Heartland Die-Cast & Promotions' Blog

Kreilkamp Trucking Humble Beginnings to Major Carrier and Diecast Pete 352s

Diecast Promotions Peterbilt 352 Livestock Trailer Kreilkamp Trucking 64 Scale Truck Product Review

Boom! whats going on everyone?

I’m Logan the 64th gear jammer Skeele and this is toy talk.

How many of you heard of Kreilkamp trucking before? DCP by First Gear released two different color scheme Kreilkamp Pete 352s with livestock trailers and I’m going to review those trucks together in this blog since the differences are only in the paint scheme.

In 1935 Kreilkamp Trucking opened for business in Allenton Wisconsin with four straight trucks owned by John H. Kreilkamp.

He started out by hauling livestock.

In 1947 Walter Kreilkamp, John H. Kreilkamp’s son, took over running the business and expanded the fleet.

John R. Kreilkamp started working for his dad Walter in 1957 by driving truck at the age of 16.

click to watch the product review video on my youtube channel

In 1965 John R. Kreilkamp became the president of the company. John ran the company very successfully and under his leadership more than double the size of the company.

2003 brought about a change in leadership as Tim, Mike, & Amanda Kreilkamp took over the operation and continue to grow the company.

Today their trucks log more than 24 million miles per year mainly in the Midwest and Northeastern United States.

Trailers include Reefer, Flatbed, Drop Deck, Dry Van, Curtainsiders, Rolling floors, & Walking floors. They haul all kinds of commodities for customers.

Now on with the review of the two Pete 352s by DCP by First Gear.

Pete 352s with Livestock Trailers for Krielkamp

Well, you may have noticed that this time I’ve got two trucks stacked up here in boxes, and I’m going to do both these trucks in the same video because they’re both Peterbilt 352s with the 110 inch double bunk sleepers. They’re both tandem-axle Wilson Silver Star livestock trailers. And they’re both for the same company Kreilkamp Trucking. So I figured I’ll just do both trucks at the same time.

These trucks were a dealer exclusive at First Gear. So, there were not a whole lot of them available to the public, just whatever number were ordered by the dealers.

As you can see, they have the standard DCP boxes with the DCP inserts. They are in the DCP 2 piece blister clamshells that are normally taped together with the extra set of mirrors taped to them. Both of these boxes do have the mural background, It’s just a nice piece so, that the box doesn’t look like that sitting on the shelf brown cardboard.

I’ll open them up one at a time and put both of them out together. The first one is item number 60-0845, which has the yellow and white Kreilkamp Peterbilt 352. It’s got the livestock trailer and the 352 cab over. Then we’ll move these back and I’ll go on and open up the other truck. The other one is item number 60-0844. It’s the black Kreilkamp and it is in a black Pete 352. I’ll set these cabs aside and start with the trailers

Wilson Silver Star Livestock Trailer "Kreilkamp Trucking" — Wilson Silver Star Livestock Trailer “Kreilkamp Trucking”

They’re the DCP Wilson Silver Star 53 foot punch side, tandem axle livestock trailers. They have the decks inside, even though it’s kind of hard to see without opening the door or opening the sides. The black Peterbilt comes with the livestock trailer that has the black roof. It has the black front, with Kreilkamp written up in the nameplate. It’s got some nice little blue pinstriping details right there on the front. You can also see all the warning and safety stickers that are tampoed on it.

Underneath this one has a nice black bottom and it has the standard screw down type landing gear that DCP is well known for. Turning it to the back you also see it has a black back. The door roll-up door is gray, and it does roll up. So, you can actually see inside the trailer. You can see the deck, the gating, the sides are all in there. It’s a very nice trailer inside. It’s got the silver, the Wilson logo, the Silver Star logo, and some more of that blue pinstriping trim detail on the back.

Yellow Pete 352 with Livestock Trailer Kreilkamp Trucking

Underneath this one has a nice black bottom and it has the standard screw down type landing gear that DCP is well known for.

Black Pete 352 with Livestock Trailer Kreilkamp Trucking

Turning it to the back you also see it has a black back. The door roll-up door is gray, and it does roll up. So, you can actually see inside the trailer. You can see the deck, the gating, the sides are all in there. It’s a very nice trailer inside. It’s got the silver, the Wilson logo, the Silver Star logo, and some more of that blue pinstriping trim detail on the back.

click to watch the product review video on my youtube channel

Also, it’s got a photo-etched part that protects the brake lights on the trailer on one side only, which is the side they’re always backing into the cattle chutes. You can see the brake lights are tampoed. It’s got the ICC bumper and it’s got the correct clearance lights all around.

Also, you can see on this trailer, it has the chrome weights on the bottom of the mud flaps. And it’s also got the chrome longhorn weight in the center of the mudflaps. Pretty nice details.

The other side, same details as on the driver’s side. It has your clearance lights, dot striping, and your nice punch side. It’s a nice metal side. It’s not a die-cast side. It’s just an aluminum side that’s been punched, just like the real one.

Set that trailer aside and pick up the other one.

The other one features all of the same details as the first one does, but you can see it doesn’t have the black. It has the aluminum top on it

Turning it to the front it says Kreilkamp, but it doesn’t have any of the extra fancy pinstriping details and it is just an aluminum color. It just has the warning badges, safety badges, Silver Star decals.

Underneath, this trailer has your standard aluminum bottom with landing gear. The landing gear does screw down just like the other trailer. And because this bottom is silver, I’ll show you the underside trailer detail because it’s the same on both, but it doesn’t show up with the black background on the other trailer. On both trailers you’ve got your air brake canisters on both axles. You’ve got working suspension, nice soft rubber dual tires. The tires are mounted on 10 whole polished aluminum wheels. It has nice axle detail, and the rest of the suspension detail.

Towards the back. It’s, got the same chrome on the bottom on the mud flap for weight. And it’s also got the chrome longhorn in the center of each mud flap. The Longhorn is pretty common on cattle trailers. It has the same clearance lights. But it doesn’t have all the extra fancy, pinstriping details. It just has the aluminum back. The door rolls up and it shows off the detailed interior which is exactly the same as the first one.

Round to the passenger side. Nothing’s really different.

Now how they got those mud flaps to have the chrome parts on them. For the weight and the longhorn they actually chrome plated, the entire mud flaps, and then painted the black parts on to make it look like the black mud flaps with chrome pieces. Pretty neat how they do that. And it works well. You really only see the fact that they didn’t paint the backside of the mud flap behind the wheels, but you probably wouldn’t notice that anyway.

Setting the trailers aside. Now, let’s go on and talk about the trucks.

I’ll start off with the yellow one, which came with the all silver, less fancy trailer. It’s the DCP Peterbilt 352 with the 110 inch bunk on it. It’s in a yellow and white paint scheme for Kreilkamp Trucking of Allenton Wisconsin. This one features the battery box and the air tanks, twin chrome fuel tanks, chrome quarter fenders, polished chrome 10-hole wheels all around. It’s got the dual chrome exhaust with mufflers, not straight pipes. And it’s got the dual intakes for the air. Also this one’s got that funky grab bar step thing that Peterbilt made. It’s got mirrors on both sides. It’s got the one spotlight up here pointed backwards, and it’s got individual turn indicators.

Also. It’s got the nice little Peterbilt logo right there on under the door.

Up on the roof. You can see it’s got the bullet style clearance lights, dual air horns, and the roof mounted air conditioner.

Around to the front. We see this, guy’s got a tapered bumper with driving lights in it. The dual headlights, a chrome grille, and the Peterbilt logo above the grille. The grab bars and the windshield wipers are molded in and then tampoed, instead of individual parts. Kind of makes this a little cheaper, but it still looks nice. It gets the idea. It’s got the hard plastic windows and the interior is dark brown with a gray debt steering wheel. It has a visor up above the windshield.

Then let’s go on and turn him to the passenger side. It’s got the other fuel tank, quarter fender, mud flaps, chrome wheels, and the same goofy step. The vent is painted. It’s got the extra tiny window down low on the door which is a clear hard plastic window. And it’s got the little mirror there so that the driver can see what’s beside him. Also a nice little touch, they tampoed the door handle silver. It’s got a molded in step below the door and it’s got that Peterbilt logo right there. The rivet detail is not crisply defined, but it’s there and the paint covers it pretty nicely. It has a real nice paint finish on it.

Around to the back. You see, it’s got white Peterbilt branded mud flaps, the brake lights, and fifth wheel. It’s got a pogo stick with airlines on it. Turning it up a little bit you can see it’s got a chrome diamond plate deck plate. You can see the air intakes are painted black with chrome tops on them. Pretty nice detail there. The back of the cab also has an opening where it would for the engine.

The other thing, this cab does tilt and it lifts up where it shows off a white six cylinder turbocharged diesel engine. It’s got an inline six.

And then we’ll turn him over. Underneath it’s got air canisters on the axles, differentials, drive shafts, bottom of the engine detail and air cleaner details. You can sort of see the exhaust lines, front suspension with positional wheels, not steerable they click in place. You can see the bottom of the air tanks. Most of this detail is painted black, except the bottom of the engine is painted white on this truck. Black was pretty standard for chassis on these trucks back in the day, some guys did run painted ones, but most guys just ran the black from the factory.

Now we’ll set him aside and pick up the other guy.

It features all the same details that the yellow one did, but it has a much different paint job on it. This one’s still for Kreilkamp Trucking Inc. of Allenton Wisconsin, but this one is all named Thunder Road. You can see at tampoed up there on the top of the sleeper. It’s a black cab, but it has a white and blue pin striping all over it, including on both of the toolbox doors. Well, this was a fancy rig. You can see the turn signals are a red on the back side and on the front they’re amber colored. It’s also got the white driving lights. The same dual headlights, chrome grille, and chrome tapered bumper. But on the front, you can see all that fancy blue pinstriping and the number seven written there. The beautiful Peterbilt logo is there. This one’s got the same brown interior with the gray steering wheel. However, instead of it, body matched visor, this one has a chrome visor above the windshield.

Up on top, you can again see the chrome with amber lenses for the bullet style roof clearance lights, and you can see dual air horns. Also again, it’s got that wonderful rooftop air conditioner.

On the back, it’s also got the white mud flaps with the Peterbilt logos on them. Brake lights, airlines, and on the back of the cab it’s got the same dual exhaust and dual air intakes. But this time the air intakes are all chrome. Unlike on the other truck, that were black with the chrome tips. These are all Chrome. The chrome deck plate is there. On the back of the cab you can see a little more blue pinstriping detail.

Turning them a little so we can see under the cab, these cabs just tilt. There’s sort of snap in place, but I would do not trust it to hold that cab down. To pick it up by the cab will probably result in the chassis being dropped and broken especially since these cabs will just snap right off the frame completely with the way they’re mounted. But anyway, with the cab tilted, you can see the white engine. You can see all that fancy piping for the exhaust and the air intake going into the air cleaner and into the turbochargers. They did a real nice job. It’s even got a pretty nice under cab detail where you would see it sitting tilted.

