BK9300

I've been trying to work out how to make the CTM hood latches work, and more importantly, how I could securely attach them to the battery/tool boxes. I've had some success with the operation part, but the attaching process is eluding me. I can make such a mess with CA glue on small parts, and it doesn't bond the photoetch to paint as securely as I would like. I did make the effort to do a test latch, but the hardware I tried to use look too oversized to me. May need to go with some other solution or go with none at all - I just don't want to mess up the finish on the boxes at this point. I taped down the photoetch pieces to drill out bolt holes for the test latch Shaped a point on a piece of 0.33 mm rod to attach hinge end of rubber latch to bracket - Looks good so far - The bolt heads are 1.0mm - 1" at full size - and are too big, I think. I do have some smaller, 0.7 mm, Top Studio rivets that would certainly look a better scale fastener. I had hoped the bolts would work because CA glue applied to the backs of the bolts from inside the boxes would wick along the threads and give a tight bond. The other problem is I was able to freely manipulate the test latch on the styrene scraps, to position parts and to drill the holes. That would be much harder with the more fragile, assembled battery boxes. I'll give the smaller, aluminum rivets a go and see how they turn out. Off again for a bit - more to do outside!

Thanks for that, Steve! May have met my match with the latches for the battery boxes, though.

Nicely done, Greg.

Your leather seats look amazing - that must have taken quite a process, to come out that realistic! Looks just the old chair that the owner of a small pool hall back home used to sit in.

So much going here, and all scratch built - just amazing progress!

Goodness, Francis, you are amazingly proficient at creating these scale marvels. The effort you've put in is well understood - a continuing pleasure to watch!

Should be a looker, Scott, based on that awesome inspiration photo!

Very nice build - lots of respect for the tribute.

Wonderful craftsmanship - well done!

Will be a good build to follow.

Thanks, Gary - going a little crazy, I guess! And I appreciate you continuing to check in on things, Francis - thanks!

It's hard to imagine all the settings and/or conditions that must be 'right' for a print to come out the way you need it to. In any event, you always seem able to correct any problems. Just a magnificent creation!

Had a good session at the bench today - battery day! The needed bits have been gathered - Started in with cable ends, like with the test piece I did earlier - Half the ends completed! - I taped around the batteries because I didn't want to wear any paint off the edges while handling. Threaded posts have been added at this point and about to starting bolting the cables down Had to check my reference pics a few times, but finally settled on this cable arrangement. I'll have to finish the other ends of the cables once the box is mounted on the frame and I know the lengths to the starter that I will need. Several of my reference pics showed two or three additional, white power wires, but I chose only to do one, because, well, I just wouldn't know where to terminate them! The one white wire often powers the ECM (thanks @Scott Eriksen!), so I'll see what I can do with that. Pretty happy with this outcome. I'll remove the ground wire out the back of the battery box, and attach it to the frame before I glue the boxes to the frame - should be able to thread the ground back into the box and re-attach it later. Besides the latches, still have one more little detail to add to the battery box cover, but need to make it first! Thanks again for all the generous comments - much appreciated!

Thanks, Gary - I'm trying hard to figure out how to do it, but I don't think I left any room on the firewall for the starter relay!

That's very funny, Jürgen! Maybe I need to make a scale model shop, too. Thanks for your generous comments! Thanks, Scott - lot's of parts to scratch ones like this, so, would be good if the process could be made a bit easier using some printed ones. Will need to keep refining the design!

That trailer would be an awesome addition to your build!

Excellent job on the body work and those hinges, Greg - precision work!

Beautiful job! Lots of work hours put in by that old girl! Terrific weathering, too.

Still fussing with the battery/tool boxes - I will eventually work on something else! Today was just a partial reassembly day for them, after painting. The box covers have been painted with Alclad White Aluminum and very happy with how they turned out. Not going to use any kind of clear on them, so they literally got the white glove treatment today. Added the bolts for the step treads as well. Batteries are CA glued to the tray and the hold down bar and bolts are also glued in place - Very hard to make out the battery detail, with the lighting from the desk lamp, but did want to show that paint layers are thin enough to allow the lid(s) to be removable with ease. Will be making cables tomorrow! Take care.

Thanks a lot, Brenton - appreciate the comment!

Jeff, you're going to need a bigger bottle of CA glue! Should look terrific once you have it all together and some of your classic weathering (and tarring!) applied.

Awesome detailing, Pierre - the seat and dash look very 'purpose' built. Treat to follow along.

More paint drying going on, so did a little experimenting with my battery cables. Again, going with threaded terminals because it makes things a bit easier for me. This is the type of cable end I need to make - Started with some more Gopher ignition wire, with a bit stripped off one end and a section of 0.8mm brass tube - I shortened the tube length, then crimped one end and CA glued the stripped wire into the other end - I couldn't hold the small cable end to drill it, so I taped it to a piece of styrene and drilled it out with a 0.6mm bit - Using a Scale Hardware nut, and a bolt with the head cut off, I had the threaded terminal and cable end ready for the battery - A sample cable, half done and not yet glued in place - I need to make 9 more cable ends and wire sections, plus add a couple smaller, auxiliary power wire runs. Then CA glue the batteries in the tray, add the cables and glue the tray into the painted battery box. More to follow!

I'm happy with it, too - I'm thinking the only thing better would be photo etch - haven't found any this exact size - and I don't think I'm going to learn how to do that at this late stage!

An excellent conversion - very realistic looking Sheriff's Tahoe. Another great build, Alberto.