1/16 "she's real fine my 359" big Pete

[Mopar - D]

Your making great progress Ron. 

[ShakyCraftsman]

Hey guys 

  Small update, I did some work on the big Pete's grill shell. I carved out the cast in grill detail and added a screen mesh to the rear.

this view shows the grill after I modified it and added the stainless steel mesh. I will be painting this like dull polished aluminum. (It's a work truck)

close up view of the stainless steel mesh grill. This is temporarily assembled, I will be refining it later.

Ron G 

[Jim B]

Looks much better with the steel mesh.

[ShakyCraftsman]

Hey all 

  I have the brakes plumbed, But I still have a few lines left to do. I made air pressure gauges for the rear air tanks. I used some gauge decals and photo etch bezels from Airscale to create them. I also painted the shocks yellow and added some Monroe logos to them.

this view shows the line from the front brakes to the right rear air tank.

this view shows the air line, on the left, from the drivers side wet tank to the passenger side supply tank.

this view shows the air lines from the passenger side front air tank to the left side rear air tank.

this view shows the air line from the air chambers to the control valves.

view from the other side.

another view of the air lines.

this view shows the air gauge for the rear air tanks on the top and the items I used to create them. There's one for each rear air tank.

this view shows the front and rear shocks painted with logos added.

this view shows a closer view of the logo. I made these from printed images scaled to fit and covered with clear tape, then I individually cut out each one then added them to the shocks. I wish I had decals but I couldn't find any anywhere. I also added some bolts to the top and bottom of the shocks, but I didn't get pictures of them.

  Well that's it for now be back with more updates soon.

Ron G 

[Mopar - D]

Ron your details continue with your build and look great. Have you tried to make your own decals ? If you can print the logo just print it on decal paper  as long as it’s not white or silver. 

[ShakyCraftsman]

Thanks guys 

 OK! the brakes and air bag plumbing is DONE! The brakes went pretty good, but the air bags were a real f#%*n pain in the but! I had to drill out some Meng 1.8mm bolt heads so I could use them as fittings (I ran out of my Detail Masters aluminum ones). I only needed 17 of them, but I end up drilling out twice as many because I was a real fumble finger modeller today! I guess I'm getting old, because I kept dropping my nuts...lol. I bet I dropped at least 20 of them lost and gone to the carpet monster.

  I think the chassis is ready for paint. I'll have to check tomorrow and make sure I have everything done that needs to be done on the frame before I paint.

this view shows the rear height control valve and some of the plumbing for the air suspension.

this view shows the front height control valve and some more plumbing.

view from the bottom showing the brake lines.

bottom view of the front.

this view shows the air suspension plumbing.

this view shows some more plumbing.

hey, it's almost a rolling chassis!

just a picture of what it will look like. I'm making custom fuel tanks for it. They will be made from 1 1/4" PVC pipe with PVC dome caps for the ends, I'll show pictures tomorrow.

view from the front. Well that's it for now be back with more soon.

Ron G 

[Jim B]

Looking really nice, Ron.  Great plumbing details.

[gotnitro?]

Nice details !  

[ShakyCraftsman]

Thanks guys 

  Ok, I got started on the fuel tanks. These are made from 1 1/4" PVC pipe with Formufit PVC internal domed end caps 1 1/4" diameter. These are also available for 3/4c PVC pipe which works out to a scale 25.2" in 1/24 scale and 26.25" in 1/25 scale. They are available in multiple colors along with the pipe.

this view shows the pipe and caps on the left and finished tank on the right.

this view shows the kit tank on the left and my custom made tank on the right.

end view of the same thing.

this view shows that the tank is a scale 26" diameter.

this view shows that the tank is a scale 65" long.

this view shows the custom tank on the truck. Thats a 1/2" (scale 8") diameter tube for the exhaust. Well that's it for now be back with more soon.

Ron G 

Edited June 29, 2021 by ShakyCraftsman

[ShakyCraftsman]

Hey all 

  Well I have the chassis painted! Whoo hoo! It came out a little flat, so I'm going to go over it with some X22 gloss.

overall view of the rolling chassis. I have to paint the yellow peices chrome silver. I think I'm going to do the tanks dark green with chrome straps to match the frame, not sure what do you guys think?

rear of chassis.

front of chassis.

center of chassis. Well that's it for now be back soon.

Ron G 

[ShakyCraftsman]

Hey guys 

  Did some more work on the big Pete. I have the fuel tanks done. I'm making the tank mounts now. I mounted the shocks.   The next thing to mount is the engine, radiator and hoses.

this view shows the passenger side fuel tank temporarily mounted to the frame. The Tamiya tape will be replaced with black electrical tape and chrome custom made straps. Still undecided on how to paint them.

this view shows the tank and tool box cover. I did the covers and deck plate with Vallejo dull aluminum metal paint.

this view shows the truck temporarily assembled for pictures.

another view of the truck.

this view shows the motor. I added some tube clamps to the orange turbo tube and the radiator hoses. I added Cummins filter decals to all the filters, there from Jerry at model trucking.

view showing the front shock.

this view shows the rear shocks installed. Well that's it for now be back with more soon.

