Western Star 4900 FA plow truck

[Pete68]

On 11/18/2024 at 9:01 PM, BK9300 said:

Finally made it to the paint booth on Saturday and started priming and painting the AC condenser and trans cooler.  A few more pics of results from a couple days of waiting for things to dry, making some tiny tubes to bolt trans cooler to rad, adding some detail wash on cooler and putting it all together.  Glad when this little bit is finished!

 

Only included this pic to show stuff ready for painting and using the holes in the condenser and cooler - future plumbing will go in these holes - as temporary attachments to hold on to while painting

 

One side of cooler 'bolted' to underside of condenser -

 

Other side of cooler bolted to rad frame through 0.7 mm brass tube pieces

Mockup of rad on truck

Next?  Got a start on the upper and lower hoses to the engine - still need to paint and set fan in place then hook up trans cooler hose/pipe assemblies to fittings on cooler.  Good couple days but doesn't look like much has been done.  Mail strike on here in Canada, so don't know when decals will arrive.  Will have to also get started on finishing fuel tank straps and fuel lines - no end of lists.  Take care!

 

 

The details are awesome. Keep the  updates coming. 

[BK9300]

5 minutes ago, Pete68 said:

The details are awesome. Keep the  updates coming. 

Thanks, Lee - appreciate your thoughts!

[Pete68]

9 minutes ago, BK9300 said:

Thanks, Lee - appreciate your thoughts!

Anytime I’m enjoying this build. 

[BK9300]

Been stalled again - stretch of cold, wet weather (heater in shed isn't keeping the humidity in a good enough place to paint), still no decals with postal strike on, and a bit stuck on how to proceed with a few details.  Getting the details worked out, but still doing some trial and error fabrication on the side to be sure.

For something a little different while on pause, thought I would share an interesting (to me, anyway) 'exploded' view of my sander model in Sketchup, as well as profile pattern with measurements.  Not yet into resin printing, this 1/24, 3D model let me make profile patterns for almost every piece in the exploded view which were then cut out of appropriate styrene sheet stock.  Like I said, might only be interesting to me, but has been a huge help to visualize what I needed to do!  

Lots of pieces to cut out and assemble along the way -

 

The measurements are mostly because Sketchup has a feature to let me do this - I used actual paper printouts of panels, etc to cut out the sheet plastic

More to come soon, I'm hoping!

 

[Biggu]

Oh NO, to me , VERY interesting.....  the measurements are exactly what I am looking for.... and the exploded view is really cool.... I hope you can get some paint happening, and day get the decals.... this is such a sweet project...

Edited November 27, 2024 by Biggu

[BK9300]

9 minutes ago, Biggu said:

Oh NO, to me , VERY interesting.....  the measurements are exactly what I am looking for.... and the exploded view is really cool.... I hope you can get some paint happening, and day get the decals.... this is such a sweet project...

Thanks, Jeff, hope you can use the measurements and be good to have the decals - would get that part finished off as well

[Jürgen M.]

Wow! 

Hope you'll find a way to get the shrunken plow back to real size so you can use it this winter! Noone would notice it's a model if you would be able to enlarge it to original 1:1 size!

Can't describe my fascination about this build any other way!

[BK9300]

22 hours ago, Jürgen M. said:

Wow! 

Hope you'll find a way to get the shrunken plow back to real size so you can use it this winter! Noone would notice it's a model if you would be able to enlarge it to original 1:1 size!

Can't describe my fascination about this build any other way!

Thanks, Jürgen - been having lots of fun with this build along the way.  Sure like how your tanker, and soon to be tank trailer are coming along!

[Jürgen M.]

Thanks, glad you like it! 😊

[BK9300]

About a month ago, had designed the interior cab hydraulic control console/monitor in Sketchup.  While searching for a way to get the file printed, Bren graciously offered to print the parts for me.  After getting Bren the original files, and a couple file modifications, and some test prints later, Bren sent me these pics of his results.  I'm new to this but, wow!  Was really surprised at the detail that is present in such a small space.  Many thanks to Bren for doing this - some modifications to come yet, but very, very satisfied with results!

These are two of the file screen shots and their dimensions -

Control console without the rubber boots or the hydraulic control levers 

 

monitor -

Trial print of console -

and monitor

'rubber' boots for hydraulic control levers

Bren also printed some copies of a hydraulic pump I made for the truck - 5/16" long

 

Again, many thanks to Bren!

[Biggu]

ABSOLUTELY spot on !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[DRIPTROIT 71]

Wow! This thing is amazing! Craftsmanship at its best!

[Gary Chastain]

Wow, they are gonna look really good

[BK9300]

20 hours ago, Biggu said:

ABSOLUTELY spot on !!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

16 hours ago, DRIPTROIT 71 said:

Wow! This thing is amazing! Craftsmanship at its best!

 

2 hours ago, Gary Chastain said:

Wow, they are gonna look really good

Thanks, Guys - going to have to use courier to get the printed parts delivered - still no end in sight for postal strike.  Would be nice to do a ‘mini’ mockup of console in the cab interior, to check the size out.  Need to get back on those tanks straps and get them finished!

