A VERY SPECIAL CHRISTMAS GIFT --- NOTE LINK!!!!

Every once in a while I get the feeling that no one is looking at my blog, and then about that time I get one of those great e-mails from someone who has taken the time to not only comment, but also attach a very special gift.

I can not thank Curtis enough for this -- It will become my new and permanent header picture, IT IS THAT COOL---

Here is Curtis' e-mail ----

Hi George,

Terrific website you have. I do 3D artwork as a hobby, and the latest is a Mack B-61 - one of my favourites !

I was able to get some ideas from your website. Thanks so much.

So, I decided to do one with your name on the door, and send it off to you !

Hope you like it ! Let me know if I got any spelling wrong !

All the best in the new year

Curtis


IF YOU LIKE CURTIS' ART --- VISIT HIS SITE ---

ART OF CURTIS HEARD

1930 MACK AFM PROTOTYPE COE

I NEED YOUR HELP!!!

Recently, I received a copy of John B. Montville's "BULLDOG" copyright 1979. Absolutely a must have for the BULLDOG AC lover. My dilemma is that I have become obsessed with 2 photo's found on page 118 of this book and posted here. These two picture show a rather modernistic looking COE, chain - driven truck obviously built using a BULLDOG chassis. Presumably,this truck was built in the MACK LONG ISLAND CITY PLANT and designated the "AFM" pehaps after the initials of MACKS chief designer at the time, A.F. Maury. Note that the cab design is like that of a huge BULLDOG hood, and the radiator cover resembles that of a MACK AC.

My problem is this. I have contacted the MACK MUSEUM in ALLENTOWN, and they have  no pictures of this truck other than those from the book  - although they do have a file. I am wondering if more pictures exist, and how Montville acquired these. What happened to this vehicle?

I am also attaching a list of contributors to Montville's book in hopes that someone in this forum might recognize a name -- yes I remember that the book was written back in the 70's, and that some of these guys were "OLD TIMERS" back then.

Simply put -- more info please if it is out there!!! THIS IS A FANTASTIC AND INNOVATIVE TRUCK!!!!


LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS --

E.A. Hanauer --- former MACK engineer

Jack Winchester --- former fleet supervisor and early associate of A.F. Masuary

Henry Miller --- Mack executive engineer, retired

reply to my email -----

BROCKWAY SCHOOL BUS -- A SECOND CHANCE

This is one post that evokes many emotions for me, both as a school bus driver and a student who back in the late 50's and early 60's rode a BROCKWAY bus to and from school. I have been following the fate of this bus on the BROCKWAY TRUCK FORUM in the following thread, BROCKWAY SCHOOL BUS FOR SALE  since it first appeared. I am truly overjoyed by this final outcome!!

The picture above was taken by one of the members of the recovery crew, after the bus was pulled from the woods. I still can not believe the exterior condition of this bus having set for the time it did. This is indeed a rare find and will make for a unique restoration project.

Thanks to all who joined in to make this save possible -- you know that I will be following this project and looking forward to more pictures!!!

First Gear -- Tollway & Tunnel Authority

I told you I have a good wife -- for my birthday she got me my second FIRST GEAR Tollway and Tunnel Authority truck. This is a 1960 Mack dumper that goes real nice with the 47 International K-10.

2010 ENDLESS MOUNTAIN TRUCK SHOW AND FLEA MARKET

When I came home from this years BROCKWAY SHOW, I made mention to my wife that I had seen a poster about a truck show being held in Harford, Pa. -- THE 20th ENDLESS MOUNTAIN TRUCK SHOW AND FLEA MARKET.

I have said this before about my dear wife, "she treats me good!" She asked if that was what I wanted to do for my birthday. Of course the answer was yes.

So on Sunday, the 5th of September we packed up the MIATA and headed for Harford. It was well worth the 1 1/2 hour trip as I got behind two BROCKWAYS headed for the show.

This was the biggest year for this show, pulling in 181 trucks -- MAGNIFICENT TRUCKS!!

So sit back for a moment or two and click on the link below -- MY BIRTHDAY PRESENT TO YOU

2010 Endless Mountain Truck Show_2

Catching up with WALTER and my friend PLOWCHASER

As mentioned in the 2010 BROCKWAY TRUCK SHOW post, I was supposed to meet my new friend PLOWCHASER at the show to go to Marathon, NY to the home of Jerald Jonson's collection of WALTER SNOWPLOWS.

PLOWCHASER (aka --Ryan Pedone) had flown in to New York from California to attend the BROCKWAY show but more importantly to him, photograph the WALTER COLLECTION.

As fate would have it, we did not find each other at the show. I left at 1:00 pm for a short visit to the up coming BROCKWAY MUSEUM and then headed to the WALTER COLLECTION.

I arrived just before 2:00 pm to find Jerald and his wife Ruth. I had thought after my last visit that Jerald was no longer around --- happily that was not the case!!! After introductions, he told me that he was there waiting for Ryan, who was SUPPOSED to have arrived at 2.

