BK9300

After the work I did on the dash yesterday, I am now undecided about clear coating the dash - not sure I could suffer the decals being damaged. I'll either need to experiment on some of the extra dash inserts I have, or invest in a UV light and use clear, curable, resin as gauge glass. Still need to do paint touch ups and can't brush paint any kind of area with lacquer so more masking may be in the future! While deciding that, it was onto other things. Little bits keep getting added to the 'to-do' list. I added one yesterday but was able to get it off the list today - I saw in a couple pics of the real truck that I had missed an underslung cross member that sits slightly rearward of the front of the transmission housing. Also got a start on printing patterns from Sketchup for the battery box/step and it's twin, a tool box/step on the passenger side. This is the cross member that I missed adding along the way - I initially tried to form the 2 mm rod using a candle - that was a failure! Ended up using an old hair dryer and got a decent result. The cross member and frame mounts are bolted together using Scale Hardware fasteners A couple mockup pics of the crossmember in place - the second pic shows frame mount slightly lower as in the pic of the real truck The battery box and tool box steps will butt up against the edge of the cross member frame mounts - did a few checks with the cab in place to confirm and match against pics of real thing Driver's side battery box/step modeled in Sketchup - the step treads will be photoetched items from Auslowe, purchased from ST Supply, and the metal, diamond treadplate is from CTM - not sure how the step brackets will be attached to treadplate, but likely drill a couple holes under each step bracket and use epoxy or Scale Hardware fasteners. The 'aluminum treadplate' cover/step assembly is designed to hook over and onto the box frame along the edge of the cover nearest to the frame. The sides of the cover will also be held in place with CTM, rubber hood latches, hopefully! All the needed patterns have been printed, with a couple cut out, ready to be taped down to styrene sheet and cut out with a razor saw. Should be able to get these two boxes made relatively quickly - I'm thinking the most difficult part of these will be securing the hood latches in place strongly enough. Good enough for today, and thanks for having a look!

Thank you, Francis! I'm finding the finishing detailing very taxing - it seems that the building of the various sub-assemblies (sander, plows, hydraulic system) were done with much less stress than these fiddly, finishing details. But, 'in for a penny', etc - will carry on!

Thanks very much, Jürgen!

Your builds are always so masterfully painted - very rich looking interiors, too.

Thanks, Jeff - the punches worked out well.

Feels good to be back at this project after a bit of time away from it! In the never ending re-ordering of build priorities, I felt I needed finish the dash, then all the other work to finish the cab off so I could get back to working on the firewall wiring. Feels pretty disorganized sometimes. Still, feeling good to be working on any part of it again - that is, until I actually started in on some details for the dash board! More stress to follow. . . This is how I had left the dash a couple weeks ago. I then set out a few items to attempt to decal the gauges on the resin printed dash panels. I was crazily thinking I might need to cut them out with small scissors, but Jeff thoughtfully suggested I try and find a punch instead (thanks Jeff!). I did find, and ordered, a few leather working punches that were small enough to do the job. I set about punching out the gauges - good thing I had two sets, because I messed up several with poor alignment before tapping on the punch Then, before I attempted the decaling, and looking at the dash again, I felt it was too plain. One of the trucks in the company's Nelson, BC fleet had a black dash top and black panel inserts with rest of the dash in a grey similar to the colour I had painted the dash originally. So I did some masking and re-painted the dash like that real truck, re-chromed the gauge openings and set about the tedious process of adding gauges Using the two decal sets, I managed to get all the gauges decaled. I tried to add the decals to the rocker switches, but they wouldn't stick and looked off, so I removed them. Some touch-up need as I managed to scuff a couple of the switches, as well as some of the dash lower edges while handling the dash to position the decals. Also added the ashtray and the heater/AC control switches. I put the trans shifter handle in and took a couple pics. Looks fairly decent, if you don't look too close! Will also need to add some dark panel liner around the fuse panel covers and glove box, and see what I can do about painting the two heater vents above the fuse panels. Then I want to spray the dash with satin clear and hope I don't lift the decals - a few light coats first to set things, then a bit heavier final coat, I'm told. After the clear has set, I will need to paint the yellow parking brake and red supply switches on the right hand dash panel - that will be a tester, too. Stressful day at the bench, but glad to be back working on the truck again! Take care.

Huge amount of detail in that cab interior and your ‘worn’ seats look quite realistic - well done!

Fantastic detailing, Pierre - very interesting subject!

A stunning amount of detail to look at in your frame - a tremendous accomplishment overall!

Excellent work, Ron - it’ll be a brute when it’s finished

I'm late to your latest post, Jeff, but Jurgen and Bren have you really set up for a unique model! Look forward to seeing it come together.

I'm imagining those fenders being difficult to do without that jig - looks good, Gary! Might have asked this in a previous build, but did you make the jig for putting the fenders and supports together?

Very nice progress, Pat - that pipe layer / side boom you hope to make would make a good load.

You're making terrific progress, David - really like how it's all coming together. If this truck is going to work in the patch, that nice paint could get muddy in a hurry! Great job.

Maybe you're not happy with your air cleaner at the moment, but you've got to be pleased with all the other details - the polished, reflective paint job on your cab and hood, and all the detailing on your frame. Looks great, Steve!

Your frame detailing and now, weathering, really brings it all to life - well done!

Your weathering is being built up very realistically - like how the leading edges of the rear suspension/drives are a bit more dirty! Very nicely done.

Looking good, Scott! Resin printed items sure open up the modeling possibilities, but it's also very frustrating to work with! (did you ever find a shotgun?!)

Simply amazing work, Tim - beautiful.

Well done on your dash detail paint, David - those details really stand out.

Neat trick, Jeff (and Gary)! Looks like the curve will keep it's shape.

Very nice progress, Ron - lots of challenges you're overcoming!

Too bad kits like this aren't available anymore - going to be a great looking trailer once it's finished.

Going to look very impressive, all loaded up, Jürgen! Will you have room in your new cabinet for this, or will it go up on a shelf?

Great scratch building, Tom - definitely a heavy duty wrecker in its day. The Holmes wrecker looks really good.