hct728(Bob) Posted January 2, 2018 Posted January 2, 2018 My compliments on the nice precision work on the chassis components! Very neatly done mold for the tires too, should yield great results! Bob
DrKerry Posted January 2, 2018 Posted January 2, 2018 Looks awesome!!!!!!! Love everything about it!!!!!
Chariots of Fire Posted January 2, 2018 Author Posted January 2, 2018 3 hours ago, Warren D said: Looks great, I must say this is the first time I've seen a model frame rack in use! It helps in making sure that the frame sits level when the axles are attached.
Chariots of Fire Posted January 11, 2018 Author Posted January 11, 2018 More work on the Loadstar project. The frame is now done except for the driveshafts. I'm waiting on some 3D printed U-joints for the shafts and as soon as they arrive I can complete that portion of the drive train. Engine is complete with the exception of tying in some of those "wires" that are sticking up in the air. They will be run back to the firewall eventually. The front end is steerable and the drag link moves back and forth. The rig also has power steering and that linkage is included. The cab can be set in position with the floorboard/firewall temporarily taped in. It's a tight fit for the engine and fan but it's there. Even in the real rigs the fit was tight.
Chariots of Fire Posted January 12, 2018 Author Posted January 12, 2018 Shapeways U-joints came in today. Now I can get the driveshafts completed and installed.
Chariots of Fire Posted January 17, 2018 Author Posted January 17, 2018 Work continues. The firewall/floorboard piece is ready for installation. Been attaching some details to it so that I can make sure it all fits under the hood. Space is really limited. Hood pieces have been given an initial coat of paint but are in need of sanding and more coats. Chassis work is complete and some light wearing/weathering has been done on the underside. Will post a pic of that later. I also found some nice detailing stuff on line. Fusion beads are tiny hex head open detail pieces that are great for wiring connections and fuel lines. They cannot be crimped and actually shatter if you try it. But you can get a couple hundred of them for cheap money and they will last a lifetime. They are hard to see in the photo but when all is said and done they do add some extra pizzaz to the detail process. The wire pieces in the foreground I found at Michaels craft store. Great for spark plug wires and other things. I have some holes in the firewall where some of this wiring will go. Adding fusion beads right at the firewall completes the look. So far the battery, brake master cylinder and an electrical box have been added to the firewall. There are also two arms that when extended will hold the hood sides open.
Rick315-8 Posted January 20, 2018 Posted January 20, 2018 I'm at awe looking at all the fabrication of your steering and front axle components....simply outstanding work !!
Chariots of Fire Posted January 20, 2018 Author Posted January 20, 2018 Thanks, Rick. Believe it or not most of the front axle components are just from pieces picked up in the parts box and used to advantage based on photos of the actual truck. I did make the steering tie rod out of brass stock and drilled out the ends for pinning. The axles themselves are from the Ertl ALF kit, modified to fit this project. The front one was rebuilt so that the pumpkin would be off set. The steering parts are a combination of plastic for the steering box and brass tubing for the connecting arms, etc. The front axle steering knuckles themselves are also brass. I showed them in some of the photos posted earlier. U-bolts are brass wire along with a piece of plastic stock drilled for the u-bolt ends.
Chariots of Fire Posted January 26, 2018 Author Posted January 26, 2018 Still making some progress. The doors have been done and are now prepped for paint. They fit well into the cab door openings. The top hole for the pin has been filled in on each side. The dashboard and seat are now complete and the floorboards now have the gear shift, handbrake, all wheel drive and winch levers in place.
Chariots of Fire Posted January 30, 2018 Author Posted January 30, 2018 It's got paint! I think that for every rig I have done there comes a point where you say enough already! Time to paint! So that is what happened this weekend (with no Pats game to watch) There will be this coming weekend, though! Ok, enough of that, too! I've used Duplicolor gray primer on the parts and Duplicolor #398 bright red for the color coat. I like this paint as it is a very fine pigment and goes on nice and smooth. Since it is so fine, several light coats are necessary to bring out the full color. It is also very easy to polish out. I used a #2 Molotow chrome pen for the headlight trim rings. Interior of the bucket is just Model Master silver. After the paint is really dry I'll use some two part epoxy to set the headlights themselves. The windshield wipers are just bent pins soldered together. I used some of those little fusion beads as a nut at the base of the wiper. There are still some decals to put on the hood and on the front of the fenders. I also need to trim the edges of the dash just a little so that the doors will close without binding. Always a small fit issue when opening doors and setting them on hinges. The hood is hinged. Once it is secured I will be able to open the sides butterfly style and hold them up with rod that is on the cowl.
Chariots of Fire Posted February 2, 2018 Author Posted February 2, 2018 Work continues. Engine compartment is now done. Once the hood goes on much of this will be hard to see. Cab interior is finished as well except for the rear window. That's next. And here is the underside. That will get partially covered as well once the skid plates get installed. They are put on front and rear to protect the radiator, oil pan and differential. Stuff in the middle is pretty high off the ground so it rarely gets covered. Once in a while the exhaust system gets ripped off but that is easily fixed.
mikemodeler Posted February 2, 2018 Posted February 2, 2018 On 1/30/2018 at 1:04 PM, Danno said: Wow! Just Wow! X2! Of course that is my reaction to all of your builds Charles! Looking forward to seeing this one done.
Chariots of Fire Posted February 4, 2018 Author Posted February 4, 2018 The IH Loadstar cab and chassis are done. I paid a visit to the local firehouse where the real rig is located and got some measurements of the body and bar work. The side view is drawn up. Now I need to get the right tubing for the bars. The body will be built up in sections. There is the platform that the tank sits on together with the forward protection for the crew, the poly tank and the hose bed that sits on top of that. In the rear is a separate panel that hides some of the plumbing. On the sides are compartments that sit between the top and bottom side rails. The side plates and compartment doors will be treadplate. In the meantime here are some photos of the completed cab and chassis.
DRIPTROIT 71 Posted February 5, 2018 Posted February 5, 2018 Wow!! That looks Great! You even got the vacuum booster under there. Incredible work as usual!
Chariots of Fire Posted February 10, 2018 Author Posted February 10, 2018 With the cab and chassis done I began the body buildup. So far it is made in three pieces that can be painted separately before assembly. With all of the ins and outs of the body pieces it would be impossible to get the paint in all the right places if it was assembled first. The sides will be built of treadplate with additional 1/8" diameter tubing along the bottom. Compartments for equipment are part of that assembly. Getting the fit right on each of these three pieces was important so that when they are finally put together the will look as if they were painted together. The tank will have a hose body above it along with the water fill and foam fill. Behind and below the tank will be the pump/engine for pump and roll capabilities. Lots of plumbing will be needed as well. Next up will be the front bumper. It may look a bit odd with the rest of the bar work as it is a left over piece of construction when the truck was first constructed by Maxim Motors of Middleboro, MA. When the truck was rebuilt a few years ago the bumper was retained but all of the rest of the bar work was made new.
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now