[Pete68]

On 11/28/2024 at 2:39 PM, BK9300 said:

About a month ago, had designed the interior cab hydraulic control console/monitor in Sketchup.  While searching for a way to get the file printed, Bren graciously offered to print the parts for me.  After getting Bren the original files, and a couple file modifications, and some test prints later, Bren sent me these pics of his results.  I'm new to this but, wow!  Was really surprised at the detail that is present in such a small space.  Many thanks to Bren for doing this - some modifications to come yet, but very, very satisfied with results!

These are two of the file screen shots and their dimensions -

Control console without the rubber boots or the hydraulic control levers 

 

monitor -

Trial print of console -

and monitor

'rubber' boots for hydraulic control levers

Bren also printed some copies of a hydraulic pump I made for the truck - 5/16" long

 

Again, many thanks to Bren!

That control tower look awesome this 3d printing just amazing me anymore. Well done. 

Edited November 30, 2024 by Pete68

[BK9300]

12 hours ago, Pete68 said:

That control tower look awesome this 3d printing just amazing me anymore. Well done. 

Thanks very much, Lee - appreciate it.  Wanted to show everyone Bren’s final print of the modified file - think it turned out the best!  (parts will soon be on their way to me by courier)  Have to add the boots and fab some very small hydraulic levers, and make the mast that the monitor is attached to, then try and paint this little gem without messing it up!

 

Edited November 30, 2024 by BK9300

[gotnitro?]

This is such an epic build! Love how the 3d printing world is shaping our hobby 

[BK9300]

36 minutes ago, gotnitro? said:

This is such an epic build! Love how the 3d printing world is shaping our hobby 

Thanks, Jeff - its been a fun go so far!  I've seen lots of builds in this forum with resin printed parts used and how much they can add, but it kind of hit home stronger once I was able to see one of my parts printed - looking forward to getting it assembled and in place in the cab.

[BK9300]

Bren's package of printed parts is on its way to me - looking forward to having them in hand!

More than a little frustration these past few days, while working on tank straps.  Using a chrome film to cover strips of thin, clear plastic 'straps' - if I didn't lay the strap quite properly on the film, I ended with a few tiny bubbles trapped in the film.  I needed three straps - I think I covered and re-covered the equivalent of seven straps by the time I got the film right.  Made some brackets that attach to the end of the tank hangers, that the straps 'bolt' through.  Been a fun week, seems like a lot of work, with just three, tiny straps made!

Epoxied 0.5 mm brass rod to the straps to act as 'bolts'

 

Chrome film is lying adhesive side up - plan was to lay strap down on film, then fold edges across back of strap, trim the ends and be done.  Nope, wrecked a few by trapping little bubbles underneath the film because I wasn't careful

 

First successful strap

 

Three done, finally

 

Strap hold down brackets that will be epoxied to hanger ends  (the 0.5mm plastic rods will slide along either side of raised rib of hangers)

 

Epoxy has just set enough that brackets don't need adjusting (for reasons I don't know, the middle hanger isn't as long as the outer two, but will look ok when strap is in place).  With a couple hours work tomorrow, should have straps and rubber backing in place!

 

Once the tank is finished, I can get back at the front end of the truck and connect the trans cooler lines to fittings.  When I get the printed hydraulic pump, I can get it plumbed and attached to the plow lift group and finally, set the plow lift group and frame braces in place.  All for now - thanks!

Edited December 5, 2024 by BK9300

[Biggu]

Beautiful work of art !  Brian, are the strap hold down brackets metal? Or did I miss that. ? 

[BK9300]

24 minutes ago, Biggu said:

Beautiful work of art !  Brian, are the strap hold down brackets metal? Or did I miss that. ? 

Thanks, Jeff - I made them out of styrene ‘angle iron’, with a bit of a backing, and pinned them for extra support when epoxied in place.

Edited December 5, 2024 by BK9300

[Biggu]

Thanks. They look like metal. Very impressive. And very methodical , you have very good ideas on how to approach these challenges. Most have never crossed my mind. A joy to watch … and learn …

[Rockford]

Excellent engineering! 

[BK9300]

5 hours ago, Biggu said:

Thanks. They look like metal. Very impressive. And very methodical , you have very good ideas on how to approach these challenges. Most have never crossed my mind. A joy to watch … and learn …

 

1 minute ago, Rockford said:

Excellent engineering! 

Thanks Guys - appreciate it!

Good day today - and a big step towards finishing the fuel tank.  Just need to make a semblance of a sending unit and it will be done.

Pic of the real truck - this was the goal

 

Very happy with results. . .quite anxious process using slow setting CA glue and not have it leak out the sides of the straps

 

Placed a little blob of epoxy on the bolts, on inside of angle iron to add to some strength to strap.  Painted them aluminum to represent the nuts

 

 

A few hours left today - might get a start on the sending unit!  Always appreciate your comments - take care!

[Biggu]