1/25 scale truck kit oil filters: An easy way to improve their appearance

Oil, fuel and water filters on some model truck kit engines are either molded as one piece representing a dual filter installation, or with the filter as part of another engine component. This Mack engine has both, and it is easy to improve the appearance of these kit parts.
0:19 One piece represents the mount and both oil filters, with a plastic "web" joining the filters. One way to minimize the one piece look of these dual filters can be with a black wash after painting however in 1/25 scale it is just as easy to cut the web away...
0:36...using a razor saw and then sand the cut edges smooth.
0:46 Much better appearance, and having the two filters separated makes detail painting easier as well.
1:09 Water manifold/filter on the same Mack engine can use the same treatment, cutting between filter and manifold to open up this space.
1:35 A small finishing touch is brand logo or lettering of some kind on the filters. Decals made specifically for this purpose may be hard to find but there are many options for other sources.
1:53 I used an HO scale (1/87) freight car data set for the black lettering on oil filters and yellow circle with line through it on water filter. Decal sheets from models in a variety of scales and types (aircraft, armour etc.) are possibilities as are sponsor decals from race car sets, most likely in a scale smaller than 1/25.
2:10 "See-through" space between filters shows up when installed in frame with red and black alternator wires visible where they pass behind filters.
2:38 Fuel filters on the Cummins engine provided in some AMT kits (I believe this engine comes with the Road Boss, Western Star, Diamond Reo and Autocar kits) are made in a similar manner with one piece for filters and mount, and the same razor saw and sanding treatment can be of benefit to these as well.
2:49 The V800 provided in Ertl's International kits has two filters molded onto one of the engine components and here again, removing the "web" between filters and engine part greatly improves the appearance.
An easy way to improve the appearance of the filters, without having to scratchbuild new ones.
#modeltrucks
#scalemodelling
#scalemodeltrucks

[@davidparsleyscustomscaleemerge]

Great little tips Robert. It;s the small details that are mostly overlooked in modeling.

[@PlasticImaginationWorkshop]

Nice tips. Thanks for sharing. have a great week.

[@TJRohyans]

I'm really enjoying your channel. I've always been an airplane guy but just recently started modeling cars. My dad once worked for IH in Ft. Wayne, IN and lately I've really wanted to build an IH COE. Your videos are teaching me more about trucks than I was ever really aware of. Thanks. Peace and love.

[@brsnorthernhorsejourney3579]

Thank you - hearing that you have been able to get some information from these videos makes the "labour of love" all the more worthwhile!
Interestingly, I've always found aviation interesting and have a fair number of aircraft titles on the bookshelf, yet trucks (along with model railways) were the favourite scale model subject as a youngster, and when I became active in the scale modelling hobby again in the early 2000's.

[@markbickelhaupt4414]

Robert, The filters needed a little attention! A little clean up, presto, real looking filters. That's why your models are a cut above the rest!

[@brsnorthernhorsejourney3579]

Thank you Mark - I had thought about removing filters entirely and making new ones from styrene tube, decided to try removing web between filters first and was quite pleased with the result.
Admittedly filters are still "hollow backed" although in this application that isn't an issue because of their location against engine block and behind frame rail.

[@ruanecrummett9261]

Thanks again for the video