redneckrigger

So I just finished the plans for the outrigger boxes, beams and cylinder brackets. The drawings are actually easy for me to do, as one of my many hats I wore in a former life was that of a mechanical engineer. Now it’s on to the fabrication! Seems like a pretty simple project, just lots of cutting and gluing, but the planning takes equally as long if not longer. Just the main outrigger boxes and beams, not counting cylinders etc, just the main structure consists of 92 pieces. The research for these projects I do consists of obtaining operators, parts and shop manuals for the machine in question. Then I find photos online and if possible take some myself if the machine is accessible. If I can access the machine I also take some basic measurements. The vast majority of the dimensions in my drawings are obtained by extrapolation from manuals, and photos. Then, I evaluate what the drawings look like as far as scale. Having worked with all of what I build, it is easy to use the calibrated eyeball to check for accuracy! And that is why it takes so long to build these!

Absolutely stunning work, as always Charles!!!! And always an inspiration to the rest of us!

Sadly, this is why so many cottage industry casters close up shop. They make a great product, all the while working a fulltime job, (or two), to make a living, and doing the casting on the side. And then when they get tons of orders, and lead times go past what the buyer thinks reasonable, without knowing a THING about the sellers' life, business, health, time demands due to jobs etc., that buyer jumps on them all over social media. Eventually, that seller decides the heck with it. And THEN those that caused their demise, bemoan the fact that the seller went out of business and those great products are no longer available. Yeah, a note on the website saying what is going on, or simply a note that there will be NO lead times given and you will get your order when it is done, period, would go a long way towards letting people know they have to wait, (IF those people take the time to even read and comprehend the note). However, often the time needed to keep buyers informed takes time away from other more pressing issues, and simply does not get done. When you are dealing with an established, reputable, quality seller, like Jeff, there is little to NO reason to expect that he is going to screw you, or anyone else for that matter. All I can say is I have some of Motor City's resins and they are fantastic. And I have no issue waiting for however long it takes. Patience is a virtue that many people need to learn how to practice. Thank you, Jeff, for continuing to offer such quality merchandise, even in the face of interference from life, and impatient buyers.

With my shop being twice as busy as last year, which was twice as busy as the year before, I have been hard pressed to find time at the bench, or the energy! But, deer season is over, and coupled with winter being here so it means more time inside, I feel great having gotten back to this build. So, got the engine enclosure done, with the covers hinged and a rear grille installed. Also made up the air cleaner and the muffler, which will get a heat guard soon. Also found the correct upswept exhaust manifolds for the 8V71 and fitted the intake tubing. Am drafting the drawings for the outrigger assemblies at this time. And started on the driver’s instrument panel. Unimaginable amount of work left, but it feels wonderful to be back at it!

Got married in 1975, went to Cape Cod in Massachusetts for our honeymoon. Went out to Martha's Vineyard on the ferry and when we drove off the ferry, we stopped at a variety store for a snack. Found about 25 1968 and 1969 AMT and MPC annual kits on the shelf. Bought them all and stuffed them into my 69 Mustang fastback and spent the rest of the two weeks riding around like a toy store on wheels! Another time shortly thereafter in 1976, I stopped at a Chevy dealer in Pittsfield, MA after work, to ask if they had any promos available. The salesman brought me into the cellar where there was a stash of promos from 1968 to 1970. I asked him what they wanted for all of them. He asked if $2 each was too much. Good thing it was pay day, as I dropped $110 right on the spot. Wish I had some of either batch of the kits or promos still!

Well done Dave and your team, keep up the good work. This forum continues to be the best in the hobby!

