Mack

AMT Mack R600 modified to a sleeper cab tractor based on a photo seen on www.hankstruckpictures.com. I stretched the Mack's frame to accomodate the sleeper. The rear window of the cab was enlarged to accept the molded front of the sleeper. The sleeper is from American Industrial Truck Models #SB-4 36" Able Body. The 2 hole wheels are also from AITM. The Mack kit is lends itself nicely to making a fleet tractor. I also bobbed the bumper and added dual exhaust. The kit comes with two bumpers, an unpainted and a chromed bumper. Two styles of roof lights are also included. Thanks go to Stevens International and AITM! 5/25/08

The Mack Cruiseliner COE, one of the last new truck kits AMT produced in the 70s is making a return in April of 2008 thanks to Stevens International. The reissue of the Cruiseliner will be a welcomed kit! Stevens sent me a "test shot" to build for review. My kit did not have any chrome, but I happen to have an original issue kit that I was able to use the chrome from. I modified my Cruiseliner with a longer wheelbase, tool cabinets and a headache rack. Everything else is out of the box. The kit builds nicely, with only a fit-issue of the cab mounts (see photo) and the bumper placement (see bumper photo). My Cruiseliner sports logos from a long-defunct carrier, inspired by a photo of a White Road Commander II COE. January 2008.


The chassis is an AMT GMC Astro/95 with some "Mack like" modifications.	The G cab started as a glue-bomb AMT Kenworth K123. I made the cab in mid 2006 if I remember. I didn't date this one, and normally I do.	Wheels and tires are from the old RNK Conversions. Model #3 for 2007 1/20/2007	My Mack G and R in Neuendorf Transportation livery.	Neuendorf was based out of Madison, Wisconsin and I saw them all the time growing up.

I wanted to build something unique, something I hadn't built before. I've had this resin cast cab from Griffen Designs for well over a year. It was just begging to be built. My donor kit is the AMT GMC Astro95 cabover.

Krylon International Red was used as the cab color.

Since the resin cab is 1/24th scale, I widened the front axle at the ends for the wider track, same for the rear axles.

I kept the wheelbase stock, only moving the 5th wheel rearward to account for the longer BBC and 1/24th scale cab.

The inspiration truck spotted in St.Ignace, Michigan in 2005.

The molded on grille is cast fairly cleanly. I masked off the grille area after priming so that the paint didn't build up on detail.

I covered the entire grille with Bare Metal Foil, then painted the black background.

JBOT Mack decals from a truck stripe decal sheet.

The wipers are a bit too large. I misplaced my Bulldog! I suspect the vacuum might have it.

I added dash detail items.

The grab handle is Evergreen flat stock bent to shape and painted with Duplicolor Bumper Chrome (poor man's Alclad!)

Nifty curved tip exhaust is actually a Revell snap-kit Peterbilt 359 muffler turned upside down.

To simulate Mack battery boxes I used the kit boxes, mounted on square tube, I added the front detail and latch, plus an air tank under each with a step.

I made a lame attempt at a Lund-style visor out of strips of Evergreen plastic.

I'm not pleased with my windshield corner contour. After several attempts to curve the clear plastic, and getting sharp angle results instead of the graceful curve, I gave up before frustration set in.

I started this truck with the idea of building a weathered, well worked Ultraliner. I added fuel stains to the fuel tanks, bug splatters and chips to the front. The bumper (from a Cruisliner kit?) was resprayed with BumperChrome and a light mist of flat black to simulate bugs and dirt. Mud was added to the steps.

The cab does not tilt, but with a bit of work the kit hinges would work.

The Ultraliner's rear cab mounts are under the sleeper, almost in a daycab location. Mine are simple sections of square tube and flat plastic.

The Big Mack DM800 is straight out of the box. This is the Model King reissue built as a companion to the upcoming Model King reissue of the Ford F150 pickup. The pick-up is a tire-company service truck. I built the pick-up right out of the box with Bare Metal Foil for the grille, body side moulding, window trim and fender trim. The Mack and Ford will appear as one of several trucks on the upcoming boxart for the Model King reissue. Thanks Dave! 1/2006

Here's an early 70's Mack DM600 dump truck. Based on a real truck seen in Madison, Wisconsin in the 70's owned by Wingra Stone Company.

I used an original MPC DM600 kit, and 2 dump boxes from an AMT Ford Snow Plow kit to make a longer dump box. I added a lift axle (Yes! I know the lift axle tire is crooked, I bumped it when taking the photos and didn't notice until adding the pics to this page!). I reworked the Mack suspension for a shorter rear axle spread. The exhaust was reworked to clear the dump box.

1965's Mack C615 "Michigan Special" with 5 axle Fruehauf tanker. Stang Tank Lines hauled oils and fuels in Upper Michigan and Wisconsin using Mack and Hendrickson fleet. This model was featured in Model Cars Magazine in 2002.

Mack R600. Clairmont Transfer, Escanaba, Michigan ran Mack's and Fords over the years. This is a fairly stock AMT kit, shortened wheelbase, and hand-drawn Clairmont logos.

Mack R600. Neuendorf Trucking from Madison, Wisconsin ran Mack's Basic AMT kit with a rooftop deflector added, bobbed bumper, and ram-air aircleaner snorkle.

Mack U600. Wearing Glendenning Motorways logos, the DM600 kit converts to a U600 easily with a lighter suspension.

This Fruehuaf tanker was in the box too, unpainted, Gulf decals and filthy. I made it into an asphalt tanker to go with my Stang Mack R600 since Stang ran more asphalt tankers than 5 compartment fuel tankers.

Here's a stock AMT Fruehauf tanker for comparison.

Stang Michigan Tank Lines ran orange Mack B's and R's in the 60's and 70's, hauling fuel, and tar products in Wisconsin and Upper Michigan.

Payne and Dolan Mack 608.jpg (126350 bytes)

Mack Payne and Dolan 608.jpg (128619 bytes)

1960s Mack F700. Based on a Mack used by a regional road paving company. This is an MTFAco resin conversion on a scratchbuilt chassis. A Clint Freeman Components cab guard is behind the cab. This truck won "Best Rust Bucket" at a show in Marquette, Michigan in '00.

Mack N COE. Yes. This is a Mack. It might look like a Ford, but it is a Mack. Budd Corp sold the cabs to both companies in the 50's. Mack had different trim, and it's own chassis. MiddleAtlantic Trucking Co logos are from the old IMC Dodge kit.

Root Beer Mack. After I painted this truck, Root Beer came to mind, a big frosty mug of A&W root beer. I found the A&W logos on the Microscale decal catalog for HO trains. The cab is an original AIM casting from the 70's. RNK wheels added. I used over half a sheet of Bare Metal Foil for all the polish.

Mack B67. The resin cab is from Spaulding Trading and Shipping. The chassis is an R600. Lots of dirt and weathering on this ol' dog.