The two hours we waited were well spent with Jerald telling me about his fabulous collection and showing me his collection of magnificent and historical WALTER pictures -- I HOPE HE SENDS ME SOME!!!

Ryan did show up. I could not keep up with the pace at which he took pictures. He was a nice guy, well worth the wait!!!

RYAN --- THIS POST IS FOR YOU!!! I REALLY LIKED THAT BROCKWAY PLOW!!!

AND JERALD ---- THANKS FOR SAVING THOSE WALTERS

THIS SLIDESHOW INCLUDES PICTURES FROM MY VISIT IN 2009

2010 BROCKWAY TRUCK SHOW

SOME WHO MAKE IT ALL POSSIBLE

The day started early, leaving Horseheads shortly after 6:00 AM to arrive in Cortland about 7:30 AM. I like to get there early to capture some of the older trucks that are set up before the majority of the "BIG BOYS" arrive. I was supposed to meet a fellow from HANK'S TRUCK FORUM and THE BROCKWAY TRUCK FORUM named PLOWCHASER -- more about that in another thread!!!

This years show was HUGE!!! There were many more trucks than last year -- even a couple of tractors with trailers. The parade started promptly at 9:00 AM and lasted till 10:00 -- well over 140 trucks, I haven't gotten the exact count yet.

Road Trip Catch Up

With our son in Buffalo, and my wifes desire to venture out on long car trips, there are many opportunities for me
to capture an occasional old truck. I find this a little more fun and challenging than photo logging the newer stuff, besides, I LIKE OLD SCHOOL.

So here is my CATCH UP -- 2009 -10

Brockway on a Mack in Mainesburg, Pa.

                            

 Brockway 359 in Pavilion, N.Y.

Ford Farm Truck, Darien Center, New York

Mack B in Fayette, New York

Studebaker Pick Up near Alden, New York

Oshkosh Snowplow in Alden, New York

Brockway Dump Truck north of Ovid, New York

Brockway of ROOT FARMS near Pavilion, New York

 

1930's Dodge - Old REA truck in Ithaca, New York

Until next time --- I'll be looking !!!!!!

Free for the building -- 1/24 scale PETERBILT 379 -- OPTIMUS PRIME

This is an almost to good to be true find! Yep, a FREE model!!! Of course you're thinking, "there has got to be a catch." Well the catch is, it's paper, or should I say card stock? With some patience, this will build into a REALLY NICE TRUCK.

SO, get yourself to this page:

Peterbilt 379 - Optimus Prime Vehicle Mode

MAKE SURE YOU PRINT THIS PAGE -- IT IS YOUR ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS!!! At the bottom of the page is the download -- MAKE SURE YOU REMEMBER THE PASSWORD!!!!

HAVE FUN -- BE PATIENT -- AND IF YOU ARE LUCKY ---------- IT SHOULD LOOK LIKE THIS ---

PETERBILT AND THE MAGNIFICENT "MIGHTY MITES" and a PIECE OF PIE

As usual I have been spending a lot of time over on HANK'S TRUCK PICTURE FORUM, and recently the subject of the PETERBILT MIGHTY MITES came up in a thread started by my buddy Jerry called "FOR PETES' SAKE" (VINTAGE PETERBILT APPRECIATION) .

So now I hear you asking yourself (while others may already know), "WHAT IS A PETERBILT MIGHTY MITE?"

Seems back around 1946 PIE (PACIFIC INTERMOUNTAIN EXPRESS) came up with an idea to highlight PETERBILT as this was their dominant truck at the time, and at the same time promote PIE throughout the trucking industry. So, in 1947 PIE constructed a 1/2 scale operational truck in their SALT LAKE CITY shop that was to become the first MIGHTY MITE.

Here is a picture of that truck beside the real truck it was patterned after, a model 344. It made its' first appearance August 2, 1947 at the opening of PIE's Denver Terminal.

This 1/2 scale truck was used by PIE to promote truck safety and the PIE trucking enterprise. After touring the country, this truck was put up for sale. Fortunately, there were no buyers, and PIE decided to give the old 47 a little face lift to make it a model 350 cab-over with a dromedary unit. Most of the conversion work was now done by Peterbilt, this included the lengthening of the 47's chassis and building of the cab. Note the drom unit and short cab in the picture below.

At some latter point PIE again made further modifications to the old 47 (now an early 50's BUBBLENOSE 350) by lengthening the cab with a sleeper and removing the dromedary unit to come up with this configuration  shown here beside a full size PIE truck for comparison --

By 1965, PIE was once again in need of a replacement for the Bubblenose PETE. Again Peterbilt made a model 282 COE in 1/2 scale to fit the bill, shown here beside its big brother.

Of course, it would be very sad indeed if these "one of a kind" trucks did not survive. Where are they now?
For that information, and more pictures, you'll have to visit HANK'S, specifically the  MIGHTY MITE thread
to see how some wonderful people have provided the answers.

