AMT Kenworth Aerodyne Cabover 1/25 scale plastic model kit frame length reduction

How I reduced the length of my AMT BJ and the Bear Kenworth Aerodyne Cabover 1/25 scale plastic model kit from an extended (truck dragster transporter) frame.

[@christesta2521]

Beautiful build David. Great frame shorting!!! I like the exhaust stacks and detail work. You really have to have the space to display the big rigs. Thanks for sharing.

[@davidchin350]

Thanks Chris. I have always wanted to build the full BJ & the Bear rig and it took about 25 years from tractor to trailer.🙂 Your right about the space, it's currently boxed and in storage since I don't have the room to display it.☹️

[@mattdaugherty7865]

BJ & The Bear was one of my favorite TV shows! Even Sheriff Lobo would be impressed! Nice work!

[@davidchin350]

Thanks. Watch my Moebius trailer video where I assemble the matching trailer

[@captnemomodelingzone7850]

Wow I loved the show. I love your build it turned out awesome you did a great job cutting the frame. . Bring back memories. Have a great week.

[@davidchin350]

Thanks Nemo!

[@moparnut6286]

Every time one of your videos pops up I got to watch it they never disappoint! Love the truck awesome work.

[@davidchin350]

Thanks John, yeah I try to show something different.

[@tconside]

Thanks for posting this. I just started building a 2002 AMT issue Kenworth aerodyne kit. I plan to paint it like the bj & the bear truck. I didn't realize the frame was too long. I will shorten the frame before i assemble it.

[@davidchin350]

Hope this video helps, the completed semi with Trailer is also available. There are aftermarket BJ and the Bear decals but the red lines I believe you have to mask yourself. My decals were cracked but the swooping lines above the headlights are really round but I squared them off since it was easier. Have fun with your build.

[@johngligo4049]

Outstanding job on your B.J. and the Bear K100 aerodyne! I sure don't like when companies cut corners by throwing an existing mold and sell it as a different product! They should've shortened the frame correctly. Thanks for sharing!

[@davidchin350]

The extended frame is not bad if your doing a custom build but for the BJ rig I had to shorten it. My biggest gripe about the Moebius trailer is that the doors don't open. Since then, AMT has come out with the Gteat Dane reefer that I might have chosen instead.🙂

[@johngligo4049]

@@davidchin350 Very true.

[@sugarhillsrr]

Nice build, thanks for posting. Back in the day when cabovers were popular you would see a lot of them with the longer wheelbase.

[@davidchin350]

Thanks for watching and commenting. I like the look of the cabovers too.

[@Wolfe351]

I shortened my original BJ N Bear K100 between the cross members and braced it inside the rail. That was back about 89' all that's left of that truck is the Cab is in the spares box, the 8v92TA motor went into a more recent build of the Revel K100 which has the correct length chassis. Just recently picked up a early AMT K100 Aerodyne kit which I will build one day... my Revell K100 pulls a Lowboy low loader with a AMT D8 Cat, my Pete 359 has a Triaxle tipper behind and I have a AMT Fuel tanker I need to finish rebuilding and a Pete 379 wrecker to finish decals on....(Got frustrated cause I think the decals are the wrong scale they don't seem to line how the plans show them)

[@davidchin350]

Yeah sometimes if the decals are different scales it will be slightly off. 😊

[@6ickness1]

dammmm nice... i loved it with the longer frame

[@BluestreekCustoms]

You did an awesome job sir.

[@davidchin350]

Thanks Marc, if only it included the small figures of Greg Evigan and the chimpanzee.🙂

[@throttlejockey70]

i also converted the same model (tyrone malone hideout truck) to the BJ and the Bear replica. i had to remove a 2" section from each frame rail. your model came out pretty good.

[@davidchin350]

Thanks Throttle Jockey! The original AMT decals are not waterslide but rub ons. I had to spray on the front lines since the originals were cracked☹️

[@seanpaulconnolly6315]

Nice job. Me and my little brother Loved that show. You got talent. Keep em coming!!!👍.

[@davidchin350]

Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@oldscoolcooldiecast1879]

Seen a lot of miles threw the windshield of one of these when I use to move furniture for United van lines urs looks like the bj and the bear rig from the tv show. Very cool 👍🏻

[@davidchin350]

Thanks for watching, I always like the looks of a cabover over conventional semi. I think AMT used to make a van lines moving trailer as well🙂

[@oldscoolcooldiecast1879]

@@davidchin350 they did and they do look 👀 better but after n and out of it all day it will ware you out 😂

[@MattThomas-g3g]

Wicked I built that kit when I was a kid 👍

[@davidchin350]

thanks Matt, I wish Round2 would repop this.

[@skip-o-maticsmodelmania5774]

Bravo! Excellent frame shortening.

[@davidchin350]

Thanks for the comment. Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@chuckjorgensenjr4095]

nice work shortening the chassis, great tip

[@davidchin350]

Thanks Chuck, it's fun to customize at times.🙂

[@dougscustomcargarage3434]

Nice job Thanks for sharing your build

[@davidchin350]

Thanks Doug, glad you enjoyed it.

[@dodge5522]

Turned out nice I am looking for this kit

[@davidchin350]

Thanks for watching and commenting. You might have to build a current AMT dragster Transporter and shorten the frame like I did. The 1/25 scale BJ and the Bear decals are currently available aftermarket from third parties.

[@dodge5522]

@@davidchin350 sweet thank u

[@josepenate7367]

Beautiful work,truck👌👌

[@davidchin350]

Thanks for watching and commenting, glad you enjoyed it.

[@josepenate7367]

@@davidchin350 check Out my 1/6 scratch built mack and Kenworth tractors ,on my channel.

[@michaelmaciejewicz7534]

I have like 7-10 truck models still Back 40-50 years ago I bought lots of them Also 1969 W-3 340

[@davidchin350]

Wow. Time to break into those vintage models and start building them.

[@ernestvaldez2048]

How much did you cut of the chassis

[@davidchin350]

One square section from one cross brace to the next.

[@celsocrosse6063]

Do u know where can I find the bj and bear decals ?

[@davidchin350]

Online at modeltruckin

[@TheBlueberry606]

Awesome

[@davidchin350]

Thanks!

[@jamesstrickland631]

I have used same technique to extend frames on models.

[@davidchin350]

Thanks for watching. Seems like the common technique to customize the frame/chassis length.

[@jamesstrickland631]

@@davidchin350 I haven't built a model truck kit in a few years now. Lost my collection a few years ago, when I couldn't pay storage unit fee's...

[@jamesstrickland631]

If you're on Facebook, send me a friend request.

[@michaelmaciejewicz7534]

I have that noble still in its original box Want to buy it

[@davidchin350]

Thanks for watching and commenting. I also still have the original box it came in. I doubt I can muster enough motivation to build this same model again.

[@GhostRider50569]

what did you cut it with......?

[@davidchin350]

I used a simple model knife, some pressure and a lot of patience. If you score and make incisions along the plastic it should break at the area you have thinned out. There might be better tools like saws or power tools but I dont have any of them.

[@GhostRider50569]

@@davidchin350 Oh ok I’m building a Mack truck but the frame is too long I have to shorten it up

[@jacobb_.251]

Nicee

[@davidchin350]

Thanks!

[@bigdaddycah4605]

Look s good

[@davidchin350]

Thanks for watching and commenting.