Autocar 'cause I can...finished up

[reserve]

Should be a good pair. I got the dump truck as it is more "off roady" than the tractor kit, it'll be a wonderfully simple conversion. Nice kit which I've already got my fingers into...better than most AMT molds


Regards,
Mark

[dogfish7 (R.I.P.)]

Count me in!

[JCON]

I'll pull up a chair as well and follow along!!!

[reserve]

Welcome gents

Well then

Typical letter kit problems: Massive cleanup of mold lines and the need to flat sand everything that presents in halves.

Atypical of the letter kits: Molding is pretty crisp and the plastic is of a softer variety which is much easier to work with and sticks well with LPC.





Mostly nice on frame assembly. I notice in reviews alot of guys have trouble keeping the cab and radiator cover square so the hood assembly has gaps and misalignment trouble. In checking the parts I dry fit the interior tub into the cab and did not like what I saw, note the warpage of the tub



Have to get thoughty and fix this so the tub does not distort the cab as it does now.

The box sez the hood can be made operational but I am here to tell you it cannot with what they give you in said box. I will try to think of a way to do this; not sure I can, got plenty of time to research and think about it anyway

Regards,
Mark

[JCON]

If anyone can do it, you can Mark!!!

[reserve]

Now you're starting to scare me stop it

[JCON]

LMAO!!! Look at Mark go!!!

[BUCKY]

Let the styrene fly, bro! This is gonna be a great rig!

[reserve]

Thanks Bucky I'll do my best

I should be used to it by now but every time I research trucks like these it's like they are as individual as fingerprints. It's also not a big help when no picture one can find looks like what the kit gives you in places.

Artistic license, here we come

Went looking for some yellow cap easy off for chrome stripping the other day only to find that you can't find it. It was suggested to me that this is a COVID thing to which my reply was "So people are spraying themselves with it?". Finally found a local source for purple power which albeit slower, does a better job without the gas chamber aroma

Plastic work on the frame mostly done. I've placed the log carrier rack dry so I know where I can fudge the air and electric lines







AMT does not see fit to give you air brake cans for the rear screws but I had a spare set from MPC. Here they are temporarily mounted...they will be raised as they are too low for realisim



I probably should spend some time on the Zippo before I look at it one day and realize it's been a year since I've touched it

Regards,
Mark

[JCON]

Looking good Mark!!!

[dogfish7 (R.I.P.)]

I'm in suspence on the suspension.

[JED]

Well I'm in but can't see any of the problems I was expecting, you cover it well 👏👏

[reserve]

Thanks gents

Jed trust me because this is a letter kit it has problems in spades, I just know what to expect and how to deal with it. The day ain't over yet brother


So, measurable progress and the display of the general idea






 
The log trailer was very bad; it took a great deal of time flattening and squaring parts to make it come out right. Hopefully weathering will bring out the detailing.

Whupped 'em again Josey

Regards,
Mark

[JED]

I'm sure the weathering will make it pop, I hope so as it will be a shame for the details to be hidden

[dogfish7 (R.I.P.)]

I see these babies on a regular basis around here and your's sure fine!

[BUCKY]

I like your progress, Mark. Keep carving away at it!

[reserve]

Cheers gents

Coachwork on this is really badly engineered; nothing fits the way it's supposed to and interference is everywhere. Letter kit for sure. Currently quite a bit of modification is happening to get everything to line up right, but in the meantime it's come this far





I am confident of a reasonably good outcome with the cab/hood fit it'll just take some time and jinking to get it there

Got a chance to look at one of the new AMT 1/24 truck releases at the LHC...we got the box open only to find it's an Italeri rebox. Can't say as I'm surprised


Regards,
Mark

[JCON]

That is disappointing on the rebox!!!

[Beekster]

Looks good so far, Mark. What areas of the truck are you looking for reference on? A few years ago, a major housing development went in near me and an old Autocar cement tanker was used on site prep for that project. I took some photos of the thing for general reference, so if there's something you're looking for I will troll through my images and post anything relevant here.

[reserve]

Jconn it really is since the Italeri box will cost you around $50 and the AMT box will cost you around $75

Thanks Beek and if you were able to get them firewall detail and engine shots. Engine only if it had a naturally aspirated Cummins NTC 250. Firewall should be pretty universal.

Enough grinding and filing has produced a decent coachwork fit





I was even able to hide my butchery.

I'm not over happy with the transparent parts...very heavy and distorting. I probably could have scratched windows and windshield but the kit part determines the position of the interior tub and I did not feel like getting that involved. Perhaps one day but this ain't that day

Regards,
Mark