Peterbilt 387

[Quad-Dog]

I´d like to show you my latest project. The cabin is quite rare.



It is slightly smaller than a Tamiya truck but I think it should be allright as I have found some of these toys been converted to decent rc trucks using all the Tamiya gear.

As it is my first US truck I´ve done a bit of research. I´d like to built one that is based and registered in Canada but does north south trips.
So therefore I need some expertiese what the differences really are. For the moment I visited some second hand truck dealers on the internet.
My first question to you guys is: What taillights do trucks in Canada have? Are the taillights combined and only red? At least that is what it looks like according to the pictures I´ve found. What about the indicators?

Next step will be removing the cab and mounting it to a Tamiya chassis

[kaptain Jack]

You should ask "1985 kenworth" Dwayne drives a rig in Toronto.

[plow jockey]

I'll be watching this one.Cant wait for the updates!

[Radio Control Trucker]

Who made this unit? Manufacturer or distributor could be of use

I've seen the one Chris (Oztruck) has, and had thought it an original build.

I'll be watching for updates to this build

- RCT

[Hockeydad]

Check out the body shop on Russ's website, I'm going poor just thinking about the possibilities!! LOL!

Bryan

[Mawler1]

not bad, needs a bit of bodywork to get rid of the dimples and moling flash lines.... should look great... as does Chris' one

[Quad-Dog]

@kaptain jack
thx I´ll get in touch with him

@Chris
that´s true, they are really hard to find.

@plow jockey
Just got to fire up the mill and start drilling the frame

@Radio Control Trucker
as far as I know it is made by hua peng.

@Hockeydad
who is Russ? I think I´ll end up using some parts left over from my aeromax and the rest will be self made

@Mawler1
that´s right, some spots need to be looked after. But I hope it will turn out to be a nice truck.

[Radio Control Trucker]

If you become a regular on the site, you'll learn that there are several members that make product parts for our trucks.
Russ, Steve, Izzy, and several others... not to mention the retailers that sell products on the forum.

Bryan (HockeyDad) was mentioning that you should see the products that Russ has available on his website: http://www.truescale-rc.com/

I would also suggest that you peruse the forum under http://www.rctruckandconstruction.co...splay.php?f=35 for more products that are available by our wonderful members.

Good luck with your build.

- RCT

[Quad-Dog]

Thx for the link, RCT.
So far my engagement had been limited to the aussie trucks here.
For me 85% of the fun is designing and machining parts for trucks so I think I´ll pinch some parts from the piles I´ve collected over the years and make the one or the other part myself

[Quad-Dog]

I need some opinions



Too big? Too small? Lenses are about 0.4 inches
The number plate that came with my aeromax would fit in between.
White rubber will have to go.

[Radio Control Trucker]

It looks accurate to me. Nice work, I'll be watching this build.




Keep up the good work.

- RCT

[Quad-Dog]

Thx for the pic, RCT.
I think the lenses are a bit to big. I have to alter it a bit and then fire up the machine next week or so
I´m about half way done drilling the frame.

[Radio Control Trucker]

You can do whatever you want to please yourself, but I think it looks fine.
Most folks won't know the difference and the members here aren't going to be
so petty as to measure the spacing on your truck for tail-light correctness.

Just please yourself. If your happy, that's all that really matters.

- RCT

[Espeefan]

Looks really good to me, although compared to the 1:1 photo, they are a touch on the large side, but I definitely wouldn't worry about it. I say run with it!

[Quad-Dog]

Thx guys.
When I uploaded the pic I already had some doubts.
I usually print it out and see what it looks like to get an idea if I'm right or wrong. As Chris knows pretty well already if I had the chance, I'd love to get the measuring tape out, but those trucks are hard to come by here, so it is all limited to analyzing pictures.
More to come next week.

[Quad-Dog]

Thx for the pics Chris. Well that is a bit funny, because all the trucks I found had the setup shown in RCT picture. Is there a difference between the US and Canada? I think I found the setup on an canadian website. Can anyone help me out???
Or maybe it depends on when they were built?

[Quad-Dog]

Ok, so after Chris had uploaded his pictures I had to get back to the computer and try something new.
First the now slightly smaller bar:



Hope the proportions are now about right. If not, please let me know

And I tried to create something similar to Chris´s pics:


The only downer with the second one is that it wouldn´t be like the real one just a piece of rubber hanging down with two lights each attatched to it. It would have to have a decent body around it that houses the leds.

I like both. Just the question left if the second version can be found on trucks from canada. To me it seams that only trucks sold in the US have them.

[Espeefan]

Quad-Dog, I couldn't find many Peterbilt 387 tail light photos on the internet, let alone for Canadian 387s, but I think it would be safe to assume that North American 387 trucks all get the same treatment. It would be a little odd if Peterbilt put the extra effort and money into making a Canadian spec tail light, even if the brackets are just simple stamped sheet metal brackets.

You could easily do whatever works best, or looks best to you. Trucks get customized all of the time, or the tail lights broken, brackets bent, and then the mechanic puts something else on to replace it. It could be as simple, or as extravagant as you like.

Edit - found a few Peterbilt 387s listed on truckpaper.com. They have the same tail lights that Chris posted, and you can find other types of tail lights as well. Anything goes!

http://www.marketbook.ca/listingsdet...4475555&LP=TRK

http://www.marketbook.ca/listingsdet...4525341&LP=TRK

http://www.marketbook.ca/listingsdet...4233333&LP=TRK

[Quad-Dog]

Hi Espeefan,

I just noticed that the version using the bar has got round reflectors while the other one has got rectangular ones. So I thought that the shape of the reflector might differ between both countries and might be the reason for different tail lights. But as your links show, both versions can be found in Canada. Thx for the enlightenment

[Radio Control Trucker]

I'm not sure what to say. I've seen both styles used in southern California for as long as I can remember... and I can remember over 30 years.

I think you should just do what makes you happy. With so many options available to drivers, both pre-owned and previously-owned equipment, it would just be a matter of taste.







These are just a few samples of dozens available at the Iowa 80 Truck-stop here in the U.S.

Have fun, build often, and enjoy

- RCT