Semi truck builders - What 1/25 tractor would best suit a ‘89 NASCAR hauler?

[Matt T.]

AMT produced a few race haulers in the late 80s/early 90s. What 1/25 AMT tractors (with sleeper) would you recommend for this time period? Thanks! 

[stavanzer]

Kenworth Canepa T-600 was marketed with some race trailers, back then.

[Fat Brian]

The Revell or AMT K100 kits would be another good choice, they wouldn't be brand new by the late 80s but would still be within their expected work life. Same with the International 4300, especially if you swapped the engine for something that lasted a bit longer. 

[slusher]

Revell Peterbilt 359..

[Shark]

I don't know much about what kits are available, but a lot of the top teams during that time frame used Peterbilt, Kenworth and the Petty's had a deal with International. All were conventional cabs. A few of the independents used older cab overs, but they didn't have the nice trailers the kit depicts.

[Jim B]

The AMT Kenworth T600 needs a lot of work to bring it "up to 1990s spec" as it is essentially a 1969-71 W923 frame, suspension, engine/transmission, & cab interior with a 1990-94 T600 cab & sleeper plopped on top.  For the era you're going for, I'd stick with the Revel Peterbilt 359 or maybe the Revell Kenworth W900 Aerodyne.

[Force]

Yes the AMT T600 is not that correct for a T600, but it looks pretty good on the shelf anyway.
The AMT kit is supposed to be the 1990 to 1994 T600A with one piece curved windshield and the newer Aerodyne II sleeper with curved top and the cab and sleeper looks good, the hood needs to be modified a bit in the grille area to look right tho', the interior and the chassis and driveline with two tranmissions and Hendrickson walking beam suspension is outdated as it's the same as the W925 kit developed in the early 70's (wich was changed to a W923 early in the production and still is) wich is totally wrong for a 1990's T600.

Revell Germany also have a T600 and it's of the older 1984 to 1989 T600 (pre-A) model with split windshieds and it was available with either a 60 inch flat top sleeper or the old style angeled Aerodyne I sleeper.

For the record, the AMT race transporter trailers are not really correct for that time period either, it's their old 40 foot Trailmobile moving trailer from the 70's with some racing related interior parts and cabinets, and the race teams had moved on from them to specially made racing transporter trailers from Featherlite and others by then.

But here is a model I built back in the early to mid 90's when these kits were new.
It's the AMT Canepa version of the T600 with my own twist.
For it to look a bit better the old lock ring wheels has to be changed to tubeless wheels, I didn't on my model but would have if I would build it now.
I would also change the rear suspension to air ride and extend the wheelbase and side skirts, change engine and gearbox to more appropriate Cummins N14 or Cat 3406 and a Eaton-Fuller trans, add a compressor/generator box behind the sleeper.
And I would most likely scatchbuild a Featherlite style 53 foot spread axle trailer.
I have plans to do that sometime in the future.

 

Edited Saturday at 11:05 AM by Force