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Cornbinder

1969 Peterbilt 359

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The California Hauler was the first full-detail 1:25 scale kit of a Peterbilt... so I guess it's fitting that the first Peterbilt model I've ever built (or is it bilt?) is a reissue of that kit.

I took a few liberties with mine. The cab visor is a later model meant for an 1100 Series cab, but it fits the Unilite well enough. I stretched the hood, and swapped in a Cummins engine. IIRC the "long" hood was only available with the Detroit V12 on the early 359- back then you couldn't just order the long hood. If you wanted the long hood you ordered the big engine and that was that. The kit's front fenders looked a little dainty, so I went with modified front fenders taken from a Revell 359 snap kit. I also set aside the kit's short, skinny Firestone tires and went with some girthier-looking Goodyears. 

Though it's a "California Hauler", the kit includes Michigan plates and registration stickers, which was nice for me, living in Michigan and all. 

In hindsight, I wish I hadn't gone with a brown interior. It's factory correct, but I'm just not fond of how it looks. And if I did it all over again, I'd paint the visor to match the cab rather than foil it. I may add some door graphics later on, but so far, I'm as pleased as I can realistically be with my first Pete. I know exactly what I'll do differently on the next one, that's for sure. 

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