monkeyclaw

Bruce; The Payhauler looks GREAT! The weathering is very nice....I have a stack of the payhauler kits to attack this winter....I plan on doing a water truck version, to go with all of my cane haul equipment....keep up the ggod work, and keep posting pix...........matt

Bruce; on this truck, I a just using common sense for the routing of the lines; as this unit is so different from typical highway trucks....things like the power steering will pretty much be the same...but doing the two seperate Hydraulic systems is a pain for sure....air line routing will pretty much be typical....but bigger...due the suspension height, longer flex lines are required; and I have searched a bunch through Hanks truck pix to find some shots of water lines and valve setups for the rear brake water lines....most of the plumbing is done in simple brass or copper rod, and even guitar strings (metal) ; as they have that nice coiled sheath! I am using resin filters and 4 way valves that I have cast up ...the easy way for me to get it all in there is just to do it system by system....tedious for sure; but I think it will add much realism to the model....again , Thanks to all...............matt

Thanks to all for the comments! For Bruce; the truck is loosely based on the old DM 800 kit; the tires are resin units cast from the simba fire truck....the yellow parts are from the old payhauler; and the detroit 12 is from the super boss kit....The water tank/head ache rack is scratched form sheet stock; as will be the pre load 5th wheel and ramps....the truck is pretty big; and will have a pre-load trailer to match...I have gotten the engine and tranny in; and am starting to do all of the plumbing on the frame for air, and water sytems....lot of fun; I will post updated px as I make a bit more progress; Thanks to all for looking........matt

Hey Guys; just wanted to send a couple pix of the big mack logger i am currently working on....have a look....this will be set up for a pre load trailer.........matt

I do agree about covering up all of the details; once I had the engine assembly completed; It was difficult to install in the car....I was tempted to just put it on a stand!.....I wired the back (front ) of all the guages and switches on the dash as well....another exercise in futility! I designed the Hawaiiian tropic car to be integral to the display....and did not put wheeels on the drivers side....that way all of the rotor and shochk details would be visible on the dispaly....but the car HAS to be on the display. The brake line brackets in the SMS set are very nice; but there is a lack of detail photos showing the actual lines....I got was fortunate to get to crawl under a 1:1 935 to check that stuff out...........matt

Sounds like you have got a plan! one of my other projects is a 930 slant nose transkit for these kits.....I plan on having ready this fall.....keep posting progress pix...........Matt

I am currently working on fuchs wheels to fit the tamiya cars; for an alternative to the BBS style rims; also working on the correction set for the Hawaiian tropic cars, which will be the correct front clip from my car; the rocker panels , and two piece wing (for those who wish to build the #71 or #72 cars....which I am building for Dick Barbour, to go with the #70 car. I Agree that the SMS sets are just the best! The details add a whole new dimension to the model! Other things I will be doing for the porsches....1980 Kremer 935 K3 body for the tamiya cars...this will be the body and the corrected TWIN turbo setup for the 1980 Lemans Pole sitter ...also a Dick Barbour car. Almost finished with the left hand drive conversion for the Tamiya datsun 240Z kits..............matt

Dave; I spoke with engineers at cummins about this very project.....it was indicated to me that the NHHT was actually mounted at an 80 degree angle between the frame rails...the peterbilt prototype trucks used a "fishbelly" frame for this mounting, which had a large hump in the frame, so the motor assembly could be slung beneath the frame. The freightliner actually mounted the turbo unit to the outsdie of the frame, at quite a distance from the manifold....matt

hey guys; any one have a clear parts sprue for the Pete firetruck....I am missing the 2nd clear sprue....that holds all of the light lenses and small stuff....please feel free to P.M. me if you can help......thanx......matt

Brian; Thanks for looking....it was a fun build; a bit tedious at times; but the scalemotorsports P/E set really brings the model to life....it was well worth every penny...I just wish Matthew Wells would do some more of the big scale sets!!! The best part of the build up was getting to work with Dick Barbour; He has been one of my racing "heros" since I was a kid; It was amazing how well he can remember all of the little details on all of his cars...even from 1979....I will be doing the #71 Yellow Hawaiian Tropic porsche next; and I am planning to cast the conversion parts...which will make it a bit easier to do the THIRD car...The blue #72 car....from the same years race team....I have a 930 slant nose in the works right now; and am considering doing a "moby dick" body as well , later this year....thanks for looking.........matt

