As a modeler I'm not a truck builder but I like the older Mack designs. My favorites are the chain drive AC models, followed by the B-61, classic American trucks. The model depicts the off road dump trucks used to transport the excavated rock during the building of the Hoover Dam in the early 1930's. At the time they were the largest trucks in the world but compared to todays giant off road dumps they are quite small. Note how the truck has no windshield or doors and little in the way of safety devices for the driver. The platform on the drivers side was referred to as the "crow's nest" and was where the driver stood when emptying the dump body.
The model was pretty much scratch built from plastic and K&S brass but the engine compartment is diecast from a corgi piece(I think). The wheels and tires are from the scrap box and the model was air brushed painted with Tamiya paints.
The truck looked "lonely" so I built a crawler steam shovel based on a Marion used on the construction of the dam. It's built from brass and plastic, the boom and dipper were modified from a Lionel P&H diesel shovel. I think I caught the basic "look" of the steam shovel of the late 1920's. All in all it was a fun build and a pleasent break from ship models.
