Western Star 4900 FA plow truck

[BK9300]

15 hours ago, Gary Chastain said:

An amazing build

Thanks a lot, Gary!

 

9 hours ago, Straightliner59 said:

Absolutely beautiful work, Brian! I look at this, and I could swear I was still in Minnesota. Just fantastic work, sir.

I appreciate that, Daniel - been a fun go, and just about done!

8 hours ago, Jürgen M. said:

Looks great! Perfect details and a tidy job beyond of everything!

Thanks very much, Jurgen!

[redneckrigger]

Your build photos literally look you were taking them at the REAL factory that truck was built at. Absolutely stunning work. You have the finishes even looking in scale, incredibly done! 

Edited September 17 by redneckrigger

[BK9300]

4 hours ago, redneckrigger said:

Your build photos literally look you were taking them at the REAL factory that truck was built at. Absolutely stunning work. You have the finishes even looking in scale, incredibly done! 

Thanks very much, Tom!  It was a good feeling to see all the parts in place on the truck.

[BK9300]

I started in with cab again, this morning, intending to get the window seals painted black.  Thought about masking the whole cab, leaving just the seals, and spraying them, and just as quickly talked myself out of it - worried about a screwup on the polished finish!  I never got to painting today, but did manage to get the seals isolated by using some stretchy, Tamiya chrome film.  Said it before, but I'm finding myself more uncertain doing the fine detailing, than at any time doing the actual building of the the model - go figure!  Maybe I'll still brush paint the seals later today.

 

So, the plan was to use strips of the adhesive, stretchy film to cover a small border around the seals, and re-expose the seals by using a new X-acto blade to trim and remove the tape covering the seals -

 

This was the third effort to apply the film and make clean cuts all the way around the rear seal - I've still ended up with a bit of mess in the upper, driver's side corner -

 

Wasn't able to get any overlap at the windshield wiper mounts, so will have to be careful painting those areas -

 

Doing all that, I managed to re-break/crack the center windshield support post at the old break - not visible now, but is when the windshield is pressed up against it -

Really hoping this will work out - looking at the pics, I'm sure I can't put too much paint on, or removing the film might chip the paint.  Maybe remove the film before the enamel paint has fully set up.  It will either work, or could be faced with an unwelcome do-over.  I'd rather build another front plow than face that prospect!

 

Edited September 17 by BK9300

[Gary Chastain]

Oh man, hope you can repair the center windshield piece. Looking so good otherwise 

[Scott Eriksen]

1 hour ago, BK9300 said:

I started in with cab again, this morning, intending to get the window seals painted black.  Thought about masking the whole cab, leaving just the seals, and spraying them, and just as quickly talked myself out of it - worried about a screwup on the polished finish!  I never got to painting today, but did manage to get the seals isolated by using some stretchy, Tamiya chrome film.  Said it before, but I'm finding myself more uncertain doing the fine detailing, than at any time doing the actual building of the the model - go figure!  Maybe I'll still brush paint the seals later today.

 

So, the plan was to use strips of the adhesive, stretchy film to cover a small border around the seals, and re-expose the seals by using a new X-acto blade to trim and remove the tape covering the seals -

 

This was the third effort to apply the film and make clean cuts all the way around the rear seal - I've still ended up with a bit of mess in the upper, driver's side corner -

 

Wasn't able to get any overlap at the windshield wiper mounts, so will have to be careful painting those areas -

 

Doing all that, I managed to re-break/crack the center windshield support post at the old break - not visible now, but is when the windshield is pressed up against it -

Really hoping this will work out - looking at the pics, I'm sure I can't put too much paint on, or removing the film might chip the paint.  Maybe remove the film before the enamel paint has fully set up.  It will either work, or could be faced with an unwelcome do-over.  I'd rather build another front plow than face that prospect!

 

Brian,I use a Sharpie marker pen to do the glass rubbers without masking,,,and if you mess up just take a bit of polish on a Q tip and take it off

[BK9300]

22 minutes ago, Gary Chastain said:

Oh man, hope you can repair the center windshield piece. Looking so good otherwise 

Thanks, Gary - if need be, I can fix it after the seals are painted, or replace the whole vertical piece.  Less worried about that, than painting!

