The Big Rig 18 Wheeler Kits Topic.

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whodathunkit
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The Big Rig 18 Wheeler Kits Topic.

Post by whodathunkit »

Hi everyone!

Thought it might make for a neat topic to share the Big Rig 18 wheeler kits in a kit type topic.

As most may or may not know about the Pinewood Derby Big Rigs 18 wheeler kits ..
One of the very first 18 wheeler kits was made by Beta crafts in 1997 for Scouts in the United States.

(I'm not sure when the Scout Express truck kits were first offered for the Scouts in Canada or who they are made by.. but the wheel molds say China.)

Photo :
Of a Cub Scout supply catalog add showing the Big Rig 18 wheeler kit new for the first time in 97 Cat no. U7611.
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And the sheet seen in Pinewood derby car kit's of the same year.
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The kit box:
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1997 kit instructions:
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photos;
Of the two truck types that were offered in the 97 kit
The Conventional model or the Cab-over model.
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(Note:) The truck models above were built much later ..with out kits!
They were built based off of the 97 kit instruction sheet using the same wood type materials that were offered in the kit .
The wheels used on the trucks are not the same type that were offered for the kit in 97.


Randy Davis of Maximum Velocity .. Does a very nice job describing & building a truck from this kit.
In his Pinewood Derby Times News Letter Volume 10, Issue 12. March 9, 2011.
https://www.maximum-velocity.com/pinewo ... es-v10i12/
In the feature article the Big Rig Kit.

The next kit was offered by Beta crafts: (Today Beta Crafts is no longer in business.)
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There kit is the very same to the 1997 kit!
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On the kit instructions you will see the Beta crafts logo:
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Scouts Canada: Scout Express 18 wheeler kit's: Cat no. 71-202
https://www.scoutshop.ca/Item?item=629055712029
Are the same in kit type also with the only difference being the wheel mold lettering inside the wheels.
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The green box Scout Express kit is also the same kit in type seen below the wheels have Scouts Canada logo out side of the wheels with spoke change.
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Kit Plans are seen in French and English.
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2009 - 2010 Kahoot 100th Anniversary Centennial Limited Edition kit for Scouts USA. Cat no. 24342 next in line seen on bottom of image:
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This kit offered several changes one was using the card board sleeves for the trailer.
Some of the first kits of this type did not have the white blank trailer with the kit.
Though kit plans showed the white blank trailer was to design and paint your own.
The axle spacing for the tractor chassis was also different in this kit along with a newer pivot pin and wheel style.
Kit instruction sheets:
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Here's where you'll see the white box for painting:
Above image shows in part b.
And below image shows it’s to slide over the
100 anniversary box.
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To see an 18 wheeler image that's from this kit type.. built by Eric Werner :
In Maximum velocity's pinewood derby news letter volume 14 issue 13.. in the Pinewood derby show-case .
https://www.maximum-velocity.com/pinewo ... es-v14i13/



Top tractor chassis in photo below:
Shows what the 1997 kit, the Beta crafts kit, and the Scouts Canada Scout Express chassis would look like to the
2009 Kahoot kit chassis seen on the bottom.
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Pivot pin types:
The pivot pin to the right hand side shows the 2009 Kahoot kit pin.
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If you're looking to build your own big rigs with out a kit and are looking for something to use for pivot pens
shelf pins Image or metal dowels.


Next Big Rig kit type: out side of Scouting
The Indy Products Phantom 500 kit:
http://www.indyproducts.com/Truck-Kits_c_12.html
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Materials list:
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10 wheels (Machined O.D.) (5 )1/8'' steel axles with retainer grooves and 2 wheel retainer strips.
1/4'' X 1 1/2" steel rod for trailer pivot pin and washer to reinforce trailer bottom, red cap retainer for attachment.
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Close up view of the wheel type:
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Trailer parts:
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I like how the trailer end caps are made and ready for gluing up the trailer box.
Trailer box is smaller in size to the rest of the kits at 2 1/4" tall and 10" long.
Where the early trailer kits are larger in size.. at 3'' tall and 12" long.


View of the Chassis the axle locations are close to the same as early big rig kits.
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(2) 1.1'' x 2.2" x 3" pine blocks for tractor cab.
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The Revell Semi Truck Racer kit:( I don't think this kit is offered any more?)
These rigs can be raced along side the cars.
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instruction sheet:
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kit block pre cut:
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Parts:
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Pre cut semi truck kits & Design changes that can be made to this kit type can be seen on this topic.
https://www.derbytalk.com/viewtopic.php?t=8895

Here are all the kit types once more.. leaving out the Indy Products Phantom 500 kit.
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Last edited by whodathunkit on Tue Jun 21, 2016 4:29 pm, edited 6 times in total.
What type of automobile can be spelled the same forwards & backwards?
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whodathunkit
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Re: The Big Rig 18 Wheeler Kits Topic.

Post by whodathunkit »

Christian Service Brigade also offers a brand new 10 wheeler semi truck kit with a 20oz recommended weight.
https://store.csbministries.org/stockar ... ingle-kit/
What type of automobile can be spelled the same forwards & backwards?
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whodathunkit
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Re: The Big Rig 18 Wheeler Kits Topic.

Post by whodathunkit »

Images of the Christian Service Brigade StocKar Semi Truck Racer Kit:
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Assembly Instructions:
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kit contents:
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Wheels:
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Axle type:
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What type of automobile can be spelled the same forwards & backwards?
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