It looks like Italeri is planning on reissuing the Peterbilt 378 in 1/24. According to some "people in the know" that have seen the build-up, Italeri has corrected some issues with the kit including the sleeper & the dash panel. They are issuing the new 378 with the sleeper from the 377 A/E kit, which is correct. As opposed to the Freightliner FL sleeper that has tradidtionally been in the kit. Everything else is basically the same: same frame, same Detroit Diesel Series 60, etc. It does have new decals.

Here's the link: Italeri News

Scroll all the way to the bottom. And yes, that is a Peterbilt 379 on the box, but it's defiantely a 378 in the box. Appartently Italeri used this photo for the stripe reference.

Jim

Not going to be cheap though....MSRP of $92, according to my supplier

Ouch! Be it Canadian or US, that's expensive!

Jim

Yeah, that is a US MSRP, mind you at this point, US and CDN $ is almost even.

Hey James,
Personally I like to see the 379 out of them. The 378 is the newest model from Pete, replacement of the 379. Different style headlights, but looks like the 379. I'll see if I can find a photo of them together.

Hmmmm, I stand corrected. It would seem that they've made a mistake on the model number.
I just looked at www.peterbilt.com and it would seem the 378 is a ghost model, inless they are modeling the 587, which was orignally the 387. The 386 is the newest Pete.
The 388 and 389 look like the old style 379. Confussed yet?? Welcome to the club.

If memory serves me correct, the 378 never had the twin air cleaner coming out from under the hood.
MORE Research!!!

The Peterbilt model numbers have got to be one of the most confusing in the truck world. Right up there with Mack! Here's a link to Tim Ahlborn's site. He is the Peterbilt Guru, if you want to know anything Peterbilt (and I mean anything), ask him.

Tim's Model Trucks (new site)
Tim's Model Trucks (old site, a little easier to navigate)

Peterbilt stoped manufacturing the 378 & 357 with the end of the 379-Family in about 2005. I'm pretty sure that Eric over at P & P Vintage Kits & Resin Works has a couple of 379 conversions available. He lists one on his site, and he has (2) more in the works (a 1/24 hood conversion that will work with this kit, and a 1/25 cab conversion that will probably work in the Revell of Germany 359 kits. Wan't to make an accurate Can-Do wrecker?)

Jim

Here are a couple of pics of the test shot:
Photo #1
Photo #2
Decal Sheet
Dashboard Decal Close Up

Jim

Thx for the photo's James.
Looks like a 379 with a 63" sleeper from here. The sliding 5th wheel is pulled up too much, needs to be back more towards the back drive axle. The 378 came in four different models.

1. 378
2. 378SB
3. 378SF
4. 378SFFA

Don't ask me WTH the SB, SF, SFFA stand for. Might have to do with wheel bases and if it has a sleeper on it or not.
I agree that Pete did corner the market on confussing model numbers.

I agree withn you on the fifth wheel: way to far forward. And the rear wheel hubs are incorrect as well. That's Italeri for you! And it does look like a 379. but I think the hood is sloped more.

SFFA - Set Forward Front Axle

I'll see if I can find any information on the others.

Jim

Ok, here's the deal. I received an answer from Tim Ahlborn on the set-up of the Peterbilt 378:

"The 378 line up:

378 SFFA set forward front axle - 119" BBC (same as the kit)
378 SBFA set back front axle - 119" BBC
378 SBFA Heavy Haul - set back front axle, tall radiator ('04-07)
378 SBFA sloped hood - set back front axle - bigger fenders, sloped hood, 385 grille ('04-07).

378 hoods are fiberglass.

357 mind you, used the same hood for all models except the 111 and 115" BBC models.
Actually, 357 was developed first, then 378 afterward.

The difference between 357 and 378 is how the truck was spec'd. Typically 357 was a heavier spec'd straight truck, but 378 could be a straight truck too, and 357 could be a tractor with a sleeper.

This confusion was put to rest with the 367 models that replaced the 357 and 378.

Clear as mud now isn't it?"

Jim