[BK9300]

20 minutes ago, Scott Eriksen said:

Brian,I use a Sharpie marker pen to do the glass rubbers without masking,,,and if you mess up just take a bit of polish on a Q tip and take it off

Good idea for the future - I did happen across some AK Interactive, acrylic marker pens this afternoon at the hobby store.  Picked up a couple flat black ones and going to see how they work.  Appreciate the info, Scott!

[BK9300]

The rubber seals have been painted using that AK Interactive acrylic marker pen - 

Some touch-up with a fine brush was needed after carefully removing the Tamiya film used as masking - I removed it about 1/2 hour after applying the paint and even then, the paint was cured enough to be brittle along the edges -

 

 

Maybe the Tamiya film is not the best masking to use either - leaves a very fine edge, but also left a bit of adhesive residue, on the door just below the seal.  'Goo-Gone' won't remove it either, so may need to try and polish it off, carefully -

 

The other problem is how to protect the brittle flat black during the remainder of the build.  Not sure I want to clear over the polished paint, or what clear I could use over both the acrylic, flat black and the lacquer body colour (acrylic lacquer?) but maybe will need to do that, after putting the decals on the doors.  No end of issues!

Edited September 18 by BK9300
typo

[Six Pack]

Your not building a Kelowna truck , so the care and control won't be as good. The Burnaby Freieghtliners were built better too. I trucked in the gunwash and hauled their waste paint and thinners until it closed. Freightliner(Daimler) sure has ruined the brand. I still run a heritage truck and it's getting to to a real bugger to get parts for the ole mare. Who woulda thunk a camion would still be going 30 years later?

[BK9300]

13 hours ago, BK9300 said:

The other problem is how to protect the brittle flat black during the remainder of the build.  Not sure I want to clear over the polished paint, or what clear I could use …

I realized that part of my last post was kind of stupid - I can’t clear over both the colour coat and the flat black.  I’ll just live with needing to touch up the black if needed.  Last night I did find some flat black adhesive foil, made by Hasegawa, and ordered some - for future projects, and maybe as a last resort backup for this one, if the acrylic doesn’t holdup.

Edited September 18 by BK9300

[Gary Chastain]

Watching your approach to the windows, I always have stress when I add the rubber, I have been using the permanent marker with some luck and is repairable, but over some colors it picks up a blue hue sometimes. 

[BK9300]

15 minutes ago, Gary Chastain said:

Watching your approach to the windows, I always have stress when I add the rubber, I have been using the permanent marker with some luck and is repairable, but over some colors it picks up a blue hue sometimes. 

The flat black, acrylic I used really chips easy, at the slightest touch.  Will definitely need to try something different, like the Sharpie, or the flat black foil, for next build.  Going to need to be careful putting together the rest of the cab - no stress, right?!

Edited September 18 by BK9300

[BK9300]

More fussing over the 'details', last couple days - good days, though!  Worked on the cab visor, the inside of hood, some mud flaps for the back edge of the front fenders, got the plow lights assembled, attached them to the hood, and their wiring runs threaded back inside the hood.  

Got a bit of a polish on the visor then glued in the rivets to the mounting brackets -

 

Added some thermal insulation - I took a bit of artistic license with this, because I could only find one blurry picture that showed at least this layout for the insulation.  I only managed peek-a-boo pics of the insulation on the real truck -

 

The plow light, turn signal lenses got painted this morning and now good to go with assembling the rest of the bits -

 

One more shout out to @Bren, for printing these plow lights and lenses for me - can't imagine an alternative if he hadn't!  Wiring runs going back into hood and through the grommets I had added, way back when . . .

