Freightliner "kit reveiw" re-pop

[studioman3]

I picked up a couple of these new release Freightliners, and thought I'd share my opinions on the kit.

Overall, not a bad kit, I think these could really look nice done by some of you talented modelers.
Really not an over abundance of detail to the kit, but not a snap together either.
I like that the instructions tell you what the part is, as not all of us were in the trucking industry, it helps me imagine what color I'd like to paint things.

There were a couple of parts left over, they are not in the instructions, so they must not go on this truck. Then there are the grab handles on the front of the cab, they are in the picture on the box, and surely they are needed to open the cab, but they are not included. I drilled a couple of holes and just used household staples for mine.
The pictures in the instructions are a little vague, they even left out the bar that goes between the radius rods, at least that's where it goes on my model.

Some items do not have holes to put them in, such as the radiator, they just basically show that it goes in front of the engine, but there is no designation as to the actual spot on the frame where it sits, hope you get it right, because there are hoses and things hooked up to one of those. Same with the marker lights and horns, but I suppose this is good, because it leaves you with some room for your own artistic expressions.

I went to dry fit the interior tub into the cab, and found that it is too wide, and too deep, don't try to force it, when I did, it busted out my rear cab piece. I fixed this with my belt sander.

My biggest dislike for this kit is the three piece cab, Why? Is there really a reason to ask me to piece these together, only to screw it up with my incompetent bondo abillities? And of course you'll sand off all the rivets while trying to smooth out the bondo. It would have been nice to have the option to make it a crackerbox, but that would take a lot more cutting and bondoing. I also dislike the molded-in wipers, I sanded them off and replaced them KFS wipers. I also found the steps into the cab to be a PITA, but manageable.

All in all I am happy with it and am sure they will look nice pulling a covered wagon.

Here are a few shots of the WIP

public.fotki.com/studioman3/freightliner/freightliner-011.html
public.fotki.com/studioman3/freightliner/freightliner-009.html
public.fotki.com/studioman3/freightliner/freightliner-013.html
public.fotki.com/studioman3/freightliner/freightliner-019.html
public.fotki.com/studioman3/freightliner/freightliner-021.html
public.fotki.com/studioman3/freightliner/freightliner-025.html
public.fotki.com/studioman3/freightliner/freightliner-030.html
public.fotki.com/studioman3/freightliner/freightliner-031.html
public.fotki.com/studioman3/freightliner/freightliner-1001.html

Hope you like it, hope this is helpful,

Tim

[Deleted]

Looks really nice! Thanks for the review. I might just have to pick one up myself, thought I'm not a big COE guy I realize how "important" this truck is. There were a bunch of them out there on the roads. Just about every fleet ran Freightliner DD or SD.

With Harold's P/E set if would look really nice.

(Did you forget the photo trick I told you about?)

[studioman3]

Jim,

I did the trick, but nothing showed up at all, I tried everything I could think of but it wouldn't work. Thought maybe they changed it or something [ img ] link [ /img ] only no spaces, don't know what happened

[Deleted]

Hmm, that should have worked. I wonde if it's because it's an html file (Web page), and not a Jpeg (photo).

[studioman3]

It's always worked before for me

[Deleted]

Thats why I like Photobucket. It gives you the drop bar to pick the proper link to send pictures.

[studioman3]

You know, I followed the photo-posting tutorial, and even though I like photobucket better, I some how got it in my mind the it said I HAD to use Fotki, so I did, it never even sunk in when all the screen shots looked different in the tutorial than on my screen. All I can say now is............ DUH!!!!

Sorry guys

[41chevy]

Nice review and build up. Remember one thing though, the SD and DD kits are pushing 40 years old along with the I.H.s and the Pete 359. A lot of technology and demand for detail has come up and the builders are no longer teens who were happy to have a kit that looked like the real thing. Still your build and review are good. Paul

[crackerboxkid]

Nice review! I agree with you as far as the kit's shortcomings are concerned. (I rattled on 'n about them in another thread) Obviously the worst problem is that @#$#@ 2 two piece roof. It's always frustrated the heck out of me that while every other COE kit ever produced featured one piece cabs, the one I'd most anticipated (I LOVE Freightliners) had that dang roof seam to fill! My other gripe was the unrealistic thickness of the plastic surrounding the windshield(s). The same problem plagued the old Pete kits too. The "glass" sits a scale three inches back from the rubber weather stripping, creating a tunnel affect that just never looked right. The engineering of most modern kits allows for more flush fit glass, but like 41 Chevy said, we're talking about a 40 year old kit here! There are issues with the configuration of the steps too, but the nice thing about Frieghliners is that you can build yours pretty much any way you wish, as you could spec out the real Freightliners in a million different ways; one or two vertical bars on the grills, aluminum steps verses two little "stirrups" for climbing up into the cab, rounded wheel well openings or flatter ones with rounded corners, frame-mounted stacks and air breathers or an air inlet thru the emblem above the grill (like in the kit), more cab length options than any other manufactuer, etc, etc, etc... You basically can't go wrong no matter what you do!

[crackerboxkid]

Hey guys... I just ordered the photoetch detailing set for AMT's White Freightliner from the folks at Model Trucks and Parts (www.modelltrucksandparts.com) It appears to include some very nice features, and will go a long ways towards making those old kits far more realistic and accurate... like actual see-through grills, vent window hardware, and many other items. When it arrives, I'll try'n post some pics....

[crackerboxkid]

In reponse to my own post, I'm afraid I may have gotten the ol' shaft job from the "fine" folks at Model Trucks and Parts. I ordered that photoetch set back in early December, and it never showed up. In addition, those guys quit responding to my e-mails too... Hope they enjoyed my $55 American dollars over in Austria. I know I won't be doing any positve PR for them...

[pete309]

Jan 31, 2011 22:52:27 GMT -5 crackerboxkid said:

In reponse to my own post, I'm afraid I may have gotten the ol' shaft job from the "fine" folks at Model Trucks and Parts. I ordered that photoetch set back in early December, and it never showed up. In addition, those guys quit responding to my e-mails too... Hope they enjoyed my $55 American dollars over in Austria. I know I won't be doing any positve PR for them...

I got one from them,but it took along time to get to me,hang in there you get it soon.

[cutter]

Hey Tim, that was a sweet look Freightshaker, I like the paint job,sweet.

[mike cole]

the cab was a daycab first, then amt made it into the sleeper cab later. thats why the cab is in three parts.

[tony]

I built this kit back in 76 I was only 12 back then,it turned out ok but now I have bought 2 new editions and I will be doing one as it is on the box art.
I really like your build and thanks for the tip of the staples I will have to use that one and thanks for the write up as well.

Regards Tony.