A bulk lot of Lindberg truck kits...

Although I had managed to get hold of several GMC Astro truck kits, I was really looking to get hold of some of the Ford CL-9000 kits in the same range and especially some of the sleeper cab version of these trucks.

I found a second hand kit dealer in the US Freds Kits that listed several different Lindberg kits so I snapped them up.  With the arrival of this latest group I've now got a further two large cab GMC's and a pair of large cab Fords.

1052 Ford CL-9000 Box Trailer - "Over The Road"

1055 GMC Astro Refrigerator Trailer - "Cool Way"

1045 GMC Astro Box Trailer - "Freight Van"

Ford CL-9000 Flatbed -"Flat Bed"

All of these are sealed and unused, although the Ford flatbed box is very faded and dusty from being stored for almost quarter of a century.  The most interesting thing about these kits is the price tags that show these kits retailed for $2.50 each, so they've increased fourfold in price.

I will need to try putting one of these kits together soon, especially as they are snap-fit construction and don't need any glue.

A couple of Conrail shells...

I've been looking for a replacement shell for my Atlas Union Pacific Dash 9-40cw and I finally managed to get hold of one in Conrail Blue, so I've neatly side-stepped the problem of stripping and repainting such an excellently detailed model.

The replacement shell is in good shape, but mising a couple of smaller details, and it needs new handrails.

I also picked up yet another Railpower SD90 shell to use as parts for my SD80 conversion project.

Now all I need is some time to spend at the modelling bench to get some of these projects underway!

I'm gonna take you down... to Lee Town

Continuing the HO scale vehicle theme, this whitemetal Lee Town GMC Astro kit was going cheap on ebay so I picked it up.  This is kit #432-3015   GMC Astro with tandem axle and 37' Drop Center Tandem Trailer.

As far as I can tell, Lee Town were an eighties manufacturer so this kit was probably a very contemporary model when it was issued. 

Lee Town are no longer in business but the majority of the range is now distributed by Alloy Forms and currently in-stock at Walthers.

I had expected this truck to be identical to the Lindberg/Revell version, but it turned out to be a slightly different version of the GMC cab.

The plastic trucks feature the more refined step area and lower edge of the cab, with steps built into a more aerodynamic fairing.  The Lee Town metal version is a more basic body style with a flat edge to the cab base and a more functional step arrangement.


Lee Town body style.

Lindberg body style.

It looks like the Lindberg kit depicts a late seventies/early eighties cab, but the highest specification of the GMC Astro, with the larger grille and the extra detailing.  The basic version of the truck would have had a smaller grille and the same flat base as the Lee Town kit.

The Lee Town kit seems to represent a later model year, but a lower specification, with my guess being a model year somewhere around 1984.

Another high street model shop closes...

The Model Shop in Guildford is closing down, this was the same shop where I saw the Athearn train set that pulled me back into modelling just over a year ago.

There is no doubt the recession is worsening and hobbies are definitely one of the first things to go when folks start to tighten their belts.  It's a real shame as the two guy who ran the shop were really friendly and helpful, and they stocked a lot of useful stuff.

Sadly they never recieved any of the Athearn stock I was interested in (apparently Horizon were having trouble supplying them) and although I purchased a lot of small items like paint, tools and styrene, I guess they needed a lot more passing trade to stay in business and with a Modelzone in the nearby mall they would be competing with the big chains buying power.

So thanks for bringing me back to the hobby guys, I hope your next business venture fares better.

Looks like we got us a convoy...

Following on from my ebay purchases, I located a further three Revell re-issued truck kits on http://www.kingkit.co.uk/ and snapped them up.

I now have three of the four Revell issued kits, including a second boxed 2103 and my first Ford CL-9000:


2101  GMC Astro 95 & Canvas Trailer

2103 GMC Astro & Stake Trailer

2104  Ford CL-9000 & Car Carrier

As with the two trucks I already own, the trailers in these kits are barely worth looking at - the car carrier in particular is very poor quality and doesn't appear to be based on any particular prototype - even the Revell 1950's car transporter trailer kit is better detailed than this one.

With the arrival of these kits I probably have more than enough GMC Astro trucks!  However I'm really pleased to finally have one of the Ford tractor units, although I am still on the lookout for the sleeper cab version of the CL-9000 truck as I prefer the look of the larger cab.

Lindberg HO GMC Astro - Sleeper Cab

Following the Revell GMC flatbed kit, I went on a bit of a landgrab for more of these HO scale truck kits.  The Revell re-issues seem to be thin on the ground, but I have managed to locate and purchase several of the original Lindberg kits, including this 'Freight Van' kit that features the Sleeper Cab version of the Astro with a box trailer.

This particular kit is still factory sealed, so I've not taken the time to open it and check out the contents, however from the box art it looks like the trailer itself will be similar in quality to the Flatbed... which is to say it will be need to replaced with a new trailer!

It's interesting that these trucks have yet to be issued as modern high-detail die-cast trucks, the current offerings from Athearn and Walthers seem to be either modern or 1950's/60's with the 70's and 80's being sorely under-represented.

Norfolk Southern GP60 Project - NS #7121 Cab

Work continues on my GP60 project locomotives (see HERE for details)

This is the locomotive that utilises a new-old-stock Railpower shell, I am building this one with all Cannon & Co. parts while #7129 has a combination of Cannon and salvaged Athearn parts. 

This is my first time using Cannon cab components, and I'm very impressed with the quality and variety of options these kits allow.

The sub base is built based on the precise details of the prototype locomotive, an easy job given the sheer number of options Cannon provide in their excellent kit.

The cab itself is a similarly detailed kit, and goes together very easily, although unfortunately I realised after I'd finished that I had read some advice which suggested leaving the roof off until after assembly, to make it easier to add the glazing.

The nose features the correct GP60 brakewheel side section and the toilet hatch, exactly as per the real locomotive.

Here is a photograph showing everything test fitted, the anticlimber and sub-base have been glued in place.



I had bought a set of Cannon GP tread-plates for the model, but the step shape is different from the older GP38-2 so I am going to have to rethink my approach to the tread for these locomotives.

Here's a shot of both models showing the progress so far.