Italeri american truck frames almost all the same?

[BigBad]

Ok guys, I just started an Italeri Ford LTL9000 and did the frame wrong, it's skewed on one side. I read that most Italeri frames are pretty much the same. Is this correct? Because I'd like to use the frame off a Freightliner FLC I will not build instead of dismantling this one and rebuilding it just as crooked as it is or (most likely...) even worse. Tell me what you think.

[chuckyr]

The Italeri Peterbilt (378 and 377) frames are unique. The Italeri Freightliner (FLC and FLD) frames are correct for Freightliners. The Italeri Fords and Western Stars share the Italeri Freightliner frames.

[BigBad]

Thanks Chuck, that is going to help quite a bit!

[Guest]

The frames are pretty much identical however the Fords have track bars on the rear differentials as well as ramps on the frame taper at the rear, the FLC does not have the track bars or ramps.

Edited July 23, 2014 by Modeltruckbuilder

[Force]

Well Italeri has been known to take shortcuts here and there over the years and have never bothered to do correct replicas of the subjects they were doing other than a very few.

They did updates to the truck kits doing new cabs to keep up with the style changes but still kept the old outdated chassis and drive line, and their wheels have never been correct as the rear ones almost allways are hub reduction gears.

I sold off most of my Italeri truck kits due to that...and the fact that it costs a fortune buying parts to correct them and build what you want from them...and I only have two Italeri trucks left in my stash right now, a Volvo 780 and a Peterbilt 378 Long Hauler, those are fairly correct but unfortunately the Volvo doesn't have an engine.

Edited July 22, 2014 by Force

[BigBad]

I'll take the track bars off the old frame and add them to the new one. Unfortunately the ramps will have to stay on the old frame as they are quite stuck there forever, that's too bad because I really like that feature. I'll scratch build another set.

By the way, I might be wrong but, aren't the larger brake air chamber supposed to be on the front drive axle instead of the rear one one a ten wheel truck? Idealy I thought they would all be the same size back there but...

[Petetrucker07]

The bigger brake can goes on 1 drive axle. Thats the brake can that is used when the brakes are set, basically the parking brake.

[Force]

I have seen trucks with the lager brakes, also called maxi brake, on one or two of the drive axles.
The larger chamber holds a strong coil spring that apply the brakes when the air is released from the chamber.

[BigBad]

Alright guys! Thanks for the info. Now the frame is ready for paint! I'll try to get pictures of the build to show here soon. trying to figure out how to upload pictures with a new photo host...

[clayton]

Last I know of the maxi brake or large can goes on the front driver the smaller one on the back. Off had since Italeri is French or UK there rules may not be the same as ours. Who knows.

[Force]

Italeri is an Italian manufacturer.

Over here Maxibrake chambers are on the first drive axle and steer axle on trucks.

Edited August 2, 2014 by Force

[BigBad]

Thanks Mr. Persson! That's what I needed confirmation.

[highway]

The Italeri Peterbilt (378 and 377) frames are unique. The Italeri Freightliner (FLC and FLD) frames are correct for Freightliners. The Italeri Fords and Western Stars share the Italeri Freightliner frames.

Just to add a little info from Chucky's post, the FLD frame also has updated large single airbags instead of the double stacked pancake airbags in the other non Pete frames.