Peterbilt conventionals '87 and up

PB 367 HeavyHaul SBFA oilpatch rig-up truck - I started the hood in late '08, then started the frame and body in late December. The kit frame rails were too lightweight and short for the configuration. I used Evergreen strip #383 to simulate a 13" rail. The crossmembers were scratchbuilt. (the kit crossmembers and rails will be used on another truck). Since the frame rails will only be visible from the sides, I didn't worry about the lack of flanges (to make a "C" channel) rail. The crossmembers had to be scratchbuilt due to the solid rail (otherwise the frame would be too wide). The rear suspension will be a tandem drive with a lift axle. Kit Form Services wheels all around, Plaskit resin suspension for the lift axle. (modified Neway). The rig-up body is fabricated from Evergreen sheet stock. The gin poles are Plastruct round tube. Started 12/21/2008

The inspiration - photos from Peterbilt of Wyoming's Truckpaper.com listing and a fabricator listing(c2008)

I obtained the photo of this interesting red, black and yellow 377 in 2003. This unique configuration intrigued me enough to assign an Italeri 377A/E kit for a future build. 5 years later I decided it was time to build it. I lengthened the frame 1.5 inches, scratcbuilt the drom box, fabricated an Able style 48" sleeper using the Revell of Germany 359 sleeper roof, the doors were cut from the kit sleeper and grafted into the new side panels. The red is Krylon International Red and Duplicolor Black. The headache rack was made from Plastruct diamond tread sheet and Evergreen square rod. The fenders are Platruct car siding. Decals are combinations of decal sheets from several kits and from Kit Form Services North American decal sheet. The mudflaps are from the KFS sheet. I coated the body with a layer of weathering chalks to dull the paint a bit. I took artistic liberties with several features, including the graphics and headache rack. The darned hood doesn't want to close tightly on the left side.

The Peterbilt 376 was built from 1988 until 1991 as a light class 8 tractor or truck. The truck was targeted at the city delivery market. Basically a single drive 375, the 376 was a plain-Jane truck. About as bare-bones of a Peterbilt as you could have ordered. My 376 started as the Italeri 377 kit that I had robbed many parts from to use on other model builds. The frame rails are made from Evergreen #391 .125x.375" strips. The cab backwall was cut from sheet plastic with the back window cut out. The 377 hood was cut from 120" BBC down to 114" BBC. The fuel tank was sourced from the parts box and covered with Bare Metal Foil. The wheels are resin items from Kit Form Services. I made the initial hood modifications in December of 2006 and then put the kit back into the stack of kits. I started back on the 376 and finished it in December 2008.

Many of my Peterbilt conventionals start as the Italeri 377 kit. With scratchbuilt hoods, resin hoods and other modifications, many other Peterbilt models can be built. The photo below shows just a few trucks built from the 377 kit. 385 daycab, 377 glider, 377, 378 SBFA at factory, 378SBFA 48" sleeper, 357 HH tri-drive, 357-123 and 377 SFFA with 1pc windshield.

With the new for 2007 Peterbilt models the older Italeri and Revell kits are getting "old" as the kits represent 1996 trucks. I challenged myself to see if I could make the Revell of Germany PB 377A/E into a 2008 year truck. I scratchbuilt the hood for the new 115" BBC 365. The fenders are from a damaged 378 kit hood. The grille shell is scratchbuilt with brass mesh and the upright bars from the 377 kit. The headlights are resin from Spaulding Trading and Shipping. The bumper is scratchbuilt. I modified the 377 SBFA springs for the forward axle, then lengthened the frame rails for a straight truck rail. The fuel tank is from an AMT Peterbilt 352. I made the diesel particulate filter (DPF) from Evergreen tube. The exhaust stand pipe is also Evergreen tube cut to shape (ice cream scoop?) and tapered at the bottom to mimic the diffuser and then covered with Bare Metal Foil. I modified the kit 377 cab sawing off the molded on fenders, reworking the windows and doors for the modern cab look. The backwall was made from sheet plastic creating a daycab. I scratchbuilt the battery box cover using Don Mills treadplate as the 377 kit has no usable cover. Front wheels and tires are Supersingle steer items from Kit Form Services. The rear wheels are the kit items with the holes filled in and new holes drilled to simulate 2 holes. I had a terrible time mounting the right mirror as the glue set too quickly and I ended up damaging the paint, so I left the mirror too high in order to avoid further damage. June 20, 2007

My inspiration for this truck comes from the photo below.. as seen in September 2005.

