Kenworth W925
Glider Kit

__Back Story__
This model kit was built to represent a Kenworth W925 that was delivered from the factory as a “glider kit”.
A glider kit is a complete truck minus the engine, transmission, rear suspension, and axles. These items are provided by the buyer from either a wrecked or retired truck or from an outside vendor.
This method of building your own truck was extremely popular in the 60s 70s and even into the 80s. Stricter safety laws and regulations have made this process all but obsolete today. Although a few gliders can still be found they must be built to conform to these safety regulations.
Building a truck using a glider kit was usually 30 to 40% less expensive than buying a completely new truck. The buyer would use the engine and drivetrain from an existing truck they had on hand that was either wrecked or retired. Or the buyer could source these parts from a salvage operation or a new parts supplier although the latter was not done very often as this would usually cost more than buying a completely new truck.
By building a truck from a glider you could have all the latest developments in cab and chassis design with the newest driver comfort features built-in while saving a ton of money by using their own used but still very roadworthy drivetrain components.
In this model you’ll notice the engine suspension and axles are a distinct color and slightly more weathered than the rest of the truck. In theory these parts came from another truck that had seen a decade or more in service and was being retired. The parts were removed, overhauled, and installed into this chassis.
__The Model__
This model was built completely box stock with exception to the decals and paint choice. The chassis is a deep matt blue finish, and the cab is midnight blue metallic. The rear suspension is black and the rear axles grimy white. The engine is painted and detailed in a cruddy Cummins tan. Most of the chrome parts were shot with a matt clear to simulate raw aluminum. The rest of the kit was built directly from the instructions. The weathering was accomplished using black washes and graphite lead. Decals are custom printed from www.modeltruckin.com