[Scratch built 1/25th scale Cat 374F L excavator]

Hey all 

  Small update for you. I have got the main boom pivot and the boom cylinders mounting bracket done.

this view shows the bracket in place on the body base. I also have the main deck surface added to the base.

view of the pivot bracket from the front. I made this from 0.06" plastic  sheet glued to 0.03" plastic sheet in irder to get to 0.09" thickness to form the 4 sides. In between these I used some 0.04" x 1/4" plastic strips to make the 2 towers/pivot points. I then glued these to a piece of 0.06" thick plastic sheet stock to make the pivot bracket. Well that's it for now be back with more soon.

Ron G 

[Scratch built 1/25th scale Cat 374F L excavator]

Hey Force 

COOL!!!!👍

Ron G 

[Scratch built 1/25th scale Cat 374F L excavator]

8 minutes ago, Mopar - D said:

Ron your not wasting any time on this excavator. Awesome work so far you know it would be great if you could make this a kit. I’m sure you would be able to sell a bunch of them. 

Yeah, that would be nice, but that is an incredible amount of work and cost. If I was 30 years younger maybe.

  I don't know why some big company hasn't picked up on making some neat construction equipment models I think they would sell a ton of em.

Ron G 

[Scratch built 1/25th scale Cat 374F L excavator]

Hey all 

  Small update for you all. I have the bodys base pretty much done. I made it out of some 0.06" thick black plastic sheet.

this view shows the bodys base from the operators side.

same view but more from the side.

rear view of the base.

view from the front of the base.

this view is from the side opposite of the operator.

top view of the bodys base. The operators cab area is in the upper right. Directly opposite of the cab is the hydraulic tank. Then behind that is the fuel tank. In between the cab and the hydraulic tank is were the boom pivot and boom cylinders will be, also the swing motors will reside there. The rear most area is were the Cat C15 engine will be. Well that's it for now be back with more updates soon.

Ron G 

[Scratch built 1/25th scale Cat 374F L excavator]

Thanks Mopar 

[48' Loadking 3 axle drop nose lowboy trailer]

28 minutes ago, Mopar - D said:

Ron did you measure the over all length? My heavy haul project is 5’ long. 

Yes, it's just over 5 feet long.

Ron G 

[Scratch built 1/25th scale Cat 374F L excavator]

Hey all 

  Well I'm at it again, yupp another project in the works. I'm starting a Cat 374F L excavator. This is a 83 ton excavator that will look great on my lowboy trailer that I'm also making.

  Like I said this will be almost entirely from scratch. I purchased a Cat C15 resin diesel engine from Jamie at Moluminum. I also found some tracks that are from Bruder toys (found these thanks to a post by yh70). These are actually for there 1/16th scale mini excavator, but they work out perfectly for the Cat 374.

This view shows the real Cat 374F L.

This view shows a closer look at the body of the excavator.

this is my 1/25th scale drawing of the big Cat

this is a top view of the Cat 374.

this view shows the Bruder tracks.

this view shows the other side of the tracks.

side view of the tracks.

end view of the tracks. There 1.25" wide which is 31.25" wide in 1/25th scale or 30.0" wide in 1/24th scale. Tracks for the Cat 374F L come in 28", 30" and 35" widths, so these work out to be perfect for the middle size ones.

this view shows the temporary undercarriage setup that I made to figure out how many track sections I would need. The 374 actually has 47 track shoes/links, I think I have 45, so close enough for me...lol.

more of a top view of the tracks sitting on my lowboy build. Well that's it for now be back with more updates soon.

Ron G 

[48' Loadking 3 axle drop nose lowboy trailer]

Hey guys 

  Kind of a update, but not. I'm starting a new project. It's a load for the trailer. I'm going to be making a almost completely scratch built 1/25th scale Cat 374F L large excavator.

this view shows my temporary undercarriage setup that I made in order to figure out all the geometry of the tracks.

This view shows the real Cat 374F L. So check out my new post for this big build.

Ron G 

[1/25 Revell Peterbilt 359 heavy haul]

Thanks guys 

[1/25 Revell Peterbilt 359 heavy haul]

Hey all

 I've started back on the Peterbilt 359 heavy haul tractor. I've been working on this along with my scratch built drop nose lowboy trailer. I made some new scale 28" diameter x 90" long 200 gallon fuel tanks and reworked/scratch built a new headache rack.

  I made the tanks from some 3/4" pvc pipe that was actually 1.07" diameter which is 26 75" diameter so I wrapped some 0.03" plastic sheet around it to make them 28" diameter. I cut up the kit tanks so I could use the ends and the other parts for my new tanks.

this view shows the passenger side fuel tank.

this view shows the drivers side fuel tank.

this view shows the whole truck, passenger side fuel tank and headache rack.

view of the tractor from the front.

view of the headache rack from the rear.

drivers side view of the tractor, drivers side fuel tank and headache rack.

this view shows the headache rack and rear of the fuel tanks. I still need to do some more detailing on the headache rack. Well that's it for now be back soon with more.

