Peterbilt 362 and 372

1984 Peterbilt 362 daycab lowboy tractor. I started this in 2004 when I received the resin cab from Griffen Designs. I modified the cab for the RH recessed exhaust then painted it. I put it back in the box. There is sat for nearly 4 years until a "cabin fever" weekend in late March '08 was the perfect setting for model building.

I started working on the 362, constructing the interior, modifying the AMT 359 frame and engine for a COE set-up. When I originally planned the 362 I had purchased wheels tool boxes and a cab guard from RNK (now available from AITM). I swapped in fuel tanks and muffler from an Italeri Peterbilt 377. The rear tires are larger AMT Goodyears. The Michigan Tractor decals are ink-jet copies of the original issue of the AMT Cat dozer kit. JBOT made the Peterbilt nameplate logos.

The Oversize Load banner was found on Google, then printed to size on paper and crinkled to look like a vinyl banner. I weathered the truck with a wash of acrylic beige and grey for a dirty/dusty but not abused look.

3/29/08

Thanks to Hector for the line drawing.

A real 320, this one an '06 with the older exhaust and air cleaner set up.

2008 Peterbilt 320 Low Cab Forward COE. The cab, fenders, bumper and back of cab components were scratchbuilt. The frame and drivetrain is from an Italeri Peterbilt 377 A/E kit. I cut the frame and removed 1 inch from the wheelbase then added the 1 inch to the rear of the frame. The front wheels and tires are from Kit Form Services. The grille mesh is from Plano Model Products. The headlamps are cut from the Revell of Germany Peterbilt 353 kit. Bare Metal Foil was used on the AMT Peterbilt 352 fuel tank, and cab trim. Color is Duplicolor Bright White and black. With my building this 320, that leaves the 330 and the import cabbed PB's yet to grace my shelves.

My cab is slightly too tall, if I build another 320 the mid section of the cab will be reduced about a quarter of an inch.

An '06 320 tandem steer destined to be a concrete pump.

3/16/08

3/20/08 update. I scratchbuilt a flatbed body for the 320. The mudflap logos are from www.whitefangmodel.com

Using some tips from Klaus Clever I added some dip stick and mirror wire detail. The dipsticks are made from Plastruct plastic coated wire with bits of plastic on the ends. The tiewraps are drawn on with a sharpie marker.

The mirror wiring is thin copper wire painted black.

I think I've bit off more than I can chew on this one! I started it as a "gee, I wonder If I can build this thing" project on 12/18/04.

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Basic paint added on 12/22/04. RNK Conversions wheels and tires on order. Loosely based on trucks owned by BJ Services, Schlumberger and seen on www.hydrarig.com

Changes! Progress! BJ Services Company sent me additional photos and line drawings so I've ripped the 1st version apart and modified things.

More Progress! 2/19/05

Here I have the tank body mounted, as well as the rear mounted engine, aux fuel tank, fenders, fuel tanks, drier equipment and Cummins engine. Since the real truck is a fairly new unit and I'm using an old Cummins, the cab will not tilt on this one. The third photo shows the truck nearly completed, lights, nameplates and other items still to be installed.

While the truck isn't prototypically correct (the pump and drier are not right), it sure looks good on the shelf! This is one of those projects that was enjoyable to do. 3/21/2005

This 362 SBFA COE was inspired by several oil field wireline trucks owned by Schlumberger, Western Atlas and Halliburton. Mine is built using a resin 362 90" BBC cab cut down to a 76" BBC and SBFA. The chassis and running gear is from an AMT Paystar dump truck and modified to resembled a Peterbilt frame. The wireline body is made from a large sheet of styrene plastic. The plastic was a Wendy's restaurant breakfast muffin sign!

Peterbilt 362-110. Dressed in Mayflower Van Lines colors, my Peterbilt 362 is the 1st cab from the resin mold from Griffen Designs. Sitting on a stretched AMT 359 chassis, it has Italeri Pete wheels and fuel tanks, and RNK Conversions cab guard out back, full fenders from Griffen Designs, and a real wood deck plate.

Peterbilt 372. Here's a unique Peterbilt design. I made mine from sheets of styrene stock, bent to shape. The chassis is a stock AMT 359 chassis. A Clint Freeman Componants cabguard is tucked behind the cab. My roof shape isn't quite right, someday I'll build another.

The 362 is a Griffen Designs conversion kit of the 90" sleeper cab cut down to a 76" small-sleeper cab with recessed exhaust cut outs. The chassis is the AMT Peterbilt 359 kit, shortened. The fuel tanks are Revell 359 tanks with the seams sanded smooth and covered in chrome foil. The yellow/green and white 362 is the Griffen Designs 110" double-sleeper cab also sitting on a modified AMT Pete 359 chassis. Bare Metal Foil was used on both trucks bumpers, visors, door trim, handles and other brightwork.

I'm a bit disappointed, the decals on the doors were old Ertl decals and when they dried they "silvered" and looked terrible. I have removed them and reshot some of the images. Some pics have the logo, some don't. It's amazing how one thing can REALLY annoy me!