Andy T's Italeri 1/24 "Australian Truck"

[Ian M]

I found that drain cleaner is good at hard chrome..

[Andy T]

Thanks Ian, I saw you mention that elsewhere but haven't picked any up yet.

[Andy T]

I found some Mr Muscle oven cleaner under the sink. After submitting the relevant permission forms I was allowed to borrow it, and it has kinda worked.

9 hours and many repeat applications and it's starting to strip the chrome. I'm beginning to wish I hadn't bothered and just smothered any ugly seam lines in mud afterwards! :smiling5:

[Lee Drennen]

Andy might want to just cut those pins off where they mount and you may have to move the axle forward a bit I know on a bunch of AMT and ERTL kits I’ve done this to make it look right. Maybe this is a good time to put the hood on to center up your axle then take it off and proceed. You may have to do the same when mounting your cab bracelets too. The truck kits are not good at telling you there dirty little secrets.

[Lee Drennen]

strip the chrome

I’ve always use ammonia to strip it works very well takes little time it doesn’t damage the plastic

[Lee Drennen]

Andy this guy is really good at explaining these truck kits hope this helps I would definitely move that front axle forward a bit and add some shims to build the front end up a little so it doesn’t has that “ squatty look“ in the front like most of these Models do.

[Andy T]

Thanks for all the info Lee, looks like I should have done more test fitting but I've been spoiled by kits that just fit.

I'll watch the video later and fingers crossed it isn't too late.

[Lee Drennen]

Thanks for all the info Lee, looks like I should have done more test fitting but I've been spoiled by kits that just fit.

I'll watch the video later and fingers crossed it isn't too late.

Your welcome I think you will be ok the problem for me I’ve built these Truck kits for over 40 years and then went to the shake the box and it’s built kits lol.

[outrunner]

Good advice Lee, I have built a few conventionals and I always fit the bonnet before finally fixing the cab on.

Andy.

[Andy T]

Andy this guy is really good at explaining these truck kits hope this helps I would definitely move that front axle forward a bit and add some shims to build the front end up a little so it doesn’t has that “ squatty look“ in the front like most of these Models do.

I had a mild panic attack after watching the early part of that video as he's put his air tanks in a completely different place than I have!

I went back through the instructions and my placement looks right, and subsequent steps show them in the same place so fingers crossed it's down to his being a slightly different version.

Will be following your advice and putting some of the body parts together to check alignment now though. Especially since even the box art is cocking one leg :smiling5:

Today I also received the George Dent book that Mickc1440 suggest so will be giving that a good thumb through.

[Lee Drennen]

I know you have the bigger sleeper version of the one I sent you but I still think the front end is still the same I got these pics for you as reference only so you can see how it sits low in the front and the wheels are to far back as well as they hang out side of the fenders instead of being tucked underneath the fenders instead hope this helps. I’ll be glad to help you in anyway if I can as a 4th generation trucker and built many of these models I hope you can trust me lol.

[Lee Drennen]

One more thing to note is that Australian trucks are built much heavier that American trucks like there Transmission, Rear Ends and Differentials because of the extreme heat there front ends are beefed up to because of the torture they go through on the roads down there which most are not asphalt or concrete and the amount of weight on the front end like the kangaroo catcher and the extreme big engines

[Mini Me]

And I'll add that they are allowed to haul 30 to 50 percent larger loads than we do here in the States......Talk about a rubber tired freight train! :tongue-out3:

[Lee Drennen]

And I'll add that they are allowed to haul 30 to 50 percent larger loads than we do here in the States......Talk about a rubber tired freight

And I'll add that they are allowed to haul 30 to 50 percent larger loads than we do here in the States......Talk about a rubber tired freight train! :tongue-out3:

Rick I think they already covered that in earlier post

[Andy T]

I see what you mean about the front axle Lee. Definitely something I'll check before going much further. Thanks.