ya, LOL.

Life happens. If you do have a, well, me moment, apparently. Just drop into some Purple Power and let it simmer for about a week. Im getting pretty good at it, not proud to say it.

Edited December 16, 2014 by Petetrucker07

[kenworthman90]

Thanks guys, I wont be starting this week since I leave the house tomorrow to deliver in Texas on Thursday, believe me im gonna stop at a few hobby stores on my way down to pick up things, there is a question I have on painting. Is it easy to paint two colors like the one in the link. http://farm9.static.flickr.com/8250/8635363926_00974bfd26_m.jpg

[highway]

1st off, congratulations on coming to the darker side of modeling. Trucks can be tough, aggravating at times, but worth it in the end. You chose a pretty decent starter truck kit.

Its bit limited, but a good platform to start at. You can lower it, stretch it and thats about it for basic mods.

You can lower it by cutting the "axle blocks" off, shaving a few leaf springs, if its still not low enough, alter the rear shackles, thats the front. The rear you can trim the air bags down till it sits level.

To stretch it, just cut the frame after the cab, before the suspension, and not on a cross member. Leave some room inside the frame raile so you can either, #1 double the frame with the right size styrene channel, #2 box it with close to same size, some what thick flat styrene, or #3 a combination of those and a smooth, around .030 thick sheet styrene deck plate the length from the cab to the 5th wheel. You will need to strengthen the frame or it WILL sag, the longer you go, the stiffer it needs to be.

If you can, a good idea to get is a set of moebius rims and tires. Youd need to do some fab work to get them to fit, since kits are all different how they mount tires. The Revell rims can be a bit tricky to get seated right on the tires, that and they are kinda odd looking, IMO.

There is a guy on ebay that sells stacks. I havent tried them on a KW yet, but the are long. They have the elbow, no muffler, and a curve out tip.

This is what i did with the Revell Pete from the same historic series as the KW.

It has the stacks i was telling you about. Aluminum drop visor, resin rear fenders, Moebius wheels and tires, aluminum bumper, slammed, blocks, leafs, shackles and air bags cut up.

He also has a Facebook page, Rhinos Custom Model Truck Parts. I haven't bought any of his products yet, but he will be getting a paycheck or two of mine soon!

[Truck parts]

That's some cool builds.

[Petetrucker07]

Pretty easy, just spray the black 1st. Let it cure, about a week or when theres no paint smell. Get some good, delicate surface masking tape. Lightly clear it to seal the edge. Let if dry. Then spray the blue. Let it dry. Unmask and you should have a sharp edge. The silver stripe is another story. You can either try to find some decals or get some of that vinyl pinstripe tape from auto parts, cut it thin and lay it on, then clear it all.

I used that method on this but did the teal 1st then the black, cut the vinyl thin laid it on then cleared all of it.

This cab is replacement for 1 that grew wings and fell victim to the tile floor. Thanks to JT for supplying the replacement.

Edited December 16, 2014 by Petetrucker07

[Petetrucker07]

He also has a Facebook page, Rhinos Custom Model Truck Parts. I haven't bought any of his products yet, but he will be getting a paycheck or two of mine soon!

Hes gonna be getting 1 of mine very soon. Stacks visors bumpers.

[kilrathy10]

Oh, yeah....I like that truck in the link.....Clayton's right.....The most important thing to remember is not to mask ANYTHING until that paint is CURED.....Set it aside and go on vacation....Don't mess with it.....(Preaching to myself, here).... And I like to use blue masking tape....

[Petetrucker07]

Oh, yeah....I like that truck in the link.....Clayton's right.....The most important thing to remember is not to mask ANYTHING until that paint is CURED.....Set it aside and go on vacation....Don't mess with it.....(Preaching to myself, here).... And I like to use blue masking tape....

Ive been using yellow frog tape, delicate surface. A little more money but worth it.

[kenworthman90]

Just checked out Rhinos Custom Model Truck Parts, he will be saving me time. I was thinking about doing the door visors, drop visor, and stacks my self but ill use his stuff on my first few builds as im learn the ropes

[kilrathy10]

Hmmm....Frog tape.....Now where have I seen that before??

[Petetrucker07]

Hmmm....Frog tape.....Now where have I seen that before??

I got it from the hardware store. OSH to be exact. It comes in a plastic tupperware type deal.

[Petetrucker07]

Just checked out Rhinos Custom Model Truck Parts, he will be saving me time. I was thinking about doing the door visors, drop visor, and stacks my self but ill use his stuff on my first few builds as im learn the ropes

That was my intention. To buy his stuff then figure out how to do it. But its just easier for me to buy it done than buy the tools needed to do the stacks and find the right material for the visors.

[kilrathy10]

Ok....All right....Next time I go to Home Depot, I'll try to pay a little more attention.....That is, if I remember what I went in there for....Just what happens when you start getting old....

[Petetrucker07]

Ok....All right....Next time I go to Home Depot, I'll try to pay a little more attention.....That is, if I remember what I went in there for....Just what happens when you start getting old....

Even when your young. Sometimes i forget why i went somewhere or over think why im there. I just leave and revisit my outing later.

[kilrathy10]

Lol.....When I can't remember, I HAVE to go home.....And when I get there, as soon as I pull in the driveway, I remember......Talk about steam coming out......

[kenworthman90]

That was my intention. To buy his stuff then figure out how to do it. But its just easier for me to buy it done than buy the tools needed to do the stacks and find the right material for the visors.

From the images on the Facebook page looks like aluminum, like the sheets you can buy but the thickness is whats important Im taking it

[Petetrucker07]

From the images on the Facebook page looks like aluminum, like the sheets you can buy but the thickness is whats important Im taking it

Yes. So its easy to cut and bend. Im gettin pretty good at doing styrene, but havent ventured to aluminum yet.

[kenworthman90]

Its easy to bend, gotta be easy on cutting it you can mess up. Ive used it before on my actual truck, like a radio mount, and custom seatbelt locks, also used it for rc airplanes

[Petetrucker07]

Its easy to bend, gotta be easy on cutting it you can mess up. Ive used it before on my actual truck, like a radio mount, and custom seatbelt locks, also used it for rc airplanes

Ive done quite a bit real truck mods. The last truck i drove was a working show truck. Lots of blood sweat and tears went into it. I had a hand in doing 4 trucks at the previous company i worked for.

[highway]

From the images on the Facebook page looks like aluminum, like the sheets you can buy but the thickness is whats important Im taking it

I think some of his products are also made from stainless steel. I'm not 100% sure, but I think the headache rack I'm looking at is polished stainless.

[Pavel A.]

I went a head and got the revelle lighting w900. Any info on customizing this one by the it was $24.99 with 25% at hobby lobby

It is very good kit to start. Here's one from me. With wiring and plumbing. Also photoetched parts are used on this KW, so as streched chassis.