Biggu

Thanks Brian. Yeah I may need another bottle or two for sure. I had no idea there would be this many highly detailed parts! And yes all ‘tarred’ up. 🫢😉

I see it’s been a while since my last post. Nothing really much to post, just the usual stuff going on, cleaning and sanding making bits fit. I did get the ‘bracketry’ work mostly. Engine block together , frame together. Just that mundane stuff. No need for pics. But what I can share is a photo of the latest batch of printed parts for the distributor tank. Incredible detail to these bits. Vents, ladder, work platforms , brackets, tools, spray bar, out rigger spray bars, burners and even a well designed and printed hand wand, for spraying the emulsion into tight spots the truck can’t access. A fabulous small detail. The printing quality and detail of the printing is exquisite. I thought this would be a simple project and easy. I was very much mistaken. It started with a vision of “hey this may be cool”. Some good conversations and my good friend Jurgen on the other side of the world , a few mediocre photos plus a little information from working with this stuff and a magnificent design was the result. The files as we know were went to Bren who offered to print them. The results speak volumes. The printing and details is exquisite. The final result of ‘my’ vision is I got three other guys involved, Brian, Bren, and Jurgen …. And a comprehensive 32 page assembly sequence diagram, and a 65 piece addon for my homely Ford C series. This oil distributor tank with all its accoutrements is a complete kit within itself. Now it seems I have to get going on this and so my best to show all these wonderful pieces in the best light I can. This will be a unique model on my shelf for sure. With the weather getting better it will be a bit more difficult to hit the bench but this build will be progressing…. As always comments are welcomed. Tell me what you think ..

LOVE Bren's emblem ! Looks GREAT !

That is very cool buddy!! The Superliner looks to be the muscle on this build. A unique load as well. Its one thing to build out of the box with a few mods here and there like I do, but it is a whole different level, when you design, print and build a model. This really turned out to be a unique build. It turned out great and looks the part of a well loaded truck. Good job 👍

Your scratch building skills and attention to the details is jaw dropping. I’ve been quietly watching this build from the sidelines for a long time. Glad it is back in production. A really cool build. What year is your Corvette? ( from one Corvette guy to another 😉) Jeff

Brian , this is such a magnificent highly detailed build. It is quite thrilling to watch. All the angst and sleepless nights are really paying off. Absolutely fabulous.

This turned out a top drawer build. I echo everything the other guys have said. This is an absolute beauty, so many little details that shine. Your efforts really show. Nice job.

The mock up makes it look to be a real stout tractor, means business and looks powerful already. This is shaping up to be another beauty. Watching with great interest.

Fabulous engineering and scratch building execution. This is an epic build !

Top Drawer , Brian. No detail too small for you. Glad the punch idea worked.

No worries JM , all comments are welcomed as that is what keeps this forum going. And thank you so much for all the technical design work. This is truly amazing. And now like Gary says …… no pressure. 😉

I have a weak heart 🫣……

No pressure now , eh Boys?🫣🤣🤣

They sure did. Just fabulous

I always read the comments on the new guys that join the forum, and once they introduce themselves , the following comments usually go along the lines of , welcome, lots of knowledge here, great guys, etc ….. and that’s true. REALLY true. This build is a vision I had and not being a great scratch builder, and having conversations with a few of the guys here , Brian, Jurgen and Bren , one thing led to another and I was the beneficiary of some pretty fantastic collaborative works. Jurgen, who has become a very good friend said he wanted to design the oil tank and I thought maybe I could get it printed , and if I asked nicely maybe my friend Bren may take the job on ……… well, Jurgen designed the tank alright, and only from a very few lousy photos I could muster up. His design skills are absolutely awesome. His attention to detail is amazing and dead accurate. He designed the tank and a whole lot more. I had planned on scratching or try to scratch most of the back end workings but Jurgen took that on and designed the files for the whole back end workings. He even designed a 100 gallon propane tank! I asked Bren if he would consider printing the tank for me and he readily agreed and we made a deal. Bren is an expert in figuring this stuff out. The first tank had a slight anomaly and he rejected it, and found a way to print the tank and it is perfect. He and Jurgen were working together on this project and Jurgen’s print files worked perfectly with little to no adjustment for Bren to print. I got a box in the mail today and when I opened it, I was blown away with the quality of printing and the details of the print. It is truly amazing that I could send a few crummy pictures half way around the world, have a fellow design computer files, send them back and then in the mail like magic I get the most amazing one off set of parts to complete a model build. This has really made my day, and through this forum have made some pretty good friends , and generous ones at that, guys like Brian, Ron, Gary, Jurgen, Bren to name but a few.

