Cab hand rails on AMT's 1/25 scale Mack R685ST: Improving the kit parts

Cab hand rails are one of the small details on AMT's Mack R685ST kit that can be improved with some simple scratch building - both their appearance and means of attachment to cab are easy to upgrade.
0:15 Per the instruction sheet, top of hand rail glues into a hole in side of cab shell while bottom of hand rail touches side of cab and is presumably glued as well.
0:30 Stock kit parts assembled. Basic shape and contour is good, gluing surface at bottom of hand rail is very small and would be a very weak attachment point while the round chrome section at top of hand rail...
0:48...does not look like the attachment point on the 1:1 truck at all. For that matter, neither does the bottom of hand rail.
1:04 Start with plugging holes in cab shell using .100" styrene rod. Drilling holes out with 3/32" diameter drill will provide a good snug fit for the rod.
1:13 Glue rod in place using solvent cement. Fit of rod in 3/32" hole should result in a "no putty required" joint.
1:21 Trim off any rod that projects inside the cab to make sure window glass insert will fit. Here I used a small ball end carbide cutter in motor tool to remove excess material.
1:40 Remove chrome plating and cut off the round projection at top of hand rail.
1:55 Sand ends of hand rail flat and glue .015" x .060" styrene strip, cut approximately .200" long, onto each end of hand rail. Let glue cure thoroughly then trim and sand inner end of each strip to match hand rail's round profile.
2:13 Using a piece of 1/32" square brass strip or similar as a spacer, drill styrene strip for .032" diameter wire (#67 drill).
2:25 3/32" wide brass strip or similar is used as a spacer for cutting strip to length. Using these spacers ensures consistent size and hole placement on the styrene strip which represents mounting tab on real hand rail.
2:40 Glue .032" brass wire into top mounting tab, leaving .020" projecting on outside. This represents bolt head holding hand rail to cab. Cut other end off no longer than cab shell thickness.
2:59 Using the "ghost" outline as a guide, drill .032" diameter hole (#67 drill) in centre of plugged hole.
3:11 Place hand rail in drilled hole and use hand rail itself as a guide to drill lower mounting hole. This is easier than laying out and marking hole, especially on a cab like the Mack R's with curved surfaces.
3:26 Glue .032" brass wire into lower mounting hole, leaving wire extra long to use as a handle when painting.
3:35 Temporarily installed hand rail shows top mounting pin does not project into cab, and excess length of lower pin can be cut off after hand rail is glued in place.
3:51 Kit hand rail provides a good starting point and the added mounting tabs with wire pins give a more realistic appearance with the added benefit of more secure attachment and cleaner installation with glue being applied on inside of cab shell in non-visible areas.
4:05 Any minor variation between hand rails is addressed by labelling them "L" and "R" to ensure they go back in same location they were fitted to.
4:19 On this Mack R built a number of years ago, Alclad Chrome was used for the finish. Molotow chrome pen is another option, and silver paint could be used for an aluminum hand rail that has weathered to a dull finish.
4:32 Kit parts + basic materials and a bit of work = much better appearance - and the added bonus of more securely attached parts!
#scalemodeltrucks
#modeltrucks
#macktrucks
#scalemodelling

[@user-cu1wg7je1u]

In the next few days I will order 2 truck models and then look at your posts very often. A big compliment and thank you very much for what you show.

[@bobyoung1698]

I learn more about model truck building from your channel than anywhere else.👍😊

[@cliffthompson4004]

Great tip Robert looks like I need to bust out my stalled R model Mack project and give them ago thanks for sharing

[@BlueGillage]

Ty for the well explained tips

[@ruanecrummett9261]

Another great video thanks

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

Looks great!!!!

[@goforitpainting]

Cool 👍

[@davidparsleyscustomscaleemerge]

Love it!

[@chris-SDI]

niceeeeeeeee