Now turning him around to the other side. You can see it’s got that same fancy pinstriping, the Thunder Road and other really fancy graphics. It’s also got that goofy step on this model. You can see the door handle is actually far more defined because of the black, it stands out better. It’s got the mirror for that little lower window so the driver can see.

Now I’m going to close these guys up and hook them up so you can see them out of the box all hooked together.

Isn’t that beautiful. Man, that black just shines.

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Now. Let’s get both of them in the same shot here.

I don’t know which one I like better the black and the blue pinstriping or the more traditional yellow and white I’m kind of leaning towards this yellow and white with the less ornate trailer. I’m thinking that’s actually much more my style. The other one just a little too much flash for me, but that’s all right. We know both kinds of collectors are out there and we’re gonna enjoy both trucks.

And there you go, guys. That’s the 352 model cab over Peterbilts with the 110 inch bumper to back of cab double bunk sleeper in black and in yellow and white for Kreilkamp trucking. Both with Wilson 53 foot Silver Star livestock trailers.

Freightliner Cascadia with Reefer Kreilkamp Trucking

Kreilkamp certainly is a company serving America with pride in their trucks. Those 2 DCP by First Gear trucks really shine and will surely add to your collection.

Have you ever heard of Kreilkamp Trucking? Also do you have these models in your collection?

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Please go on and share this blog post with your friends.

Thanks for reading

I’m Logan “The 64th Gear Jammer” Skeele

Please go on and share this blog post with your friends.

Thanks for reading

I’m Logan “the 64th Gear Jammer” Skeele

P.S. I would love for you to see the full video I made on the two Peterbilt 352 COEs with Wilson Silver Star Livestock Trailers for Kreilkamp Trucking, please go to my YouTube channel and see it there.

Also take a moment to subscribe so that you can keep up with all of my videos. I would really appreciate it so I can keep making great content for you. If you know anyone that would enjoy the content, go on and give it a share!

YouTube Product Review Video on Kreilkamp Trucking Peterbilt 352 with Livestock Trailers

1955 Diamond T 921B with Sleeper???

1955 Diamond T 921B with Integral Sleeper by NEO SCALE MODELS in 1:64th Scale Diecast & Resin Review

Boom. What’s going on everybody?

I am Logan, “the 64th Gear Jammer” Skeele and this is Toy Talk.

I’ve got another product review today on another great 1:64th scale vintage truck.

Every week I bring out new blogs on die-cast models, resin models, and the real machines to go on and follow this blog to not miss a single issue.

Today, it’s another Neo Scale Models truck though this time it’s a fifties truck by Diamond T.

click here to buy the neo scale models 1955 diamond t 921b in 64th scale

Diamond T Motor Car Company was founded in Chicago, Illinois, way back in 1905. In the beginning, the company manufactured touring cars, but found its following by making trucks. During World War II, their production was switched to military trucks that were highly successful and moving equipment in the field. After the War commercial truck production resumed resulting in some very popular trucks on the road.

US Army M19 Diamond T with Rogers Tank Retriever Trailer

Eventually the company was sold off to the White Motor Company and in 1967, it was merged with the REO Motor Car Company to become Diamond REO trucks.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE FULL PRODUCT REVIEW VIDEO OVER ON MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL

Diamond REO trucks changed hands several times and finally ceased production in 2010.

In the late seventies production ground down to only about 150 trucks a year. Making them fairly rare.

CLICK HERE TO BUY THE NEO SCALE MODELS 1955 DIAMOND T 921B IN 64TH SCALE

As a side note, Daysworth International has brought the name back and is building Euro Styled Cabover Diamond REO trucks in Australia. You can find out more about the new Diamond REO trucks at their website here: www.diamondreotrucks.com.au

2020 Diamond Reo Logo

Now on with the model review.

It’s the 1955 Diamond T 921B with integral sleeper semi-tractor by Neo scale models in 1:64 scale. Neo just keeps making us very nice vintage trucks. And they’re all extremely limited with only a few thousand of each tooling ever made.

Neo put this one in a display case where it has the hardboard sleeve, the mirror piece in the back and a clear plastic lid on top of a black plastic base. This is a great way to protect your model from getting dust on it, because these cases are much easier to dust than it is to dust the actual model.

click here to watch the full product review video over on my youtube channel

To take it off of the base is an also no big deal, all you have to do is take the two phillips head screws out that are underneath. To get him out outta here, just pop the lid off. Another feature, so that you’ll always know what your model is, the base plate actually reads out the model number.

Now to take these guys off of the base plate, make sure you hold it between the frame and the base plate.

Neo uses a resin cab on a diecast chassis to lower the quantity that they have to produce before they can break even on their toolings. Around 1,200 to 2,400 pieces maximum for a tooling, whereas in diecast you’re looking at a hundred thousand pieces generally before you actually pay for the toolings. That’s why these Neo are made for collectors, as opposed to the programs where they’re using replicas for promotional models. Most of our diecast vehicles are actually not for collectors. Collectors are secondary, the primary market is to sell them to trucking companies where the model manufacturers can make multiple runs of the same truck for promotional use at the trucking company, as opposed to selling them into us collectors as a secondary market.

As far as collectors go, we’re just going to have to embrace resin. If we want to add more variety into our collections, instead of being boring with just nothing but a bunch of Pete 379s. So, Neo’s resin cab on diecast frame is probably the best of both worlds. These little hybrids allow low production numbers, and lots of variety for us.

I’m going to take this guy off the base plate so we can really look at it. Just takes two Phillips head screws to do it, then we can just lift them up off the base plate.

If you’ll remember, Volvo came out with and advertised a conventional back in the eighties with an integral sleeper as a new feature for trucks. Well, look at this in 1955 a conventional with an integral sleeper

You can see inside the sleeper area, there is a bunk in the back.

CLICK HERE TO BUY THE NEO SCALE MODELS 1955 DIAMOND T 921B IN 64TH SCALE

The front of the cab has a bench seat. Wouldn’t that be fun. Driving a semi with a bench seat. It has a gear shift on the floor. Black painted steering wheel. A pretty nice dashboard. Most of the cab interior is brown. They really went all out on this one. The windows in this truck are vacu-formed, making them super clear. This style of window makes them a little bit soft, but a very nice window.

On the door. It reads John F Ivory Storage Company, Inc. Moving Engineers of Detroit, Michigan. This one rides on six-spoke Dayton wheels, which I believe actually were from there Mack B model truck. Those wheels are amazing with a white rim, white spoke, and white center cap. It’s got a red fuel tank hanging on the side of the frame. The steps have the black to make it look like they got the black tread on them. Underneath the mirror, it says Diamond T on the green bar, just like Diamond T did on the doors of the real trucks. There’s a door handle and a grab bar. The mirrors are very nice detail. The cab is pretty much an ivory color with white fenders and the ivory color makes sense cause its John F. Ivory.

On the fender, it’s got molded in almost clear amber plastic turn indicators. The headlights have the individual jewel style lights. The front has that really nice Diamond T grille. It also looks like it has some type of cleaner there on the bumper. There’s a license plate on the front bumper. It’s got the big center marker on the hood. The photo-etched parts on this one includes the individual windshield wipers. Be careful with those wipers because they’re easy to flick off the truck.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE FULL PRODUCT REVIEW VIDEO OVER ON MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL

Up on the roof. It’s just got clearance lights on each side and a single air horn in the middle. Around over here to the passenger side, it’s got mostly the same features as the driver’s side, but it does have the air cleaner right there mounted on the side of the hood. It has a single exhaust mounted at the back of the cab, which should probably be right for this because of that integral sleeper.

Turning them around to the back. There is a very nice, detailed vintage tread pattern tire that rides on tandem axles. The fifth wheel pivots a little bit, and it’s set up for your standard straight kingpins that you would find on DCP, Top Shelf Replicas, & First Gear, vintage trailers. The back of the cab features the rib detail molded right in. Resin really allows for super fine details to be cast in that are actually much harder to do in diecast because of the molding process. We’ve also got individual jewel style, brake lights on the back of this truck. Pretty nice little touch there.

Underneath it says 1:64 scale Diamond T 921B from 1955 and Neo Scale Models tampoed onto the frame. Also underneath, it’s got the rear differentials drive shafts and suspension systems front and rear. It’s got modest under engine and transmission detail. The same detail that was on the Neo IH Fleetstar. Wait it uses the same chassis as the IH Fleetstar.

That’s one of the things about how we can make multiple cab toolings and make these guys very durable is we can use the same chassis on multiple 1:64^th scale trucks. Since frames not really that different. The differences in 1:64^th scale is almost unmeasurable, so we can use the same diecast frame and put multiple different cabs on it. That really gives us the best of both worlds.

Neo Scale Models did a really nice job on this Diamond T 921B. This is the latest release with this tooling. They’ve also done another color, a blue one with the integral sleeper. And then they’ve also done a few releases as a day cab. All of them are very nice pieces to add to your collection. There was also a Diamond T that had a box style sleeper mounted to the frame behind the day cab.

1955 Diamond T 921B With Sleeper with Wilson Livestock Trailer

Now, this guy would look super amazing hitched up to a vintage trailer. And what I’ve got to show you here today is the Wilson livestock trailer that Top Shelf Replicas came out with. It’s a 40 foot vintage stock from the seventies, but these Diamond Ts lasted into the seventies because they were good, rugged trucks. This way you can see what it looks like with a trailer hooked up to it.

It doesn’t come with a trailer. It just comes as the cab, but I’m sure we’ve got lots and lots of vintage trailers laying around on our dioramas, so it’s no problem to find one and hitch it up.

That sharp Diamond T 921B by Neo Scale Models with integral sleeper and Wilson livestock trailer by Top Shelf Replicas wouldn’t that model look awesome sitting on your diorama or on your collection shelves.

CLICK HERE TO BUY THE NEO SCALE MODELS 1955 DIAMOND T 921B IN 64TH SCALE

What did you guys think about this obscure truck and great model?

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Thanks for reading

I’m Logan “the 64th Gear Jammer” Skeele

P.S. I would love for you to see the full product review video I made on the Neo Scale Models 1955 Diamond T 921B , please go to my YouTube channel and see it there.

2020 National Farm Toy Show Dyersville Iowa, Nov. 6-7 2020

Boom! What’s going on everyone

I’m Logan the 64th Gear Jammer Skeele Opening the warehouse doors on another episode of Toy Talk.

