1/72 RPM Mack Bull Dog cargo truck

[jeaton01]

I've had this one for a long time and started to build it as a side project some years ago.  Well, we all know how that often goes.  Yesterday, after seeing the 1/72 Camel in an old post by thechaos, I decided to get back on it while filler on some aftermarket flaps and engine nacelles on my Hasegawa B-47 are drying.  I had just done a little painting on the Mack so this was the first assembly I had done.  This is a very small truck with many many parts.  I was expecting a limited run kit but the moldings on this are excellent, so far good fits, if a little loose in places.  Lots of optivisor work.  A couple of little pieces have escaped the tweezers but luck has held and I have found them.  Hope the luck holds.

[jeaton01]

Well, I can see that this one has captured everyone's attention! Really, this was an important and long lived design, manufactured from 1916 into the late 1920's and still in use 10 years later.

Despite all the acclaim, I shall render another photo of progress!

[mustang1989]

Apr 20, 2023 20:51:18 GMT -5 jeaton01 said:

Well, I can see that this one has captured everyone's attention! Really, this was an important and long lived design, manufactured from 1916 into the late 1920's and still in use 10 years later.

Despite all the acclaim, I shall render another photo of progress!

Sorry for not posting to this yesterday John. I got tied up after I spotted it. Bud.......you are most CERTAINLY right about the "many many parts". I've built 1/72 scale armor subjects when I was a kid and cannot EVER remember there being an engine to build. I can't believe all of the detail in this kit. Coming together perfectly so far.

I can't get over the fact that this design lasted so long having that drive chain for the rear wheels. 

[Joe Rix]

Now that is a really interesting subject and kit. That is indeed a nicely detailed and intricate kit for 1/72. The chain drive is quite impressive and seemingly well represented on this kit. Nice bit of history on it to boot. looks like your making some fine progress. Thanks John for bringing us along on this build.

[Tobi]

John, are you building this under the microscope? I would go nuts.

[Leon]

I've built my share of 1/72 scale armor and know all about the tint parts!

You're doing a fine job on this John.

[jeaton01]

More progress. Full completion may be delayed because one the right cargo bed side was short shot. I sent an e-mail to RPM, we'll see what happens. In the interim I cut the part back to the next stake and went on with the build. There is a set of decals that came with the kit and I will be putting some of those on at some point. I decided not to use the canvas top as that leaves more possibilities for posing with airplanes, which is my main purpose in building this sort of model, not that they are not interesting in themselves, but if the truck were the focus I would want it to be in a larger scale. If this kit were scaled to 1/438 or 1/32 it would still have pretty good detail, though. Some of the parts, like the hooks at the corners of the frame and the side light on the left door are so small I used a cotton bud with spit on it to place them. With the truck in the last three pictures is a Revell Sopwith Camel I built in 1967 or so.

[stikpusher]

Good looking build John! Those Mack trucks looked a lot more "modern" than their contemporaries.

[martslay]

Well done!

[tcoat]

Would never have guessed it was 1/72 if you hadn't said so.

[406 Silverado]

That turned out to be a pretty dang good looking build John. I still find it hard to believe that this platform was utilized for as long as they used it for.

[jeaton01]

Thanks, everybody. Hopefully I will hear from RPM on the short shot side for the bed but really it's fine the way it is. I'm back sanding and filling on the Hasegawa B-47 now. Also, I finished painting the walls on my new workshop today. There was a certain amount of sanding and filling to do on that project, 100 linear feet of virgin sheetrock.

[dukemaddog]

Wow John! What memories you brought back! I've built all but one of these RPM Mack trucks and I agree, the detail and ease of building are phenomenal! One day I hope to complete the series with the flatbed 'tank transporter'.

[brandonk]

Nice work, John. I really dig those old chain driven trucks. I think they are really cool, but you never see them. On forums or IRL. Great job.