Oh yea...check out this site for your fill of the Diamond T...multiple 'dessert trays' of this tasty beast...

http://hmvf.co.uk/topic/5403-diamond-t-gallery/

It's a lovely thing!

Totally agree John both as to price savings by waiting and the quality plus detail offered in the Mirror kits.

But sometime ya just gotta have it the minute it comes out!

Wait a couple years and you can get one for $35 plus $11 shipping...which one has found it's way into my stash. I've got more than enough kits to build in the meantime...waiting a year or two to add kits such as the Diamond T is no big deal...at a significant savings to boot. Only in rare moments do I purchase a release the day it hits the streets, and that is usually because the maker announces a limited run of that kit. Get on Mirror's web site and become an email subscriber for new kit releases and a better deal will be there from the get go. Upon constructing, a 'nip and tuck' (sink holes/gates) issue, which is usually present with any kit maker...Mirror is no exception...dealing with large/small gates and a sink hole or two should not be a big deal. I've been around this hobby for 50 years and I have never seen a perfect kit. Mirror kits are exceptional in their own right, no matter the flaw...IMHO.

Taylor here is my build log on the Mirror Models D7 Cat Dozer:

http://www.armorama.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=SquawkBox&file=index&req=viewtopic&topic_id=238015&ord=&page=1

Will do, can't waite. I have 3 packages coming from Europe and all are taking too long!

Hey Mike, off subject but please post up when you receive your dozer!

No sink marks in the load box of the Dia T freight truck AT ALL!

I have just barely started on the Diamond T freight truck. I will check tonight to see if the load box floor on that vehicle suffers from the same sink mark problem and report back.

Mike the chassis man

I want to comment on a criticism that has popped up several times regarding sink marks on the Diamond T wrecker. The inference is that there are a lot of sink marks on the kit when in reality there is only one piece that suffers this problem but it is in a highly visible location so the problem needs be dealt with during construction.

The flat rear load deck of the wrecker has a number of sink marks due to the underside of the deck having some heavy support ribs molded into it as one single large part.


Photo by Brian Crowley

The marks in the main part of the deck are minor and can be easily taken care of with some judicious sanding block work and a final coat of matte OD paint to cover any flaws. (Of course you WILL want to add additional tools, etc. which will cover the area even more!)

However the two most major sink marks are in the two nearly flush metal beams set in the deck right under the inverted A frame of the boom structure. These can easily be taken care of with the addition of some thin Evergreen stock. The strip stock will cover up the sink marks and also add some additional 3D quality to the deck floor.





Problem solved with very little additional work!

Cropped photo by SD Photography - Sean Defen

Was considering doing a conversion of a "T" to a dump truck by scratch building a load bed. However now I hear that Mirror might decide to offer a dump truck sometime mid-year!



I have a soft spot for military construction and recovery equipment so I think that sounds GREAT!

Kinda thought LZ might come out with the double front bumper modification for the Diamond T wrecker.

Check it out!

http://www.armorama.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=SquawkBox&file=index&req=viewtopic&topic_id=227513

Sorry folks but I have been laying low on the T wrecker and devoting most of my attention to wrapping up my MAZ-537 for the upcoming Dayton IPMS show next month. I promise I will be getting back to the Diamond T beauty very shortly!

Mechanical hood latch for the Diamond T - The one shown here was actually found on a early 40's AutoCar heavy truck but the mechanism is the same.

Interesting angle on some detail reference for the load bed:

Making good use of the split Holmes crains:

Civilian chrome door handles on wartime Diamond T truck:

New reference photo: Tool Drawer

Note on the above: I just discovered that the Jerry Cans are offered in Mirror's after market etched detail kit for the wrecker as is the vehicle "A" frame tow bar.

Still tempted to paint my fire bottle red just for an extra splash of color.

Speaking of a splash of color I was surprised to find that the bright yellow bridge limit weight disc is missing from this kit??? I would have expected it to at least be present on the decal sheet representing a painted on disc.

How come no fire extinguisher for the right side running board and no Jerry Cans for the driver's side ??? Also no pump fire extinguishers, first aid kit or rifle racks for the cab interrior!

(But Real Models, Tamiya and Tacsa took care of those items for me! - The brackets and tie down straps for same will be added shortly.)

I am guessing that is the logic here: why waste time and money reproducing items that are already available elsewhere?

The Tasca US Jerry Cans are fantastic! I probably would have replaced whatever Mirror offered with the Tasca item anyway!

A little bit more work accomplished last night:

To save a few pennies on the production of the kit of course.

However, as I have said elsewhere, this kit gives you twice or three times the "beef" in the form of complete detail than any two kits from most other hobby manufactures.

For some reasone the above item is left off every model manufacture's Deuce and a Half though they all should have it.

Another added detail that I am sure will never be seen again:
- The enclosure for the rear tool box drawer located in the end sill. The bracing under the load box on the model is designed to allow for this feature but no tool box enclosure was included in the kit.

Mirror Models suggested representing the interior door handles on the enclosed cab with short pieces of wire. I felt I could do better with small pieces of plastic:



Most photos of restored vehicles show the inside door handles painted O.D. but original construction photos show them as having been stock civilian chrome handles.