Click To Watch Highlights From Last Years Show

WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTS

Indoor Sales at the Former All American Homes Building (Address and Map Below)

Displays and Outdoors Sales at the National Farm Toy Museum

National Farm Toy Show ONLINE Only Auction by Tom Cromwell & Associates

Food and Drinks Available All Day

General Admission Friday November 6, 2020 ~ 11 am to 7 pm
Floor Rights Friday November 6, 2020 ~ Begin at 9 am
General Admission Saturday November 7, 2020 ~ 10 am to 6 pm
Floor Rights Saturday November 7, 2020 ~ Begin at 9 am

General Admission is only $10.00 per day
Floor Rights Passes are $25.00 and only a limited number will be available.

Map and Satellite View of the NEW Venue
1551 15th Avenue SE
Dyersville, IA 52040

Here is the Toy Farmer Flyer for the Show

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COVID 19 REQUIREMENTS

Due to the increase of Covid-19 cases, MASKS are Mandatory when entering and attending the show. This is a requirement from the Dubuque County Health Department and Toy Farmer.

Please respect the mandates so that we can have this great show.

Please read the full letter from Cathy Scheibe, CEO of Toy Farmer LTD and Promoter of the 43rd Annual National Farm Toy Show on the left.

Click Here for the Link in the Letter

Thanks for reading and I hope to see you at the Show!

Logan the 64th Gear Jammer Skeele

P.S., if you haven’t already please follow me on social media:Facebook Page ~ Blog ~ Facebook Group “64th Gear Jammers” ~ Instagram ~ Podcast “Toy Talk” ~ YouTube “Toy Talk”

Toy Talk is hosted by Logan Skeele Founder of Advantage Diecast, LLC

Who Says Fleet Trucks have to Be Boring?

1:64th Scale Diecast GP Transco Freightliner Cascadia 53’ Utility Dry Van DCP by First Gear Product Review

Boom! What’s going on Everyone?

I’m Logan the 64th Gear Jammer Skeele and this is Toy Talk!

I’ve got yet another review today. It’s a DCP by First Gear, Freightliner Cascadia with dry van trailer for GP Transco.

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click here to buy the dcp by first gear 1:64th scale GP Transco Tractor Trailer

The Real 2018 Freightliner Cascadia with Dry Van "GP Transco" — The Real 2018 Freightliner Cascadia with Dry Van “GP Transco”

GP Transco was founded on June 28th, 2006 as GP Transportation Company in Darien, Illinois. It was founded by Gedas Poviliunas while he was still a college major in finance. He is the current president of the company.

Today GP Transco is one of the fastest growing trucking companies in the industry. Their fleet consists of 400 tractors and over 550 dry van trailers.

They keep the tractors no longer than three years and their fleet consists of Volvo, Peterbilt, and Freightliner trucks, just like the one that First Gear made. Their fleet provides transportation services to all 48 contiguous US States and to Canada.

In 2018, GP Transco transported over 2.5 billion pounds of cargo while their trucks drove over 35 million miles. They did it while delivering over 25,000 loads. That’s impressive for a trucking company.

Other companies under the GP Transco umbrella are OpenRoad TMS, GP Transco Logistics, and Truck RX.

Now let’s go on and look at this First Gear piece that they made in these beautiful colors.

1:64th scale DCP by First Gear 2018 Freightliner Cascadia with 53' Utility 4000DX Dry Van "GP Transco" — 1:64th scale DCP by First Gear 2018 Freightliner Cascadia with 53′ Utility 4000DX Dry Van “GP Transco”

This is the DCP by First Gear, 2018 Freightliner Cascadia, the redesigned Cascadia, with 53’ dry van for GP Transco. This is a beautiful paint job for a fleet truck.

The model comes in the standard Die-Cast Promotions box. It’s got the nice mural in the back with the two piece clam shell to hold the truck. And of course they tape the clam shell together. And for this video, I’ve already cut the tape so that it goes a little faster. It is item number 60-0754.

Officially licensed product by Freightliner. Also the Utility trailer is a licensed product.

So let’s go on and open them up and talk it.

Inside you can see that beautiful mural back. That makes it look really nice. Otherwise it just be brown cardboard which is not so nice.

The truck itself is in the two piece blister here where it’s cradled. It holds the truck very nicely. With the Cascadia, they don’t factory mount the hood minder mirrors. DCP put two sets though in the bag back there and they give you an extra set of the door mirrors in that bag, which is really, really nice.

Now let’s go on and open them up and take out the trailer first. Then take the truck out so I can get the clam shell out of the way. Their packaging does a real nice job of protecting the item.

Now let’s go on and start off with the trailer first.

This is the Utility 53’ dry van tooling that Diecast Promotions has. It’s also got the skirts underneath where it says, drivegp.com on them and an extra clearance light there. You can see the DOT striping down the trailer side. It says this trailer is disc brake equipped, which is coming new for trailers, disc brakes

Up near the top. You can see the trailer has its roof clearance lights, just like it should have. Where most trucking companies today are going to more boring, plain Jane colors, GP Transco has chosen a three color scheme for their trailers, which actually adds quite a bit to the looks of them. It’s got that turquoise; it’s got the dark blue and then the white in a pattern instead of just straight. The logo is really sharp with that G and P there for GP.

click here to watch the full product review video on my youtube channel

Now this trailer rides on black painted 10 whole wheels instead of chrome. And it’s got the black landing gear with the screw down type landing gear, just like you’d expect on a DCP.

Turning it to the back here. The mud flaps to start off with are all black. The doors have nice detail with the cam locks are all tampoed silver. The hinges are also tampoed silver. It’s got the reflectors there, roof clearance lights, trailer number, GP Transco information for drivers and customers, a recruiting sticker for other drivers, and then their logo.

The trailer has the DOT striping on the bumper. It’s got the little bumpers that are there for hitting the dock painted black. And it’s got your standard, a dual round brake lights.

The doors on this guy do open up to reveal a nice, nice interior. It actually looks more like the refrigerated interior than there a dry van interior. It’s got the white sides and nice detail on the floor. The trailer has a silver inside to the roof.

This trailer is a real nice all diecast trailer. The interior parts are plastic. The mud flaps are plastic. The wheels are soft rubber, and there’s some plastic parts on the suspension, but the rest of this trailer is all metal.

Turning him over here to the passenger side, you can see the same details that we saw on the driver’s side of the trailer. Very nice.

Turn him underneath. It says Utility 4000DX dry van and it’s got Die-Cast Promotions Made in China cast into the base of the trailer. It’s got the rib detail for the floor and it’s got the king pin right there. And then the landing gear. This Utility van trailer also has a spare tire carrier with a spare tire and wheel on it. Tandem axle detail has brake canisters, and it’s also got a decent representation of the rest of the suspension.

As I said, there’s very little plastic on this trailer. The tire carrier, this little bit of actual detail and the interior in the trailer, that’s it. The rest of it’s all metal. And then the tires are soft, rubber.

Turning them to the front. It’s got some nice fancy graphics for the GP, Transco logo, another trailer number. Can’t find your trailer? Pull this one. sticker, Apply for gp.com and then this Utility trailer has a real nice extra part. This is a plastic extra part that has the hookups for your electric lines and your brake airlines here. Also for a little extra flash. This trailer has the chrome corners right here. I can also see roof clearance lights tampoed on the front.

Here my friends is the tractor. Isn’t that sharp. I just love that paint job, white lettering on the turquoise color. It’s just beautiful. It’s got chrome plated steps here. The door handle is black surround with silver handle. The black fuel filler there. The tractor has white lettering that says GP Transco, GP Transportation Company with USDOT number and VIN number there.

The tractor has the two windows for the sleeper, just like all the Cascadias have, and it runs the full skirts. It’s got black quarter fenders, black aero covers on the rear wheels, soft rubber tires and the rest of the aero kit here. The front wheels are chrome. The only chrome wheels on the truck.

The Cascadia tooling has an opening hood, which shows off a detailed Detroit DT-12 engine, which is the standard engine in the Freightliner Cascadia.

Closing the hood. You can see the air intake grille here, and it’s also got that place where those mirrors mount for the minder mirrors that aren’t factory installed. The door mirrors though are already installed.

Turning around to the front. He’s got a beautiful chrome grille, individual jewel style headlights with the turn signal painted amber. This guy does not have the visor, but it has the roof clearance lights right there on the cab. A lot of these Cascadias don’t run visors. It’s got the hard plastic windows that are clear, so you can see the beautiful interior, which is all gray and features driver and passenger seat and steering wheel. Nice detail for the dash and a gear shift lever in there. Sleeper details are kind of forgotten. But with those two tiny windows, you can’t see in there anyway. Diecast Promotions also put the big GP up on top of the sleeper.

The tractor has the black painted lower air dam, which is normally just a dark gray fiberglass piece under the front bumper faces. It’s got your driving lights tampoed on and it’s got the beautiful body match bumper.

Over the passenger side, it’s got the same details that you would expect to see and the same details that were on the driver’s side. Only it’s got this extra mirror here that’s above the door pointed down so the driver can see what’s beside him.

This truck features, positional steering, not steerable it’s positional. It clicks in place and stays there, which is okay. We can show it off with wheels straight or turned.

Turn them around to the back. The tractor has the fifth wheel. It’s got the mud flaps. You got your two brake lights with a single backup light, which is standard. The sides of the aero kits are actually attached to the mudflap brackets, which they are on the real truck. It’s got a chrome ladder in there to get up onto the chrome deck plate. It’s got a chrome grab bar, so you can lift yourself up and it’s got a chrome bar up here, which the brake airlines and electric lines hang off of. Plus, it’s got the airlines and electric lines. It’s got a light there for a work light on both sides, kind of hard to get to that other one, because it doesn’t want to show, but it’s in there. And then they got the truck number painted right up there, which is kind of funny because, oh, they’ve got the truck number up on the front quarter fender as well.

CLICK HERE TO BUY THE DCP BY FIRST GEAR 1:64TH SCALE GP TRANSCO TRACTOR TRAILER

Now let’s turn him underneath. It’s obvious he’s got the underbody exhaust, cause I didn’t see any stack on the back. So, there’s the SRC complicated exhaust system with the underbody tail pipe, the chrome fuel tanks. There’s the ladder. There’s your battery box, which is chrome. And there’s also your chrome air tanks. The rest of the under detail is painted black except for one little part on the engine, which is painted silver. The tractor has front suspension and it’s got rear suspension with differentials on the axles and drive shafts, connecting them all.

Overall DCP does an amazing job and First Gear is keeping them up. So I’m very happy with the way things are going. Now let’s hook this guy up and to do so. I’m going to have to lower the landing gear a little bit, or raise the landing gear, I should say so, they will hitch you up.

There we go, all hitched up, oops got to go on and close the back doors. You can see what she looks like.

