A brief update... The chassis is progressing slower than hoped. I'm sticking with parts box and salvaged parts so there is some extra clean-up. On one hand satisfying to know that I've saved $25 or $35 off a limited reissue kit and saved it from the landfill. But as a whole, there is not net time savings.
I've cut apart the front axle to have possable steering. Due to voids in the original axle its necessary to replace everything except the beam itself. The walking beam rear also had brass rod installed instead of just awkwardly gluing the axles to the beam. I've also started putting the Cummins back together. It will not be turbocharged, but I otherwise don't plan to spend time back dating it.
Finally, with the improvements to the hood and replacing the cab bucket, I also took the time to cleanup the kit windshield for more scale appearance with no distortion. That alone took an afternoon of football to carefully file and sand to even out the surfaces. If you look at the photo, I've place a pretty much as kitted windshield on the left and the reworked windshield on the right. The rear window opening on the left is heavily distorted when viewed through the "glass". The improved window does not distort the view through it. Technically I left the extra hump at the center. It wasn't as noticable and allows me to still easily secure the windshield. You could remove it as well. It could also bear to use a little more sanding to really smooth out the scratches, but I just guess I'm good with it as-is for now.
