International Harvester Truck kit's ERTL's First Models.

[ranma]

In 1972 Fred Ertl Went and talked to International Harvester about Farm toy's , To which he struck a deal to Produce His first plastic kit's from the IH blue prints. Out of this deal came these advanced kit's.

Transtar 4070 a, Transtar 4270, 1466 Farm tractor, farm wagon, plow, Paystar 5000 Logging truck w/trailer, Paystar 5000 Dump truck, Paystar 5000,  Paystar 5000 Cement mixer,Transtar II, Transtar 4300,  Transtar 4300 race truck ,Payhauler 350, F-2575 (S-Series) F-2674, F-2674 Dump truck, The Scout II, Scout II off Road, and super Scout II...

The Transtar 4070 A went on to become The Transtar II which the first issue carried the suspension of the 4070 a. The Transtar 4270 ( tagged transtar 4200) Went on to become the Transtar 4300......

Edited September 5, 2017 by ranma

[doogie7046]

Some of those Ertl Blueprinter kits are my favourite kits to build.  I think they were ahead of their time when they were first released.

[Goodwrench3]

Yes, I remember a friend of mine got one when I was 8 or 10 years old and it was beautiful (it was the F-4270).

I've managed to accumulate (2) shrink-wrapped F-4270's and a shrink-wrapped Transtar II Eagle COE in my "stash".  The Transtar II Eagle is my all time favorite -- got my first ride in a big rig in this truck when I was a kid.

If they would only make these kits again.... <sigh>

 

[Mike77]

Even as a kid in the 1970's I considered the Ertl kits to be better quality than AMT kits, even with the limited subject matter.

[redneckrigger]

The Ertl kits set the standard for truck kits at that time, IMHO, and it is a standard seldom achieved by anyone else since that time. They were great kits at that time, and still are!

[ranma]

All mine have been built by Me, I have in my collection: Transtar 4070 a , Transtar 4270 (4200 badged) , Transtar II (4 of them), 4300 (7 of them) F-2575 (2 of them) 2674 (2 of them) Paystar 5000 dump truck, Paystar 5000, Payhauler 350, 1466 Farm tractor, and  (8 IH Scout's)

[iamsuperdan]

Back in elementry school, I built both the dump truck and the cement truck. Wish I still had those.

[leafsprings]

All great kits by Ertl, but, like most modelers, we would have liked more coverage. The IH pickup would have been nice, or the Cargostar ( tilt cab) would have been even nicer!

[Force]

The only Ertl truck I have built so far is the Transtar II (walking beam) many years ago, after what I remember I liked it a lot.
I do have one more, a F-4270, a couple of Transtar 4300's and a Volvo N10 to build.
 

[Luc Janssens]

The only Ertl truck I have built so far is the Transtar II (walking beam) many years ago, after what I remember I liked it a lot.
I do have one more, a F-4270, a couple of Transtar 4300's and a Volvo N10 to build. 

 Wish Round-2 would rerelease the N10, but this time with a plastic chassis and good chrome.

IIRC this kit comes in both Euro as NA spec, and was designed by the late Dave Carlock.

[Force]

It's only the North American spec as it has a set-forward front axle...I would have liked to have the European style set-back axle instead...but it can be modified.

Edited September 10, 2017 by Force

[gary westervelt]

I have the Volvo kit still sealed and the Transtar kit is started but shelved for the time being. The Transtar is my favorite model. It was the last kit I built as a kid and I always loved the look of it.

[chuckyr]

The trailers were great also.  The van and reefer trailers were the best. The extendable flatbed was a fine reproduction.

[Force]

Yes the Ertl trailers were nice.
The Ertl trailers were Great Dane and of course the former MPC tri axle dump trailer,  AMT did Fruehauf, Trailmobile, Haulaway and Loadcraft trailers.

[chuckyr]

The AMT Haulaway car transporter was actually a early 1960s design.  Haulaway was a division of Fruehauf.

[Casey]

I wouldn't toot the horn too loudly for the IH Scout kits. While the subject matter was most welcome, the execution leaves a lot to be desired: http://chuckmost.wixsite.com/madhouse-miniatures/single-post/2015/04/08/AMTErtl-International-Scout-II-Review

Now, I still hope Round2 reissues a few of the Ertl kits within the next few years, but with "over 53 pieces"(!!!), the Scout kit hardly seems on par with their heavy truck kits.

[Truck parts]

 I would like to see the semi truck reissue.

[disabled modeler]

Id love to see re-issues of the old Blueprint series kits come back for us all....I loved them..still do...there some of the best ones out there in my opinion.  I am lucky to have a few of my old ones but they all need restored and parts yet so I can.  it would be very nice to see the truck/farm tractor and construction related kit came back.

Edited November 1, 2017 by disabled modeler

[mikemodeler]

The other model mag has an article on these kits and the history behind them. As far as the quality of them, I would say the effort out into the Scout was not on par as the bigger trucks. Sure would be nice to see a first gen Scout or any of the pickups.

[disabled modeler]

I had one guy tell me they made a International Travelall once...?....love to have that one if they did..?

[mikemodeler]

I had one guy tell me they made a International Travelall once...?....love to have that one if they did..?

Yes they did Mark! It was similar in size to the Suburban and was definitely built on a truck chassis like all of the IH light duty vehicles.There was someone working on a resin body of one, name escapes me but it was coming along nicely and he was thinking of also making a pickup version.

Edited November 6, 2017 by mikemodeler

[chuckyr]

Yes they did Mark! It was similar in size to the Suburban and was definitely built on a truck chassis like all of the IH light duty vehicles.There was someone working on a resin body of one, name escapes me but it was coming along nicely and he was thinking of also making a pickup version.

Dave Carey of Models By Dave

http://modelsbydave.com/

 

[plastic trucker]

Dave Carey of Models By Dave

http://modelsbydave.com/

 

   Didn't he also make an integral sleeper cab for the 4300 IH?

[disabled modeler]

Yes they did Mark! It was similar in size to the Suburban and was definitely built on a truck chassis like all of the IH light duty vehicles.There was someone working on a resin body of one, name escapes me but it was coming along nicely and he was thinking of also making a pickup version.

My dad once owned a early to mid 70s Travelall 4x4....Id love to be able to make a replica of it someday.   I got a deal from Dave on one of his raised roof van ambulance tops...(there very nice).

[Casey]

https://public.fotki.com/modeltrucks25thscale/model_magazine_articles/ertl-blueprinter/

http://modelkitreviews.proboards.com/thread/634/ertl-blueprinter-volume-4-issue

Edited February 12, 2018 by Casey