There it is. The 2018 Freightliner Cascadia high roof sleeper with 53 foot Utility dry van trailer for GP Transco. Isn’t that paint job sharp. I know most guys aren’t really into fleet trucks, but these fleet trucks are the bulk of the trucks that run up and down the highway. And whenever we can get a fancy paint job on one that’s even better.

First Gear has done an amazing job on making this model. They used all DCP toolings, which were phenomenal. They’re probably the best all diecast truck toolings that have been made in 1:64th scale.

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And every collection needs these trucks. Now, if you’ve got this model, please let me know. Or what do you think of this model? What, what do you think did they do right? Or what did they do wrong or what should they have added to it?

Click here to email me your thoughts on this truck

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I’m Logan “the 64th Gear Jammer” Skeele

P.S. If you would like to see the full product review video I made on the DCP by First Gear 2018 Freightliner Cascadia with 53′ Utility Dry Van Trailer for GP Transco, please go to my YouTube channel and see it there.

My Product Review Video on GP Transco Freightliner Cascadia

Turbine Tractors – Passing Fancy or Great Idea – You Decide

International HT-340 & HT-341 Experimental Turbine Tractors & the 1:16th Scale SpecCast Resin Models…

Boom, whats goin’ on everybody?

I am Logan, the 64th Gear Jammer Skeele, and this is Toy Talk.

As you know, IH was an innovative company and produced a large variety of agricultural and other products.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE IH TURBINE TRACTOR VIDEO ON MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL

William Deering founded the Deering Harvester Company in 1874. The Deering Harvester Company and McCormick Harvesting Machine Company, along with three smaller agricultural equipment firms merged in 1902 to form the International Harvester Company.

Today I am going to talk about one of their most famous and innovative products that never was intended to reach production. The experimental turbine powered tractor, the HT-340. The HT stood for Hydrostatic Turbine.

While Allis-Chalmers was researching and experimenting with their fuel cell tractor, IH was researching turbine powered engines to see if they might have applications in agriculture.

International engineers began working on development of an experimental hydrostatic transmission in the 1950s. At the same time, they were working on development of the 340 series tractors. This series was supposed to have the new hydrostatic transmission, but the transmission was not perfected until after production of the 340 ended in 1963.

click here to buy the International Harvester wall clock – Only $14.88 Plus Shipping

A side note: the hydrostatic transmission finally came on the market in 1967 in the IH 656 Hydro tractor. The hydrostatic transmission remained an option for many years to come.

The 1950’s and 60’s was the age of jet engines and jet airplanes and IH became really interested in jet turbine engines. The IH R&D group wanted in on the development action so they suggested to the engineers that they test the hydrostatic transmission using a small “Jet” turbine engine from IH’s subsidiary, the Solar Aircraft Co. This was to see if the hydrostatic transmission would work.

It did, and in 1961 the international HT-340 turbine experimental tractor was the result.

The Solar Aircraft Company subsidiary was a major manufacturer of small turbine engines. Solar developed a small jet engine to power the new “space age” looking experimental HT-340 tractor. The tractor was way ahead of its time. It resembled a car more than a tractor and it did not sound like any tractor of its time.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE IH TURBINE TRACTOR VIDEO ON MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL

The IH HT-340 tractor made its first appearance for public view in July 1961 in Lincoln, Nebraska. This was at the University of Nebraska’s 10th annual Tractor Day. The tractor proved to be a big hit with the viewers. IH received praise for their innovation and design from tractor day attendees.

Over the following winter, the HT-340 underwent major repairs and some modifications. Once completed, the HT-340 tractor, now known as the HT-341, was again shown to the public in 1962.

Modifications included a three-point hitch, stabilized steering, larger tires, rear lights, enhanced controls, a new fuel-filtering system and a new color scheme.

The HT-340 was blue and white.

The updated HT-341 was red and white.

SpecCast made these two beautiful 1:16th scale replicas of the IH HT-340 and the IH HT-341 tractors in resin. They are very limited production models. They made them in resin because that’s the only way they could do it economically for the consumer.

CLICK HERE TO BUY THE INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER WALL CLOCK – ONLY $14.88 PLUS SHIPPING

Both of these tractors were exactly the same, which means they’re not entirely perfect, but they’re close enough to represent each tractor. They are based on the HT-341 which is the only surviving prototype to measure and photograph. That means the HT-340 is not quite right as it didn’t have a few parts that were on the HT-341.

Starting off with the IH HT-341, 4 you can see the molded fiberglass body around it, the beautiful blue and white paint scheme. On the top of the hood you can see the jet exhaust port with grille over it and in the front you can see the jet engine air intake along with the IH Logo.

Underneath, you can see the hydraulic lines for the steering. It’s got the standard IH 340 front axle on it, which was for the 340 tractors that they were already producing.

Turning him to the back. You can see the hydraulic motors on the hydrostatic transmission. There’s not a whole lot of other detail underneath to show because most of the really cool parts of this tractor are under the hood, but they still replicated the tractor very well.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE IH TURBINE TRACTOR VIDEO ON MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL

Up Top, SpecCast did a great job replicating the full, detailed dashboard. It’s got the headlights in the fenders and then the fuel tank is wrapped around the seat.

On the back, SpecCast put the rear lights on that were not on the HT-340.
There’s also a three point hitch, which was not on the HT-340. The rear lights and three point hitch were only on the HT-341, but SpecCast use the same tooling for both tractor models to save on tooling costs.

The model has both brake pedals so that you could steer it with the brakes or you could stop with the brakes. It also has a perfect replica of the steering wheel, the levers and the full detailed dashboard.

Then we come over here to the HT-341. Again, all the same details as SpecCast used the same tooling for both tractors. But if you’ll notice it’s got the three point hitch and the rear lights. That’s correct for the HT-341. It was supposed to have those which were not on the HT-340.

CLICK HERE TO BUY THE INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER WALL CLOCK – ONLY $14.88 PLUS SHIPPING

SpecCast replicated the white and red paint scheme on the HT-340 perfectly. This would be more traditional colors for IH but that blue still is pretty sharp. However, if they really wanted to make it a true, IH they would have reversed the white and the red, but that’s okay. This is the way International Harvester made it. So that’s the way SpecCast made the model.

These tractors are all resin bodies.

The wheels and the tires are also resin pieces. They’re not rubber on plastic. The wheels and tires were made specifically for this tooling and they weren’t used again by SpecCast.

click here to watch the ih turbine tractor video on my Youtube channel

You can also note that the two tractors have different wheels. The IH HT-340 has wheel weights on the front wheels. And it looks like a heavier wheel turned outward on the rear. Whereas the HT-341 has the rear wheel turned inward. The HT-341 doesn’t have front wheel weights.

SpecCast did a really nice job replicating these two very rare prototype tractors and they’re a real standout and a collection for their uniqueness, historical significance, and very limited production numbers.

CLICK HERE TO BUY THE INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER WALL CLOCK – ONLY $14.88 PLUS SHIPPING

The space age looks and high visibility body, made the HT-340 a real stand out. However, that was one of the drawbacks to HT-340 tractor. It did not weigh enough to achieve real tractive power.

Overall, the tractor was noisy, demanded to much fuel, could not work in a dusty environment, and unlike the Allis-Chalmers fuel cell tractor, it simply was not heavy enough. Despite all the drawbacks the concept of using a turbine engine to power a farm tractor worked.

The International HT-340 set two records:

First being the first “jet turbine” powered tractor.

Second being the first to employ a hydrostatic transmission.

International Harvester never put the HT-340 or HT-341 into production. However, from the beginning of development they never intended to put it into production anyway. It was always just to be a one-off prototype.

Today we can still see the prototype experimental tractor due to International Harvester’s generosity. The HT-341 was added to the collection at the Smithsonian Institution in 1967.

Occasionally the Smithsonian sends the International HT-341 tractor out on tour.

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What did you guys think about this little gem from the IH archives of discarded technology?

Click Here to Send me Your Thoughts Here.

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Thanks for reading

I’m Logan “the 64th Gear Jammer” Skeele

P.S. I would love for you to see the full video I made on the IH Turbine Tractor, please go to my YouTube channel and see it there.

International Turbine Tractor YouTube Video

A foot note:
How did IH get into the aerospace and Jet turbines industry you asked? Well IH, as you know, was into all kinds of equipment, tractors, cars, and trucks. So, airplanes were a logical direction for IH to go. So IH purchased the Solar aircraft Company.

The Solar Aircraft Company traces its history to the 1927 founding of the Prudden-San Diego Airplane Company, which became the Solar Aircraft Company in 1929.

Convinced that the gas turbine engine would become the future of Solar. Solar invested heavily in R and D in gas turbines. It was Solar’s knowledge of small gas turbines that attracted International Harvester to purchase the company in the early 1960’s. Solar then became a wholly owned subsidiary of International Harvester.

IH sold its Solar Turbines subsidiary on May 31, 1981, to Caterpillar Tractor Co. who continues operating the subsidiary today.

1:64th Scale DCP by First Gear Peterbilt 389 Brenner Chemical Tankers for Time D.C. Product Review

Time D.C. runs a nice owner operator like fleet. Those are company trucks, but their fleet looks like owner-operators where they’re all fancy show trucks. And that’s the two Peterbilt 389s with Brenner chemical tankers for Time D.C. Out of Rockport, Indiana.

Boom! What’s going on everyone

I’m Logan the 64th Gear Jammer Skeele Opening the warehouse doors on another episode of Toy Talk.

DCP by First Gear has released two awesome 1:64^th scale trucks by Diecast Promotions Peterbilt 389’s with Tankers for a company out of Rockport Indiana.

Time DC prides themselves on their incredible working relationships with customers.

click here to buy the time d.c. Pete 389 in red

click here to buy the time d.c. Pete 389 in black

Time offers Tanker Services through their fleet of over 100 tanker trailers. They haul virtually every hazardous liquid and have the certifications and expertise to do it safely. They even haul dry and liquid food-grade freight and liquids including alcohol.

Not only does Time D.C. haul to any location in the continental USA, they haul to and from Canada with certifications to haul to any port in the US or Canada.

If you have any tanker needs, give Time D.C. a call with their professional drivers and first class show trucks.

Now let’s take a look at these two beautiful replicas of Time D.C. Peterbilt 389s with Brenner Trailers.

Okay, guys, what I have here are two Peterbilt, 389s with Brenner chemical tanker trailers for Time D.C. of Rockport, Indiana. DCP by First Gear brought both of these Pete 389 Brenner tanker trailer trucks out at the same time. They’re even sequential item numbers. And because they’re so similar, I’m just going to do both of them in the same email. Like I did back when I did the Pete 352s with livestock trailers for Kreilkamp Trucking. I just did both in the same email.

Now let’s go on and start off with the first one, which is the red one. It is item number 60-0786. I’m going to open them up. They both come in the standard DCP box with two part blister and the nice mural in the back. I’ve already gone on and cut the tape that’s normally used on the blisters just to save some time.