Excellent engineering and execution once again. Nice and clean and very expertly done , Ron. My hat is off to you. This is modelling in its purest form. Well done. Like Gary says, impressive work.

Just TOO COOL JM !!! This is really turning out well. I really like it. Good job buddy

Now that is some precision painting! When I try that, my results look like a 4 year old monkey did it. Fabulous dash , just beautiful!

Thanks Steve… I think once the fenders are separated and hanging on the truck the vision will be out front. I agree the wheels are really sweet. They will look period correct. I hope. Thanks for checking in.

Gary is an expert when it comes to plastic. He says it will, and I will add a couple light braces for visual appeal and a little security.

Thanks Bud, from where I was sitting…. You hadn’t forgotten anything. I learned a lot. Thanks for the advice and great information.

I have also keep doing research on the vintage Ford distributors. All are basically the same but all a little different, so this is not a specific truck build per se’. It is also a sort of international build. My good friend Jurgen is doing some of his magical designing, and the very generous Bren is doing the printing. Hopefully I can do justice to what I am receiving. So with what I see is coming my way, this unit will need some rear fenders. I was seriously thinking of getting an aftermarket set but then looking at what I have and figured I could probably make a set. Not much of a scratch builder but this should be fairly simple. And so far it is. Mounting them straight, level and at the same height may be a challenge but we are not there yet. The first part is to bend some sheet to look like a fender. So, I cut a section of sheet the correct width of a set of duals and the length to cover left and right. Was even smart enough to score the sheet so it will be easy to split after rolled. I had an old pill bottle and cut a section out of it and used it as a template . The basic procedure was suggested by ‘Shaky’ Ron , and then the top professional 30 odd years of expert service working with plastics , Gary, gave the best advice and suggestions then said I should post this. 🙄🤭🤣 First try I wrapped the sheet on the out side of the bottle tossed it in very hot water for a few minutes and it ‘worked’ but not well enough. It was a bit too big for the application. So with good solid consultation with Gary , I put the partially curved sheet on the ‘inside ‘ of the bottle part and very hot water bath for about 2 minutes, then I immersed it in cold water, as per Gary’s suggestion. I removed the sheet and it is Perfect and is the right curvature and will be firm and solid once a reinforcement is installed. I will try to put the pics in order.. the sheet will be cut in half so one fender for each side. Thanks to Ron for telling me it will be ‘easy’ , Gary for his expert advice and Brian for encouraging me to push the boat out and step out of the old comfort zone …

Looks like it’s been a couple weeks since I last put something up ….. so I have the engine block ‘roughed’ out and there is nothing to see there ….got the transmission together and rear end. Added appropriate bolt action to liven them up. And for the record. The bolt pattern on the rear end is exactly as the real one was, I didn’t misplace or forget any bolts. Also added a little detail to the fuel tanks and hanger brackets. There will be more adde to them shortly ..

Nice job on this one, Tom . Your scratch wrecker is beautifully done. Those old Holmes’ units are not easy to replicate. I love the B7000 trucks. This is a perfect combination and looks great Jeff

That is super cool , JM. It will look great with a load. Can't wait to see it loaded…