Jeff Posted May 2, 2021 Share Posted May 2, 2021 Lookin GREAT, Ron !!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrankyCrafstman Posted May 8, 2021 Author Share Posted May 8, 2021 Hey guys I've been working on the Tri-drive Pete. I recently bought another Pete, the 1/24 AMT Long hauler (repop of the Italeri kit), got it for a great price $50.00 bucks. So anyway, I started cutting it up and I now have a high roof, large opening cab to sleeper 378, I think? I also made one of the hoods into a extended hood 379. Here's some pics for you to look at. this view shows the stock 378 hood, modified cab with raised roof and modified 63" Unibilt sleeper with enlarged cab to sleeper opening. front view of the cab, you can see the interior and seats that will know be able to recline into the opening, more room for tall drivers. rear view of the cab opening and back of seats. this view shows the cab roof and the modifications I made to increase the opening to the sleeper. this view shows the modifications I made to the cab roof and opening. this view shows the raised roof of the cab. this view shows the modifications I made to the opening in the sleeper. view of the sleeper from the drivers side. view of the sleeper from the passenger side. this view shows the sleeper attached to the cab. view from the front. view from the drivers side. view from the top. view from the passenger side with the hood. this view shows the setup on the tractor frame. My dilemma is, I'm thinking I might want to use this cab and sleeper along with the 379 exhd to make more of a tandom show truck, and use the stock cab with either a 36" bunk or a flat top 63" sleeper I made form the othe sleeper that I had (it didn't quite come out the way I planed, the corners aren't round enough, my opion) on the Tri-drive. I will post pictures of the 379exhd and flatop sleeper tomorrow. This is the motor I'm going to use for the Tri-drive, instead of the Cummins NTC-400 thats in it now. It's a Cat C15 twin turbo from Moluminum. turbo side view. other side view. This are pictures of the engine that I got from Jamie at Moluminum of it finished. well that's it for now be back with more updates soon. Ron G 10 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Posted May 8, 2021 Share Posted May 8, 2021 AWESOME engineering, Ron.... how was the Cat kit to build? Any issues? It looks fabulous, and were the decals included? Or did you get the set from Jerry? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark31 Posted May 8, 2021 Share Posted May 8, 2021 nice work you have done with the roof and egine Mark 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrankyCrafstman Posted May 8, 2021 Author Share Posted May 8, 2021 Hey guys Jeff: I didn't get any decals from Jamie @ Moluminum. It went together ok, but make sure you get pictures from Jamie, because there ain't no instructions! Doe's he have decals for this, I didn't see them on his site? Mark: thanks it's still a work in progress. As I said yesterday I would post pictures of the 379exhd and 63" flat top sleeper, so here are some pictures. this view shows the final setup for the 1/24 Italeri Peterbilt 378 Tri-drive. rear view of the rig. front view of the rig, these are just sitting together for pictures. this view shows the Unibilt 63" large opening sleeper, 379 raised roof cab with custom made lower extensions and the 379exhd hood. view from the front. downward view. passenger side view of the 379 setup. This will be going on a stock length kit frame (maybe) with 4 single Auslowe aluminum fenders, custom made Texas drop bumper and a s$%t load of chicken lights. this view shows the modified 63" Unibilt sleeper that I tried to make into a flat top. view from the rear of the flat top sleeper. I think the rounded corners on the top are not round enough. What do you guys think? Ron G 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HubertB Posted May 8, 2021 Share Posted May 8, 2021 38 minutes ago, CrankyCrafstman said: Hey guys Jeff: I didn't get any decals from Jamie @ Moluminum. It went together ok, but make sure you get pictures from Jamie, because there ain't no instructions! Doe's he have decals for this, I didn't see them on his site? Mark: thanks it's still a work in progress. As I said yesterday I would post pictures of the 379exhd and 63" flat top sleeper, so here are some pictures. this view shows the final setup for the 1/24 Italeri Peterbilt 378 Tri-drive. rear view of the rig. front view of the rig, these are just sitting together for pictures. this view shows the Unibilt 63" large opening sleeper, 379 raised roof cab with custom made lower extensions and the 379exhd hood. view from the front. downward view. passenger side view of the 379 setup. This will be going on a stock length kit frame (maybe) with 4 single Auslowe aluminum fenders, custom made Texas drop bumper and a s$%t load of chicken lights. this view shows the modified 63" Unibilt sleeper that I tried to make into a flat top. view from the rear of the flat top sleeper. I think the rounded corners on the top are not round enough. What do you guys think? Ron G Agreed. They would deserve a bigger radius. Hubert 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrankyCrafstman Posted May 8, 2021 Author Share Posted May 8, 2021 2 hours ago, HubertB said: Agreed. They would deserve a bigger radius. Hubert Yeah, that's what I thought. It's why I went with the 36" bunk sleeper with headache rack, I think it looks appropriate for a heavy work truck. Ron G 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Posted May 9, 2021 Share Posted May 9, 2021 Not sure if he has decals or not, but Jerry does http://www.modeltruckin.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=2_144&zenid=euspatkepiv5c76pur0vunutd2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrankyCrafstman Posted May 9, 2021 Author Share Posted May 9, 2021 3 hours ago, Jeff said: Not sure if he has decals or not, but Jerry does http://www.modeltruckin.