Thunder Roller

Design[]

The Thunder Roller is based on the real Kenworth K100 Aerodyne. The Aerodyne cab design (the taller "sleeper" section behind the front seats) was introduced on the K100 in 1976, and made famous by the TV series BJ and the Bear (1978–1981). The real K100 could be ordered in extended lengths at the buyer's request, and the Thunder Roller model has an extended length cab relative to a default K100 Aerodyne.

The Thunder Roller is part of the main ~1/64 Hot Wheels line, but based on the height of the cab, is actually sculpted in 1:87 scale (aka HO scale).^[1]

Variations[]

There are many subtle differences with the original release of this truck, and many combinations of variations.

Smooth roof
Corrugated roof
Protruding bumper lights (the oval shaped ones)
Hong Kong base country
- Taller trailer hitch (Hong Kong)
Malaysia base country
- Darker yellow paint (Malaysian)
- Darker window tinting (Malaysian)

Versions[]

The Thunder Roller has come out in the following 1/64 scale versions:

Col #	Year	Series	Color	Tampo	Base Color / Type	Window Color	Interior Color	Wheel Type	Toy #	Country	Notes / Variations
	1983	Mainline	Yellow	Red, Black, & Brown stripe, "2" eagle on sides	Chrome / Plastic	Smoke tint	Red	BW	3924	Hong Kong	Smooth roof
	1983	Workhorses	Yellow	Red, Black, & Brown stripe, "2" eagle on sides	Chrome / Plastic	Smoke tint	Red	BW	3924	Hong Kong	Smooth roof
	1983	Workhorses	Yellow	Red, Black, & Brown stripe, "2" eagle on sides	Chrome / Plastic	Smoke tint	Red	BW	3924	Malaysia	Smooth roof
	1987	Workhorses	Yellow	Red, Black, & Brown stripe, "2" eagle on sides	Chrome / Plastic	Smoke tint	Red	BW	3924	Malaysia	Smooth roof
	1989	Workhorses	Yellow	Red, Black, & Brown stripe, "2" eagle on sides	Chrome / Plastic	Smoke tint	Red	BW	3924	Malaysia	Corrugated roof
483	1996	Mainline	Metalflake Dark Red	Red Hot Wheels logo on front bumper	Chrome / Plastic	Light smoke tint	White	Rear wide BW Front 5SP	16054	China
	1997	Little Debbie	White	Red & blue stripes with McKee logo on sides; Hot Wheels logo on front bumper	Chrome / Plastic	Smoke tint	White	Rear BW Front 5SP	16189	China
	2004	RLC sELECTIONs 4/4	Spectraflame Red	Patriotic theme with chrome, spectraflame blue, silver, & white graphics; RLC logo on sides; full RLC logo on mud flaps; painted front turn signals & cab marker lights	Chrome / Metal	Light smoke tint	Black	NCRL	G7202	China	6,490 produced
	2005	19th Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention	Spectraflame Blue	White, black, & silver stripes on sides & roof; "RED LINE TRUCKING CO. IRVINE, CA" around lions head logo, "05", & various symbols & wording on sides; HWC.com logo on black mud flaps; "STLROLN" on black front California license plate; painted front turn signals	Chrome / Metal	Light smoke tint	Black	NCRL	H2933	China	2,500 produced HWC.com convention series
	2010	HWC Series 9: Real Riders 5/6	Spectraflame Blue	Orange, silver, white, & light blue stripes wrapping around front, sides, & rear of sleeper; Hot Wheels "Zinc Transport" with graphic on sides; silver corrugated lines on roof; "MILHOLN" on white rear California license plate; painted front turn signals & cab marker lights	Chrome / Metal	Smoke tint	Black	Orange Line DDRR	R8400	Thailand	5,000 produced Base code(s): C25
	2010	Collector Edition 3/4	Blue	White, silver, blue, & light blue stripes & patterns on sides, front, roof, & rear of sleeper; "3" & Hot Wheels logo on sides; Hot Wheels logo & reversed logo split between black mud flaps; painted front turn signals & cab marker lights	ZAMAC	Clear	White	White line RR5SP	R7994	Thailand	Base code(s): C32
	2012	12th Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Nationals	Black	Orange, red & silver stripes wrapping around front, sides, & rear of sleeper; "Children's Miracle Network Hospitals" with logo & "Miracles Keep Rolling" on sides; 12th Nationals logo on rear of sleeper; silver corrugated lines on roof; "DEARBORN" on blue front Michigan license plate; painted headlights, front turn signals, & cab marker lights	Chrome / Metal	Light smoke tint	Black	Orange flame DDRR	X0569	China	1,500 produced Charity model Production code(s): 0542 WA
	2013	Collector Edition 3/4	Spectraflame Magenta & Matte Black	Silver flames on black panels outlined in white on sides & roof; Hot Wheels logo & "3" on sides; white stripes on roof; painted cab marker lights	ZAMAC	Smoke tint	White	RLDDRR	Y5398	Thailand	Base code(s): F19
	2014	Hot Wheels Entertainment: BJ and the Bear	Red	White, Black, & Gold stripes, White 'Billie Joe McKay' on sides, Silver details	ZAMAC	Smoke tint	Black	DDRR	BDT91	Malaysia	Base code(s): G46, G49
	2015	HWC Series 13: Real Riders 3/4	Spectraflame Gold	White, red, & purple stripes on front, sides, & rear of sleeper; "REAL RIDERS Trucking" & "El Segundo G7202-BLR18" on sides; "Red Line FEVER" with gold pinstriping on rear of sleeper; "BACK" "OFF!" split between mud flaps; silver corrugated lines on roof; painted headlights, front turn signals, & cab marker lights	Chrome / Metal	Light smoke tint	White	RLDDRR	BLR18	Malaysia	4,000 produced Base code(s): G42, G43
	2016	30th Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention 2/4	White & Red	"Keep On Collecting!" on sides; black stripe with white stars & white waves on front & sides; navy blue roof with silver corrugated lines; 30th convention logo on rear of sleeper; white stars on red mud flaps; painted headlights, front turn signals, & cab marker lights	Chrome / Metal	Smoke tint	Black	RR6SP	DMJ12	China	2,600 produced Production code(s): 2096 EAA
	2021	RLC Exclusive	Spectraflame Purple	White, black, & copper stripes on front, sides, & rear of sleeper; "HWC Trucking" & wording on sides; black mud flaps; painted headlights, front turn signals, & cab marker lights	Chrome / Metal	Light smoke tint	Gray	TRR	GXJ26	China	20,000 produced Production code(s): 1051EAA

Gallery[]

References[]

↑ The front of a real Kenworth K100 is 85¼″ from the top of the bumper to the top of the cab. The Thunder Roller is just under 1″ for the same dimension.

[1] The front of a real Kenworth K100 is 85¼″ from the top of the bumper to the top of the cab. The Thunder Roller is just under 1″ for the same dimension.

[1]