Caboverdose

[Pete68]

That drive shaft looks great. I really like the pogo stick thanks for the top view pic look very nice. 

[Rockford]

Snatched some time on the bench this afternoon. Fabbed some air tanks from plastic tube with the ends filled and shaped. Added brackets and located them behind the fuel tanks to keep the clean look of the chassis. 

Added a 2mm strip to the bottom of the chassis to make it a genuine C section rail. 

Really couldn't abide the fifth wheel so took a pattern of one of my Hollands and started making a new one. Much better than the kit pieces. 

[BK9300]

Great scratch building, Steve - always interesting updates!

[Bills72sj]

On 11/14/2024 at 3:04 PM, Rockford said:

 

I have never had a good explanation for why people would run a cabover on such a long frame. This doesn't look like it's been a "drom"because of the position of the pogo stick and fifth wheel. Why so long and not a conventional? I suppose you could say Freightliner didn't make a conventional at the time but these trucks aren't alone. 

When I built my Freightliner day cab dual drive for an extended flatbed, I took advantage of the longer frame for a chain box/headache rack.

[Jürgen M.]

Beautiful Freightliner, Steve! And the chassis Details on that Pete are great! 

[Rockford]

I can't take credit for the Freightliner, that's Bill showing me how he used his chassis space. Wrong scale for me sadly. 

My Pete looks much better with the Holland type fifth wheel. The shape is so distinctive and stood out to me when I first bought AMT kits because it was so different to the couplings used over here. We had York, Davies Magnet, Fruehauf as I recall but they were all pressed steel and pretty oblong shaped. The American ones were cast iron with that elliptical shape. I'm getting quite adept at knocking these up now, just two layers of card stock, some 1mm square rod and 3mm hollow tube for the gudgeons. I'll add a pull lever later. 

Elephant in the room... hollow diffs. I know, I have a plan. 

[Old Buckaroo]

The 5th wheel looks 100% fantastic, I had to smile when I saw those hollow diffs - as I knew its only gonna be momentarily that way .

Your scratch building skills are top notch!

Edited December 10, 2024 by Old Buckaroo

[Rockford]

Saw this in a back issue if Overdrive, December 1969 I think, on the release of the Astro 95, they were quite complementary about it, especially in comparison to the Crackerbox it replaced. 

It just caught my eye as being the right chassis length. 

[Blue Monday]

That looks like a long chassis but it is not too long! Looks like you have found your inspiration for your build!

BM.

[Rockford]

You're right, it is just the right amount of 'long'. Love it. Hard to believe that design hit the road in 1969. Great looking truck. 

Must have had an unconscious image of this truck in my mind's eye when I set the 352 up. Just wish it was an Astro in 1/32

Edited December 10, 2024 by Rockford
Added pics

[Gary Chastain]

Love watching your builds

[Pete68]

On 12/10/2024 at 3:39 PM, Gary Chastain said:

Love watching your builds

Me too. Totally transforms them into what they Manufacturers should have done. 

Edited December 13, 2024 by Pete68

[Pete68]

Great updates Steve liking this build more and more. 

[Blue Monday]

5 hours ago, Pete68 said:

Me too. Totally transforms them into what they Manufacturers should have done. 

Agreed. Steve works the magic every time with these builds. Inspirational stuff for the rest of us.

 

I’ve chosen to build in 1/32 scale because of the models you turn out, Steve.

BM.

[Pete68]

1 hour ago, Blue Monday said:

chosen to build in 1/32 scale because

Well I’ve got a few more 1/32 to finish and that’s it for me for good while. Think I’m going to stay in 1/43 Scale it’s a nice satisfying scale for me and I’m weird like that 😂  

[RoninUtah]

6 hours ago, Blue Monday said:

Agreed. Steve works the magic every time with these builds. Inspirational stuff for the rest of us.

True, true! It’s amazing what he can do in this scale. This Pete is going to be awesome!

[Rockford]

The rears were glued on and I decided against cutting them off. I retrieved the time warp 352 I bought that had been built and put straight back in the box 40 years ago. 

I unsnapped the rears from that and built the diffs using the offcuts from the cab when I shortened it.

I started by using masking tape to generate a template. Has to be careful not to glue them into the axles by mistake. Once built up I shaped them, added a strip of 2.5mm across the top to replicate the axle tube and coated it all with liquid cement.

I also built little fillets to drop into the gap in the trailing arms.

Dropped them into place on this truck. They look ok for me. 

Thanks for your very kind comments lads, I'm really flattered when I look at the work being done by others in this forum. I'm stuck with 1/32 for some reason but remember that it's me being odd that does this, others have a totally different and more sensible approach to these than me. 

[Gary Chastain]

Looking good

[Jürgen M.]

Steve, I think it's great that you're keeping up the 1/32 fraction!

I've been thinking about reducing my self designed Mack cab and hood to a 1/32 scale and building the Rubber Duck in a smaller size! 

Keep that up. You're doing a wonderful job on these. Having to build up the details a 1/25 truck kit already has and then exceeding that in such a professional way! 

I can just take a bow! 

[BK9300]

Often said - you do a tremendous amount of enhancements during your work on your builds.  Always turns out great!

[Biggu]

Steve, I totally agree with all the guys, and can only add to the observations , by confirming that what you are doing is REAL modelling and not just ‘assembling’, modelling takes a multitude of skills, to fulfill a vision . Your attention to details and scratch skills turn your rigs into beautiful representations of the real deal. A pleasure to watch come together. Keep going , Mate. 

[Pete68]

On 12/15/2024 at 3:24 AM, Rockford said:

it's me being odd that does this, others have a totally different and more sensible approach to these than me. 

Not necessarily Steve it’s called “Modeling” and doing what you enjoy building and the ones who enjoy watching your incredible updates to these static models are very impressive and shows the craftsmanship and talent you have. Like you I enjoy the “Odd Scales” getting out of the main stream sometimes is a good refreshing start. Build what you enjoy my friend we’ll be here watching your magic.  

[Rockford]

SQUIRREL!!!! 🐿️ 

Look what I fell over on eBay! Got it for 12.50 Euros from France.

It's as complete as I need, trailer is all there and the essentials of the tractor except someone has done a number on the front bumper, the stacks, headlight units and quarter fenders. They're actually bent and snapped, odd. Nothing that can't be sorted. 

Someone was asking £99 just for the Pete on its own so I didn't do bad getting both. Just shows you, they're still around. 

[Biggu]

Good catch , Steve, although the front end looks like it hit a Moose, at speed ...

[BK9300]

Terrific find, Steve!  Is there any supplier who makes resin printed engines and transmissions for this scale? (guess I could go look myself, too!)