Jeff

Canadian bird by chance?

Right on Scott. !! Glad you let us know. I hope this thread keeps going. I’m happy you got the missing part ! Jeff

Awesome!!!!

THIS is the True ART of modelling. Like Peter said .. World Class …

You called Joy ‘old’ …… uummmm I’m telling !! 🤭😆😆😆😆😆😆

Scott , first off I’m sorry you’re going through this. And back pain is some of the most aggravating pain one can endure. I have been suffering from a sciatica thing for months. Like you ,I couldn’t take it any longer and went to the chiropractor and he is doing wonders but the ‘Fred Astaire ‘ effect doesn’t last for a real long time but as I go to him it does last a bit longer each time. Getting older sucks. I hope for your quick recovery. Jeff

Many thanks for your kind words , Peter. I’m very glad you liked it and found some of the info of some valuable interest.

Gee thanks Carl. Coming from you it means a lot. Happy you noticed the plate. It adds a little personal touch 😊 as mentioned this was a fun build.

Thanks Phil. Glad like it. Lots of those beauty's on the roads around here. I appreciate your kind words. Jeff

The final vision.... I'm rather pleased with this in the end.... it is a beautiful kit and most definitely looks like a 378, awesome trucks.. Thanks for checking in guys, Jeff

Coming together now...fuel tank detail and under hood....

Thanks Pal... just putting the finishing touches on it now, will post a few more pics shortly..

LOL, oh but I did, just before it all went together...the tires came from our buddy Paul at ST Supply....the fit nicely but are just a hair too narrow, if you don't look too closely they are good....

And this is the basic mock up..... lots of details to be added yet, but this is the vision, still need front fender flares, battery box covers, clearance lights, mirrors, bumper etc etc..... notice the de-chromed fuel tank, and the dechromed rear wheel hubs.... hope you guys like this vision....

The dump box was built as per the instructions although I did modify the cab guard to more resemble what we have around here. Most of the guys have Nahanni dump boxes, made right here in British Columbia, and the cab guard has a bit of a rake to it, rather than what the kit had as dead level. The dump box is to represent a Truckweld box, and has the Iconic Truckweld tail lights that stick out to the side... I chose to change that to the oval recessed style that is so common locally. Again this is the CTM Photoetch, these are quite small and are made up of three pieces each, I personally think they look much better than the stock ones, these are what I am used to cleaning and fixing when needed.

I worked on the dash a bit, I scrapped off all the raised detail and replaced it with the EXCELLENT CTM photo etch parts, and added a little plastic rod on the brake valves on the dash to give it a more realistic look as in the real deal the spring brake valves are not flush to the dash, one has to get his fingers behind it to activate. I also added 'glass' to the gauges....

The Detroit 60 Series is a good engine, and we had one in a Western Star at work, that I drove pulling a pup gravel trailer, for graveling and paving, I know some will say this is the wrong color, BUT the one in the truck I drove had a Red 60 Series....it wasn't the Detroit green... so mine is red.... the fit of these kits are wonderful overall, and not a huge amount of cleanup parts wise... I did de-chrome the valve cover as it was WAY too bright and as the real one was painted, so is mine....it fit well, I also added a few air lines to the transmission for the range changing valve, I added an inspection plate and bolts on the lower side as well a an oil drain bolt, plus the bolts for the top cover of the transmission.

So some of the mods will include the non-installation of the sleeper, High flotation tires ( and rims) for the front axle, aftermarket drive tires, some de-chroming of some bits, and the biggest thing, is a frame shortening, from a highway tractor to a gravel truck. Now, the frame had already been made, a long time ago, and it took a little brain work ( somewhat taxing for a non engineer LOL) . It wasn't as easy as chopping off the back end of the frame, I had to or more wanted to keep the integrity of the rear part of the frame to correctly mount the rear ends and suspension, so it was to be the middle of the frame and so as not to foul any cross member, so with a little research, and a phone call to my buddy from work, I cut out about 3/4 of an inch in the center part of the frame and spliced it back together.... you will notice the plates are bolted and not 'welded' .... so out came the Meng bolts ( those are really cool and I should get more) Turns out, I measured straight and correctly, and managed to get the frame shortened and put back together straight and true. I was quite please with myself, as I had some trepidation on cutting up a VERY expensive kit. But all worked well....

Ok guys here we go again, I have been encouraged to post this build...... suffice to say it has gone through a few changes, in the conversion thoughts. I have had this kit for quite a while, partly started, with a vision of a heavy haul unit, but it got put on the back burner for a few years, due to looking after the ageing parents, then a move , then just life getting in the way of good bench time..... so with all that behind me I decided it was time... but I changed my mind once again on the conversion. When I saw that Revell had reissued their Kenworth gravel truck, I thought, that is the way I should go, as I have almost 40 years of gravel truck experience it should be an ok conversion, IF I could secure a gravel box from that kit. ................. Ron G. to the rescue !! He had a spare box from the kit in question and gave it to me... perfect ! Now, I have no excuses..... This is the kit I started with.... and there will be some mods to the truck itself, but it comes with a 420 HP 60 Series Detroit and what appears to be a 15 or 18 speed transmission

A joy to watch this build , Rob. Thos is going to be a beauty. Jeff

X2

That sounds like a good plan PW ! That should work. It will be cool to see this come together. I have never seen one in the flesh but have seen a video or two and holy cow did those birds go FAST! A very cool bird. And I am enjoying your build. Jeff

Mark, I will be looking forward to this one.

That’s really interesting, Peter. Digging up the history is a really fun part of any build. I really like what you are finding. Sometimes I get really side tracked looking up details of a build subject. But that’s the fun of modelling