discussion Lee Drennen’s AM General cargo truck

[Lee Drennen]

Back in 1990 when I started my Trucking career I use to see these trucks all the time on the Interstates and the Railroads on Flatcars. I never cared to much for this truck until about 10 years ago when I started taking a closer look at these beasts. Now I’m hooked on them. This is my first “Modern” Millitary Model I’ve built. I bought this off of eBay and it was missing the instructions, shelter building, and the cab top. I now have 5 of these in the stash now if this build goes well I plan on building more. This is what I did this evening.

 

[Mini Me]

Good progress so far Lee. It is sort of an ugly duckling, though I suppose it could grow on you.
I'll follow along and see if I can't find something to learn from all this. Rick H

 

[Guest]

I built one of those (without the shelter) aeons ago but don’t recall any problems. These Italeri kits tend to fit fine, with perhaps a little work needed but nowhere near as bad as some other manufacturers.

 

[Lee Drennen]

Rick. Thanks for the complement and It is ugly it took over 30 years for it to grow on me lol

Jakko. Thanks for stopping by. So far the fit is very nice like you said it goes together easy

 

[Lee Drennen]

Worked on the frame last night. Still much more to add to it

 

[Guest]

So far the fit is very nice like you said it goes together easy

Well, if you’ve got another four then by the time you get to the end, any fit problems they may have, won’t be any longer because you’ll correct for them without even realising it

 

[Jim R]

Hi Lee
Looks a rather decent kit. You're off to a good start and hopefully the missing parts will be easily scratched.
Jim

 

[Lee Drennen]

Jakko. Thanks for the complement I think your right some of the issues have worked them selves out. While building the frame I remembered building those old AMT trucks when I was a kid and how the frame was so had due to fit issues but I managed to pull it off. This truck is a piece of cake to build compared to those old AMT kits.

Jim. Thanks for the complement and stopping by. I have some of these in the stash I robbed the top out of one and they make a aftermarket soft top I plan on buying for one of my M923

 

[Lee Drennen]

I finished up the frame and got some paint on it

 

[outrunner]

Coming along nicely Lee.

Andy.

 

[mrtintheweb]

lol at me. In my head I thought...... ‘The dozy fool put the rear springs on upside down’ but then I remembered that the strange layout of the leaf springs employed were to push both ways and support weight as well as give axle give.
Not sure why I needed to state this but the design is counter intuitive.

looks good so far. I don’t see that it’s missing the shelter as a negative IMHO as it looks wrong anyway.
T

 

[Lee Drennen]

lol at me. In my head I thought...... ‘The dozy fool put the rear springs on upside down’ but then I remembered that the strange layout of the leaf springs employed were to push both ways and support weight as well as give axle give.
Not sure why I needed to state this but the design is counter intuitive.

looks good so far. I don’t see that it’s missing the shelter as a negative IMHO as it looks wrong anyway.
T

Thanks Mack Trucks has this design for well over 90 years it’s called camelback suspension I’ve drove lots of Mack’s with this type suspension. The suspension was really designed for off road use nothing to to do with weight distribution more for very roughy terrain for its low profile design something a Reyco 4 spring or a Hendrickson walking beam couldn’t do or a Torsion bar suspension where this suspension had its most problems was on soft sand bars when I had to go on a soft sand/gravel bar to get a load of sand this is where the Hendrickson and Reyco would over come this camelback suspension

 

[Lee Drennen]

Andy. Thanks this is moving faster than I thought it would. Thanks for the complement

Well I’m calling it a night here’s some more progress. I painted the wheels and built the spare tire carrier and exhaust stack

 

[Steve Jones]

Nice update Lee. Nice to see you have started on the wet stuff

 

[Lee Drennen]

Painted the tires and added the spare tire/exhaust stack piece to the chassis before I called it a night

 

[scottie3158]

Lee,
That is a very nice neat build and looks very good.

 

[Lee Drennen]

Steve. Thanks for stopping by and the complement it’s been a very enjoyable build

Paul. Thanks for stopping by and the complement. I’m having a lot of funwith this build so far

 

[Lee Drennen]

The cab is on and now for some detail work

 

[mrtintheweb]

Wheels and tyres look perfect. I can never get them so neat. I always wonder why when kits are designed they don't make hubs and wheels as separate parts to save us all a headache.
T

 

[Mini Me]

That's looking good Lee. Rick H.