This is a 2006 Peterbilt 378 with "Canadian Spread" rear suspension and a self-steering lift axle. I took "artistic liberties" with mine on several issues.

I started with the Italeri Peterbilt 378. The cab was converted to a daycab and modified for the later year doors and mirrors.

I moved the fuel tanks forward, cutting the left tank down slightly. A COE battery box was used for the spacesaver box.

I spread the axles a scale 72 inches but it does look too wide. The self-steer lift axle is a front steer axle on parts combo of air ride springs and brackets.

Cab on the frame, note the "Detroitopillar" powerplant. Since the Detroit Diesel from the kit would be inaccurate for the year, I chose to go with the lesser of 2 evils and paint the engine yellow.

The air cleaners are from a Revell of Germany 359 as are the fuel tank steps. The exhaust stand pipes and the 10 hole wheels are from an Italeri Western Star Constellation.

Finished except the front axle hub covers are missing.

Finished with the hub covers.

I made the mudflap brackets from Evergreen stock. The logos on the flaps are from Yves at White Fang Enterprises.

The real truck with wide spread suspension, self-steer lift axle, forward fuel tanks and round-hole wheels.

My version. I need to take a photo from a great distance as I did of the real truck (from about 150 feet away) to get th photo to look closer to the real photo.

4/8/2007

378 and 379-119. Both from the same kit with subtle changes.

The square air horns are from an Italeri Western Star. The roof marker lights are from the Italeri Peterbilt 377.

I omitted the hood, bumper and grille, creating an 'almost finished' look.

To simulate the protective covers on the fuel tanks and the drivers door, I used automotive vinyl, keeping the protective paper coating on, then applying the vinyl to the tanks, creating ripples and sags, then painted it to simulate the blue cover.

I cut the doors from the cab and added interior details. The seats, doors and mattress and wrapped in Saran Wrap.

This would look really good with complete chassis and firewall plumbing and wiring.

I started with an Italeri 377 kit. I removed the molded on fenders and added fender sections from an AMT 359 for a 378 SBFA appearance.

The model represents a late 90's truck on the factory assembly line right after the cab and sleeper were set.

4/1/2007

The chassis warning labels, interior build sheets and other logos are all photo reduced from the real items. The factory build label in the right windshield has the VIN for a 357 HeavyHaul for a well drilling company.

The above three photos show the model in position on the assembly line. Okay, it is beside the line. 10/18/2008

2005 Peterbilt 378 tractor based on the truck used to pull the tire trailer to the Denton factory. My version of the tire truck is mated to the tire trailer I built in March of 2006. I started with a built-up Italeri 378 that I bought on eBay. I stripped the paint, shortened the wheelbase, swapped in a 377 cab for the underhood aircleaner, modified the cab sides eliminating the 377 fenders, modified the cab doors for the 2005 style. Fuel tanks are from a Revell of Germany Peterbilt 359. I filled in the bumper fog lamps. The color is Duplicolor Dark Blue Metallic.


	Thanks John for the detail photos!
The purple and silver 378 on the left is how my 378 started. I bought it on eBay from Jaret Johnson who built it in the mid 90s. I have the silver 377 and it is still being worked on (as of 3/3/07) and was supposed to be #7 for '07.	The real tire truck and Jim on the left with my 1/24th scale version on the right.	This is build #8 for 2007. March 3, 2007

I started this in mid August of 2006 and quickly ran out of steam. I started back at it and I tell you, this truck fought me every step of the way. Everything from paint problems to having a front windshield panel popping out AFTER the cab and sleeper were mated together. If it could go wrong with a model while building, it did. The more I tried, the more it resisted. It tasked me.

