Chariots of Fire Posted February 13, 2018 Author Share Posted February 13, 2018 (edited) Body work continues to progress with side panels completed and the rub rails nearly completed. I did some drawings based on the measurements and photos of the actual truck and printed them out for each side, reversing the image so that it would be the same. This gave me templates from which to work. Even with that, there were some minor adjustments to be made. Things never work out exactly as expected but so long as things are within reason, certain changes can be made. Tubing is never the exact diameter as the real thing and it is not easy to get measurements along tubing that is bending in all sorts of directions. Nevertheless things are taking shape. The front bar is hanging out in space for now. The front bumper needs to be constructed and set in place In order to make the connections between the two surfaces. I'm thinking another trip to see the real truck is in order because there is a winch that needs to be built to size for the bumper. Treadplate has been glued along the sides between the rub rails. They are solid for now. Eventually they will be opened up as compartments with "D" locks. I'll use the same "D" locks from Don Mills Models for the tail lights also. If you drill out the centers and replace the center with a piece of red clear and white clear you have lights with nice round trim rings. The treadplate will be drilled out for the lights and the locks for a flat fit. The hose bed goes on top of the tank. There is also a filler for water and one for foam. I used 1/16" diameter rods for the upper grab rails. This not only adds some stiffness but some strength also which will resist the chance for these small rails to break. Similar rods will be used over the top of the cab and to the upper bar at front. At each end of the rod I ground it down to a smaller diameter using my Dremel with a cutting wheel. I rotated each end of the rod until I got a pin like end and then drilled holes in the mounting points to insert the pins in. The rods are now pretty secure and have nice neat connections. The body has been built up as one piece, making it easier for painting. The tank is still separate making it easier to get a nice paint job on it as well. Between the tank and the back step is where the pump/engine will be set together with all of the plumbing for the hose lines. Here's a look a the underside. The compartments have not been boxed in yet. Edited February 13, 2018 by Chariots of Fire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redneckrigger Posted February 14, 2018 Share Posted February 14, 2018 Absolutely incredible!!! The power train looks exactly like two all wheel drive LoadStars we had as plow trucks back in the late '80s in the Town of Savoy, MA. Tough trucks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chariots of Fire Posted February 14, 2018 Author Share Posted February 14, 2018 Hi, Tom. I think they are Howe/Coleman front ends. And yes they were tough trucks. Several towns around here had them as brush trucks. They graduated from Loadstars to the "S" series and now to the Workstar series of IH rigs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Most Posted February 14, 2018 Share Posted February 14, 2018 Shaping up beautifully! And as somebody who spent a lot of time around Loadstars (as farm trucks), I have to complement you on the engine compartment detailing. These things are surprisingly "crammed" under the hood! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick315-8 Posted February 17, 2018 Share Posted February 17, 2018 Absolutely beautiful work on the cab and chassis....superb engine compartment and interior detailing... everything is dead on !......the body is comming along very nicely ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chariots of Fire Posted February 20, 2018 Author Share Posted February 20, 2018 This weekend provided some time to get some additional work done on the Loadstar. The tank and body are still separate pieces which made painting them much easier. The tank was painted first and set aside. Then the front and side panels of the body were painted red. After the red was dry it was masked off and the rest was painted with engine black, a semi-gloss. Finally the treadplate deck was painted with chrome silver. I added the trim rings to the rear tail lights and now have to drill them out for the lenses. Next up will be to finish the front bar work that is still hanging out in space. In the top photo the winch cable is just hanging for now. It will be set in place once the bar work is done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikemodeler Posted February 20, 2018 Share Posted February 20, 2018 Awesome and impressive work Charles! Looking forward to seeing this one done, which shouldn't be much longer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hct728(Bob) Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 Neat work, I especially like the stripes and the contrast of the two-tone paint job. That ain't no $29.95 Earl Scheib special! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chariots of Fire Posted February 21, 2018 Author Share Posted February 21, 2018 The white stripes are actual reflective tape. I got some from a friend who worked at a municipal maintenance shop. I need to do the same thing across the bottom of the cab doors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flynlo Posted February 22, 2018 Share Posted February 22, 2018 Another awesome build Charles. Thanks for sharing it and showing us whay can be done when no kit exists!???