redneckrigger

Got the painting crew going a little while ago.....actually worked out well making them practice social distancing as they didn't end up painting each other green! Went on pretty well and looks decent. Will see what it looks like tomorrow and see if it needs a touch up. While paint dries, planning goes on for the next project, an HC218. Any guesses what I’m taking on?

Might be! Gonna try to get paint started tonight, then dry time and then the final details. Time will tell!

Thought about that but since this is an old school build, dating from the ‘60’s, the paver, roller and bunch of dump trucks will have to do the job! The planned next build is going to be a lot bigger, more moving parts, and still kind of old school. Awaiting reference materials now.

Finally reached paint day! Everything is done except the wiring and piping that will be done after paint along with the hopper rubber flaps. Will be priming with Mr. Surfacer and then painting with PPG enamel with a flattener added to kill the high gloss. It’s gonna look paint shop fresh with some VERY minor grease and grime added. I thin the primer to get into all the nooks and crannies and then give it thin coats of color. I do exactly what you suggest, Charlie, with a brush in hard to reach areas. Have lots of bits to paint. It should look pretty good when done! Primer done, paint tomorrow night!

Actually Charlie, the only thing I ever did with a paver was to repaint a couple of them years ago. I never paid much attention to how they worked. So, as usual, I did hours of research into them, and acquired lots of reference material, and then I looked at how other people, yourself at the top of the list, did various techniques. Truth be told, if I was doing it over again, I would button the whole thing up and skip all the inner workings as they are going to be near invisible anyways. But it sure was fun! Getting the green paint ready!

More work today.......installed the feed gates, and the tamper drive flywheel guards. Still have to install screed side shields, engine exhaust, and the rest of the sheet metal along with about a hundred bolt heads. Then, unless my OCD kicks in again, primer and paint!!! Will install all hydraulics and wiring after paint. Tomorrow is yet another day!

Finished adding the steering controls, seats and handrails, tamper driveshaft guard, and finished the hopper. Lots more yet!

Added the operators seats, all control linkages and control levers. Installed the feeder drag bars and built the feed hopper shields. Still have to install the rubber flaps. Have to get to adding the hydraulic lines, engine details, tamper drive guards, and then see what else is screaming to be added!

This is literally like having a ringside seat at the factory where the real one was made.............................absolutely incredible! Where did you get the hood hinge? VERY tiny hinge!

Now you guys are trying to get me REAL confused! I actually have thought of something like that but it goes against my routine of doing paintshop fresh builds! I may do some staining and very mild weathering but adding blacktop???? Hmmmmmmmm! Lots of detailing to do yet, but a rough mockup is shown. Have controls, and literally days worth of details to add. This is absolutely the most difficult and complex build I have done yet, out of the Galion crane, roller, RGN lowboy etc. This is over the top. Not only does it have a zillion parts, it is something I am mot intimately familiar with, unlike the others. But, oh boy, has it been a fun ride so far! And lots more to go! And so much more to learn about this machine and new building techniques! This build HAS taken on a life of it's own.

Thank you.........that is a great idea. I will give it a try!

Added a few details to the screed tonight. Put the hand spinners and ratchet stops on the thickness controls, handrails and ladder steps, as well as the crown control drive and handwheel.

Good idea................will try it. Thank you!

I like your way of thinking Charlie! I get home at night, and simply don't have much left lately. Seeing so many of my customers coming in all day long with real fear in their eyes leaves a lasting impression. But, as always, in modelling and in life, your words carry great weight sir!

Looks sadly like we're all going to have surplus building time soon. Don’t know about my brother builders but I'm finding it hard to focus at this time but I’m certainly trying! Hope all are being safe and staying healthy! We outgrew our shop a while ago!

Installed intake and exhaust on the engine. Mocked up the hopper shields and installed the screed lift cylinders. Installed hinges on the engine enclosure. Installed the screed operator’s grating also. Tons of little details left. Still figuring what to use for rubber flaps. Need something very thin and flexible but it can wait until the very end.

This is on their website

THAT is one sharp looking dog Dennis! Nice work!

The 2020 Spring Thaw Scale Model Show has been cancelled. For further details refer to their Facebook page.

Thanks Marc...............and with every step I advance, I find about 12 more that I didn't realize were ahead of me! But, this is exactly the type of thing that keeps me interested, and at the bench!

Extremely nice work! Keep the updates coming.

Operator’s platform made up and the removable floorplate sections all made so they have locating pins to keep them in place. The screed operator’s platform is installed and the side sheet metal and their mounting supports are in place. Got hopper hydraulic cylinders made and installed. Now working on a set of engine side covers.

Enough for today........gas tank, hydraulic tank, battery box and operator’s platform deck supports and side sheet metal framework installed. One day of building and work bench looks like it had a bomb dropped on it! Next step is make and install the hopper hydraulic cylinders and make the decking, engine side covers, screed decking, hopper shields, tamper drive guards, feed and discharge gates, feeder drag bars, seats, controls, etc., etc., etc.!

Working on the engine enclosure, the engine, and the belt drive to the main gearbox and hydraulic pump. Added the flywheel and drive pulley to the engine and got the radiator and hood made up. Made the driven belt pulley and still have to mount it all. Just got back to the bench, one of my Labs had a spinal stroke a week ago and that took a lot of my time but she is recovering. They are family and family always comes first! But the build is on track again one step at a time!

The hinges get covered by a slanted shield with a rubber flap that also covers the chain and exposes only the drag bars. That is still to be added. Thanks Gator.....those shields would have already been done but I was stymied by what to use for the rubber flaps until today. Think I’m going to try electrical tape stuck face to face to make rubber flaps and see how it works. Of course that is all subject to how it looks. One step at a time!