Warren D

I thought about that....after the fact. Not sure I want to drill holes as I think the white glue will fail and I'll have a mess. Total weighs in at 1 2/3 lbs, the short stack is 1/3 lb and the tall ones are 2/3 lb each. I started working on re-enforcing the trailer last night, it's taking extra care as the trailer is all but done. Not much heavier than the Cat dozer so I'm not overly concerned. The rear tall stack is over the wheels, the front stack is just behind the pin.

Not yet, but it's not light. I've looked at the trailer wrt re-enforcement but not sure I can add strength where it's most needed. Trailer is done except for wheels and tires which limits what can be done. If the tires are hollow I'll certainly have to fill them.

Load was glued one layer at a time, 12 pieces wide as I counted from a movie still. The front and rear stacks are 12 high, the one in the middle is 6 high. I used a sheet of paper to glue up each of the 30 flats, provided a guide as well as keeping the work from sticking to the bench. First pic shows the assembly, second pic is the assembled loads. I'm leaving them rough as the ones in the movie don't appear to very neatly stacked.

The 348 was in an International school bus I drove in 1980. Gary Wallace's 4-71:

If it were me, I'd start over. I've done it several times because I found it faster than trying to fix paint problems. After lots of sanding, re-sprays didn't look right so I ended up stripping anyway. Now I save myself time and just dump in the purple pond. Solid colors can sometime be saved but the metalflakes/pearls get picky.

Built that Great Dane about 40 years ago, still have it. Have fun!

Load is 12 pieces wide. I'm gluing up flats of 12 and will then stack them, 12 high for the front and rear and 6 high for the center. That's 30 flats......made up 9 last night, seems like I can do 12/hr but need more room and weights for more than 6 at a time. I'm starting to think I might need to re-enforce the trailer frame, this stuff isn't exactly light.....

Great job with the chains! I'll have you make the next set I need! LOL!

Parts slowly trickling in. Still waiting on wheels and tires for both units. Meanwhile, this arrived in the mail yesterday: This pile of wood is the load for the trailer, all 360 pieces. Looks like I'll be busy for a while glueing them together.

Thanks everyone. You'll see how big the genset is when it sits on the back of the truck. Guess I shouldn't be surprized, a DD4-71 isn't exactly small. I would have liked a taller stack but it would have been over 13 feet once installed. I've added a tool box and gen fuel tank to the truck and the parts I ordered for the searchlight from down under are in, so it'll be total scratch build from here.

I'm calling the genny done with the addition of the stack flapper and instrument panel. Not sure if I'll mount it right away or wait until the searchlight is well along (on the off chance I'd have to move it)

Lookin' good!

Wow, fantastic detail!

Genset is almost complete. Need to do the stack and put in an instrument panel inside the door by the generator. Donor parts soaking. About all that's left is the searchlight itself......let the fun begin!

Came out great, I like the colors

Generator housing fresh out of paint. Blue/gray won't take away from the cab color. Gloss will go on the exterior surfaces tomorrow, then the DD 4-71 gets installed permanently. Archer supplied the louvers and the hinges came from Dumas model boats. Top is fit and painted, air cleaner and exhaust to come.

I'd leave the dent if it looks realistic. Logging trucks were full of them. When I built my Mack B815 logger last year I took chucks out of the tires, etc.

Good colors, I can usually built a stock kit in 24 hrs, it's the paint that's the problem.

Very well done. Is Gary making the dump bodies again?

Flat bed is out of paint and on the chassis. Just waiting on parts to finish the generator and start on the light.

That wing window looks off kilter...

I've always thought it's easier to remove material than add it!

Yep, those old WW2 era searchlights pull a lot of juice, will make that ol' 4-71 scream!

That is a beast to be sure!

More work on the generator housing. Radiator has a slight front tilt (to help keep the rain out). Waiting on parts to continue....