 

Made some mud flaps out of that silicon rubber used for the flaps on the sander and glued and bolted them in place.  Another glaring thing needing attention will be to try and chrome paint the door handles (not looking forward to that) -

 

This shot shows all the items worked on the last couple days.  I just realized I still need to make the short mud flaps at the front of the inner fender.  The blue wiring runs for the plow lights will feed into two looms.  Going to have a go at adding some small wiring for the front lights and the fender signal lights - 

 

 

Some more things off the list, for sure, and still, lots to do.  After those short mud flaps, air cleaner and chain hangers are made, I'm hoping for very little more fabrication.   Some chrome painting and lots of little assemblies to finish this off, and sooner than later would be best!

 

 

Edited Saturday at 12:36 AM by BK9300
typo

[Jürgen M.]

That looks amazing. All the tiny details. That insulation is fantastic!

I always use isopropyl alcohol (30%) for removing glue and other disturbing stuff. Works quite well.

I've never had problems with the flat black on the window gaskets. I mostly use Revell no. 6 (sounds like a perfume) 😂

It's called tar black.

If I want the gaskets to look older I like to use Revell no. 9 which is anthracite. Looks a bit chalked out since it's not deep black.

It doesn't chip at all and dries quickly!

 

[Gary Chastain]

Brian, what did you use for the insulation under the hood?

[BK9300]

I had found some heat shield tape for use in RC cars, and applied it over some cutouts from that roll of silicon rubber I have.  Not spot  on with the real deal, but gives the impression well enough!

This is the product - adhesive backed tape -

 

Pretty sure I found mine online at Hiro Boy, but their site is not showing any at the moment.  I did find the similar item on the web site below -

 

[BK9300]

15 hours ago, Jürgen M. said:

That looks amazing. All the tiny details. That insulation is fantastic!

I always use isopropyl alcohol (30%) for removing glue and other disturbing stuff. Works quite well.

I've never had problems with the flat black on the window gaskets. I mostly use Revell no. 6 (sounds like a perfume) 😂

It's called tar black.

If I want the gaskets to look older I like to use Revell no. 9 which is anthracite. Looks a bit chalked out since it's not deep black.

It doesn't chip at all and dries quickly!

 

Thank, Jurgen!  I've been concerned about using isopropyl alcohol because some articles say it can affect the lacquer paint.  Same article said to use lighter fluid - that seems even more drastic!  Haven't decided what to use yet.

I'm definitely going to try something different for the seals next time! 

[BK9300]

Carrying on, when I can, because fall chores are lining up and bench time is a bit hit and miss at the moment.   Was able to get a little more work done on the cab.

 

Got the windshield in and cab visor attached.  Made a bit of a mess, even with the tiny bit of epoxy I used, while setting the windshield in place.  Got rid of most of the biggest smudge using some iso-propyl alcohol, but there are a couple spots where the epoxy squeezed out a  bit that I didn't dare try to clean up - would have made back and forth repairs necessary on the window seals, so just left it alone.  Mostly, hard to see the spots with the naked eye, but right in your (my) face if a pic is taken from the wrong angle.  The flash show the streaks in the glass -

 

But, if I don't use the flash, the scratch marks don't show -

 

I still need to add the side rivets to the visor - I tried to drill the holes about 5 minutes after CA gluing the visor in place and promptly made the visor come loose.  So, re-glued and let set for a day, then do it -

 

Still pleased that the inner cab detail shows when taking a pic through the windshield -

 

Going to finally do my test chroming of part of an old parts tree, before going ahead on the parts for the cab.  I have a base of gloss black applied to the tree and I'm to let the base coat cure for at least a couple days, according to the Easy Chrome instructions, before applying the chrome paint.  Looking forward to seeing how that will turn out!

 

 

Edited 5 hours ago by BK9300
Typo

[Gary Chastain]

Lovin the progress, watching

[BK9300]

20 minutes ago, Gary Chastain said:

Lovin the progress, watching

Much appreciated - thanks, Gary!

Edited 23 hours ago by BK9300

[Scott Eriksen]

........getting real close Brian!

[BK9300]

1 hour ago, Scott Eriksen said:

........getting real close Brian!

Sure is - and I'm literally counting down the remaining steps needed to finish! Thanks, Scott.