Both trucks are the same and inside the boxes, you will see it has the extra set of mirrors, which DCP is famous for and First Gears continuing. We really appreciate that. I’ll set this trailer off and then set this tractor out and get them out of the way here and then open up that other truck. And then the black one is item number 60-0787, sequential numbers. And we’ll open them up. It’s got the same two-piece blister. And it’s got the extra set of mirrors in there as well. Really nice.

click to watch the full product review video on my youtube channel!

Now, I’m going to just focus on the details on one trailer and one tractor, because they’re so similar. Just paint scheme differences. But the details are the same. So, I’ll just talk about the one and then I’ll show off the graphics on the other.

Start off with this trailer. There is one small difference in each of these trailers and I’ll get to it in just a moment, but starting off here on this side, you can see it’s got the place that holds the extra hoses. These are chemical tankers. They are not food grade tankers, they are chemical tankers because they’ve only got the one ladder on the curb side. You can see the marker light there. And up here, you can also see it’s got the DOT striping and Time D.C. runs these little lights banded around the trailer at each end. Pretty cool. And they were able to tampo print them on. They are in red on this trailer.

DCP Pete 389 with Chemical Tankers for Time D.C.

Underneath, it rides on soft rubber tires with a nice tread pattern. It’s got its air canisters and it’s got actual suspension that works on this guy, and suspension detail as well. You can see the bottom of the landing gear standard landing gear that is on all the DCPs, just a screw down type. It’s got the bottom real nice detail on the fenders here. The back of those fenders have mudflaps that have the Time D.C. logo. And up here, you can see the Time D.C. America’s finest logo on the side of the tank.

On the front here. You’ll see one difference. That’s on this trailer versus the other trailer, and that’s the trailer number each trailer has different numbers, but that’s the only real difference between the two tanker trailers. You can see it’s got its airlines and brake line hookups and the airlines that run right down the side to the back. Also, you can see marker lights. It has a hazmat placard and other warning tampos. Also, there’s a very nice Brenner logo right there on the front of the trailer.

Around to the back is the only other place where there’s a difference on these trailers. It’s got that trailer number there. The big logo, DOT required reflectors the upper clearance lights, the brake lights, and it’s got the DOT striping on the bumpers and Time D.C. on white mudflaps. It’s got valve controls there as well.

CLICK HERE TO BUY THE TIME D.C. PETE 389 IN RED

CLICK HERE TO BUY THE TIME D.C. PETE 389 IN black

Flipping them up to the top. You can see the catwalk, valves, and the hatch to get into the tank.

All in all, it’s a very nice trailer. It’s also a very heavy trailer. It’s not solid, but it is a very heavy trailer.

Onto the curb side. You can see it has the ladder, which is only on the curbside on the chemical tankers. See the landing gear. You can see the vent hose, another place where they carry hoses. It rides on duals, not super singles. And it’s got a very nice chrome plated ten whole wheel on it. And you can see the Time D.C. logo, hazmat placards, and all the important parts.

Now I’ll pick up the other trailer so you can see the difference in the trailers. Cause there’s only one very small difference. Remember the trailer number and the other one is different than the trailer number on this one.

If you turn around to the back, you’ll also see the same thing. The trailer numbers are different. 0630 on one trailer and 0398 on the other trailer. It’s the only actual difference in the trailers. Those two numbers, one on the front, one on the rear.

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Then let’s go on and talk about the tractors. The details are exactly the same. Cause they’re both Pete 389s. Everything is the same, except for the paint scheme. This is the red one and it has a truck number up on the hood. It’s got the VIN number on the door. Time D.C. is down on the battery box steps there. It’s got another number and the USDOT number right there.

This guy has chrome fuel tanks with black covers at the ends of each tank, chrome ladder, chrome deck plate, chrome turbo intake cleaners for the air, chrome 389 style mirrors, and chrome 389 style exhaust stacks.

Turning him around to the front. He’s got. The 389 grille and the 389 aero style headlights, which kind of looks silly. It’s got a standard factory bumper, nothing fancy there and chrome visor.

CLICK HERE TO BUY THE TIME D.C. PETE 389 IN RED

CLICK HERE TO BUY THE TIME D.C. PETE 389 IN Black

The interiors are gray with a black steering wheel. It’s got the hard plastic windows that are abs and it’s got windshield wipers that are molded in and then tampoed black, along with the framing around the window is tampoed black. So it looks like it has the rubber gaskets.

On the roof. It has a whole bunch of roof clearance lights, and it is the 70 inch standup sleeper box. Also, you can see the beautiful Peterbilt logo tampoed right above the grille.

Over to the other side, same graphics and same everything that is on the driver’s side, except for it’s actually got that little window right there on the door. Another little note, it has this chrome piece with lights. That’s Peterbilt option on the 389. It’s on both sides of the cab. It’s got what looks like a Cummins diesel engine in it, but it could be a PACCAR engine. It has a turbocharger, air intake piping, and the radiator piping. Very nice job on the engine.

Turning him to the back. It has. stainless double hump fenders. I’m not really a fan of these fenders and I’ll show you why in just a moment, but they’re there. It has a chrome plated fifth wheel, chrome deck plate chrome pogo stick with airlines on it, grab bars, and brake lights up on the sleeper. It’s also got the reflectors high up on the sleeper. It does not have brake lights on the back, but the mud flaps do have the diamond weight on them.

Now I’ll turn them over and I’ll tell you why I don’t particularly like those fenders. If you can see where the edge of the wheel is, look how far out past the edge of the wheel, those fenders stick. I don’t know what they were thinking when they made them. They’re just way too wide. That’s a good old ticket waiting to happen for your fenders being too wide. They should have made them much narrower and lined-up with the wheels, but they didn’t.

Then underneath, you’ve got the exhaust underneath of the engine, the muffler with all the emissions control stuff that we’re having to deal with on the trucks that are making them unreliable. It has positional steering, not steering, their positional. They just click in place. You can see the bottom of the chrome fuel tanks. It’s got the drive shaft and it’s got rear differentials, and air brake canisters. Also, it has the same tread pattern, soft, rubber tire that these trucks ride on.

DCP Pete 389 with Chemical Tankers for Time D.C.

Both trucks feature the same exact details, just different paint so I’m going to show you the paint job on the other one, the black one here. It has black fuel tanks with Chrome bands on them. The Time D.C. logo is actually here on the fuel tank instead of up on the battery box, it’s got a VIN number, a USDOT number, and that’s it. The rest of the striping, you can see is the same as the other one, but it’s on a black base instead of a red base. Also the blue in this striping is silver on the other truck.

That’s your big differences. It’s those colors in the striping and numbering. Under the front you can still see all the same details and around to the other side, you can see it’s the same truck, just different paint. It is kind of cool that Stripe goes all the way across the hood.

Isn’t that truck beautiful?

Have seen any of these trucks on the highway before, just email me pics if you have them.

CLICK HERE TO BUY THE TIME D.C. PETE 389 IN RED

CLICK HERE TO BUY THE TIME D.C. PETE 389 IN black

Diecast Promotions did a really nice job on graphicing these up. Now let’s go on to hook these guys up so you can see what they look like. All hitched up, ready to roll.

Please go on and share this email with your friends.

Thanks for reading

I’m Logan “the 64th Gear Jammer” Skeele

P.S. If you would like to see the full product review video on the two Peterbilt 389s with Brenner Chemical Tankers for Time D.C. by Diecast Promotions, well DCP by First Gear, please go to my YouTube channel and see it there.

Time D.C. Pete 389 Product Review

Down on the Farm Series 1 – Six 1:64th Scale Diecast Farm Tractors by Greenlight – Product Review

Series 1 was Greenlight’s first venture into farm tractors and they knocked it out of the park by making models of great tractors, like the Ford 8N and the Ford 5610.

Boom, whats goin’ on everybody?

I am Logan, the 64th Gear Jammer Skeele, and this is Toy Talk.

I’ve already done emails on, Down on the Farm Series 2 and Series 3 by Greenlight, but I couldn’t find my Series 1 set at the time. So now I’m going to talk about Series 1.

Also Series 4, just hit the streets so make sure that you whitelist this email so you don’t miss that email when it comes out very, very soon.

If you missed my Series 2 and Series 3 emails, the best way to get caught up is to read them on my blog.
Greenlight Down on the Farm Series 2 Blog Post
Greenlight Down on the Farm Series 3 Blog Post

Or watch the videos on my YouTube Channel:
Greenlight Down on the Farm Series 2 YouTube Video
Greenlight Down on the Farm Series 3 YouTube Video

The Ford 8N is possibly one of the most recognizable Ford tractors that was ever made for Ford Farming. It also gave Ford the nickname of the little tractor due to its tiny size. It was powered by a two liter, four cylinder gasoline engine that put out a massive 27 horsepower.

The Ford 5610 was a widely popular utility tractor that was used by farmers and state and County road departments. It had a 4.2 liter four cylinder diesel engine making 62 horsepower. The 5610 was most commonly found as a two wheel drive, open station tractor with 2-posts, ROPS. However, it was also offered with a mechanical four wheel drive system and the cab was also optional.

What do you guys think of the Greenlight farm tractors? I’d really like to know what your thoughts are on them and whether or not you would put them in your collection.

Series 1 was Greenlight’s first venture into farm tractors and they knocked it out of the park by making models of great tractors, like the Ford 8N and the Ford 5610.

48010 - 1-64 Down on the Farm 1 - Group — 48010 – 1-64 Down on the Farm 1 – Group

And there we go, folks, this is Greenlight’s Down on the Farm Series 1, and it is a set of six diecast farm tractors with three new toolings and two different paint schemes of each. They tried to make them different on each tractor. That way that would look like a set of six pieces. It’s their first venture into farm toys. And I think they knocked it right out of the ballpark.

click here to buy greenlight down on the farm series 2

48010-A - 1-64 Down on the Farm 1 - 1947 Ford 8N - White and Red — 48010-A – 1-64 Down on the Farm 1 – 1947 Ford 8N – White and Red

Let’s start off with the A release, which is this 1947 Ford 8N tractor in gray over red, which is the factory paint color. This one represents either a showroom new one or, or a fancy restore. You can all see the little red caps in the center or the gray wheels. It’s got soft rubber tires on the front and the rear with very nice vintage narrow front tire and rear tire with bars. It shows plenty of engine detail, including some black parts to really set it off. It’s got the steering detail on there. It’s got the Ford script logo written on both sides of the hood.

Up on top this little tractor has the radiator fill cap and it’s got the little door latch for the fuel tank filler. It’s got a black steering wheel and black seat. Which is a saddle mount seat over top of the red transmission.