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=2_144&zenid=euspatkepiv5c76pur0vunutd2 I have a bunch of decals from Jerry. I did contact Jamie at Moluminum and he's looking to see if he has any more of the Cat C15 decal sets. Ron G 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrankyCrafstman Posted May 15, 2021 Author Share Posted May 15, 2021 Hey guys I've been working on the Peterbilt 379 exhd custom. I decided to leave it stock at 246.0" W/B. I have the frame assembled and I started in on plumbing the air suspension system. The air brakes and fuel lines will come next. this view shows the scratch built rear air bag height control valve and the air lines to the rear airbags. this view shows the scratch built front airbag height control valve and air lines to the airbags. this view shows the whole rear section. this view shows the three air tanks. this view shows the main supply air tank on the bottom and the 2nd service air tank on the top. The purple line goes to the airbags (this will all be painted in the frame color). this view shows the 1st service air tank. this view shows the 2nd service air tank and the inline air filter to the airbags. The next 4 pictures show the hollowed out universal joints that I did to add some more realism to the build. I took out about a scale 1.5" - 1.75" out of the ride height, so the truck sits a little lower to look cool!. Well that's it for now be back with more updates soon. Ron G 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrankyCrafstman Posted May 19, 2021 Author Share Posted May 19, 2021 Thanks guys I have the brake lines almost done, I ran out of the purple wire I was using for the air lines, so now I have to switch to green, but it's all going to be painted the frame color so it doesn't matter. this view shows the rear area if the truck. this view shows the rear brake modulator and the height control valve. this view shows the front brake modulator valve on the left and the rear brake anti-lockup modulator on the right. this view shows the Cummins NTC-400 and the front brake line, I used braided line for these. this view shows what this truck is going to look like when it's done. view from the rear showing the polished aluminum rear fenders and the rear light bracket, I have red, amber and clear lights for this. view from the front showing the custom made "Texas" bumber and the 10" stacks, I still have to figure out how to make the lower curved part of these, I think I'm going to try Plastruct elbows and paint them chrome. view showing the hood open. Well that's it for now be back soon with more updates. Ron G 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Posted May 19, 2021 Share Posted May 19, 2021 VERY nice, Ron !!! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrankyCrafstman Posted May 19, 2021 Author Share Posted May 19, 2021 Thanks Jeff 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark31 Posted May 20, 2021 Share Posted May 20, 2021 nice work with the airlines that litle bit extra is nice to see keep up the good work Mark 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackster Posted May 20, 2021 Share Posted May 20, 2021 Awesome! Cheers Kev 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrankyCrafstman Posted May 20, 2021 Author Share Posted May 20, 2021 Thanks guys 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peterpools Posted May 20, 2021 Share Posted May 20, 2021 Ron Awesome work - looking so good Keep 'em comin Peter 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrankyCrafstman Posted May 24, 2021 Author Share Posted May 24, 2021 Thanks guys I did some work on the interior. I add some very thin grey velour with adhesive backing to make the carpet. I got these off of Amazon, I got 2 sheets 8 1/2 x 11 of grey, dark charcoal, dark brown, medium brown, light brown, beige and dark wine red. It works great for carpeting on 1/25-1/24 models, and it sticks pretty good. this view shows the arm rests I added to the inner sides of the seats, also the seat backs that I added. The velour carpeting looks kinda beige, but it is light grey. this view shows the clutch, brake and gas/fuel pedels that I added. this view shows the small blue wire that I added to the shifter column and the retainer I made for it from some 1/64" tape. I plan on carving some seat cushion detail into both seats. You can just barely see the pencil lines I added to the seats for this purpose. I have both photo etch sets for the 1/24 Italeri Peterbilt 379/377 from Czech model trucks, so the instrument panel will be photo etch along with the steering wheel center, shift and air knobs, plus all of the exterior photo etch, alot of bending but it will be worth it in the end. Ron G 9 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GazzaS Posted May 25, 2021 Share Posted May 25, 2021 Looks awesome! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrankyCrafstman Posted May 25, 2021 Author Share Posted May 25, 2021 Hey guys Small update, I have been working on the interior. I have the interior almost done. I added some carpet to the door panels. this view shows the Czech Model Trucks instrument panel, air knobs, glove box and gear knob installed. this view shows the detail I added to the seats, I did this with a 0.1 mm Molotow black marker and paint, a little hard to see but if you zoom in you can see it. this view shows the Czech Model Trucks 4 spoke steering wheel center I added to the kits steering wheel ring. I still have to add some clear acrylic gloss to the gauge faces. Well that's it for now be back soon with more. Ron G 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark31 Posted May 26, 2021 Share Posted May 26, 2021 very nice work keep it up Mark 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harv Posted May 26, 2021 Share Posted May 26, 2021 Looking good !!......harv 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrankyCrafstman Posted May 26, 2021 Author Share Posted May 26, 2021 Thanks guys Some more work done on the interior. I totally remade the bed. I used two of the kit mattresses glued back to back to make it thicker (this trucker, like me has a bad back...lol). You can just see the pillow that I made with a piece of foam rubber for a pillow and covered in a piece of paper towel for a pillow case. this view shows the blanket, made from blue paper shop towel, and both sheets, made from paper towel. this view shows the bed support structure and it covers the bunk heater area (that you won't see). this view shows the other side of the bed support structure. bottom view of the bed support structure. I have to paint all of this. this view shows just the bed, sheets, blanket and pillow. this view shows the carpet added to the sleeper floor. Now I have to figure out what color to paint this rig. Dark blue with light blue frame? Red with black uppers and fenders with black frame? Pink with purple poka dots...lol. Give me some ideas guys? Ron G 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peterpools Posted May 27, 2021 Share Posted May 27, 2021 Ron G Yikes, awesome detailing ... fantastic work. Keep 'em comin Peter 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrankyCrafstman Posted May 31, 2021 Author Share Posted May 31, 2021 Thanks guys 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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