Ron G 

[48' Loadking 3 axle drop nose lowboy trailer]

Hey guys 

  I did some work on my Peterbilt 359 heavy haul tractor. I made a new 28" diameter x 90" long 200 gallon fuel tank.

this view shows the tractor and the new fuel tank.

this view shows a closer look at the fuel tank and steps. I made this from a piece of 3/4" pvc pipe, it's actually 1.07" diameter, so to make it 28" diameter I Wrapped a piece of 0.03" sheet plastic around it to make it 28" diameter. I cut up the kit tank so I could use the peices on my tank.

i put the whole thing together so I could see how long it is. YICKS!!! it's big! The excavator is a 1/32 scale Newray one,  and the booster/stinger is actually the dolly from my Michigan gravel train project.

here it is next to a 1/50th scale similar setup. Well that's it for now be back with more soon.

Ron G 

 

[48' Loadking 3 axle drop nose lowboy trailer]

Thanks guys 

[48' Loadking 3 axle drop nose lowboy trailer]

Thanks guys 

Ron G 

[48' Loadking 3 axle drop nose lowboy trailer]

1 hour ago, gotnitro? said:

Phenomenal work  ! Really shows the shear size of this compared to the 1/50 next to it 

The jeeps are just a dolly more or less sans any type of suspension  ? Assuming its for weight distribution mostly 

Hey Nitro 

 Yes, but they do have suspension, some even have lift axles, minehas air suspension. Its so you can spread the weight of the load onto all of you axles, or more on the front, or more on the rear. Same for the stinger/booster.

Ron G 

[48' Loadking 3 axle drop nose lowboy trailer]

3 hours ago, Mopar - D said:

Ron your scratch building just keeps getting better with this build!  I’m looking forward to seeing some paint on this project. 

Yeah, me too, but that's quite a ways off.

  Did a little more work on the XL 80 jeep. I have the landing legs made and installed. I used parts from the AMT twin trailer (Consolidated Freight) kit to help make the legs. I added the fifth wheel plate and fifth wheel permanently. I made the fifth wheel movable for/aft, but still fixed to the jeep.

this view shows the landing legs, fifth wheel and wheels/tires sitting in place.

side view of the XL 80 jeep.

this view shows the jeep next to the 1/50th scale one from Diecast Masters.

this view shows the jeep with the gooseneck sitting on it, also you can see the 1/50th XL 80 jeep and XL 120 HD lowboy trailer.

this view shows my 1/25th scale version of the 1/50th scale one from Diecast Masters. Well that's it for now be back with more updates soon.

Ron G 

[48' Loadking 3 axle drop nose lowboy trailer]

Hey all 

  Ok, I shortened it to a 280" W/B. I think it looks right now.

this view shows the headache rack sitting in place, also it shows the rear of the fuel tank were the new 200 gallon fuel tank will be. It will be 28" diameter x 90" long. I'm going to be making it from 1" PVC pipe, which is actually 1.125" diameter, 28" in 1/25th scale.

this view is more of a side view of the tractor.

   I also started on making the XL 80 jeep. I decided to go with a two axle jeep instead of a three axle one. The loads I have for the trailer aren't quite large enough to justify a 3 x 3 x 3 so it's going to be a 2 x 3 x 2 set up.

 this view shows the tractor, jeep and gooseneck of the trailer.side view of the rear of the tractor and the jeep.

this shows the jeep in it's beginning stage. Well that's it for now be back with more soon.

Ron G 

 

[48' Loadking 3 axle drop nose lowboy trailer]

Hey bigred

 Nope, I'm going to make a 6 to 8 foot long shelf that will simulate a two lane road to display it on.

  Hey all

  I've been working on the gooseneck of the trailer. I have the hydraulic power pack done and painted.

this view shows the complete hydraulic power pack. It's kind of hard to see the hydraulic lines because they are black and so is the power pack. The line on the right is the feed line that goes to the front of the flip section to a fitting where the tractor hydraulic system would hook up. The hydraulic pump and the motor are on the left.

this view shows the Honda 13hp engine and hydraulic pump, also the exhaust pipe that I added. The silver colored lines/fittings are the feed and return lines to the main hydraulic cylinders.

this view shows the hydraulic tank and lines/fittings.

this view shows the fitting for the feed line from the tractor.  

this view shows the hydraulic power pack sitting in place on the gooseneck.

this view shows the feed line from the fitting in front of the flip section to the hydraulic tank 

this view shows the exhaust pipe clearing the frame.

  I also created from plastic and aluminum tubing the gooseneck support system and hydraulic cylinder.

this view shows everything added to the gooseneck.

this view shows the gooseneck support system in the up/retracted position.

this view shows the gooseneck support system in the down/extended position.

another view showing the gooseneck support system in the down position. Well that's it for now be back with more soon.