My picker is built from parts from an Revell 377, Revell snap 359, Ertl Paystar, Revell Can-Do wrecker, AMT Pete 359, Revell Pete Alaska 353 and other kits along with resin.

Thanks to Merle at Stahl Peterbilt in Edmonton for the reference photos. www.stahlpeterbilt.com

NEW HOODS

Picker - old hood

Picker - new hood

I built the blue Peterbilt 378 SBFA Michigan Logger back in 2004. The white tandem steer Canadian picker truck was built from pieces-parts and resin in January 2007. The hoods are resin copies from Bobby Griffen from a hood that I made. I made the hood slope incorrectly and never was pleased with the look, so in mid '07 I made a new hood. I decided to replace the wrong sloped hoods with the new hood.

I started at 5PM on 1/19/08 by first dismantling both trucks. Then removing the hoods. Luckily I still had the same paint that both trucks were painted with.

The paint gods were smiling on me for this quickie project as I painted in the garage with the temp in the garage at 15 degrees. All paint curing was done in the house. Less than 24 hours later the hoods were ready to install.

Logger - old hood

Logger - new hood

I swapped cabs for these pics

loggerpicker switch 12008.jpg (102364 bytes)

loggerpicker switcha12008.jpg (87576 bytes)

I finished the hood redux at 9:00PM on 1/20/2008.

1/14/2007

Thanks to Jamie R. at Mo'Luminum for the fantastic wheels and tires!

The hood is resin from Griffen and Spaulding Trading and Shipping, as are the single headlamps.

I started with a Revell of Germany Peterbilt 377 kit, lengthened the frame, added a 3rd axle.

The hood was heavily modified. The sleeper uses only the kit front wall and forward portion of the roof to build the 70" box.

Rolling chassis with Kit Form Services front wheels/tires.

Headlights from an Italeri 378 kit. I applied Bare Metal Foil to the backside of the lenses.

To get the vocational hood fixed grille screen (the real hood tilts around the grille) I cut off the kit bars and bottom and cut the grille out of an AMT 359. The corner radius isn't right.

Profile of the finished model. The fuel tanks are made from CPVC water paper covered in chrome Mylar.

The real truck.

The real truck went to Stahl Peterbilt in Edmonton.

It will be interesting to see what the truck looks like when fully outfitted.

Mine isn't quite accurate to the real truck. The color is off, the bumper is too narrow and tall.

The 4 horns are from AMT 359 kits. The rotating beacon mounts are made from plastic cut to shape and bent. The fenders on this one-time 377 hood are AMT 359 fenders with Evergreen plastic and body filler..

I made the fuel tank steps from Evergreen strips and plastic. The straps are chrome Mylar cut and applied over the 1st layer.

1/7/2007

Bored the last day or so, and convinced that I could make a Peterbilt 379 cab out of an AMT Peterbilt 359 cab... I commenced to slicing on two AMT cabs.

Left: 379 cab with newer style doors, window ledge, handles and peep window.

Right: Stock AMT cab.

The 379 cab has a fiberglass roof that has more contours to it than the metal roof of the 359 cab.

I sanded and recontoured all parts of the roof.

Yes, these are both AMT 359 cabs..

The inspiration to cure my boredom is in the background of the cabs. Real '06 cabs.

I cut two AMT cabs, the first was cut right at the center of the roof, the second cab was cut 1/4 inch left of center. I then mated the halves. The windshield opening was reshaped, the leading edge of the roof/windshield mask was sanded to the 379 shape. The center post now leans back to the right rake.

The cab on the left is an AMT cab that I chopped up to make the demonstration cab seen in the 1973-76 brochures, I made this cab several years ago.. The cab on the left is my 379 cab.

Since I knew this was just for fun, I decided to add the huck rivet detail, but not wanting to spend weeks and weeks on a weekend project, I painted the rivets on. You can sure tell I have a shakey hand! I gotta cut back on the coffee.

The next morning I redid most of the rivets then toned them down a bit followed by a coat of clear. The clear needs to be dulled a bit as it appears too glossy now.

Left is the AMT cab, right is my 379 cab with Unibilt mounts and rear window opening.

