rcdave

This is really nice, can you give any tips on the paint, like brand and what you used for masking?

Thanks, glad you like it. One of the first things I notice when I look at other peoples build of this model is the big gap between the bumper and grill so I have been planning on doing this. I am looking at the hinges on the hood trying to figure out why the person who designed it didn't do it the right way(like a 1:1). It wouldn't have been more work or cost more money. Anyway it wasn't hard to fix I just made some hinges and cut a nail for the pins and glued them where they needed to go. Then I added styrene to the front fenders so they match the rears and filled in the hole in the hood where the air cleaner goes.

This is who I mentioned above, just found him under the name MoLuminum.

I got some really nice ones custom made from MoLuminum about 8 months ago for a truck I'm working on now. He was busy and I had to wait awhile but I wasn't in a hurry. He dosn't advertise I just kept seeing his name when I was lookin at model trucks so I googled him and found an email but I no longer have it. He also makes really nice air cleaners.

I have alot of time into this build and I'm just now getting to the cab. Decided I wanted a bigger sleeper so I cut off the stock one and added a 60" sleeper I bought on ebay. Next I added more styrene to the firewall and cut holes for the air cleaners, added some styrene strips around the bottom and glued the bed in.

I just started 1 like this and I'm using .60

Thanks for the comments, glad you guys like it. On the front wheels I drilled out where the lugs go and cut up some aluminum nails and polished them then glued them in place. I really like the result and surprised I havn't seen anyone do this before. I want to do this to the rears and trailer but thats 80 more little peices of nail. Don't know if I can commit to that. For the rear wheels I glued on a peice of styrene for the drive pin.

It's been about 3 months since I have posted an update because I don't usually work on these builds during summer/fall but there was a few days of rain and I couldn't resist. The rear fenders are cast resin from P&P Vintage Kits and I made mounting brackets from styrene and they are attached to the frame with 6 screws for easy removal.

The steps look good, I really don't like the diamond plate that comes with the kit. Does the fifth wheel cover mean you don't plan to do a trailer?

How about flat black? I use google translate to open this forum that has like 30 of Christians builds. http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http://plastimodelkits.keuf.net/f13-camions-us

Nice work, very clean and precise. I have been building the same kit with the show truck look for awhile now but it is radio controlled and has working suspension and lights. I wish I could cut the grill and put screen in but the chrome is more important to me. Also like the shape of the visor, you should make matching visors for the door windows. If you are like me and don't like the gap between the grill and bumper let me know and I will show you how I got rid of it. Is that French modeler Christian Chapman? If not you should google him.

WOW, trying to show me up on my own thread, I will allow it this once because they are impressive. j/k I was going to say you should post a thread but I guess this isn't really a R/C forum.

Got it on ebay, just go to models and search for Peterbilt mudflap material. I think it was from seller rhino.

I want to do full rear fenders but I also want to see all the wheels turning sometimes so I made a rear bumper with mudflaps that I can easily remove so I can put on the fenders. I will just hold it on with a couple small drops of CA.

Here's an update you guys should like. The fifth wheel turned out better than I thought it would. Basically I just made it like a full size, looking at a couple of pics and diagrams, freehand cut all the parts with my Dremel. The black parts are delrin plastic and the handle is a paper clip. I felt like I was making a watch and I spent about 6-8 hours designing and building this.

Thanks, so far I'm in about $300 not including tools and that includes lots of parts I havn't posted yet .I got the front axle from Kit Form Services for $8 and the other metal parts are handmade. The donor R/C truck is a Losi Micro Crawler or Trail Trekker - $80-100 Pete model kit - $20 Italeri wheels and tires are around $30 That is all you really need for $150 But tools help alot. x-acto set - $10-50 Hand drill and tiny drill bits - $20 Tools I use too speed things up but aren't required. Dremel - $40-100 Band Saw - $100-300 Belt Sander - $80-200 Drill Press - $100-300

You need to use a fine stranded wire with the soft insulation or a hard wire and just bend it for the sag, assuming when you say "limp" you are talking about the way it sags in the middle. A couple people sell it on ebay in the model section. I got mine from Kit Form Services and it came with the plugs for the end of the lines.

I was going to say good eye but it's probably more of a guess based on the size of the pic. It's a Yoshimura RS-3 Full Stainless Pipe.

Me too. I recently started a new job as a builders assistant so I use alot of the same skills, mainly an eye for detail.

Did you get the fiber optics from ebay? What size wire are you guys using?

Thanks for the comments here's an update. The steering servo is almost a perfect fit in the model engine so that's where I put it, seen this done by other people in different scales. I used screws to hold the engine together and mount it to the chassis so it can be taken apart if needed. Then I removed the spring from the servo saver and cut it down to a lower profile. The steering linkages are from a big paperclip.

I already had fiber optics on my list, thought of it after I went to Six Flags and saw 1 of those kids toys. http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-MTR-FIBRE-OPTIC-STRAND-FILAMENT-LIGHT-GUIDE-3-mm-Dia-/261035453147?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Components_Supplies_ET&hash=item3cc6eceadb Alfnut, what size fiber optics did you use?

I am the one building the RC semi, here is the link if you havn't checked it out already http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=57846 I checked out your thread because I will be putting 80 to 100 or more LED's on my truck and trailer. Feel free to ask any questions because I may have some for you when I get around to the lights.

It will be awhile but I will have a vid. What scale is your rc Pete? Thanks, I plan to make a lowboy and a Nascar type transporter.

The Transmission is also from a Losi Micro Crawler and I screwed it to the frame on one side and used a peice of styrene to connect it to the frame on the other side for added strength. I plan to use a 70-90 turn, neo mag 130 motor but for now I have the stock one. For the driveshaft I used a peice of antenna, it's small, strong and somewhat light weight. Glued it to one side and slotted the other end and put a pin in it so it could slide.