Reviews : MPC Mack DM800 Semi Tractor Cab

Where to start ...... Fitment. Doesn't. Fit. Double-check each part - probably half the locator pins - including cab to frame - had to disappear, then be fitted by eye. Watch the parts - many have the same part numbers, but are left- and right-handed. (The rear suspension springs, for example, are two pieces on each side and is stamped with 1 and 2 on the inside - be sure they match!) I invented more curse words trying to get the engine and drive shaft to mate up, because the engine sits a touch too far back. The whole rear suspension pivots like the rear one, IF you can get the engine in EXACTLY the right spot - I wound up having to glue the pivot to keep the drive shaft in place. The cab-to-fenders fit doesn't. Major gaps. The front grill is a fraction too wide for the fenders to tip without scraping the paint off the grill. Decals are brittle - I was going to use the white stripes on the gray paint, but they fell apart before I could finish. The company logo had to be pieced together. Instructions are sketchy - radiator hose placement, for example, is guesswork. It helps to know your way around the inner workings of a truck.. The good - windows were a dream to install! The cab had almost no mold lines. Flashing was minimal. LOTS of BRIGHT chrome parts - including the drive shafts and the fifth wheel!! (GRRR!! Unless the truck is to be a show truck and will NEVER carry a trailer, we truckers DO NOT chrome it!) The mirror brackets are thin - for realism, this is great; they look GOOD. But the black plastic is BRITTLE - use care when cleaning them up. Watch the small bits - Carpet Monster ate a door handle that I had to then fabricate. Overall, if - IF - you can get things to line up, it comes out to be a neat truck.

This is an awesome kit. The Mack V8 engine is true to the real one and a real gem. A highly detailed kit. The rear suspention is moveable with moveable U joints too. The front end has steerable wheels with moving steering linkage. The front axel is a little wide but not a big deal. The hood is so cool. The hood sides open and the front fenders tilt forward to fully show off the great Turbo V8 engine. The instructions are easy to follow and assembly is easy to do provided you have building skills. As always test fit parts so you know how to put it together like all good builders. This kit is not for brand new builders. The Gravel Trailer (available here and in stock) also has the option to cut it down to build a dump truck body to use on the truck or any truck kit. The instructions tell you how to do it. The trailer has cut lines molded in it on the inside and a front dump truck part to put on the front of the cut down trailer with a cab protector. The combo looks so cool you will want to get a few to make the truck and trailer. With the left over parts from the cut down trailer and some parts from the part box you can make a two or three axel dolly to hook up the trailer behind the dump truck. The trailer kit also comes with a rear hitch too. The lift cylinder for the dump is two halves and does not operate though. If you have the skill you can make a working lift cylinder from aluminum rod for both. I highly recommend these two kits.

I'm very happy with this kit. Very clean moldings,no flash to be seen. Nice fit to the parts, only a couple parts needed a bit of sanding. Nice features,steerable front axle, pivoting rear axles, flip fenders and butterfly hood,cool V8 engine. The only thing I didn't care for was the solid plugs in the tires that need to be trimmed out. Not a big deal, but a bit aggravating. They are pretty nice tires once you cut the plugs out. Comes with full glass including door windows,but I left them off ti see the interior if the cab better. I hope they also rerelease the DM800 CEMENT MIXER,another awesome old ERTL kit. Will probably buy another of these.

I had a few issues with the build but enjoyed building this old beast regardless.Very little flashing and the front axle was straight and took time to try and get the hood,fenders and cab aligned but thats one of the things I love about building these kits and Im not building some museum piece so if Im satisfied its all good.Pics will be posted of it

Not really what i expected,first i do not like those amt kit and this one was poor in many ways on the rack lot of scaling the chrome rack the numbers was really not readeable(i have a special lense to upclose parts and i had a bad time reading the numbers).the decals touchy.in all i had a little fun building it and that's it.

Disappointing kit. Made the best of it. Don’t let my review sway you. I suggest you build it only if you are an experienced builder, and can address this kit’s shortcomings. Hope I do better with the DM600.

Great kit, very little flashing! A lot of detail and comes with a big decal sheet so use your imagination! This is an old school kit but its very clean. Very little work fitting parts.

Excellent kit i enjoy all the kits i have purchased.