Post by studioman3 on Apr 3, 2010 7:21:15 GMT -5
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
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