1926 MACK AC BULLDOGS --- MONOGRAM MODELS

From the instruction sheet for the MONOGRAM 1926 MACK AC BULLDOG TANK TRUCK KIT -----

"Perhaps the most well known name in the annals of trucking history is the MACK model AC - or "Bulldog", as it became known by the American soldiers in World War I. Production of the famous Bulldog, with it's characteristic hood shape, was started in 1915 and continued through 1935. It served proudly and well in every conceivable function where a truck could be used. The term "BUILT LIKE A MACK TRUCK" became a popular phrase to describe anything solid and dependable."

Recently MONOGRAM re-released one of their MACK kits, the MACK AC TANK TRUCK --- shown above. Originally produced with TEXACO markings, this kit has two options -- the one shown on the box, and the one my build.

I chose to take pictures of the truck by itself and with my 1972 build of the Mack AC stake truck --

If you build this kit be careful to follow instructions by steps!! Pay close attention to frame build up that you square the ends of all cross-members so they fit against the chassis rails. Also make sure the rear engine cross-member support is mounted properly.

This was a fun build that I would do again.  The red tank was painted, but the rest of the truck was not --- I would suggest painting cab, hood, and tank all red.

Mack R685 -- Transformation

Last weekend was spent with our son Garrett in Buffalo, and of course I could not resist the opportunity to spend the gift certificate he got me for NIAGARA HOBBY in Cheektowaga, about ten minutes from his house.
I had already decided on my purchase if they had it, the recent release of the AMT PEERLESS LOGGING TRAILER.

Well, I walked in, went back to the model section and there it was -- along with all the other AMT truck releases. So, that was part of my "purchase". I will write about my other acquisition at a latter time.

What I had NOT taken into consideration (this being my first logging truck) was the need for a donor tractor to complete the rig.

I gave some thought to utilizing my PETE 359 -- NO WAY after what I went through to get that kit!! So I opted for the MACK R685 -- it looked just right for the job.

First I had to make some very minor modifications, like the removal of the MACK'S fifth wheel to make room for the front "bunk" and rack. That done, the rest was a cinch --

ROADWAY TRUCK ---- FINISHED

A follow up on the AMT / ERTL MACK DM600 and AMT TRAILMOBILE Double Trailers -- DONE!!!
I tried decals and color was too thin and the decal would not form to the ribs on the trailer's sides. So, while not correct, I opted for signs with the ROADWAY LOGO -- I think it looks OK!!

Finishing Up The Roadway Trio --- AMT's DOUBLE HEADER

This is one of those kits by AMT that I always wanted to build, and I thought it would look good with the MACK DM 600 Roadway truck.

One problem -- I knew this kit was a limited production kit, last done by STEVENS before AMT was acquired by ROUND 2 LLC. Also, where does one find 1/25 scale ROADWAY trailer markings in decal form?

The first problem was a fairly easy internet search that came up with three sites that "said" this kit was available. Of course you start with the cheapest offering and place an order -- thought all was going well until the order was canceled because the item was no longer in stock and the online store didn't know if they could still get it.

So, onto the next cheapest offering. Only this time I placed a call to check to see if what the site showed as available actually was. You can guess the answer.

Onto the third offering, called, left a message, and was called back --- HOO RAY -- they had it and it shipped out today!!! OF COURSE THIS WAS ACTUALLY THE FIRST PLACE I HAD FOUND THIS KIT AT!!!

That was one problem solved -- NOW PART 2, THE DECALS

HO scale only ---

I do not have the means to make my own, so I am currently using cutouts printed on paper from the blow ups of the HO scale -- NOT SURE ABOUT THIS!!

SO, does anyone have a better suggestion???? The ROADWAY lettering for the trailer sides nearly takes up a standard 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper. I have sized the decals and they are in jpg format.

HELP!!!!!

Happy Birthday Jerry Austin

Those of you familiar with that old TV series of many years ago , "CANNONBALL", will have no problems recognizing the character name of JERRY AUSTIN, he was MIKE MALONE'S sidekick. In the past year he has become mine.

But let's not get confused here, my JERRY AUSTIN is not the guy from that old TV series, that is just his handle over at HANK'S TRUCK FORUM - his real name is John.

Jerry is celebrating a birthday on January 12. This post is his birthday present.

Recently he started a post over on HANK'S TRUCK FORUM that concerns ROADWAY TRUCKS and how their markings have changed over the years. It was in part due to that post that I decided to rebuild a favorite model of mine mentioned in a previous post here -- THE MACK DM-600.

Well Jerry, I am sorry that I ain't giving this to you!!!! But you can enjoy it here and on the thread when I post it. In the meantime, have a GREAT BIRTHDAY my friend --- I'm looking forward to another year of your friendship!!

Oh yea, I forgot ---- THESE PICTURES ARE FREE TO USE!!!!!!














This model is available through MODEL ROUNDUP -- MAKE SURE IT ' S THE DM-600