First Big Rig build - what kit to start with?

[Blue Monday]

I am returning to model building in the near future, after a lay off of a few years. One area of modelling I'd like to try is trucks, and in particular, the classic American "Big Rigs". I've done some googling on kits and AMT appear to have a really nice range of kits although they appear to require some expertise to get the best out of them. I am wondering if Revell Germany or Revell-Monogram kits might be a better starting point for a first truck build?

One kit I am looking at is the Revell-Monogram Kenworth W900 Aerodyne - Kit 11507. I understand that the rear wheels cause problems with this particular kit but other than that, it is a reasonably well-fitting kit and builds up nicely. Would the experienced truck builders recommend this kit as a good starter, or is there a better kit in 1/25 scale to start with?

Is there any after-market wheelset to rectify the issues with the rear wheels?

Thanks for any advice anyone can offer.

 

BM. 

 

Edited November 6, 2024 by Blue Monday

[iamsuperdan]

The Revell W900 is a good starter kit for sure. Revell also has the Peterbilt 359, which is similar to the Kenworth.

 

I also like the AMT International 4070A. It's more detailed kit than the two Revell kits above, a little more complicated, but it goes together beautifully. It's almost like Tamiya, in how well it assembles.

 

 

[Blue Monday]

Thanks for the information, Dan. I am kind of leaning towards the Peterbilt 359, after having looked over the instructions on Scalemates. I do like the large "Stars and Stripes" decal on the rear of the cab too! Fittingly, the last truck I saw in the flesh was a Peterbilt although I am not sure what version it was. It appears to have a longer chassis overall compared to the Revell 359 and a longer hood too.

I'm looking forward to trying my hand at a Big Rig, hopefully early in 2025.

 

BM. 

[Thedragsterdude]

This is what I’m building it’s a bit of a challenge but it’s fun

[Force]

The Revell snap kits are a good starting point for your first truck build, they are not the most detailed but decent for what they are...and often cheap, and with some work they look good.

The Revell Germany US trucks are also often decent kits and not that hard to put together, they sometimes has their issues but not that hard to overcome.

Italeri has some decent US truck kits and are often not that hard to build, but they are 1:24th scale and they have multipiece cabs, a few of them are issued by AMT recently you can tell them appart from the AMT developed kits by the scale as all AMT developed kits are 1:25th scale, Italeri also have many European truck kits.

The AMT truck kits are more challenging, first of all most of them are developed in the early to mid 70's and the first truck kit AMT did came 1969, they are not for the beginner but with some experience they are for sure buildable.
The International Transtar CO-4070A in the above post is an exception, it's a remake of an old ERTL kit from 1973 and is all new tooling as the original tooling was altered to the later International Transtar II Eagle 1976, this kit goes together well.

The ERTL truck kits are not that bad, the Mack DM 600/DM 800 kits are originally MPC kits and have their issues, but the other truck kits they had were developed by ERTL and are quite good, some were made with metal chassis tho'.
The International Transtar CO-4070A was ERTL's first in house developed kit from 1973 and the AMT version in iamsuperdan's post above is a new and improved retool of that kit and came 2021. 

Edited November 9, 2024 by Force

[Blue Monday]

Zack, good luck with your build. I think these snap-together kits are a good starting point for truck novices, like me! Some that I have seen that have been cleanly built look quite good. I intend to clean up all the parts and seams along the way and hopefully do a good paint job. Fingers-crossed our first Big Rigs turn out OK!

Hakan, thanks for the info on the various AMT kits. My current plan is to build one or two of the Revell (semi-) snap-together kits as starters with a solid effort going into eliminating any seams on the tanks and areas like that. I hope also to learn how to deal with the various chrome parts as regards de-chroming them where necessary. I will use aerosol cans for these builds as I don't have an airbrush. I'll also have a go at light weathering of the engine and cabin interior. Then, I'll try the International Transtar as my first AMT kit. Their range of cabovers look amazing so I'd love to build up the skills to be able to build them successfully. 

 

BM. 

[mascari33]

The Revell Peterbilt 359 was good to me.  I actually bought two and doubled up the sleeper and stretched the frame.  Coming along nicely.

I have completed the Monogram Kenworth W-900 in 1/16th scale.  Now that was FUN!!  Never did a big scale before and it was enjoyable working with the larger parts.

See below for W-900 with a sleeper from the Aerodyne kit that I traded for.

 

[Deathgoblin]

I've got the Revell W900, it actually builds up pretty nice.  I'll have to post pics.  The engine is really detailed.