'75 Peterbilt 359 Wip

[ABC Auto Industry]

I've been working on this one for about a month. I'm not a professional model builder, and this is my first conventional, so please don't be too harsh on it. Anyways, this is a 1975 Peterbilt 359 painted in Baranski Freight Systems colors. It was built from the AMT T501 "California Hauler" kit.

According to Jairus, you're supposed to have a back story to your truck's paint scheme, so here goes. Baranski Freight Systems Inc. is the freight hauling division of Dylan Baranski Industries Inc., a company I made up. You see, I have a penchant for painting my vehicles in the colors of organizations that I made up because I find it to be a more unique approach than painting them by the book. The truck this model is based on (or would be if Baranski Freight Systems were a real company) originally had a "Peterbilt White" Cummins NTC-350, but sometime in the early 90's, the engine was rebuilt & painted gray (special thanks to ultraliner13 for giving me this idea). Given the right maintenance, Baranski Freight Systems trucks can stay in service for many years, like this one. Also, Baranski Freight Systems trucks tend to be more gaudy than typical freight company trucks.

Anyways, I chose green because it's my favorite color. It's a nice-looking truck, but there are a couple of problems. A crossmember wouldn't fit properly, so the frame is a bit crooked. Also, there are some paint issues that need touching up. Also, some of the chrome on the grille surround has faded, so that needs touching up. Other than that, I think it looks nice. Holes have been drilled in the roof for attaching roof accessories (air horns, lights, etc...) The sleeper has been built, but not attached. The middle windshield pillar was broken off from the cab when I got this kit, so I fashioned a new one & painted it white. Construction has been delayed because I want to get some "Winslow Stripe" decals from jbot.ca, but the shopping cart has been disabled even after he said it would be enabled in September, and I don't want to go any further with building it because I fear that the cab components will interfere with the decal placement. Here's some photos from my work desk:

Notice the Peterbilt mudflaps. I took some inspiration from the 359 seen in the 1975 "Class of the Industry" brochure http://public.fotki.com/modeltrucks25thsca...rbilt_352__359/

The yellow springs & blue shocks are the result of a suspension change. Plus, I thought it looked nice.

Behold! The Cummins NTC-350 turbodiesel! According to a GMC Astro brochure from 1972, this engine puts out 325 hp. If that's so, then shouldn't it be called an NTC-325?

Other view of engine.

View of interior. Also based on the interior seein in the 1975 "Class of the Industry" brochure. However, I didn't have a 4-spoke steering wheel, so I just painted the steering wheel with the most off-white color paint I had on hand.

The (unfinished) hood. Notice that some of the chrome has faded away.

The hood test-fitted to the truck.

Questions? Comments? Suggestions?

Edited November 1, 2007 by ABC Auto Industry

[mackinac359]

So far so good.

If you want an "aged look" and your grille has some faded chrome, paint the whole grille silver to look like dulled aluminum.

Tim

[ABC Auto Industry]

Well, the good news is that Jim Botaitis is back, but the main page says he's having computer problems, so I expect this rig will be delayed for about a month. In the meantime, post any questions, comments, or suggestions you may have.

[Old Albion]

Dylan,

The Pete looks good. I like the colour scheme, the green and white work well on the Pete.