The mini delivery that i am doing is derived from the Tamiya 24th scale kits....this will be my casting master...the wheelbase has been corrected to 84"; which is 4" longer than the mini coupe....all country wagons/delivery and pickup models used this wheelbase....the chassis is already completed; and has the rear deck/bed area cast in...and I am currently working on the pickup (UTE) body; which will share the same chassis....I was unaware that anyone had previously done these types of minis....I just thought they were "neat" so I decided to feb them up....thanks for looking...........matt

Zeb; I designed the display for the car; and had it built by a company here in Huntsville (engineered Plastics). The Porsche logo was cut from 1" thick lucite; then sent out for laser etching; also done right here in Huntsville ( wholesale trophy) ; I use them all the time for display bases and Placards...I am pleased with the results of the display for the car; it really had to be farmed out; as it is just beyaond the scope of my skills....way easier to just pay the experts to build it....thanks for looking........matt

Bob; I was also "shmoozing" in Cookeville last weekend! The turnout was O.K But I think it had fallen off from last year....but any day at a show is a "good day".......beats doing projects around the house..( LOL) Feel free to email me anytime off board...I have several other big scale Porsche projects in the works right now; and should have a couple of interesting subjects for a get together this fall.........matt monkeyclaw62@aol.com

Firstly; Thanks to all for the comments! For Ismael; I have the entire build up Photo set on my website www.monkeyclawmodels.com just click on the builders gallery link on the homepage....there are a BUNCH of detail shots...most of it is now hidden when the model is assembled....but it was still a fun build up. For Bob; Great pix on the fotki site!!! I wish I knew about that event....would have gone there instead of a model show last weekend! (LOL) Not very often you get to see all of the racing variants in one place...but I think the trip to Daytone will be on the list for November...as long as it doesn't overlap Tamiya-con (still NO date) Again, Thanks for all the great pix...I'm going back over to your fotki site to look again..................matt

Bob; Great shot; where did you see the car???was it a a concourse event...looks as good as when Dick raced it! Always great to see these historic cars survice; and be well taken care of....noe I only have 2 left to build...both the Yellow (71) car...and the Blue (72) car fro the 1979 season....whenthey werte most dominant....shortly after the NNL east...my red car will be going to Dick Barbour; along with some other s of mine he has in his collection.....I t was a great building project....especially the SMS P/E parts...greatto work with...as were the cartograph delcals....just the best! I was able to photo shop the #70 sheet and make the necessary changes for the artwork on the 2 otyher cars....I will be casting the conversion parts as part of the yellow car build up....just for future builds....will ahve a 930 slant (street car) onthe way shortly as well...should eb fun at tamiya con this year ...(whenever they get to it) .............thanks for looking out............matt burnett

here's the porsche in its permanent display..............matt

first is an Austin mini delivery wagon....intended for use with the Tamiya 24 scale kits....goes best with the red box art....as it has "dog dish" wheels...will also be doing the pickup version shortly! Next is the 32 for pickup for the "big deuce" in 1/8 scale...what a monster ...I am trying to make a pretty stock steel cab and full size bed....will have a steel embossed floor versus wood floor.....have a look.............matt

I will be making the trip up from Alabammy....just got lucky enough to get put into a canceled vendor space.....will be coming up Friday....hope to see you all there................matt (monkeyclaw)

Brian; I started with the tamiya "martini" kit....did a bunch of modifications...and added the SMS P/E set............matt

Hey Guts; finally got this one done.... the display won't be ready til next week....but here it is anyway..........this was a "fun" project

Hey Guys; I spoke with a rep at tamiya this week; it seems that H/Q in Japan has forced the event to be pushed back to the fall season this year; with no specified date as of yet! I was quite distressed when I heard this info; as I had planned my ENTIRE year around making the trip to Tamiya-con in APRIL..............bummer...but there is a "silver lining" ....we all have more time to finish up a couple additional projects for the event.....I know I will try.........see you guys there..........matt

cool man; If you happen to see that resin conversion...please let me know the link............TIA......matt

Hey Guys; just wanted to share progress on my chopper....I am trying something a bit different...mastering the tank and seat in clay; it's much easier to work than bondo; and should translate all of the compound curves quite well, and save a bit of time....have a look.......matt

Michael; very nice work on the rims....nothing looks more like metal ...than REAL metal! Way to go! Those will look great on a bike... matt

Chris; The chopper kits have "pins" on both sides to mount he wheels; I will use these during mock up ; but will replace with rods for final assembly, for a sturdier mount....I hope this helps............matt