Ron G 

[48' Loadking 3 axle drop nose lowboy trailer]

Hey all 

 This is what I'm trying to build in 1/25th scale. This is a 1/50th scale Diecast Masters set up.

this view shows a Diecast Masters Kenworth T880 tridem tractor, custom 3 x 3 x 3 XL Specialized HD130 drop nose RGN trailer with 3 axle jeep and 3 axle stinger. Thats a Caterpillar D10T2 dozer sitting on the trailer for perspective purposes. You can see my scratch built trailer in the background, and it's almost as long as the whole 1/50th set up.

this view shows the Kenworth T880 tridem.

this view shows the custom XL 3 axle jeep. The square box on the trailer gooseneck is a hydraulic power pack.

this view shows the Cat D10T2 dozer.

this view shows the custom 3 axle XL nitrogen charged stinger/booster. As you can tell the 1/25th scale set up is going to be HUGE!!! Well that's it for now be back soon with more.

Ron G 

[48' Loadking 3 axle drop nose lowboy trailer]

Hey misterNNL

 I just measured it and works out to be approximately 5.00 feet long!!! 

Tractor is 17.0" total length, 13.875" frt. Bumper to king pin.

Jeep is aroind 13.0" total length, 6.50" king pin if jeep to king pin on flip section of trailer.

Trailer is 29.0" total length, 28.25" king pin to rear of trailer.

Stinger (booster) is 11.00" total length.

So 13.875" + 6.50" + 28.25" + 11.00" = 59.625" almost 5 feet???

Ron G 

[48' Loadking 3 axle drop nose lowboy trailer]

3 minutes ago, misterNNL said:

Outstanding scratch building along with a real hands-on knowledge of the subject are obvious. This is going to require a custom built box to haul the finished model to shows! Have you figured out how long the finished model will be in 1/25th scale?

Hey misterNNL

  I think it's going to be around 4 feet maybe longer!!!?

Ron G 

[48' Loadking 3 axle drop nose lowboy trailer]

Hey Nitro

  I just ordered a bunch of stuff from Matt off of Shapways. "D" rings, outriggers, rachet binders and glad hands. 

Ron G 

[48' Loadking 3 axle drop nose lowboy trailer]

1 hour ago, gotnitro? said:

Ditto ^^^^ x2   fantastic work . Theres outriggers and d rings available on shapeways too. Designed by down range productions i think. Matt leese made em and their very nice 

Thanks guy's 

 Thanks Nitro, I'll check em out.

Ron G 

[48' Loadking 3 axle drop nose lowboy trailer]

Hey all 

  I have been working on my Revell Peterbilt 359 custom heavy haul tractor while I'm waiting on parts to come in the mail. I have the Wheels/tires pretty much done ready for paint. I temporarily put it together to see how it works with the lowboy trailer.

this view shows it with my AMT D8H dozer and the lowboy trailer. I think it looks amazing together, what do you guys think?

close up view of the tractor.

closer view of the D8H dozer and trailer.

view looking down on the dozer and the trailer. Well that's it for now be back with more soon.

Ron G 

[48' Loadking 3 axle drop nose lowboy trailer]

Hey all 

  I have some more done on the trailer. I've been working on the suspension, axles and brakes.

this view shows the three axles sitting loosely in place.

this view shows the rear axle. I made this from parts of the AMT lowboy kit and some plastic tube and card stock.

another view of the rear axle.

bottom view of the rear axle. I'm not a hundred percent satisfied with this set up, so I'm thinking about replacing it with 3D printed ones from Shapways.

this view shows the 3D printed set up from Shapways.

this view shows the actual 3D printed part. I'm really hoping that these work out ok.

  I've also been working on a hydraulic power pack for the lowboy RGN. It will consist of a hydraulic tank (scratch built), hydraulic pump (also scratch built) and a 3D printed Honda 13hp engine.

this view shows the 3D printed Honda engine.

this is the set up I'm trying to replicate.

another view of the hydraulic power pack. Still have alot of scratch building, wiring, plumbing, etc.,etc. to do...lol. well that's it for now be back soon with more updates.

Ron G 

[48' Loadking 3 axle drop nose lowboy trailer]

Hey all 

  Got more done on the lowboy trailer.

view of the lowboy trailer and my Kenworth W925 tractor.

top down view of the trailer and tractor.

rear view of the trailer, the yellowish white plastic parts are from the AMT lowboy kit modified to fit.

side view showing the AMT parts added to my trailer.

rear view showing the tail light area from the AMT kit that I am in the process of modifying to look correct for the XL 130 HD.

top down view of the trailer bed. I ran out of 1/2" 'I' beams, so it's off to the hobby store for more stuff...lol. well that's it for now be back soon with more updates.

Ron G