Large Scale Central

While awaiting the Box Cab metal castings

General Discussion
#1

… I’m working on an end cab conversion package for the HLW Mack critter. I will do a little assembly, detailing and finishing booklet along with some parts. The booklet will be available as a seperate item. The conversion will include a new radiator, decking panels, hood top, exposed engine, trans and gas tank along with sanding boxes. A guage panel and seat will be included to get you started on an interior. Some new journal castings too. You will need to gather a small supply of styrene but the booklet will include all the necessary drawings for all the parts and several variations as well as extensive painting and weathering instructions along with B&W and color photos to aid you with your model. Stay tuned and watch my website for details.

Cheers,
Tom Yorke

#2

Tom ,
Will the proposed fittings be flexible enough (dimensionally) to fit other popular manufacturers vehicles ? I would expect that you could make more sales --if that’s what your aim is in part— if it could have a “variant” pack , such as Bachmann , etc… So make an HLW conversion , a Bachmann conversion , and so forth . Just a thought .
Obviously , the buyer would have to sort out the drive system .

Mike

#3

Thanks for your input Mike. The parts can be used for any number of critters. I will not be doing a cab or frame for this conversion. The Mack units are to be used. As such, almost all of the parts can be used for whatever critter you want to make with the exception of the deck plates as these fit the Mack specifically. The engine, hood top, radiator, journals and a few other details can be used anywhere you see fit. The HLW Mack just seems to be a popular little thing that isn’t too expensive and is easy to bash. The Box Cab on the other hand is a complete kit, less motor block and some “exotic” details (should you want them as window dressing). At this point, there is no other small critter donor available - over the counter, so to speak, that I am aware of except for the Aristo L’l Critter, which is what you need (motor block) for the Box Cab. Because you use most of the Mack model, my conversion kit will not be anywhere near the cost of the Box Cab kit. Just thought I’d do something that looked neat with lots of detail but didn’t cost too much.

Tom

#4

Tom ,
I like your thinking . I make a lot of scratch stuff , but am not so daft as to waste my valuable modelling time making stuff that is available ready done --or half done , and I don’t mean that offensively .
A little while back , in the modelling section (I think ) you will find a railbus that I did , it is scratch except the cab, those are available from 18 wheeler kits , better than I could do , so why not steal it ? Which reminds me , it should be dry enough by now to have the finishing touches applied .
Even further back is an MOW vehicle by my son Martyn , who used a readily available cab and scratched the rest .
There are lots of modellers like us who are quite happy to build on something made by others , like you are proposing . If you make it more flexible , more people will be interested—and may even post the results here to show off what can be done with your starter for encouragement .
So keep up the good work , and the best of luck .

Mike

#5

Tom…love you site!

I am even more interested in this idea…the box cab is sweet, but I have a ton of RSC stuff to buy first, and I have a mack-well almost-another story.

I’ll be watching!

cale