Mack B-Models were always a favorite of my twin brother and I and we were desperate to build models of them. Our chance came when, a little over 15 years ago, Napa (auto parts) was selling FirstGear's 1/25 heavy tow truck promos for $29 and my brother and I took advantage of the sale and picked up a few of them for future projects.

The first project was a chance to modify and merge an early resin Jim Etter sleeper cab with a heavily modified Napa promo Mack using some kind reference supplied by the Mack Truck Museum in Macungie PA. Some of the reference they sent along included pics and close-ups of a sleepercab mack B61T pulling a 28 ft Dorsey refrigerated trailer. To the best of my ability, I detailed and finished my first 1/25 B-model to be a facsimile of that vehicle.

My second B-Model build was a B53 cement mixer using a Napa promo as starting material. The B53 series were a 1963 heavy duty series for dump truck and mixer duty.

Another of my B61 models is FirstGear's original first 1/25 offering of a Roadway Transport tractor and my only modifications included minimizing the bling (painted wheel rims, black windshield gasket, painted mirrors and mud-guards etc.) I modified and added an Ertl diecast great Dane trailer to be an appropriate era-typical mid '50s version.