White-Western Star Logger?

[jimb]

Ok, so I recently purchased a AMT White-Western Star with the intent of making it a West Coast logging truck, and I need some help to make this look period right. Now, I know many of you will recommend that I check out Hank's, and I have done that; but the problem is I'm not sure what I'm looking at.

I've seen William's (muleskinner) tutorial on correcting the AMT Log Trailer (which I have), but the problem is the tractor. What would a mid-1970s West Coast log truck really look like? (Besides dirty.) Would it have disks on the front & spokes on the rears? Would it have sopkes all around? What about the kit's frame? I know I need to add the stringer to the rear of the frame (about 6ft from the center of the tandems to the rear of the stringer), but what about the wheelbase? Is it too short?

That's about it for now. I'll worry about the little details (water/fuel cans, chains, saws, etc) as the build gets closer.

I know this is the place to ask because of the wealth of logging knowledge here.

Thanks! ;D

[tufftin]

Log trucks are just like anything else on the road. There is varying styles and lengths and each area in out country does it a bit different. I can really only speak for the west. It also depends on whether or not your building a modern logger or one from say, the '70's. Are you planning on a Peerless type log tailer or a "hayrack" which is a semi trailer? In your area, you may find some spoked wheels but they are not popular in the west for many reasons.
These kits are designed to pull a highway semi trailer and basically, the wheel base is a bit short. The Kenworth I am building measures out about 8 and 1/2 inches which in 1/24th scale would be a 204 inch wheelbase which basically quite short. But it seems to work well with out a lot of modifications. My stinger goes out 4 and 1/2 inches which scales to 9 feet from the center of the tandoms. Wheelbase is measured from the center of the steer axle to the center point of the tandoms.
Hope this helps you get started. As you go, stop and check out your work and ask questions again if your un-sure.
Mike

Hosted on Fotki

[Ryan Rønning]

Anything from white 2-5 hole budd wheels to chrome split rings would look fine. Remember log trucks spend much of the time off road so they tend to have more aggressive tread on the tires. The frame will be a little to short and the six feet on the stinger is very conservative. Tuftin's truck above is an excellent example of a period truck. Also my 359 below is painstakingly close to an original truck that my dad owned that was put together in the 70's so it may help you some also

[Muleskinner]

Jim,

Since I lean more to the heavier hauling redwood units of Humboldt county, I add about three square feet to the frame ahead of the duals and then cut and square up the rear of the frame and add a 6 - 9 foot stinger to it. For Redwood logs this puts the wheel base at approximate length for the rig. I think the AMT Western Star has about the same wheel base as the AMT Road Boss but I'm really not sure. I'm looking at a model Road boss I built when it came out a few months ago which I built stock for Interstate.

My opinion would bee to add three scale feet to the frame behind the cab and after squaring up the slope of the rear of the frame I would add a 6 - 9 scale foot stinger to the rear. And toss the spiders and go for the buds. The forward cross member on the frame in front of the rear axles will also have to be adjusted and re centered after extending the frame there. Its like I mentioned above I am more used to the Redwood haulers in Northern California than most Pacific North western type units so what I have made is just a suggestion.

Mike and Ryan also made some excellent suggestions so between us three, I hope this all helps and isn't too confusing. I will get a picture up of one of my Redwood haulers which I am presently working on so you can see what I am trying to explain. Better yet look at the wrecked rig I built and posted on this Forum, for it is extended as I explained above. Even though it is a Revell Peterbilt.

Another thing I do which is different from the other guys is I center the bunks between the Duels on the truck as they did in the 50's and 60's and into the early 70's. I guess I am fixed in my ways and too old to change, but no biggie.

[jimb]

Thanks, guys. Those are great suggestions, and will be very helpful. I'll definately be asking more questions ar the build progresses.

Thanks again!

[Ryan Rønning]

We are all glad to help.