Reviews : AMT Mack R685ST Semi Tractor

As long as you get a whole kit, it looks good - the details molded into the parts is truly excellent and easy to paint. 5 stars. HOWEVER. I am missing a whole bag of parts! (The box was sealed when it arrived, so this isn't on HobbyLinc.) This includes major engine components, front wheel assemblies, the ENTIRE frame, the ENTIRE front suspension, cab mounts - and at that point, I quit looking. AMT says I can get replacement parts if I go through the instructions and clearly mark the missing parts - but with a quarter of the kit gone, that's gonna take a great deal of time. A new kit has been ordered. 1 star. Average, 3 stars. I found an old kit of a box trailer (from the 80s!!) that's missing some of the body parts - I think I might be able to cobble together a rat Rod Mack with these two kits and stuff from the parts bin, so all is not lost..

This is a cool old truck that was on the roads where I lived growing up. Bought it from a local store that had it on sale. Hopefully, the other AMT kits I've purchased along with this don't go as horribly as this one did. The plastic is horribly brittle (pieces would just snap in two) and the cement I used didn't always create a proper bond. Some pieces it would work properly and others it was like I used glue/paste from a kindergarten classroom. The instructions were the worst having too many pieces being applied in each step. That meant the picture was zoomed out with details omitted for proper assembly that you didn't catch until much later. And as dictated by Murphy's Law, those pieces were properly bonded together.

Its a good kit a lot of fun to build. I added some extra options from an accessory kit to mine. Pretty challenging for the most part not good for a beginner. Very detailed and very realistic looking replica. However some of the instructions are not clear as to what part goes where and some parts look nothing like what is pictured. The only thing I don't like is the hood hinges very difficult to put on and cannot get mine to stay on the grille or attach to the frame and make the good line up right So I made my own out of 3/16 brass rod.

Nice to see a few options included. Two exhaust choices, a stack or under truck and two fuel tank options of square or round. The rear wheels are retooled and a lot nicer than earlier issues. Nice to see the Matlack and Bard graphics too. Minus I would have liked to see the Alcoa wheels included, but not a big issue really. One thing I like personally is the bumper, fuel tanks, exhaust stack and a few other parts are NOT plated. That IMO opens up more options for the overall look.

I really liked this build I always find the retro kits a little more difficult to build as in making sure parts fit because not everything is perfect witch to me makes the challenge even greater. There was more excess flashing to be trimmed away not all the parts fit properly but to me that is the challenge but when done this is a very realistic truck from the 70’s and a great addition to any collection

This is a nice kit to build. All the parts fit well and had minimal flash that needed trimmed. I have built many of these Macks back in the 70's when I was a kid and the new kits are just like the ones from back then. I really enjoyed this kit. I don't have any con's to say about this kit it was a very fun build for me.

This particular kit was challenging as I had to trim almost every piece as well as heat and remold the plastic to get the parts to fit. I enjoyed every bit of this model, this is the most fun I have had with a build kit in a very long time. I would not recommend this kit for a beginner as there are a lot of intricate details.

I just bought this truck. I have bought about 30 other kits from HobbyLinc, and have just started working on them. Can't wait for my back ordered Revell auto trailer to come back to display my cars on. Bought this truck to use to haul the trailer.

This is the second Mack I have built and loved the way it turned out. Very nice kit, not too easy, not too hard. Added some aftermarket parts to make it my own and really enjoyed how it turned out. Anyone who likes Mack trucks will enjoy this.

This was my first Big Rig build way back on 1990. Great kit with lots of detail. An American trucking legend will come to life with time and patience! Still love this kit after all these years.

I bought this one for an Australian truck. I really like some of the R models and have a lot more options in final form. I'm still working on a few details but am pleased with the kit.

I have just been doing modeling for the last 3 months and keep trying to get mine to look like the other modelers end product but it just ends up looking like a 2 year old did it.

overall a nice kit ,but attention needs to be paid to radiator and hood interference and hood alignment with cab but it would not sway me from buying it again

Im the standard modeler but this kit was fun? but for me to many pieces to put together .Still i love the challenge always

This was a great model to build,my only complaint would be the amount of trimming I had to do

easy to assemble model, with an excellent price. the manual is clear on the indications

nice kit needed a far amount of clean up fit well needs a better hinge for the hood