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martinfan5 Posted February 22, 2018 Share Posted February 22, 2018 Nice work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gotnitro? Posted February 22, 2018 Share Posted February 22, 2018 Your work is impeccable, so clean and detailed it's a pleasure to follow along watching them develop. I run into the same issue getting tubing and stock to look proper, sometime I just lucky guess Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chariots of Fire Posted February 25, 2018 Author Share Posted February 25, 2018 Work continues. The braces between the top bar and bumper have been completed and painted. With that done I went to work on building the upper braces that protect the hood, windshield and cab top. They are made of 3/64 brass rod. The ends of the rods were turned down to form a projecting pin that I could insert into pre-drilled holes in the bars. The main pieces were done first making the bend and then connecting each piece with the brace that is between them above the windshield. I put a piece of paper towel over the cab and hood to prevent solder from dropping on the paint. Using a minimum of solder on the iron tip helped prevent any mishaps. After the main braces were in place the smaller side pieces and additional inside pieces were soldered in position. Last was to solder a piece of 0.010 brass sheet stock to the upper windshield brace. With all of this done I could lift the entire assembly away in order to clean up the joints and get rid of the flux paste. It is nearly ready to be spray painted and then it can be glued back into position. If you look closely you can see where the ends of the brass rods were ground down to a pin sized projection to fit the holes in the bars. With the brass cleaned up this is what it looks like in place. Don Mills Models "D" door latches have been added to the side compartment doors and additional ones were added to the rear. They were drilled out and clear lenses were inserted and glued. The upper ones are backup lights left clear but with a piece of clear white plastic sheet glued in behind. The tail lights were painted with Tamiya clear red. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DRIPTROIT 71 Posted February 25, 2018 Share Posted February 25, 2018 WOW!!!! Looks Awesome!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince66 Posted February 25, 2018 Share Posted February 25, 2018 3 hours ago, Chariots of Fire said: Work continues. The braces between the top bar and bumper have been completed and painted. With that done I went to work on building the upper braces that protect the hood, windshield and cab top. They are made of 3/64 brass rod. The ends of the rods were turned down to form a projecting pin that I could insert into pre-drilled holes in the bars. The main pieces were done first making the bend and then connecting each piece with the brace that is between them above the windshield. I put a piece of paper towel over the cab and hood to prevent solder from dropping on the paint. Using a minimum of solder on the iron tip helped prevent any mishaps. After the main braces were in place the smaller side pieces and additional inside pieces were soldered in position. Last was to solder a piece of 0.010 brass sheet stock to the upper windshield brace. With all of this done I could lift the entire assembly away in order to clean up the joints and get rid of the flux paste. It is nearly ready to be spray painted and then it can be glued back into position. If you look closely you can see where the ends of the brass rods were ground down to a pin sized projection to fit the holes in the bars. With the brass cleaned up this is what it looks like in place. Don Mills Models "D" door latches have been added to the side compartment doors and additional ones were added to the rear. They were drilled out and clear lenses were inserted and glued. The upper ones are backup lights left clear but with a piece of clear white plastic sheet glued in behind. The tail lights were painted with Tamiya clear red. Looking real nice there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chariots of Fire Posted February 27, 2018 Author Share Posted February 27, 2018 Today the upper bar work was finished up and painted. I made up some rear view mirrors of brass wire, sheet stock and polished aluminum flashing. I bent the wire in a long rectangle, soldered it to the brass sheet and then cut it free. The edges were filed smooth. The aluminum has pretty good reflectiveness and fits just inside the wire perimeter of each mirror. I added some wire to the back of the mirrors just to enhance the look a bit. Just under the cab protection I added some scene lights to the front and sides. I found some clear IH fender lights and painted the backs white and the outside black. I left the front clear. The strobe lights are just printed on some glossy paper and clear coated. Thanks to another fire apparatus modeler for that tip! He made up a bunch and sent them to me to try. They look pretty nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim B Posted February 27, 2018 Share Posted February 27, 2018 This is coming along great, Charlie. Wonderful details. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince66 Posted March 2, 2018 Share Posted March 2, 2018 That is so cool looking can't wait to see the finish line when your done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chariots of Fire Posted March 2, 2018 Author Share Posted March 2, 2018 Thanks, Vince. It will be a while longer. There's a pump and plumbing still for the back, some additional decals, a siren and a hose load still to be done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DRIPTROIT 71 Posted March 2, 2018 Share Posted March 2, 2018 That is one incredible looking build! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim B Posted March 2, 2018 Share Posted March 2, 2018 I just saw a truck very similar to this driving down some Massachusetts street on NBC Nightly News. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dieselhead Posted March 2, 2018 Share Posted March 2, 2018 Man that looks great. What technique do you use for your nice bends in the tubing? Mine never come out that uniform. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chariots of Fire Posted March 3, 2018 Author Share Posted March 3, 2018 16 hours ago, Dieselhead said: Man that looks great. What technique do you use for your nice bends in the tubing? Mine never come out that uniform. I use 90 degree bends from Plastruct. The larger ones had to be sanded down to fit the tubing I used. The 1/8" diameter tubing has bends of the same size. Some sections that were less than 90 had to be trimmed by hand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
towman1271 Posted March 4, 2018 Share Posted March 4, 2018 you just impress the heck out of me everytime you build something. So impressive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
youngtiger1 Posted March 7, 2018 Share Posted March 7, 2018 Brother that is looking incredible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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