progress report: Pete 344 Off Hiway logger

[Muleskinner]

The following rig I received from Ap40 and when I saw it for the first time, All I could think of was another candidate for an offer in the timber industry. So the first thing I did was go through my decals which I made up and decided on a Cal-Pacific unit out of Hayfork California back in the late fifties early sixties. Most of you on the forum, know I can very seldom build a Logging Rig without weathering it and showing its age and use. So with that in mind here she is.

The first set of pictures show the cab in her Cal Pacific colours which are yellow and green. As you scroll down you will see it come into its weathered form for building. As with all my rigs it will show heavy usage in the logging industry. The weathering shows only a bit of what will be done to her once she is finished.











The weathering was done using acrylic washes of varying shades and densities of color, mostly rust. There are no cosmetics done on it as they will be added during building. The trailer will be an old reliance heavy Offer trailer with a long heavy timbered reach.

The following rig has the Reliance trailer mounted on it and although the rig is a Models 354 Pete and these rigs are out of southern Oregon, they will be the basis for my Offer, with a few minor changes here and there, as mine will be set up for hauling Redwood which is heavier.



Its gonna be another off and on project so if I don't get a lot of posting done have patience as I will as I go on.

This cab is a very fine cast unit from Rick (Ap40rocktruck) and is very well worth the investment if you are thinking of an oldie but goodie rig in the future and I highly recommend it.

William

[spimike]

Neat project, looking real good. Nice to the Fruit Growers trucks as well.

[spimike]

Another thought i had was did the wood reaches have compensators, or did that come later on?

[Muleskinner]

Mike in answer to your question No they did not. All I have ever seen were solid and the Coupler attached directly to the end of it. If you look at the one on the reliance trailer reach, you can see the bolt plates on the side and below and the bolts going through the Reach up and down, side to side. The bottom plate and top plate actually are strengthener plates for the end of the reach to take up any up and down movement of the coupler itself when buckled to the rig. The coupler itself was made to where it would turn completely around in the mount in case of a trailer roll over. Another thing I would like to stress here, is the fact a lot of these rigs had the old Link and Pin couplers on them. Where as the Coupler on the reach went between two links mounted on the rear of the rig and then a holding pin was dropped in place. I primitive application borrowed from the Railroad but effective . It was standard until the pintle came along which made it safer as the trailer did not detach from the rig in a roll over, unless the driver fired the release valve in the cab. Those mechanisms didn't come until later after the pintle was tried and trued. The early pintles actually were war surplus from the Military and were found to be satisfactory for heavy hauling such as with a logging truck.

The wooden reaches had one drawback in logging, and that was cracking, splitting and eventually breaking. But a quick trip to the closest mill and a couple of dollars you could bye another one and be running again. Most all Mills back in the Prehistoric days cut a bunch of reach material and had it handy on the lot for purchase by trucking companies.

William

[slurrydog]

That is going to be another great build William. Will be watching for updates.
Dave

[gator]

Holy Moly Batman! That is neater than cornflakes! looks like I am going to have to get one of those cabs!

Be Well
Gator

[ap40rocktruck]

nice work, love the weathering.

If any of the members here are interested in this old RNK / SSS cab kit, send me a email or PM

Ap40rocktruck

[jimb]

Cool old Peterbilt!

[spimike]

Thats what i thought, im familiar with the hitch eyes that turn around from short loggers. usually helps the trailer not to take the truck over with it but not always. before we started putting the mouse trap compensator locks on the compensators i usually turned my eye over every week for even wear, especially if you dont have an air pintle.

[shovellogger]

i cant wait to see this build i love all that old style stuff

[Muleskinner]

The mock up of the Pete 344 Offer I have been working on.

[slurrydog]

Wow, that looks great William.
Dave

[lwwoodss]

Great looking work as always. Manage to always learn something by looking at these in progress builds.

Warren

[Muleskinner]

Made a little more progress on the rig and she is now beginning to look like a California Offer. Added the Hendrickson rear ends and the tires and wheels from Ap40 and also made a sierra type water tank for her. Her she is also with the frame painted and waiting to be weathered out. The cab interior and Cosmetics are yet to be added to her, but this will give you the general Idea of the way the rig will look.







She has a long way to go yet but is slowly taking shape.

[wazzakw]

that lookin great im getting all inspired