Here are a couple of pics of my 1975 APA Mack R685ST. There were a couple of days last month were it was warm enough to paint, so I managed to get the frame & wheels painted. The wheels are Mack spokes from Plaskit. Hopefully it will warm up enough here in the next couple of weeks so I can get the cab & hood painted.







Jim

I love those big American "chunky" trucks - even in miniature they look so big! Yes I know what you meant about the painting - I've also been cleaning up and prepping many kits during the cold weather so that I have a great stock of stuff ready to spray now that the days are getting warmer!
Good luck with the build and the weather!
cheers,
Paul

Thanks, Paul. I had to correct a minor setback with the radiator, but that's all fixed now. Hopefully the weather will cooperate this week so I can at least get some paint on the hood.

I know what you mean about chunky trucks. The US trucks of the 1970s were't the most areodynamic looking, but they sure got the job done. There aren't may trucks that really scream "1970s fleet truck" more than a Freightliner WFT 7564T or a single stack Mack!

Jim

So, it turned out to be a pretty good Easter Weekend modeling wise. I managed to get some paint (inside & out) on the cab, mount the hood, mount the fifth wheel w/release handle, and finish the interior. Next step will be to decal & mount the cab, mount the exhaust stack, run the air intake system; then call her done! I can see the finish line on this one.

Jim

So I managed to get a little more done on the APA Mack. Mostly decaling. I added the door decals from the Model Truckin' APA sheet, and I added the ICC MC Number, "GCW 80000", & Unit Number to the doors; and the New York State Throughway ID (TT-262-126) to the cowl. These numbers were added with Micro-Scale letters & numbers. I also added some fuel stickers to the hood from the AMT Kenworth T600 decal sheet. I also added a Unit Number to the front of the hood.

Now I just have to figure out how to get the air intake piping from the aircleaner to the turbo. Doesn't seem to fit!





Jim

Good work on the Mack. Last time I built one (20+ yrs ago), I used a piece of flexible drinking straw to extend the air intake to the turbo. Give it a shot, creative modelling some
times works wonders.

Art

Thanks for the compliment.

That's a pretty good idea. I'll either do something like that or use a piece of Evergeeen tubing.

Jim

Looking good...got a pick of the problem piece/area?

No, no pic of the problem area. I decided to do a lillte slicing to see if I could get it to fit. I'll let you know how that works out.

Jim

Well, it's finally done! I added the last details to it today, and snapped some outside pics after work. I printed up some New Jersey tractor license plates onto some photo paper, and I added the antennas that I made from 24awg steel wire. I replaced the exhaust stack with aluminum tube which polished up really nice. Unfortunately that wasn't the look I was going for, but I had to get the scratches from the cutter out of the tubing. Oh well.









Jim

She looks good Jim!
As for that tube, might I suggest shooting it carefully with a semi-gloss or flat to tone it down if it bothers you that much...lay some really thin material around the cab and frame and shoot it with a rattlecan. I got this satin like material from Johan frabrics{I was like the only guy there} and it was cheap - I used it for photo backdrops for a very short while before building my photo box.
Your not the only one who dislikes those tubing cutters so I went with an old sock in my miter box to cut aluminum tubing on to keep it from getting scratched and then sand the end of the cut with a sanding stick to flatten it.

Thanks, Bob. A friend of mine suggested that I use a Scotch-brite pad to dull it up. The tube isn't glued onto the stack, so it can slide right off. I try something eventually.

Jim

Hmmmm, be prepared for scoring marks from the pad my friend...maybe some 1500 or 1000 grit sand paper and wet sand it?.......maybe toothpaste?

That is a possibility. Good thing I have a spare piece I can experiment on.

Jim

Very nice job Jim. I started out in the hobby building trucks with my Dad 35 years ago and seeing you guys with your builds here brings back some great memories.

Thinking my next stash investment might be a big rig.

Cheers, D

Thanks, Damian. I've heard that truck models are a little hard to come by down there.

Here's a site that might interest you: Australian Model Truck & Construction Forum

Jim

Well, there's a couple of "Dodges" out there, but somehow I seem to imagine yours will have a bowtie on it...I don't know why?... ....Jump in D, the truck building water is fine!