Western Star Daycab

[Joris Scholte]

OK, here's my first Work In Progress. I won't bother you with old WIP-threads of the builds I've posted here; too much old posts to copy-paste and for you to sift through.

Recently I started out on a new build, a Western Star Daycab. You guys tell me the type, because I don't know it.

I use the Italeri LAFD Heavy Wrecker kit; the wrecker body will go on a Pete 377 one day, in LAFD livery.

I scratchbuilt a daycab panel from Evergreen sheet and strip material, since I don't want to use that generic Freightliner sleeper box. Here's the panel, I know it might not be 100% correct, but that's fine with me; it'll do:





In 2010 I tried to build a WS truck as well, but I had issuses in assembling the cab. Since I bought that kit very cheap for parts use, frustrated with the cab assembly, I abandoned the project and canned the body parts. So on this one, I thought to start with the cab, if that would work out I'll complete the truck. I know, wussy-approach.... ;D

[Joris Scholte]

After some fighting with the cab panels, interior and dash, this is how the daycab panel looks on the mostly done cab.

[Joris Scholte]

Too bad about the patch-up on the paint showing, but that color is a drag to touch up; I didn't feel like spraying it all over again, I'm sure the mess would have been worse. At least I got the cab together.





This means that this build will continue. ;D Still no definite idea of the way it's going to go, but I never mind improvising.

[Joris Scholte]

I added a stripe along the side, more or less to mask the touch ups on the cowl. Nothing too fancy, after all this is going to be a work truck.





Of course, the curse of the WS caught up with me; the seats came loose in the cab, I had to cut off the roof to correct it. I cut the frame down, it is going to be a mighty short tractor. Maybe, if I can find diamond plate styrene sheet, I'll go and scratchbuild a headache rack.

[boxer64]

Nice start so fare Joris,

you know I did this with mine WS. Good idear with the styreen strips to make panellines

I be looking forward to you're next update

Greets,
Eddy

[Joris Scholte]

Thanks Eddy! I used a pic from truckpaper.com for reference. It's not 100% like the real one, but good enough for me. And if I get the material for a headache rack together, it won't show that much anyway!

Here's the frame, freshly painted, I only need to put red on the taillights and flat black on the air bags. Of course I shot myself in the foot (again), with cutting the frame extremely short. I have to cut down the fuel tanks big time! Oh well, at least a good way to make sure the seam on them doesn't show that much...

[Ryan Rønning]

Nice start. That cab in particular is miserable to assemble but looks like you did fine.

[Joris Scholte]

Thanks Ryan!

The cab is a complete sonuva..., well you know what, to assemble. Had this Constellation kit bought for spare parts back then. Decided to build it anyway, but a paint faillure and cab fitting issues caused me to abandon that one.

[Joris Scholte]

Here's the cut-down fuel tanks, primed. The left hand side is shorter than the right hand, since the battery box is on the frame as well. Inadvertently, the right hand side has a step that is a bit misaligned, looks like it took a hit somewhere; staying with the used fleet-look here, I gues...

[Ryan Rønning]

Those came out good.

[Joris Scholte]

Thanks Ryan, the aluminum paint is curing now. Odd thing, the paint seems to stick better to the unprepped plastic than to the primer. Has RoG altered the recipe for their disaster? I mean primer?

[Ryan Rønning]

Not sure but I prefer primer right off the Auto Zone shelf.

[gator]

Joris,
I see that you are moving right along with this build. I like what I see so far. The rear cab panel looks really good!!


Be Well
Gator

[slurrydog]

You are doing a great job Joris, it is really looking good.
Dave

[Joris Scholte]

Thanks guys!
Over here my choices in primer are limited to two options. The El Cheapo Chinacrap or the more expensive Revell of Germany. The RoG is much better, but I never had issues with paint sticking to it before. I hope it's just a one time thing...