Thanks all for the great comments. Unfortunately, I am in the middle of unprecedented business at my gun shop, which leaves me with about negative 3 energy and time/drive/desire to do any building. Also just had a great friend pass and we bought his 500 gun collection, which has consumed our whole staff for the last two months. So...................have tried to get some work done, but am spinning my wheels. BUT.............I AM enjoying watching all of the great work being done by all of my friends on this forum. Hopefully, one day soon, will get back to the bench...............and STAY there1

Finally found a few minutes to get to the bench and work on this project that has been stalled for way too long. My shop is going crazy, teaching a couple nights each week, and life in general have conspired along with a case of builders block to bring this to a screeching halt. But, MAYBE, this kick start will get it going again. Anyways, just a little, but straightened the grille, and made the engine enclosure up for the carrier. Now working on the hinges. This was always going to be a huge involved time consuming build. Hoping that at least now I can keep it going!

Using Firefox on Windows 10, no problem at all......................though it IS understandable why ads are necessary. Having this forum with advertising, is far better than no advertising..........................and no forum!

Great to see this one start, Charlie. I am still following every post you make, while not being able to devote any time to my own building. BUT, your projects are sustaining me! Keep those posts coming!

That is stunning work, Charles. WOW!

Perfect weathering! This is an outstanding build of what was a VERY commonly seen rig not all THAT long ago!

Extremely nice work!!!! Great color combo, and details!

Learned how to drive in a 1962 Willys station wagon, 3 speed stick, 4x4, with the Hurricane 6 engine. Did a few spin and stalls while learning the clutch, but having learned the clutch way back in 1968, it is a skill that has stayed with me ever since, and one I currently enjoy every day in my Corvette and Mustang GT. Wouldn't have it any other way!

Wow! That is beautiful, and I love all the little story lines occurring throughout it! FANTASTIC!

That is absolutely perfect, Charlie. The details you are able to include are nothing short of amazing!

Outstanding issue! Glad to see it and can't wait for more. Keep up the great work!

My bad on describing it as "competitive juices"....................perhaps it should be better described as " efforts to fulfill the desire to share builds with others and display them"? I have gone to many NNL's all the way back to the 80's. We all take great joy in our builds and love to share them with others. Contests, and NNL type events allow us to do this. Covid has taken that away..................hopefully we will be able to do so with these type of events. The reward comes with the sharing of the efforts one has put into a unique build, not in prizes.

Great to see efforts to keep the competitive juices flowing during this "pandemic". But sure would have been nice to include light and heavy truck/commercial modelers........

That is an absolutely superb build you have going on there! It truly looks like you have a miniaturization machine hidden away someplace..........come on, share it with us!!! Truly beautiful work!

Thank you..........and it's a double Detroit too! Thanks, yeah, it's gonna be HUGE! Thanks Charlie, got a LOT to do, and the time to do it lately has been zero, but gonna keep tryin'!!! Thanks Gator! The prototype is rear drive. Got lots to do and no time available to do it! Thank you. Updates will get there, soon I hope! Happy to share and thank you for the good words! One step at a time!

Beautiful work! Would LOVE to see a 1985 GMC 4 headlight one......... ! Just wishin'! Kinda like this one I modified from a 1984 version.

Yup, that's the beauty of this forum..................you don't get forced to agree with another poster. What works fine for one is different for another. I have some items from the Ukraine, and while very nice, some of the detail appears to me, at least, to be a bit soft on the edges. I like the sharpness of the iceman items, and, personally, I don't want to buy an engine kit and not massage it a bit myself to get the appearance I want. Freedom to choose....................it's a wonderful thing!

Utterly fantastic work Charles. Haven't had much time for anything these days, but whenever I can, I MAKE the time to check your posts out. You teach others so well, for example, on the window gaskets. It works perfectly, and saved me many hours of hair pulling on the Galion crane I built. Thank you, as always for sharing so much!

I have gotten 3D items that look great in photos, but look like weathered plywood in person. I have a bunch of icemans work, and I have to say, it is great. Perhaps his eBay photos are of lesser quality but the items I have show no pinholes, and will need little, if any, smoothing prior to use. So, based on the photos I have enclosed of the actual items I bought, I’m happy. To each their own!