Jim Whalen Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 (edited) My choice came down to two - an AMT Kenworth K100 Aerodyne or an AMT Pete 359. I said to my wife "These are the two I have narrowed it down to" and she replied "Build the Peterbilt". So here is the start of my build thread for the Big Rig Build Off. I have really enjoyed looking at some of the ideas others have started for this community build, when I have some time I'll have to look through a few more and catch up on the ones I have already seen. When I used to build these AMT truck kits as a kid they were out of the box builds but I have come a long way since then so this one will be changed around a bit. How it will exactly turn out hasn't been decided yet but it will have a custom flavour to it with updated parts to improve the fidelity of the kit. The plan is to put a Moebius 53 foot reefer trailer behind it. Like most of my hot rod models, it will evolve as the build progresses. This is my first truck model for a long time so I am looking forward to going back to what I started with in the hobby and seeing what I can do with one of my earliest kits now. Here are a some of pictures of the unstarted kits: Edited February 7, 2016 by Jim Whalen new pictures Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Buckaroo Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 Jim it is a pleasure to see you on board. I like your choice of kit , I always liked the decals that came with this one. I like the idea of "It will evolve as the build progresses" Sounds for an exciting project ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Petetrucker07 Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 Great choice Jim. Lookin forward to seeing what you end up with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DRIPTROIT 71 Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 Great choice Jim. Lookin forward to seeing what you end up with.x2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
10thumbs Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 Yes, again this shows that wives know how to support our hobby, and show good taste as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Whalen Posted January 18, 2016 Author Share Posted January 18, 2016 Yes, I can't complain about my wife supporting my model building hobby. She quite likes helping me plan projects and we both spent some time earlier today looking at ideas for paint schemes.The next steps are to plan a shopping list for this project and to do some research for ideas and information. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gino Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 nice choice jim ! that box art brings back memories ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gatorincebu Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 Jim it is a pleasure to see you on board. I like your choice of kit , I always liked the decals that came with this one. I like the idea of "It will evolve as the build progresses" Sounds for an exciting project ! X's 2 I also like to build like that . It is also why so many projects stall. lol Jim, It is a good thing that your wife supports and assists you with your hobby. She sounds like a smart woman ! My Filipina wife supports my hobby as well, And wants to learn how to build models as well! Be Well Gator Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canso65 Posted January 19, 2016 Share Posted January 19, 2016 Nice choice for your entry Jim. I'm looking forward to seeing where you will take this one.Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mopar - D Posted January 19, 2016 Share Posted January 19, 2016 Jim glad to see you join in on the BRBO I will be checking your progress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bandit1 Posted January 19, 2016 Share Posted January 19, 2016 Does it come with the MIDNIGHT EXPRESS decals or is it the cali hauler (white pete with brown stripe box) decals?... I can use those midnight express decals if you don't use them for a restoration? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Whalen Posted January 19, 2016 Author Share Posted January 19, 2016 Started some work on the project today. A few years ago a friend gave me a Revell Peterbilt Wrecker his Uncle had started. A lot of the parts are unused so I have decided to take a few for this build. The sleeper and seats will definitely be used, a few other parts may sneak in as well, we'll see as the build develops. I have started prepping the parts from the Revell sleeper - which is a bit taller than the AMT cab so I'll need to think about which way to tackle the difference.Sean - the decals are the Midnight Express ones but they are so old that the white is no longer on the pinstriping or the sign-writing. It is no loss to me as I wasn't planning to use them anyway, I hope you manage to find a good set somewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bandit1 Posted January 20, 2016 Share Posted January 20, 2016 Started some work on the project today. A few years ago a friend gave me a Revell Peterbilt Wrecker his Uncle had started. A lot of the parts are unused so I have decided to take a few for this build. The sleeper and seats will definitely be used, a few other parts may sneak in as well, we'll see as the build develops. I have started prepping the parts from the Revell sleeper - which is a bit taller than the AMT cab so I'll need to think about which way to tackle the difference.Sean - the decals are the Midnight Express ones but they are so old that the white is no longer on the pinstriping or the sign-writing. It is no loss to me as I wasn't planning to use them anyway, I hope you manage to find a good set somewhere.at least it didn't hurt to ask... thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Whalen Posted February 7, 2016 Author Share Posted February 7, 2016 An update on the build so far - have been working on preparing parts so far. I haven't built an AMT truck kits from the '70s for a while so have had to get used to the amount of clean up they needed again (I