'85 Dodge L-700 Service Truck

[Southgate]

I started this about 4 years ago, worked on it from time to time. I finally decided to get it finished up. Some of you will recognise it from other forums, but here goes anyway!

Inspired partly by Mercedes Unimog, (and my obsession with hacking up Dodge trucks and vans ) I wanted a tough off road capable looking rig, 4x4. I am a working features junkie, and this model has lots of them: Working front coil over suspension and posable steering, complete with full linkages to the PS unit. Working rear leaf springs, following the exceptional tutorial below from fellow model builder "Modeljeeper"

http://public.fotki.com/modeljeeper/models...eaf_suspension/

The cab tilts up and features a lift cylinder. Cab was made by joining the rear of a Dodge van to front. The frame is from an Ertl IH Transtar CO, flipped upside down. This allowed better room for the motion of the front suspensionand steering.

The crane is scratchbuilt using K&S metal tubing, Evergreen styrene, and a few parts from the scrapboxes.

The service box was scratchbuilt from Evergreen sheet styrene, some diamond plate and slam lock handles both now available from Don Mills. Rear bumper is scratched from same diamond plate and Styrene strips.

Other parts include: Gas tank from early Testors L-700, Light bar support from A-Team van, Air tanks from I think a Mack truck model, Wheels from an Ertl Transtar Eagle, engine cover inside cab from Lindberg A-100, Corvette seats (AMT), Front and rear axle pumpkins from different truck kits, Engine 440 from Lindberg Dodge 330, Transfer case from a monster truck, Emergency light pods cut from a Lindberg set, Battery box from Transtar, Radiator from Monogram '59 Cadillac, Shroud from a nascar kit, Tail lights & Bezels from who knows where, And a small handfull of other parts I can't remember.

here's an early look at some of the components. The wheels for example have been replaced.

The tailgate is made from expanded aluminum from a spatter screen and brass channel (milled one side off 1/16 brass square tube.) It lifts out. The outriggers are held both in the up and down position by rare earth magnets inside the aluminum tubing, which positions against other magnets at the appropriate position. When lowered, they can actually support the weight of the model. The one tool box that does open is the one under the box, by the battery box. It was made from a plastic aspirin box I found decades ago. It slides open like a drawer. Shocks and cab lift cylinder are made from metal tubing. Mirrors are scratchbuilt from brass rod and styrene, filed to shape. Pretty easy, really. Front fenders and rear flares are cut from spray paint can lids that had the right contour. Stuff is where ya find it, ya know?

Tailgate and slots before pianting:

http://i343.photobucket.com/albums/o476/So...08/PC130028.jpg

Worm's eye veiw of chassis

http://i343.photobucket.com/albums/o476/So...08/PC130028.jpg

Opening toolbox:

I hope you enjoy, and I hope I didn't get too wordy. Thanks for looking. Dan

Edited December 22, 2008 by Southgate

[Hondo]

Dan,

That's too cool. Very nice "engineering" and concept.

Great job, I like it.

Hondo

[crispy]

That gave me the "whoa" factor. Very cool. Great work and execution. It looks really clean for a tow truck! Great job!

Chris

[buba39]

nice build u have mad skills

[chrismooney]

Really nice job... almost like a mid 80's L-700 update.. The scratch building is amazing

[mackinac359]

An updated L700! Neat.

Tim