Brandon Hintz started with an Alloy Forms GMC Astro white metal cab that he removed the molded on details from. Brian removed the headlights from the front and sanded the profile down because he felt the molded ones stick out too far. He also removed the molded on windshield wipers and scratchbuilt his own and added the two grab handles below the windshield. He removed the molded on grab handles on the side of the cab and made his own. He also added the louvers for the HVAC intake that is between the grille and the right headlight but unfortunately the purple paint did a pretty good job of making that detail pretty much disappear. Mirrors are from A-line with scratchbuilt convex mirrors added. The interior is from a Lindberg Astro that Brian reworked to more closely match the profile of the real Astro dash. Under the cab sits a modified -Herpa engine made to more closely resemble a period correct Cummins NTC-300 and is painted in authentic Cummins beige. For the chassis Brandon started with a Dennis Aust front suspension and oil pan/transmission kit. The rest of the frame back is scratchbuilt out of styrene channel. The differentials are from Dennis Aust mated to a Reyco style four spring suspension. Brandon added scratchbuilt air tanks and full brake gear including air brake chambers (30/30 Maxis on forward differential and 30 service only on rear differential) with full air line plumbing and air valves. The fuel tanks were scratchbuilt along with the battery boxes and frame mounted air cleaner canister. Tail lights are scratchbuilt and the fifth wheel is a modified Herpa part. The Luberfiner filter canister is from Alloy Forms and rear mud flaps are from Plano, slightly reworked. The front wheels are from A-line and rears are from Dennis Aust. The tires are A-Line that Brandon smoothed the sidewalls on so they look like radial tires and not the bias-ply variety. All bright work is either Alclad II or Bare Metal Foil. Previously featured in Photo Gallery 652.

Posted March 22, 2015