BK9300

Even at this scale, the Hellcat looks like a powerful engine! Nice job.

Last few times at the bench, I've been getting some smaller items ready for priming. I can't see it when I look at the pieces with just my glasses, but taking pics of everything shows lots of fuzz that needed to be smoothed away. So, lots of time spent doing that and finally, was able to get some primer on some pieces yesterday and today. Because I've been waiting for parts and more paint, and while waiting in between primer coats, I built something I hadn't expected to do for this build - one of those 'out of sight, but I know it's there' things! Little bits primed with second coat; prior to priming I had added base plates to the control tower, that the valve handle boots would mount onto in the real truck; I added two electrical sockets to the back of the monitor - each socket has been drilled for some .012 wire that will feed into the wire looms Found my self a bit idle the last couple days, between coats of primer, and, decided to fabricate the windshield washer fluid reservoir that mounts under the floor pan, below the driver's seat. The lengths of the pieces of tubing/wiring will likely need to be changed up a bit once the reservoir is painted and in place. The 'washer fluid' in the clear filler tube is a piece of Gopher, ignition wire - the wire will be painted the same colour as the 'full' reservoir - because it will be full, I won't need to slant the level of fluid in the filler tube! The reservoir is upside down at the moment and the bits on the bottom are the low fluid level sensor/sending unit and the outlet hose to the washer pump Mocked up in place. The wire loom for the sending unit will be fed into the drilled hole in the front cross member. If I move the reservoir back slightly, I might be able to feed the filler tube through the cross member as well, without kinking the tube This wasn't on the list of outstanding things to do, but I'm glad I did it. Actually might be able to just see it when looking at the back corner of the cab. I think I better stick to the list from now on, instead of adding new things to it - take care and thanks for having a look!

Still something I need to figure out for my next build - I'll come to you for advice! Looks good, Jeff.

Very tough looking rear suspension - bet that would feel pretty solid driving down the road, especially without a load! Good to see your update.

Another impressive looking build, Jürgen - hope your hood arrives soon - it will be the finishing touch!

Your safety net and interior wiring details are very realistic! What type of wire are you using for your smallest wires, along the driveshaft tunnel? Very impressive detailing.

You do a lot of good work, in the wee hours

I like how the decals laid out, too - the carrier film isn't noticeable. Had you cleared over the decals at time of taking your photos or are you going to leave them as is? Looking very good!

Terrific handiwork, Jim - very interesting to see how you are making all the add-ons along the way.

Thanks a lot, Steve - I think ‘daft’ sums it up perfectly, but sure is a great activity to spend time at!

Found these links to a model truck museum in Leduc, Alberta. Some very interesting builds in these videos

I have been following them as well - I should comment more often!

Very detailed work - great looking build overall!

There's a lot of invested hours on display here - more details are found the longer I look at the pics! Great collection when they're all finished.

David, @Steve H let me know about your thread - it's a great idea! I see lots of cool details posted by automotive builders, so hoping a few hidden items on my plow truck build will fit in with the theme. Lots of hydraulic lines, a diverter valve, and electrical connections in rear cross member will be hidden once the sand hopper is attached to the frame. Also won't be able to see much of the scratch built AC condenser or the transmission cooler mounted on front of rad, which will end up behind the grille. I also added in the under cab supports for the floor pan, with wiring runs, which will almost certainly never be seen! Thanks for starting this thread, David - got some ideas for future builds going round in my head!

Thanks very much, Francis and I appreciate you following the progress!

It must feel very gratifying to be nearing the end of this build - you've created an amazing piece of work and should be suitably proud! Look forward to your 'Under Glass' photo shoot.

I can imagine the media blasting produced a smile - the result is very impressive! Yourself, and others like Messers Laflamme, McLaren, Libby and Ditton (and some who I may not have found, yet), and who work in metal at this scale, produce some of the most amazing creations. Amazing to follow along.

Been said before - your rust detailing is incredible! Those trailers must have seen some very salty winter roads! Any possibility of making logo decals for your flaps?

I can see them now - your truck is really looking good, Steve. I’m sure you’ll get the weight issue resolved!

Steve, really been enjoying your updates, however, I cannot see the three pics in your last post. Might just be my end, but I can see every other pic you posted, so not sure what the issue is. Hoping to get to see them later!

Thanks, Randy - lots that won't show very easily, but I feel the need to add the details in! The silicone boots are very flexible, but fragile. So, if I'm careful, I can slide the boot over the bends in the wire and only need to CA glue the wire into the brass tube 'fitting'. The 90 degree bends in the wire/air line hold the boots in place without glue. Appreciate your comments!

Dash board is looking awesome, Gary! Will you leave the exhaust tips level or angled back? What will you use for polishing the stacks?

Thanks a lot, Steve - it’s nearing the end and the list of details to add is getting much smaller! I had a look for the thread you mentioned but haven’t located it yet - bet there’s a lot of good viewing in there! The tube is a 2.5 mm spring and is from Wave - I have quite a selection of sizes I found a couple years ago while first thinking about this model. Works very well for wire looms! Thanks, Steve. I have gone back and forth about opening the driver’s door, but decided not to do it. If I scaled the actual opening of the driver’s door, the dash would certainly be more visible, but it still wouldn’t open wide enough to view the control tower, past the front seat, any better than by looking through the windshield or either of the side windows. A job for a future build, for sure. Thanks, Gary!

Thanks very much, @cifenet (Steve!) - still carrying on with the fiddly bits, for sure! I did more reworking of the interior floor, making it smooth, before adding scale, Evergreen siding, to simulate the rubber flooring in original truck. Also laid out all the bolt holes, wiring openings and the hole where a shifter would be in a truck with a manual transmission, that will have a cover plate added because this truck has an automatic. Removed the locators for the driver and passenger seat - the locations of the front and outside edges of each are now marked with 0.6mm holes Hard to see in the pic, with the angle of my light, but the Evergreen siding, 'rubber' floor mat is now in, holes re-drilled through from the bottom, and a hole added at the center, rear of the floor pan for wiring to the two monitors that will be mounted on the mast. The 'factory' manual transmission hole will be widened slightly and then closed with a cover plate. The cut out strip at the rear edge of the floor rubber, is for the floor pan locator I long ago attached to the bottom of the day cab panel. The rubber flooring detail is a bit more visible here. Also mocked up the tower and mast, with the bolts to attach them to the floor, and a collector wire loom that feeds several individual lines from two monitors out to various sensors/motors I had another go at trying to use the photo etch zip ties, but the edges of them are very sharp and all I could think about was the damage I would do to future paint on the mast while struggling to get them tight. Also need something I can paint black and insert into the spring 'loom' for the wires out the back of the two monitors - as it is now, I can see white through the spring. Maybe once the floor is painted rubber black, the stretched portions of the spring won't show through. And, it will be inside the cab, down low, so likely won't matter! The next couple pics were just to re-confirm that some detail will be visible through the side windows that will be left mostly open. And, hopefully, the windshield won't reflect or distort too much, and allow some detail to be seen/photographed through it. A valid question might be, "why am I doing all this detail work that won't be very visible"? Firstly, I'm doing it to finish off the inside in the manner of the rest of the truck, and the WIP pics will show the detail. Secondly, it has given me another opportunity to think about what else, and how else, to do detailing on future work. And, it's enjoyable, too! I'm getting close enough to being done that I'm thinking about how to photograph the finished truck - that's another mini project in itself! Take care.