1:25 SCALE INTERNATIONAL LONESTAR TRUCK KIT FROM MOEBIUS MODELS

Mat Irvine inspects:

When the first 1:25 scale truck kit came out, the sheer size of it was a great surprise to anyone used to much smaller car kits. This 'first of the many' was produced by AMT in the mid-1960s, and featured a US Peterbilt conventional ('conventional' denoting a car-style hood or bonnet). Since then, we’ve seen a whole range of trucks in 1:25 and 1:24 scales from model companies such as Italeri and Ertl, plus both US and German Revell companies.  

Trucks kits aplenty

Most of the main world truck manufactures have been represented in kit form, such as the US brands Ford, GMC, Kenworth, Peterbilt and White; we’ve also had European makes such as MAN, Mercedes-Benz, Scania and Volvo. Kits have included conventional and cab-overs, special vehicles such as wrecker trucks and tankers, plus a whole load of trailers to be hitched along behind. But one truck manufacturer that’s been near-invisible on the model stage has been International. Ertl did make a few kits in the past, but now a new name - in trucks at least - makes an appearance, Moebius Models. 

A new direction for Moebius

Moebius Models isn’t a new name, but it is mostly linked to a number of - very welcome it has to be said - science-fiction and fantasy kits. But Moebius is now branching out into more earthy subject matter, the first offering being the distinctive-looking International LoneStar conventional truck. Combining brand new technical design with a retro, almost Art Deco look, and a grille that looks as if it came off a Chrysler PT Cruiser, the LoneStar couldn’t be mistaken for any other truck on the Interstate. 

The box is packed with finely-moulded components.

What’s in the box?

Moebius has made an amazingly detailed kit. It comprises more than 300 parts, most moulded in light grey, plus clear and chrome-plated runners. Car designers may have abandoned chrome for the most part these days, but trucks still make use of a lot of brightwork. The comprehensive instructions are printed in full-colour, and give some finish variations - though being a truck, markings can be more or less what you want. There are full-size trucks in both blue and dark red pictured on the box-art, the box-top featuring one parked outside the Moebius warehouse. Hopefully, it was there to collect a trailer full of kits of itself!

Instructions are very comprehensive.

I haven’t put a truck kit together for a good few years, but this one is certainly on the pile to be built ‘in the near future’ - so watch this space.

Retro-styled design

Intriguingly the genesis for the LoneStar’s retro-styling came from a 1939 International D-Series pickup. The Ohio-based oldster was rebuilt and completed for International in January 2008, with added custom extras to give it a street-rod flavour.

Thanks to Frank Winspur at Moebius Models for the review kit. Keep ‘em coming Frank - how about making a kit of the DMAXX next?

DMAXX pictures courtesy International Trucks. More on this vehicle here.

Visit Moebius here.