My rivet detail went a bit askew (okay, a lot askew) on the back.

Looking through the model cab windows to the photo of the real cab.

If you're bored and don't want to start a fresh kit.. just grab something from the parts box and start cutting and gluing. You never know what you'll end up with.

11/4/06

11/5/06

The doodle idea. A truck owned by a metal fabricating company for transporting their finished products.

Heavy duty, yet highway, and somewhat fancy looking.

My plan was to use the Revell or Italeri Pete 377 kit with minimal kitbashing and with a bit of custom resin and aftermarket pieces tossed in.

Rough hood and fenders.

I cut the top off the 377 hood, then added side panels. The grille surround/crown was also flattened removing the radius at the leading edge.

Modified Revell PB 377 cab and hood.

I cut the front corners of the cab off and replaced them with flat plastic. Dual air cleaners will be mounted on the finished cab.

Daycab panel. The rear window was made by tracing the opening of an AMT Pete 359 cab rear window.

Rough body, frame and bed.

357-123 butterfly hood for reference

These twin 357-123 in blue cab, red frame with black fenders are cool looking, and mine will have these colors.

9/26/06

The battery box is an AMT Peterbilt 359 box with the step removed. I added chassis warning lables

The tool cabinets are from the old RNK Conversions.

The bed was weathered slightly with a blackwash and sandpaper.

The fuel tanks are from a Revell of Germany Peterbilt 359 kit. I stripped the chrome, sanded the ugly seam, then painted with Duplicolor Bumper Chrome.

Gary at MAG decals made the door signs for me.

This is a reflection of the model in the standing rainwater on my outdoor "road." I discovered this nifty image while editing photos.

The air cleaners are polished aluminum from Jamie at Mo'Luminum.

2006 Peterbilt 379-119 9/6/06	Photos right: Right door has signboard for Active USA, the transport co. Left door has TimsTrucks USA, I figure that I'll transport this 379 more than they would.	I still have several items to install and some touch-up to do. The sun came out so I snapped some photos before the clouds moved back in.
The real truck 2006 Peterbilt 379-119 single axle tractor - as seen September 2005 at the Active transport yard in Denton, Texas.		I started with a 1/24th scale Italeri Peterbilt 378 kit. The sleeper is from a Revell-AG 359 and cut from a 63" size to a 48". I cut the frame for the short wheelbase and single drive. This truck was built to be "decked" with two other models at a later time.

'03 Peterbilt 379X. Plenty of work to go. 9/5/06

This is a faux-379X, with the polished fenders but differs with an Ultrasleeper and traditional mufflers.

The hood I used is a Clint Freeman 1/24th scale resin hood. Air cleaners, horns and bumper are from Jamie at Mo'Luminum.

9/8/06 Almost done.

Deckplating material is a metal craft mesh from Michael's Craft stores. Much more realistic than the kit pieces.

2006 Peterbilt 378 tri-axle dump truck. The real truck was see at the Peterbilt factory in September 2005 and was donated by Peterbilt to the City of New Orleans to aid in clean up after hurricane Katrina. Finished June 25, 2006

I used a 377 cab for the underhood air cleaner, this required reworking of the cab side panels.

Red engine color is to simulate a Cummins

I modifed the Italeri cab for the modern windows and mirrors. The mirrors are aluminum tubing bent to shape with the kit mirror head attached.

The dump box is from an AMT/Ertl Paystar 5000. I modified the box sides and cab guard. The tarp system is made from aluminum tubes.

Peterbilt 357-SBFA and 378 dumpers both using the same Italeri and AMT kits. The 357 has a resin hood from Spaulding Trading and Shipping and front tires from the old RNK conversions.

The New Orleans 378 photographed just before leaving Denton for New Orleans.

The factory crew Pictured in the top row from left to right are Ken Montgomery, Trey Chambers, Erica Monday, Leroy Berry and Plant Manager Jim Fykes. Pictured in the bottom row from left to right are Len Montgomery, Kenneth Walterscheid, Long Cao, Willie Lopez, Betty Silmon and Kristie Bowling. Photo copyright Peterbilt Motors.