Kenworth Aerodyne

Hi guys with much help from DeeCee I've finally managed to get a couple of pictures up.


This is a model that was never going to be. I was given this cab from a mate as I wanted to make an extended cab by cutting a chunk out of this one and splicing it into my cab. This one was a practice one in re-joining the back wall and replacing the rivet detail. Once it was done I liked the look of it too much not to use it. Inspiration for the colour scheme was found on the HCVC site where there is a pic of one of these in these colours (albeit with the full cab).I replaced the kit V8 with a straight 6 from an Italeri kit and painted it to look like a 400 Cummins. The chassis was shortened to a looks right length keeping the kit suspension. The exhaust gantry and air intakes are home made, Auslowe tank brackets and ends, Auslowe bulbar and stone deflector. I think the rh dash may be a very old C&P autos one. The cab interior was cut to rhd and lined with Auslowe diamond pattern material. The rims and tyres come from the Kenworth Blue Circle T900 kit with grab handles and steps cut down to suit. KFS exhausts and photo etch wipers were used along with Auslowe/KFS pin striping. All the Comet decals were custom printed by a South Oz company (can't remember the name). Paints are standard Humbrol colours  and Humbrol clear coat.

Thats cool!! I'm not a truck guy, have no idea about them, but i've recently built one of these for a mate, so i can see how much work you have put into the cab mods, and they turned out great, and all the add-on bits and details, top job!   

That is one of the best Comet truck models I've ever seen and the fact that you've cut it down into a 76" version only makes it 110 times better. Any more photos of the rear, LH side, etc??
Excellent job.

Great lookin Kenworth  

That is one very cool Kenworth,great job on it.

 

Thanks for the kind comments guys. Here are a few more  photos. I don't have any of the construction process for this one.

The cab I was given didn't have the front left hand corner piece where the kenworth badge is so I scratch built that bit. Took a couple of goes and isn't 100% right but standing back squinting helps!



The air cleaner barrels come from the Australian Western Star, the black flex elbows from the Italeri "Superliner" with everything else scratch built. The exhausts are from KFS.

I usually don't put too much plumbing on, just enough to make it look busy. I'll use white metal valves etc if I can source them, if not I just use shaped plastic.

The aerial mounts on the side of the cab are mounts for boiler handrail for HO scale trains.

There's no particular reason for the ACT numbers plates other than I had plenty of blank ones. I will have to learn how to do washes to give the grill a bit more depth but the thought of stuffing up an Alcad finish puts me off. Is there a thread anywhere on this sort of thing? Same goes for getting the red onto the KW badge.


Thanks for looking and your interest guys- it goes a long way to keeping me building.

That's torn it, you went and put yanky flags on the aircleaners, should be aussie ones..lol.. It's a brilliant piece of work, I love it.

Forgot to ask, do you put a clear over your Alclad?

Thanks for more photos of this very cool Kenworth.

The yank flags are there to cover marks in the air cleaners that I didn't notice til they were on. I already had the decals from the printer so these were about the only matching pair I had! No.I haven't put clear over Alcad but have a spare grill that I'm going to fiddle with. Any suggestions or am I the woodduck here? Will let you know how it goes with Humbrol clear.
 No worries Allan, I like how the 8 wheeler is coming along.

humbrol clear will go yellow with age i would try tamiya instead

I agree, Humbrol goes yellow. Only times I use to use Hombrol was it's semi-gloss clear for the vinyl/leather look on the seats, door trims, dash, etc. I've now swithched to a 50/50 mix of Revell gloss and matt clear for that job.

I have a feeling there is an Alclad clear out there specially for the Alclad chromes, but not sure and I haven't been game to try anything else.

I mostly use clear nail polish over my paint work, but not sure how it or the Tamiya clear would go over Alclad. Might pluck up the balls one day to try the Revell gloss clear over it as it stays clear and doesn't yellow.

With a wife and daughter here clear nail polish should be within reach. What do you thin it with? Can't get Revell paint where I am but will look for the Tamiya. Have some Auto One Acrylic clear in a litre can but haven't tried it. Might be time to find an old bonnet and try - What could possibly go wrong?

My problem is I have to keep my nail polish under lock and key otherwise the mrs will nick it..lol., so you might have a wee battle on your hands there. I thin it with normal general purpose auto thinners, actually I thin everything with GP including Tamiya paints. I use to use auto acrylic clear to topcoat a model, but found with the nail polish being an enamel breed of paint, it goes on alot easier and there's not as much if any rubbing back as what you have to do with the acrylic. But as they all say, practice on a scrap piece first.

Also, one other very important rule to remember with all paints especially auto paints, Enamel will go over Acrylic, but Acrylic WILL NOT go over Enamel, it cracks and ends up looking like that 49 Merc ute I have in The Showroom threads. You can only put an enamel based paint over enamel paint.

This is a top class build , looks so right , lots of great detail . A friend of mine tried a test of Tamiya clear over Alclad and it just chewed up the Alclad.

 Very nice job   

Thanks for the heads up Silverfox, will cross that combination off the list before we begin. Thanks Blatdriver.

Extremely neat and tidy! Great job!

great looking model   

Thanks for your comments guys.

Great detail, giving me inspiration to finish the Peterbuilt I started many years ago.

Sweet build there Tim.