Turning to the front, we see the Ford script logo, kind of an oval Ford logo right above the grille. The grille is painted black to make it really stand out. And it’s got the optional front bumper wasn’t standard back then. It was optional, but a lot of people would buy that bumper to protect the front end. Really well worth the extra money.

Underneath. It’s just got the Greenlight tampos of Ford licensed product on it, and very, very modest detail.

Turning him to the back. Same thing, very modest detail, but it does have a nice hitch to pull one of their implements. You can see the gray clamshell fenders. The mount part for the upper piece of the three point hitch, which Ford was famous for, with his little war with Ferguson over that hitch. And you can see the back of the clam shell seat that you would sit on.

Very nice piece. What a great way to start out the set.

click here to watch the full product review on my youtube channel!

48010-B - 1-64 Down on the Farm 1 - 1949 Ford 8N - White and Blue — 48010-B – 1-64 Down on the Farm 1 – 1949 Ford 8N – White and Blue

Then we move on to the B Release here, which is another Ford 8N. This time it’s a 1949 Ford 8N. And this is not a factory paint job. Well, take that back. It could be Ford restoration. Ford had a program after they went to the white over blue that you could bring your old, gray over red tractor and get them reconditioned by Ford and they’d be painted in the white, over blue paint scheme. Also some of the actual restorers would paint them this color. Either, they didn’t know better or they just like the way it looked better. This one that you can see the blue little center caps on the white wheels.

This tractor has the same detail under the hood as the red belly version cause it’s the same tooling. It’s got a few black tampo prints.

Up top. It’s also got the black radiator cap and the black latch on the door, over the fuel tank, the steering wheel, and also painted black transmission detail is there. It’s all blue and you can see actually a little gear shift on there. The Ford script logo is actually in blue.

Then turning him to the front. It’s got the traditional Ford oval on their logo, even though it’s definitely not right. But it’s there. It’s got the bumper painted blue this time instead of red. The tractor has the black paint, to show off the grille.

They did a nice job underneath with the same small level of detail with the Greenlight writing on it.

Turning it to the back. You can see it’s got the back of the seat and the two clamshell fenders. It’s got those very nice rear bar tires that are pretty narrow. They’re soft rubber, and the front wheels are those really, really skinny tires that Ford used. This little 8N also has a regular hitch.

That is the B release, the 1949 Ford 8N tractor in blue and white.

This set just keeps getting better.

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48010-C - 1-64 Down on the Farm 1 - 1982 Ford 5610 Tractor - Blue and Black — 48010-C – 1-64 Down on the Farm 1 – 1982 Ford 5610 Tractor – Blue and Black

Now we go onto the C release here, which is another Ford tractor.

This time we’re jumping forward in years, it’s a 1982 Ford 5610 tractor. Well, I’m not entirely sure the years are right because of the dates this tractor was produced were after this, but that’s what Greenlight calls it.

This Ford 5610 has the steel wheels, which are standard. It’s a lightweight wheel instead of a cast wheel. It’s got a real nice bar tread mounted on the rear and it’s got a nice front tread on the front tire with a rib. The Ford casting is out of sight on this guy. They really did a nice job on that. Greenlight put plenty of different tampos as well. They’ve got the red and black striping with Ford lettering in it. And it’s a Series II version showing that this is actually later than that Greenlight is saying it is.

The tractor has the front suitcase weights. It’s got a black air intake, pre-cleaner up on the hood, silver muffler with tailpipe pointed forward, black steering wheel, white rear fenders and black 2-post ROPs.

Turning around to the front. You can’t see a whole lot of detail in here, but it has a black grille, the black soft rubber tires, and it’s got the blue suitcase weights.

Turning him to the bottom. Not a lot of detail there, but it does have the basics underneath. You can see the hitch and you can see the Greenlight licensing marks along with the front axle.

To the back, you can see the three point hitch, the regular drawbar hitch, which is set up for like the SpecCast implements or the Greenlight implements. The regular Ertl implements just won’t hook up. The tractor has the 2-Post ROPS is in black. The three point is in blue, and then it’s got those nice fenders in white

Very beautiful Ford in very nice 1980s Ford colors. And they did an outstanding job on this tooling.

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48010-D - 1-64 Down on the Farm 1 - 1988 Ford 5610 Tractor - Yellow & White — 48010-D – 1-64 Down on the Farm 1 – 1988 Ford 5610 Tractor – Yellow & White

Which brings us around to the D Release, which is another Ford 5610, this time they say it’s a 1988, which is probably correct because of the years of the 5610 were 1986 to 1996, that’s the years it was in production. This one though is painted yellow for a state highway or county road department, which bought lots of these tractors. Greenlight also added the cab to this one. It has the same stamped steel wheel on the rear with the nice bar tread on the rear and a nice rib tire on the front. You can see it has little yellow caps on the centers of the wheels. And the wheels are white. It’s got fancy little detailing under the hood. And it has steps leading up to the cab door. The doors do not open, but it does have cab glass on this guy. The door handle is tampoed.

When we turn him around to the front, you can actually see the windshield wiper is tampoed onto the windshield. There’s a little piece molded in the glass and then they painted it black to make it look like it’s got a real nice windshield wiper.

Now with the cab, it’s got lights up on top of the cab pointed forward, and this one has the two lights in the grille and they’re painted white. Also. It has the suitcase weights hanging on the front. The Ford oval was up there on the hood as well as a black pre-cleaner and a forward tipped exhaust stack above the muffler.

Interior detail is not super great, but it’s there. It’s got a floor. It’s got the seat and the steering wheel painted black. For the operator’s compartment and some other nice, nice details to make it look like it’s pretty much a detailed cab.

Turning him to the back. You see, it’s also got the three point hitch. It’s got cab lights and brake lights on the fenders of the cab, and you can really see that nice bar tread detail on the rear tires.

Underneath, not a whole lot. Again, you can see the steps on this one. You can see, and it’s got Ford licensing marks. Also, you can see the fuel tank that’s hanging underneath the cab door is painted black.

The D Release, the 1988, Ford 5610.

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48010-E - 1-64 Down on the Farm 1 - 1981 Tractor - Red and Black — 48010-E – 1-64 Down on the Farm 1 – 1981 Tractor – Red and Black

Now for the E Release, which is a 3488 tractor in an open station configuration painted red & black. It is based on the utility versions of 88 series International tractors. It has the bar tires on the rear and it’s got a nice International wheel pattern on the inside with the black center and the gray ring. The front is an all gray wheel and it’s got the same rib tire that was on the Ford.

You can see the steps and the grab bars going up to the operator’s platform.

Up on top, you can see the red seat, the black steering wheel, the black dashboard, and the black control panel beside the seat. It’s got the lights up on the fenders and it’s got the black panels here, which is actually the intake for air to go through the radiator. This series of tractors suck the air through the top of the hood and blow it out the front. Kind of a novel idea, but international was toying with all kinds of weird ideas. And then it’s also got the silver straight pipe with the turned out tip.

Pretty nice piece.

Turning around to the front this tractor has the black grille, suitcase weights, and it’s got the two headlights that are painted inside the grille.

Underneath. You can see the Greenlight marks and you can see the bottom of the steps, the hitch, and the three point hitch. You can see how tiny that hole is in their drawbar hitch. It’s not going to hook up to your standard Ertl implements, but it will hook up to some of those really, really fancy implements.

Turning to the back. The 3488 has brake lights, backup lights, work lights, and three point hitch. You can really see those bar tires.

That is the E Release, the 1981 3488 tractor.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE FULL PRODUCT REVIEW ON MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL!

48010-F - 1-64 Down on the Farm 1 - 1983 Tractor - Yellow and Black — 48010-F – 1-64 Down on the Farm 1 – 1983 Tractor – Yellow and Black

Now for the last one, the F Release, which is a 1983 3488.

This time the 3488 tooling has the cab. It’s painted in a yellow, that was used in Eastern Europe. When these tractors were licensed to be made in Eastern Europe, they were painted yellow. Don’t know where they got that yellow color, but that’s what they did in Eastern Europe.

The tractor has the stripe down the hood that says 3488. It’s got the same wheels as the other 3488 had with black centers and gray rings, the bar tires, and then the all white front wheels with the rib tires.

The cab has glass. It has a door latch tampoed on and the hinges are tampoed on. It has an interior which is all black, black steering wheel, black dashboard, black seat, and black operators platform. All black interior.
It’s got steps leading up to the door.

On top of the hood, you can see the silver exhaust stack and you can see the black air intake grilles.

Top of the cab. It’s also got what looks like an escape hatch. An escape hatch was required in Europe.

Turning them around to the front. It’s got the black grille and the white painted headlights. Also it has the front suitcase weights hanging on it.

Underneath this tractor has the same detail with just some licensing marks. See the bottom of the steps and the rear drawbar hitch with that tiny little pin hole for Greenlight implements.

Turn him around to the back. The cab has the upper clearance lights on it that would be flashing. It’s got lights on the sides that are pointed backwards for work lights. It’s got backup lights and brake lights. Also, this one does have a three point hitch.

It’s a weird color but overall it’s still a pretty nice piece and would look good sitting on a shelf or on a diorama.

48010 - 1-64 Down on the Farm 1 - Pkg — 48010 – 1-64 Down on the Farm 1 – Pkg

click here to buy greenlight down on the farm series 2

click here to buy greenlight down on the farm series 3

There you have it folks that is GreenLight’s Down on the Farm Series 1, a set of six fantastic 1:64^th scale farm tractors that hadn’t been done before, or hadn’t been done very well before.

I know, simply because of the scale, I just had to put them in my collection since I’m the 64th Gear Jammer and my diorama has farm tractors and trucks on it. So, I just had to add these tractors to my layout.

Please go on and share this email with your friends.

Thanks for reading

I’m Logan “the 64th Gear Jammer” Skeele

P.S. If you would like to see the full product review video on Greenlight Collectibles Down on the Farm Series 1, please go to my YouTube channel and see it there.

Down on the Farm Series 1 Product Review on YouTube!

P.S.S. I’ve got a FREE pdf of the Ford Farming brochure right here. Just click below and download your copy.

Vintage Ford Farming Brochure E-Brochure Cover

download the vintage ford farming brochure

Airplanes Make A Collection Take Flight

1:72nd Scale Diecast Century Wings F-8E Crusader USMC VMF-333 Fighting Shamrocks DN7 Product Review

Boom! What’s going on Everyone?

I’m Logan the 64th Gear Jammer Skeele and this is Toy Talk!

This video is a departure from my normal reviews subject matter. I’ve done some videos on spacecraft models before, and I enjoy airplane models. So, I want to review some of them starting with a Vought F-8E Crusader in 1:72nd scale by Century Wings.

click here to buy the century wings 72nd scale f-8e crusader vmf-333 fighting shamrocks

F-8 Crusader Take Off From USS Midway (CVA-41) 1963

The Vought Crusaders was a single-engine, supersonic, carrier based, jet aircraft. It was developed to meet the needs of the US Navy for a top speed of Mach 1.2. This was to compete with the Russian MiGS that we were encountering during the Korean war.

