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Model-Related Handicrafts
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Topic starter
12/11/2025 2:19 am
My second go at one of these, stuffed the first one up and gave it away but kept the decals to use on this one. Somehow u can see where the 'bulldog' title came from and like real bulldogs, lovable and great with kids, but really the face is one 'only a mother could love'. It was produced from 1916 to the early 1930s and over 6000 were used by the allies in WWI, where the Bulldog name came from. "British soldiers nicknamed the AC the "Bulldog", a reference to the model's tenacity and its stub nose, and the nickname was later also adopted by US troops. As a result of this nickname earned by the AC on the Western Front, all Mack trucks were often referred to as "Bulldogs", and in 1922 the company adopted the Bulldog as its corporate symbol." It powered by a pair-cast 4-cylinder petrol engine that delivered 74 brake horsepower, it was driven through a three-speed transmission with a clutch brake. The Macks pressed chrome-nickel steel chassis was heat-treated for durability. Chain drive was used to drive the rear wheels while the front axle was made of drop-forged alloy steel for extra strength. Like most heavy trucks of the era, the AC used solid tires.
I'm happy with how it came out. I'd had a bad run with a couple of models before it so its pleasing to get a good outcome here.
12/11/2025 6:48 am
FANTASTIC build! The paintjob is spectacular. Details are incredible!!
12/11/2025 3:09 pm
A fine model of this hard-working truck and really nicely done. The real vehicle looks like it might have a pretty stiff ride with those tires but no worries about proper air pressure, lol ! 
12/11/2025 10:16 pm
Nice build! I believe this kit has been around for 60+ years; it's very cool! 😎 😎 If you ever get bored, you can find or fabricate "things" to fill up that empty bed. 🙂 🙂
Topic starter
13/11/2025 2:22 am
thanks Tony, Mike. Chris, you are spot on sir! I'd really like to add some lime 'containers'. It seems to be only sold in smaller domestic garden packs or bulk farmer loads here in Australia. However AI says (yeh I know) that it can be sold in 55 gallon barrels and they are readily available in 1/24. I'm planning to print off Lime wording to attach to the barrels.
My only real disappointment with the model is just how visible the actual decal material is. I was hoping that the "dirt" would cover those areas up but no go.
13/11/2025 3:16 pm
Nice build. Regarding the decals, did you apply them over a flat or glossy finish?
Ed Davis
Inverness, Illinois, USA
Jack Dodds and Christopher Moroni reacted
13/11/2025 6:04 pm
@geoff-jowett I suggest you try a gloss finish next time you apply decals. The surface with a gloss finish is usually smoother than a flat finish, which minimizes the visibility of the clear areas of the decals. It is sometimes referred to as a “frosted” look. If I was using flat colors, I learned to spray a clear gloss coat before applying decals. Then I applied a clear flat finish, if necessary. Extra work, but finished model looks better.
Ed Davis
Inverness, Illinois, USA
Jack Dodds and Christopher Moroni reacted
14/11/2025 5:04 pm
@geoff-jowett Cool! "A load" would look great. 😀
Ed is 100% correct about how to handle decals on flat paint - that method works perfectly. Another tip is to use Micro Set and/or Micro Sol. They increase adhesion and soften any decal to conform to irregular subfaces - "flat" would be considered an irregular surface.
I have this issue of S.A.E. which features a build of "your model" and other Macks with decals (to illustrate my point ) but I have to locate it. 😌
Geoff, good luck on "the load!"
Jack Dodds and Ed Davis reacted
14/11/2025 8:49 pm
@chris Thanks for adding the comments about Micro Sol and Micro Set. I have also used them.
Ed Davis
Inverness, Illinois, USA
Jack Dodds and Christopher Moroni reacted
Topic starter
15/11/2025 3:33 am
thank you Ed and Chris, valuable information for me going forward.
24/11/2025 6:21 pm
Geoff, you did indeed get a good outcome on this build...in fact I'd say an outstanding outcome.
Topic starter
25/11/2025 1:46 am
thanks Bob, your opinion is so highly valued.Geoff, you did indeed get a good outcome on this build...in fact I'd say an outstanding outcome.
Christopher Moroni and Jack Dodds reacted