Joris

Somewhere I picked up the Italeri LAFD Heavy Wrecker kit. I wasn't too hyped about it, because I have seen pics of the real truck and it's not a WS but a Pete. Anyway, the kit was dirt cheap so I decided to get it. I (still) have tons of Italeri Peterbilt kits in stock, and started with the assembly of a 377 model. I built a daycab panel from styrene, and used tanks from a Revell of Germany kit (slightly cut down); no battery box, they can also fit under the passenger seat, right? The wrecker body (I think it's called a Bro) I assembled and painted next. Also I scratchbuilt a tool cabinet. When I did the final assembly, I found out the Italerians designed this kit with two separate frames; one for the truck and one for the wrecker body. If you don't adapt either, the body will sit too high, as you can see in one of the pics. Nice… I cut out the frame from the wrecker body to make it sit better. This also meant I had to adjust the tool cabinet. The final result from this operation is that the white stripe over the side looks a little bit misaligned...

Over the years I have accumulated many leftover parts, aftermarket parts and what not; most of them Peterbilt parts. I figured there might be a complete truck hiding in them all, and set out to see how far I got. I had a 378 hood already converted to a 379-119, Peterbilt cab and sleeper parts, so the make and model were easily determined. The one thing I didn't have, however, was a spare engine. KFS sorted that problem with their CAT 3406 kit; sadly discontinued as well. Somewhere in the pars I found a second drive shaft that was a little longer and sturdier that a normal one, so I figured a "Canadian Spread" would be nice. Also a flattop, since I had the 63" sleeper flat roof part lying around. For the Canadian look, I ordered Cooney decals from (yes, again) www.modeltruckin.com. I'm very happy with their products! I had a little help from some Canadian friends in them sending over reference pics of Cooney Peterbilts. All in all I'm pretty happy with the result; in my Big Move 3 years ago I lost a mudflap however, I still need to cut a new one… And make some outside pics.

Hi all, just a some words to introduce myself here. Born in The Netherlands, but emigrated to Switzerland. I started building trucks in '04 or '05 or so, having a job then that gave me lots of free time because of the irregular hours. Although the job changed (as well as the country I live in, the girlfriend and the amount of time off), the truck building stayed. It's for me a nice way to relax and be creative. I don't build every moment I have time, but I try to keep on tinkering. My main interest is in Peterbilt trucks, although other American brands I like as well. Eurotrucks I don't care that much for, but sometimes I build one. Over the years I developed a preference for building the kits not box-stock. I mostly prefer to alter kits and do my own ideas. Also a reason why I prefer American trucks, I have the feeling that they're easier and nicer with some custom parts. Any questions about me, feel free to ask!

This Peterbitl 379-127 I made in the last months for a Facebook Build-Off. Casey here asked me to do a blog about the building of this truck, you can find it on this site. The truck I'm calling done. P&P 379-127 parts (note the newer style mirrors and window sills, and therefore it has a newer style dash to match) and I think the big toolbox on the rear I got from P&P as well. Frame stretch, to manage a lift axle. Big Cat C15 under the hood. The C15 and lift axle are products by moluminum.com. Front and rear bumper are scratch built, the rear fenders are modified Revell of Germany items.

Thanks! It's a completely different kit than the RoG 359, that's for sure. Neither are 100% perfect, but with some effort and determination you can go far with them.

The AMT 359 and dumper trailer. I adapted the tractor a little, Revell of Germany fenders on it. I built a tool cabinet to go on the frame and beacons on the roof. for the rest pretty much box-stock.

Thank you! This one has never been modified or rebuilt since I put it together. For the moment I'm keeping it like this anyway!

Just another Peterbilt in my early building years. Not really an idea, just building it. The striping I did myself. For the rest, nothing fancy; I do think there's this 70-ies look about it. A "Catercummins" under the hood...

This Italeri Pete I built with a twist; single stack on a rack behind the cab, fairings between the cab and sleeper, spotter mirrors on the fenders. 2-Hole wheels from KFS, just something slightly different. The standard Detroit 60 Series under the hood.

Thanks! It's an older one, but it was fun to do this. And you're right, the 377 seems like the ugly ducking, not just in real life but also in modelling. Too bad, I really like them.

Exactly!

A great source for inspiration is the site truckpaper.com. Some years back I found this Peterbilt 378 listed there. I started out building along these lines, although mine became a Peterbilt 379-119. Scratchbuilt headache rack, battery box, daycab panel and rear fenders. Tanks from a Revell of Germany Peterbilt 359, robbed some other parts from other kits here and there. The frame used came from a kit I bought on Ebay, already partly assembled and warped as, well, you know. Tried to correct it, but it still shows. The cab panels are still the original from the kit, but I put in a '05 and up dash from P&P Vintage kits, thus making it an '05 model. Made outside pics of this truck here recently.

The first "Swiss built" truck, a Peterbilt 377 from Italeri with some minor alterations. The first kit I built after moving over here, just to see if I still could...

Thank you! Indeed, it's a good combo.