Ron G 

[Scaniart]

This is coming along quite nicely...

 

[Rockford]

The level of detail is fantastic! You could spend forever on this one truck. Looks brilliant. 

[ShakyCraftsman]

Hey all

Thanks guys

  Not much of an update, just a couple of pictures showing the frame decals.

this view shows the rear frame decals.

this view shows the front frame decal. These are from Jerry at Model trucking.

Ron G 

[ShakyCraftsman]

Hey guys 

  Another small update. I have the two air cleaners done and primed.

first primer coat on.

I removed the printed in screens and added some stainless steel mesh ones.

I added interior parts to them also. I know have to sand them and probably add some filler then paint them chrome. Well that's it for now be back soon.

Ron G 

[ShakyCraftsman]

Hey all 

  I've been working on the big Pete. I cut the doors out of the cab. They were a real pain in the buttocks!...lol. The plastic is a 1/16" plus thick and was very difficult to cut. I started by scribing it with a needle in a pin vise followed by a sharp scalpel, it was so tuff it broke the needle!, but I finally made it through.

this view shows the door in the opening held on with tape.

this view shows the door in the open position.

this view shows the cab with drivers door in place and the passenger door with one of the hinges I'm using for the doors.

this view shows the interior temporarily assembled for pictures. You can just see the CB radio hanging from the roof.

this view shows the clutch pedal, brake pedal and gas/fuel pedal. 

this view shows the interior roof panel and rear panel. I made these from 1/4" square evergreen plastic tile sheet stock.

side view of the CB radio and scratch built mick cord.

this view shows the CB radio from the rear. I still have alot of work to do on the interior, but I think it's coming along pretty good. Well that's it for now be back with more updates soon.

Ron G 

[Mopar - D]

Nice update Ron. 

[ShakyCraftsman]

Hey guys 

  I have the doors mounted to the cab with there miniature piano hinges. This was a difficult, if not scary process. I had to grind down the surface on the inner side of tge cab and doors, both sides in order to fit the hinges. I did this with my trusty Foredom tool and various milling bits. I almost ground through the drivers side of the cab and had to do some repair, luckily all turned out good.

this view shows the passenger side door mounted.

this view shows the passenger side door opened.

this view shows the 0.015" thk plastic I added to the inside of the cab for the door to close on.

view from the front of the passenger side door opened.

this view shows the drivers side door mounted. You can see at the top of the hinge where I almost went through the cab.

this view shows the drivers side door opened. You can see the plastic trim lip that I added around the door openings.

view of the drives side door with opening trim.

this view shows both doors opened.

this view shows the drivers door and trim. Also the floor, roof panel with CB and sde peices, back wall and side peices. I'm planning on painting this in tan and brown to complement the exterior colors.

view from the rear of the interior.

view of the interior from the passenger side.

view of the interior from the drivers side. I have gauge decals for the instrument panel. Well that's it for now be back with more updates soon.

Ron G 

[Mopar - D]

Keep up your good work Ron. Looking forward to seeing tomorrow’s updates 

[ShakyCraftsman]

Hey guys 

Short update.

this view shows the drivers side door mounted to the sleeper.

this view shows the drivers side door opened. I still have to do the other side and add the trim lips, like the ones I did on the cab.

Ron G 

Edited July 15, 2021 by ShakyCraftsman

[Fantom]

Nice work!! Where did you get the hinges for doors?

[ShakyCraftsman]

3 hours ago, Fantom said:

Nice work!! Where did you get the hinges for doors?

Hey Fantom

  There from micromark, it was one long strip, I believe 15" long. Under micro hinges. I cut them to the length I needed.

Ron G 

[Fantom]

22 minutes ago, ShakyCraftsman said:

Hey Fantom

  There from micromark, it was one long strip, I believe 15" long. Under micro hinges. I cut them to the length I needed.

Ron G 

Thanks….I am really hoping they re-issue this kit….it’s one of my holy grails 

[ShakyCraftsman]

1 hour ago, Fantom said:

Thanks….I am really hoping they re-issue this kit….it’s one of my holy grails 

There are a few available on Ebay, not cheap but still there.

Ron G 

[Fantom]

20 minutes ago, ShakyCraftsman said:

There are a few available on Ebay, not cheap but still there.

Ron G 

I watch EBay all the time for these kits…never any at a price I’m willing to pay.