remember an AMT K123 I have started took me 3 months just to do the basic clean-up!). I have removed mould lines on the Revell sleeper I'll be using and have glued in some plastic rod into the holes in the roof. They'll be filed/sanded smooth using super-glue (used with kicker) as the filler. I've also been having a think about what aftermarket items I'll be getting for it and would like some aluminium pieces for it. Does anybody know if Mo'luminum is selling parts at the moment? I've got some photo-etched exhaust stacks for it and have been wondering about a different engine for the truck as it will be mildly customised - I'm open to suggestions or recommendations about where to get something. I haven't been building rigs for a while so am a bit out of touch with the aftermarket at the moment. The next step is to clean up all the pieces for the chassis and start planning how much to stretch it and where the accessories will attach to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Petetrucker07 Posted February 7, 2016 Share Posted February 7, 2016 The only aluminum parts Jamie has are fenders. He does a very nice selection of parts. If you go on ebay, Rhino sells some aluminum, stacks, bumpers, visors and other things. Check in the aftermarket section. There's a thread title current truck aftermarket with most of the people selling truck parts. I'm really lookin forward to seeing this project Jim. Are you gonna stretch the frame at all? That would really look cool with that reefer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Whalen Posted February 7, 2016 Author Share Posted February 7, 2016 Thanks for the reply Clayton - I'll check out the sources you have mentioned.I'm not planning to stretch the frame too much, just enough to allow for the bigger sleeper really. I'm not too crazy on the extremely stretched frames; my plan with this build is my vision of a mildly customised truck that is still fairly practical. I've really enjoyed building unique models with the hot rods I have been doing for the last few years and am looking forward to making a big rig model that has the approach I have developed to model building since I started back in the hobby in 2001. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rctruk Posted February 8, 2016 Share Posted February 8, 2016 That sounds like a great plan of action. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Whalen Posted February 18, 2016 Author Share Posted February 18, 2016 Hi Guys, Some of the parts I have ordered for this project are starting to arrive - the picture below shows the turned aluminium fuel tanks, air cleaner and horns that have come from MCA Model Truck Accessories. I am waiting for a C15 engine from Moluminium and some rear fenders from P & P Resin Works. I had gotten some parts from KFS in 2013 when I started thinking about building a model truck again, shown below are some exhaust stacks and a custom photo-etch set that will help to bling the rig up a bit. I spent some time today cleaning up and glueing together piping for the Pete. How much I eventually use will depend on how the geometry of everything works out. I pretty much know how I'm going to build the Pete yet, but still haven't decided what I'm going to do with the interior. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gino Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 looks like a nice collection of parts jim !can't wait to see your progress ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gatorincebu Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 Jim, That is a nice assortment of aftermarket parts. I am looking forward to watching you put them all together. Be Well Gator Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DRIPTROIT 71 Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 You certainly have collected some nice parts! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Whalen Posted March 18, 2016 Author Share Posted March 18, 2016 Hi Guys, Here's my update for March. Still working on cleaning up the parts; going through the chassis parts at the moment. Some more aftermarket parts have arrived - some air cleaners from VCG Resins and Aluminum Parts and some aluminium parts from Ryan Mylnek at Rhino's Model Truck Parts (pictures below). I'm still waiting on parts from a couple of companies yet, I'll give them a bit more time yet before asking about when the parts were shipped. The next stage will be to figure out all the dimensions for the chassis once I have all the parts I have ordered. For now the parts cleanup will continue - not very exciting but essential to a good model. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gatorincebu Posted March 19, 2016 Share Posted March 19, 2016 Jim, Nice assortment of aftermarket parts ! One thing to remember when ordering stuff from theStates. All packages have to go to New York to be checked for contraband.It does have the tendency to slow the mail down a bit. I wanted to get a mini saw blade in an order and the Customs people at the post office said it was a weapon ??? Go figure ?? Be Well Gator Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Whalen Posted March 19, 2016 Author Share Posted March 19, 2016 Thanks for the comment Gator. It seems difficult to believe a country the size of the United States would send everything through one city that is being exported to be checked. If you're right it would create a real bottleneck. How did you find out this piece of information?Your mini saw blade would be a very fierce weapon indeed!!I'm almost done collecting the aftermarket parts I need for this build and I think I don't need to order anything more from the States. Some of the generic stuff like wiring or lights I'm going to pick up from local model shows.I'm starting to worry about getting this thing done so I'd better up the work rate on it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tesla Posted March 19, 2016 Share Posted March 19, 2016 The aftermarket parts are very nice! Looking forward to your progress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.