The Marine Corps used this aircraft as well. One of the Marine Corps wings to fly this plane was VMF-333, the Fighting Shamrocks.

VMF-333 F-8 Crusader Aircraft Carrier Takeoff

On February 1st, 1966, the squadron was re-designated as a Marine All-Weather Fighter Squadron 333 with the adoption of the all-weather versions of the F-8E Crusader, which they only flew for a few months. Then they transitioned off to the F-4 Phantom II. And that’s when they became VMFA-333, or Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 333. They did that on June 20th, 1966.

The Fighting Shamrocks flew during World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and Operation Desert Storm. The squadron was deactivated effective March 31st, 1992.

click here to watch my video on century wings vought f-8e crusader USMC vmf-333

Century Wings was the premiere 1:72nd scale aircraft maker. There are others including Hobby Master who have surpassed them, but back in the day Century Wings was top.

This is the 1:72nd scale F-8E Crusader fighter aircraft. The model was made by Century Wings. Vought made the real aircraft.

1:72nd Scale Century Wings Vought F-8E Crusader USMC VMF-333 Fighting Shamrocks

Their packaging was very simple. It was a black box with an opening lid so that you could see the model. It also has information on the model that is in the box. And then they show off the tail insigna, which is where most American planes actually show off their insignia is on their tail.

Oh, another note it was Century Wings, item number 601482.

Now let’s go on and open this box up.

They made a really nice plane here. They put in a good weapons compliment, and then they made a really nice box to hold it. Also, they give you a clear display stand, not a display case, to hold the plane up so that you can show him off either in a flying position with the gear up or with the gear down as if he had just taken off. Very nice.

Then inside this box here, you can see the directions for how you put on your landing gear, your display stand together. It gives you your different weapons that you can put on and the different weapons compliment you can have. You’ve got Mk-32 ZUNI rockets. AIM-9 Sidewinders in singles and doubles. And then you’ve got Mk.82 Snake eye with Multiple Ejector Rack.

CLICK HERE TO BUY THE CENTURY WINGS 72ND SCALE F-8E CRUSADER VMF-333 FIGHTING SHAMROCKS

They really go all out to make a nice, nice aircraft.

They tape their packages together so that you don’t lose any parts when you open them up, which is a nice little feature because you don’t want to lose these parts. They’re not really replaceable. As Century Wings doesn’t sell replacement parts.

In here, you’ve got your landing gear parts. You’ve got a little pilot sitting there. He’s tiny, but you can take the canopy open and actually put him inside the cockpit seat. I’ve never tried because I don’t think it’d be possible to get him back out, but I know people have, and I think it’d be pretty cool to have him in there.

Also, you get a little collector’s card. With as production number and a little more info about the plane. Pretty cool with the Century Wings logo on the other side.

Now let’s get this guy out and start off by putting the landing gear on so that I can set him down easily. Landing gear is pretty easy to install. It just pushes in place. Just like the covers. If you wanted to put the covers on, they just push in place too so you could set this up as either a flying or B, not flying.

Let’s pick him up and hold them up closer so you guys can see them.

Kind of hard to hold these planes without getting my fingers in the way, but you can see that Marine Corps decal, the flight wing squadron number, other information are all tampoed on this plane. Their tail insignia, the Fighting Shamrocks, the number of the aircraft is there. It’s got the commander’s name who flew this one. All of the correct graphics, the danger jet intake is here on the back.

Turning him around. You can see the single jet exhaust right there. These were a single engine, supersonic aircraft.

CLICK HERE TO BUY THE CENTURY WINGS 72ND SCALE F-8E CRUSADER VMF-333 FIGHTING SHAMROCKS

Underneath there’s its tail hook because these here were tail hook arrested landing carrier aircraft. The landing and bay are there so that you can actually show it folded up. It’s got the US insignia there. It’s got the lines all, very well denoted for the planes. And here you’ve got mounts for weaponry. Also under wing pylons can be mounted right there for weaponry.

The canopy does open carefully like that so that you can actually look inside the cockpit and it’s got a full, detailed cockpit. Can you believe that in 1:72^nd scale, a full detailed cockpit with controls and everything. Amazing what they can put in these planes and how tiny the things can be these days.

Around to the front. You can see the wide mouth for the air intake for the jet engine.

Turning them around to the other side. And it’s very much the same as the previous side where you can see all of the fancy graphics, the warnings. It says Capt. Corbett under the canopy as Captain Corbett was the pilot of this plane.

Isn’t that cool.

Set him down here on the ground.

And that’s the 1:72 scale Vought, F-8E Crusader for the U.S. Marine Corps Fighting Shamrocks.

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Do any of you have any airplanes in your collection? I have found that the 1:72nd scale airplane models actually fit fairly well with my 1:64th scale diorama. I know the scales are different, but the aircraft are so large in real life that they don’t really look too small sitting next to my 1:64th scale vehicles. And besides it’s quite hard to find true 1:64th scale aircraft replicas anyway.

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Thanks for reading

I’m Logan “the 64th Gear Jammer” Skeele

P.S. If you would like to see the full product review video I made on the Century Wings 1:72nd Scale Vought F-8E Crusader for U.S. Marine Corps VMFAW-333 “Fighting Shamrocks”, please go to my YouTube channel and see it there.

My Video on the 1:72nd Scale Vought F-8E Crusader for the USMC Fighting Shamrocks

General Motor, Decades Ahead of Their Time

1950s GM Firebird Concept Turbine Cars & Norev 64th Scale Firebird I Firebird II Firebird III Models

Boom, whats goin’ on everybody?

I am Logan, the 64th Gear Jammer Skeele, and this is Toy Talk.

The first “Dream car” appeared in 1938 when the Buick Y-Job was shown to the public.

click here to watch the gm firebirds video

Concept cars have always been with us but in the 1950s Harley Earl, a General Motors vehicle designer, invented the idea of the “concept car,” a car or truck of futuristic design. He wanted to obtain customer reaction to a new and radical exterior design and new interior innovations. As you know these exceptional cars and trucks are shown annually at special car and truck shows, like the Detroit Auto Show. Most, if not all of these vehicles were never to be mass-produced.

However, a lot of their interior innovations were, and they made their way into the new model cars and trucks that were massed produced in following years. General Motors popularize the idea of “Dream Cars” or known today as “Concept Cars and Trucks” through its traveling Motorama shows of the 1950s.

One of the most significant contributions the concept cars made came in 1951 when the General Motors LeSabre, a concept car designed Harley Earl, helped introduce a 12 volt electric system, before that six volt electric systems were the were standard in cars, trucks, and tractors.

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The LeSabre also introduced the aluminum 215 cubic inch V8 to GM.

The story of the three famous GM Firebirds really began in the early 1930s. GM R and D did a lot of research on the feasibility of gas turbine engines to power cars and trucks.

In the 1950s GM began building an actual turbine engine. Emmett Conklin led the turbine engine development project. Harley Earl chief GM designer developed A series of three concept cars. Harley’s designs resulted in GM three Firebirds. The Firebirds were built and completed in the years of 1953, 1956 and 1959. A fourth Firebird was planned but never built. The Firebirds were first shown to the public at General Motors “Motorama” show.

The Firebird Turbine powered cars were never intended to reach production. Much like the turbine powered HT-340 International tractor never saw production. The Firebird series of three GM Turbine cars was a R and D engineering research project to see if turbines could efficiently power an automobile.

A gas turbine engine is a much simpler engine then a standard piston engine. The gas turbine engine or combustion turbine is a type of continuous internal combustion engine.

The main elements common to all gas turbine engines are:

An upstream rotating gas compressor.
A Combusting chamber
A Downstream turbine on the shaft as a compressor.
A turbo fan to convert power into mechanical energy or electrical energy.

For our purposes of discussion this general information is all we need to know about turbine engines. I only mention this because many people think a turbine engine is much more complicated.

GM R and D Developed three Firebirds each slightly more exotic than preceding.

Briefly, I’m going to give a short overview of each General Motors Firebird Concept Turbine car.

1953 XP-21 "GM Firebird I Turbine Concept Car" — 1953 XP-21 “GM Firebird I Turbine Concept Car”

Firebird One looked very much like a jet fighter plane only it had four wheels and was confined to the ground. Firebird One could only seat the driver in his “Jet-Like Cockpit.”

Norev 1953 XP-21 "GM Firebird I Turbine Concept Car" — Norev 1953 XP-21 “GM Firebird I Turbine Concept Car”

Norev made a 1:64^th scale diecast version of Firebird I. Being 1:64^th scale it is pretty tiny, but they did a great job replicating Firebird I It has a die-cast body and some plastic ancillary parts. It also rides on soft rubber tires. The cockpit canopy shows off the single seat. And at the back, you can see the jet turbine. They did a pretty nice job making Firebird One

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE GM FIREBIRDS VIDEO

1956 XP-43 "GM Firebird II Turbine Concept Car" — 1956 XP-43 “GM Firebird II Turbine Concept Car”

Firebird Two looked more like a normal car only it possessed a somewhat more radical design. The air intakes protruded in the car front and looked like aviation weapons. This Firebird could seat four people in bucket seats.

Norev 1956 XP-43 "GM Firebird II Turbine Concept Car" — Norev 1956 XP-43 “GM Firebird II Turbine Concept Car”

Norev also made a 1:64^th scale diecast version of Firebird II to go along with their Firebird I It shows off the, a bubble canopy with the four seats inside. Pretty nice design. It has soft rubber tires on free rolling wheels. You can also see the two intakes which do look like aviation weapons. Then on the back, you can see the dual turbine exhaust, great design and a great model of it.

1959 XP-73 "GM Firebird III Turbine Concept Car" — 1959 XP-73 “GM Firebird III Turbine Concept Car”

Firebird Three was perhaps the largest of the three Firebird’s. Imagine a two-passenger car with two “cockpit bubble” covers keeping the passengers separate.

Norev 1959 XP-73 "GM Firebird III Turbine Concept Car" — Norev 1959 XP-73 “GM Firebird III Turbine Concept Car”

Norev made a 1:64^th scale diecast car model of Firebird III to complete the set of Firebird vehicles. The tires are all are soft rubber, and they roll pretty nicely. And this one shows off that really neat design feature, the double bubble cockpit, also the great winglets and wings that they put on the design.

And that makes the set of three GM Firebird vehicles that no rev made as diecast cars for us collectors to have a complete set of Firebird 1:64^th scale cars.

Now let’s take them one at a time.

