Box & Build Review 3: Ertl Precision Series Volvo N-10

When Volvo entered the U.S. truck market in 1974, it's doubtful that anyone would have guessed they'd be such a big player nearly half a century later. The F-86 wasn't embraced by the American trucking industry, and Volvo still didn't quite understand the market. But they were determined, and in 1978 a distribution agreement with Freightliner was struck. Two new trucks replaced the F-86, and the following year, Volvo began to import the N-10, which had been introduced elsewhere in the world for 1973.

Though the N-10 was still underpowered by U.S. standards, and the cab was comparatively cramped. Even so, it was an important step by Volvo. With help from Freightliner's dealership network, Volvo was gaining a toehold. Unfortunately, when Freightliner was sold to Daimler in 1981, the arrangement with Freightliner was dissolved. This ultimately proved to be a short term setback, as later that same year, Volvo purchased what was left of the White Motor Company. Ironically, years before Freightliner had struck up a deal with White to sell and distribute it's line of trucks through the large White dealer network. Now Volvo had access to this dealer network and founded Volvo White Truck Corporation, based in North Carolina.

By 1987 the N-10 was gone from the lineup, but Volvo was just getting started. That same year the manufacturer purchased a controlling stake in GMC's heavy truck operations, leading to the creation of the WhiteGMC brand. Far from trying to gain a foothold in the U.S. market, Volvo's north American operation is doing quite well. Together with Mack (another, more recent Volvo purchase), today the company owns a healthy 13% share of the heavy commercial truck market in the United States.

Back to the N-10. Ertl's Precision Series of kits included one of these, and though the Precision Series of kits was (and is) a bit maligned, the N-10 is pretty good.

The box art displays a photo of the 1:1 truck on the top, with some rather small and blurred photos of the assembled model on the sides. The ends are dominated by the faux chrome VOLVO lettering seen a

Some of the malaise surrounding this series homes in on the die cast metal parts.

Here they are. Both frame rails, drive axle housings, fifth wheel, front axle, two-piece front spindles, and tie rod are all rendered in die cast metal. Hope you have a pair of small pliers and some files handy. Some etching primer may come in handy as well. The off-putting diecast parts were no doubt a deal breaker for many modelers then and now, but we'll get more into that later on.

The cab, hood, quarter fenders, and rear cab mount are all molded in burgundy plastic.

The engine halves, left and right hand dashes, timing cover, rocker cover, steering column, seats, and interior tub are molded in a very sexy '70's brown.

Chassis parts dominate the black plastic sprues, though there are a few interior and engine bits on them as well.

The chrome looks great, though there is a bit too much of it. The 1:1 vehicle had very little brightwork.

Glass for the cab is done as one piece. Each lens is done separately. The multitude of lenses are for the optional bull bar and quad headlight setup.

Tires are the now familiar hollow Goodyears, which have been used and re-used in dozens of AMT and Ertl reissues over the years.

The decal sheet includes factory style markings and graphics. I'd advise against using any setting solution or clearing over these, as I had some crazing happen when I tried to use the blackout panel for the hood.

The instructions booklet is well thought out and clearly illustrated, a hallmark of Ertl truck kits. That and I love the illustration on the cover.

And for some reason, the kit also included an 8x10" lithograph of a full size N10. I do have every intention of framing mine, too.

So, we've had a look in the box. How about the finished model?

In this photo you see the one non box-stock plastic part on the model... the Italeri air conditioner. I think this touch was inspired by all the humidity during the time I worked on this model. And there was a perfect, completely flat spot on the roof just meant for it. There are holes molded open in the bumper, pins molded to the metal frame rails are meant to come through these to simulate bolts. My frame didn't quite line up with the bumper, so I filed off the molded pins and added bolt heads made from straight pins.

I found the two-piece spindles and tie rod to be useless, so I made new front spindles from plastic strip. I'm not saying it would be impossible to make the kit supplied diecast parts work, all I'm saying is that I found making new ones was a better option for me. Here you can another minor variation from box stock- the door graphics, which came from the Moebius 1965 Ford Service Truck.

The same Italeri accessories kit that coughed up the AC unit also provided the Volvo sticker in the back window.

It's difficult to see in there, but engine detail is presentable enough. I did omit the duct which fits to the underside of the hood, as I felt it would probably do nothing more than provide a fit issue.

Overall, I really like the kit. I'm baffled as to why Ertl chose to render many of the parts in diecast metal, but the parts give the model a real heavy-duty feel, both literally and figuratively! The Precision series kits have largely been forgotten. In the case of the Peterbilt 359 from the series, that's mainly for good reason. But I'd really like to see this one make a comeback. I'm certainly not holding my breath for that, but hey, a modeler can dream. But please, no diecast doodads this time! I can't complain too much about the actual building process. You'll likely spend far longer actually finding an example of this kit than you'll spend actually building it.