Revell HO GMC Astro Semi Truck

The GMC Astro semi-tractor is one of the classic late seventies/early eighties cab-over truck designs, created as a response to legislation that limited the overall length of semi-trucks and trailers.

By mounting the cab over the engine, these trucks were able to use shorter chassis and therefore haul longer trailers. 

Legislation changes in the 90's meant that the length limits were increased and all current North American truck designs are the traditional long-nose type.

This particular GMC truck was familiar to UK audiences from movies like Convoy, Beverly Hills Cop and also the similar cabover designs by Freightliner and Kenworth were frequently seen in TV shows like 'BJ and the Bear'

The only HO version of this truck is a model originally released by Lindberg in the seventies and then re-issued by Revell, but it has been out of production for well over a decade.

I recently picked up one of these kits cheaply on eBay and I plan to use it to recreate the truck from Beverly Hills Cop, a short wheelbase Astro with a large airdam and an excellent 70's paint scheme, towing twin pup trailers.

The kit is in mint condition and complete with decals and instructions, but as the trailer is not particularly high quality, I will most likely discard most of the trailer parts and mate the cab with an Athearn chassis.

Norfolk Big Mac

Following my Kato SD90 purchase, I have just recieved a Kato SD80mac in Norfolk Southern livery.  This model is from the last production run three or four years ago, but it has not been run and is in mint condition.

These 80ft long locomotives are probably my favourite modern engine, and it's great to finally have one in Norfolk livery. 

This model will be lightly weathered and then run in tandem with the SD90 once I have changed the shell to make it a Conrail livery unit, then these models will be heading up a train of Walthers Bethgon goal gondolas.

Like the SD90 (which uses most of the same components) this Kato model is superb quality, with crisp detailing and finely printed livery, the plastic grabirons and handrails are more sturdy on these models than the celcon rails used by other brands, but they are also slightly thicker as a result.  

It's hard to say which is better, but one good thing about these thicker handrails is that they don't bend or buckle like the Athearn Genesis rails.

I have been collecting the various parts needed to put together a Railpower Products SD90 and convert it into another SD80, although this project will be a longer term one, following my current RPP/Athearn GP60 conversions.

Brass in pocket...

I've often seen adverts or photographs of brass locomotives in magazines, almost every issue of Model Railroader features a full page spread from Overland models listing $500 EMD behemoths, but I didn't really know much about them - other than they are very expensive!

So I was intrigued when I saw an HO Sunset Models Southern Pacific GP9 listed on eBay recently, with a very low starting price.  The locomotive was clearly in need of some tlc, and didn't have a box, but seeing as it was listed low (even below the cost of a regular Athearn Blue Box) I thought it was worth taking a punt on it.

Well I won the auction and here it is, my first ever brass engine, and very nice it is too.  Dating from some time in the early eighties, this Korean made engine is very nicely detailed and this high level of specification must have been incredible at the time.  The locomotive has all the usual details, grab irons, mu cables, drop steps, truck piping etc.  but it also has some really neat extras, including real chains above the steps, see-through grilles (although not see-through roof fans) and etched tread plate.

Obviously the locomotive is all-metal construction, but I still found it surprising what a difference that makes.  This model is heavy, really solidly made, and with the amount of detail I would be very interested in seeing how it compares to the new Athearn Genesis version.  I reckon this model would give the new plastic releases a run for their money, despite being at least thirty years old.

This geep has clearly suffered since losing its original box and it was supplied to me in an old Athearn box (which may have been why it sold so cheaply as it looked like an old plastic Blue Box at first glance) and with such poor storage and the weight of the model it has bounced around over the years and ended up losing the front nose top light and some bent handrails, with one of the handrail stanchions snapped.  Being soft brass, the handrails were easily straightened, but the broken stanchion will need some work.

Having been idle for years, it runs poorly and will need some time on the bench for dismantling and cleaning, also I will need to find a way to fit it with DCC and bring it up to current specification.

I'm very pleased with this purchase, and it's fun to have a brass engine after so many years of reading about them, and although it's not right for my modelling era or road, I think I will be keeping hold of this one.