Firebird I: The 1953 XP-21

It was the first gas turbine-powered car tested in the United States. A single seat aircraft type cockpit with jet-styled canopy, a jet-styled fuselage made entirely of fiberglass, short wings, and a vertical tail fin.

The body design was futuristic to say the least but entirely impractical. But it was for research not for sale. Its intended purpose was to test the components of the turbine engine and drive train. Plus, other features. Remember fiberglass just became available for use and was used to make the body of the international HT340 tractor. Today, fiberglass is a common material in cars, trucks, and tractors, but in 1953 it was a radical new innovation.

Harley J. Earl, GM Vice President of styling, designed Firebird one. His design was aircraft-inspired using a fiberglass-reinforced plastic body.

For power he used a “Whirlfire Turbo-Power engine” built under direction of Charles L. McCuen, general manager of GM Research Laboratories Division. The Whirlfire Turbo-Power engine was capable of 370 hp at a speed of 13,000 rpm. Firebird One used a power turbine acting on the rear wheels via a transmission.

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Firebird II: The 1956 XP-43

The General Motors Firebird Two, a gas-turbine powered concept car, was shown at the 1956 GM Motorama. Seating four passengers the Firebird Two was a “dream or concept car” designed for a family four to use on the highway.”

Firebird Two had many new innovations including a regenerative gas turbine power plant, all-wheel independent suspension with automatic load-leveling, fiberglass body, power disc brakes, 12 volt alternator instead of a generator, a special magnetic ignition key, state of the art electric gear selection, and individually-controlled air conditioning.

Besides all this, Firebird Two was considered the world’s first self-guided car. A family of four could play board games while the car rolled down the highway. Wires embedded in the pavement sent signals to twin cones at the front of the car to control steering, braking, and speed. The idea really worked as long as the Firebird remained on the GM test track.

Firebird Two was the only Firebird to have two identical cars built. One had a titanium-skin and was not operational. The operational version had a fiberglass outer skin and a turbine-powered drivetrain similar to Firebird One.

Firebird Two was truly a “dream car” of Harley Earl.

Think about the features in our cars today. Most of the ideas and innovations in our cars today originated with these “dream cars” (concept cars) of yesterday.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE GM FIREBIRDS VIDEO

Firebird III: The 1959 XP-73

Firebird Three is the most radically designed of the three Firebirds. Featuring a double bubble cockpit.

Multiple winglets

Guided by an aircraft-inspired control system.

1959 XP-73 "GM Firebird III Turbine Concept Car - Whirlfire Turbo-Power Model GT-305" — 1959 XP-73 “GM Firebird III Turbine Concept Car – Whirlfire Turbo-Power Model GT-305”

Besides a primary 225-horsepower Whirlfire GT-305 gas turbine engine, Firebird III possessed a two-cylinder 10-horsepower gasoline engine.

This engine provided the electrical power to run the accessories.

The Unicontrol is a console-mounted knob that allows both the driver and or passenger to control steering, accelerating, and braking, all with a twist of the wrist.

The three General Motors Firebirds remain the most famous of the many concept cars GM has created.

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Jay Leno's Garage Firebird I & Firebird II — Jay Leno’s Garage Firebird I & Firebird II

You can view Firebird One and Firebird Three if you want to travel to Jay Leno’s Garage. Jay owns Firebirds One and Three.

Firebird two is located at the General Motors Heritage Center in Sterling Heights, Michigan.

Weren’t those real dream cars and the scale models cool?

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Please go on and share this email with your friends.

Thanks for reading

I’m Logan “the 64th Gear Jammer” Skeele

P.S. I would love for you to see the full video I made on the Pioneering Work General Motors did on building the GM Firebird Concept Turbine Cars, please go to my YouTube channel and see it there.

My Video on the General Motors Firebird Turbine Concept Cars

64th Scale Model of the Best Cabover of the 70’s

NEO SCALE MODELS 1:64th Scale 1979 Peterbilt Model 352 Cab Over Engine Semi-Tractor – Product Review

Boom! What’s going on Everyone?

I’m Logan the 64th Gear Jammer Skeele and this is Toy Talk!

I’m going to talk about another classic Cab Over Truck and a 1:64th scale model of it.

Every week I make new blog posts talking about the best diecast and resin models along with history and trivia about the real machines, companies, and users of the equipment. So, make sure to follow this blog so you don’t miss a single issue.

Click to BUY 64th Scale Neo scale models resin 1979 Petebilt 352 Pacemaker COE

Peterbilt COEs - Pete 350, Pete 352, Pete 362, Pete 372 — Peterbilt COEs – Pete 350, Pete 352, Pete 362, Pete 372

Peterbilt and cab over trucks really went hand in hand for decades. They began making a cab over back in 1949 with the Model 350 and have come a long way to get to the Model 372, which was the last “Line-Haul” cab over truck designed by Peterbilt with production ending before its predecessor, the 362. The 372 went out in 1994 and the 362 ended production in 2005 eliminating “line-haul” cabover trucks from Peterbilt’s lineup.

A side Note, Pete still makes low cab forward COEs for vocational, the Model 520, and city delivery, Model 220, trucks today.

The Peterbilt Model 352 Cabover Brochure

However, today I’m talking about the Model 352 which came on in 1959 and was the first Tilt-Cab COE by Peterbilt. It was also the first UniLite cab and with an update in 1969, it received the nickname “Pacemaker”.

The 352 was offered in bumper-to-back of cab sizes from 54” day cab model, up to 110” double bunk sleeper models. Engine, transmission, and axles were all up to the choice of the customer to meet individual needs.

Interiors were plush and a cut above the competition to give that class look and feel associated only with a Peterbilt.

The Model 352 truly was the choice for owner operators who wanted the best and fleets that wanted to shine and stay ahead of their competition with efficient, classy trucks.

Now on with the product review.

This is the 1979 Peterbilt Model 352 cab over engine truck with 110” bumper to back of cab double bunk sleeper. It’s a 1:64th scale truck by Neo Scale Models. Neo also makes an 86” BBC single bunk sleeper. This is one of two toolings that Neo have that have been done by somebody else in recent times.

Diecast Promotions did a Pete 352 tooling in both BBC measurements. However, the DCP all diecast doesn’t actually have the fine features that this all resin cab on diecast frame version has. Also the first Neo came out actually before the DCP did.

Neo Scale Models Resin & Diecast 1:64th Scale 1979 Peterbilt Model 352 110" BBC Semi-Tractor — Neo Scale Models Resin & Diecast 1:64th Scale 1979 Peterbilt Model 352 110″ BBC Semi-Tractor

Now the Neo version comes in a plastic display case with a hardboard sleeve. Also it has a mirror piece in the back, so you can pretty much see the passenger side of the truck with the sleeve on, or you can just take it out of the sleeve and you can really look at it. It looks really nice if you leave it in the sleeve or taking it out, it gives you a good view of the truck.

The plastic lid will keep your model dust free. Which if any of you ever dusted models knows that that’s a nice, nice thing to do.

It’s mounted to the black plastic base with just two simple screws and to take it out you just remove two Phillips head screws. Now, a word of caution when you’re taking these off the base, make sure you hold it between the frame and the base plate. That way you don’t break any of the parts off of the cab, as they’re easy to break off.

Neo is using the resin cab on diecast frame so that we have lots of variety in our collections because you can make the toolings much, much cheaper than you can do in. All diecast is great if you’re going after the custom imprint market, which is the promotional products market, or you’re trying to sell the entire run to one company. All diecast is not cost effective for low production life toolings.

The 352 cab over was one of the most popular trucks that Peterbilt had back in the seventies.

click to watch the full product review video on my youtube channel on the 1979 pete 352

Now picking this guy up you can see the Peterbilt logo right there below the door. You can see lots of rivet detail in the cab body. It has the grab bar/step thing that Peterbilt uses. In model form that step actually has proven to be kind of problematic as it has a tendency to break.

It has the door latch there that’s actually a photo etched part. This model has mirrors on the doors. The wind wing is outlined with a photo etched part. And then you have the regular driver’s door window, and all the windows are vacuform style windows, which makes a really super clear window for you.

You can see the air tanks and battery box under the cab. It’s got dual round fuel tanks hanging off the frame. They’re painted silver to make them look like aluminum. It rides on 10 hole Budd wheels on the front and the rear. It has dual exhaust, with a very, very nice pattern on the heat shields around the mufflers. And then it’s got the 45 degree mitered exhaust tips. The quarter fenders are painted aluminum rather than chrome plating.

These parts, Neo painted them aluminum colored, which makes them actually look more prototypical than the chrome flash parts. However, we do kind of like our chrome plated parts, cause they do give a little sparkle to our models. So, these may be more realistic, but we probably would rather have the chrome plated parts instead.

You can see a green, which matches the green and the striping on the center caps on the wheels. Not really sure what color you would call this truck. It’s got yellow and dark green striping, and it looks like a really light green to maybe a greenish tan colored cab. It rides on a black frame. And while I’m not really sure what color it is, I actually really liked this color job.
It is nice.

Turning him around to the front. You can see that beautiful Peterbilt logo right above the grille. And the grille has a photo edge rim around it to make it look like it’s got the aluminum trim ring. It’s got the dual round headlights and those are individual jewel style lights inside the headlight pods.

You can see in the bumper; it has what looks like driving lights. The bumper is a real nice with the taper on each end. And there’s a license plate on the bumper.

More photo etched parts are the windshield wipers on the windshield. The individual wipers look really sharp on this model, however, they’re easy to flick off. So be careful with them. The two grab bars, so you can pull yourself up to wash the windows, are little pieces of wire.

Inside the cab. It has a really nice interior color scheme. It has a gray steering wheel, gray dashboard, and the rest of the interior is red. The door panels, seats, and whatever would be in the bunk area are all red. Even though it’s probably hard to see back in there.

Turning around to the passenger side, we can see the air cleaner is underneath the cab. It’s got a green air intake that goes up over the top of the cab. It’s got the extra little window so that the driver could see better. And it has a little mirror on that window. The Peterbilt logo is there and then there’s that grab bar step thing. It’s also got another fuel tank mounted on the frame.

CLICK TO BUY 64TH SCALE NEO SCALE MODELS RESIN 1979 PETEBILT 352 PACEMAKER COE

Turning around to the back. We can see a little bit of engine detail on the back to make it look like there’s an engine under the cab. It has individual jewel style, brake lights. And there is also a license plate on the back of the frame. This truck doesn’t have mud flaps. Which we probably would have had mud flaps on this truck in real life, but Neo didn’t put them on this truck.

It has authentic tread pattern tires from the seventies, and it’s got a fifth wheel that pivots a little bit, just like it should. And the kingpin is set up for a DCP or First Gear vintage trailer with the straight kingpins.

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Map and Satellite View of the NEW Venue
1551 15th Avenue SE
Dyersville, IA 52040