Western Star 4900 FA plow truck

[Gary Chastain]

Fuel tanks look outstanding 

[BK9300]

47 minutes ago, Gary Chastain said:

Fuel tanks look outstanding 

Much appreciated, Gary - thanks!

[gotnitro?]

Fantastic work 

The plumbing w fittings looks so realistic

[Bren]

On 12/5/2024 at 3:20 PM, BK9300 said:

 

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!

Wow! I (and everyone else it seems) am running out of superlatives to describe this build Brian. Those tanks/straps are AMAZING! It is an overused cliche - but you could scale this thing up and drive it off the lot. I’ve never seen such a stunning replica. All I can say is keep it up! We’re watching in amazement. 

[BK9300]

22 hours ago, gotnitro? said:

Fantastic work 

The plumbing w fittings looks so realistic

Thanks very much, Jeff.  The fittings sure tested my patience but were worth the effort!

[BK9300]

4 hours ago, Bren said:

Wow! I (and everyone else it seems) am running out of superlatives to describe this build Brian. Those tanks/straps are AMAZING! It is an overused cliche - but you could scale this thing up and drive it off the lot. I’ve never seen such a stunning replica. All I can say is keep it up! We’re watching in amazement. 

Thanks a lot, Bren, I appreciate the compliment!  I was hung up a bit on the tank, but I’m glad it turned out and is just about done.  Glad you keep checking in because still a good ways to go yet!

[Scott Eriksen]

Outstanding detail work Brian!

[BK9300]

4 hours ago, Scott Eriksen said:

Outstanding detail work Brian!

Appreciate the compliment, Scott!  Am enjoying the progress on your wrecker build and had a look online at a few of the Century wreckers made by Miller Industries - they’re very complicated, but powerful trucks!

[Gary Chastain]

Just keep raising that bar, don’t ya Brian. Your skills, vision and creativity are off the charts. 

[Scott Eriksen]

2 hours ago, BK9300 said:

Appreciate the compliment, Scott!  Am enjoying the progress on your wrecker build and had a look online at a few of the Century wreckers made by Miller Industries - they’re very complicated, but powerful trucks!

Maybe you'll hit on some body dimensions! lol

[BK9300]

25 minutes ago, Gary Chastain said:

Just keep raising that bar, don’t ya Brian. Your skills, vision and creativity are off the charts. 

Thanks, Gary - very kind words!  There are no shortage of problems to solve in this build - very testing!

[BK9300]

Short post but couldn't resist - Christmas came early yesterday afternoon when the package of printed parts sent by Bren arrived just as we were going out for dinner!  Didn't open it until this morning.  It might be hard to tell from pics, but the parts in hand have detail that is phenomenal.  As promised awhile back, a quick, albeit incomplete, mockup of the interior, with console and one of four control lever boots set in place.

 

Had a setting wrong in Sketchup when I created the print files - Bren needed to do a bunch of work re-scaling the files - many measurements to check against mine.  Also sent along some console rejects so I could test paint them to avoid making a mess of the good ones!

 

A couple of the interior with stuff just set place - if you zoom in on the console, you can even see two, very small toggle switches - on the real truck, one was for the pup trailer tailgate lock and the other was for the pup's tarp cover (summer use only, of course!).  Apart from the control levers/boots for the plows, the other controls were also for summer operation - the two nearest the driver are for the main dump box hoist, and the other for the pup dump box hoist.  Of the two smaller, vertical controls, one was for the sander diverter (don't spray cars as truck passes by), and the other was the main dump box tailgate lock.

 

Have too much else going on at the moment to start inside the cab, so I'll have to set aside for now.  Sure glad to have the parts, though!  More to follow soon - thanks.

 

 

 

[Biggu]

OUTSTANDING detail !

[Chariots of Fire]

Never thought I would say this but it may be time for me to assess 3D design and printing!  Scratch building is such fun but enhancing it with nicely detailed parts is over the top!

[BK9300]

7 hours ago, Chariots of Fire said:

Never thought I would say this but it may be time for me to assess 3D design and printing!  Scratch building is such fun but enhancing it with nicely detailed parts is over the top!

I think I would always do a lot of scratch building, but I certainly agree with your comment about enhancement, Charles.  Thanks for having a look!

[BK9300]

More detail work on the truck accomplished today - fabricated the components for the fuel tank sending unit and vent line.  Also got a start on the work needed to help finish the hydraulic lines at the front of the truck.  Made hose fittings for the hydraulic pump that mounts on the plow lift group's cross member.  Also heading out to the shed to give the pump some paint.  Slow progress, but some progress is always a good thing!

 

Parts and pieces for the sending unit and vent line

 

 

Wiring and 'split' sheath for the sending unit

 

Sending unit tank fitting

 

 

Vent line - will need to shorten it a bit as it is supposed to end part way down the middle tank hanger

 

Hydraulic pump I made in Sketchup and printed by Bren; drilled and pinned resin fittings from Top Studio

 

Will need to drill cross member for bolts and for mini drive shaft to crankshaft pulley

 

I need to make something like this before I can mount the pump and plow lift group onto the truck frame (this isn't specifically for attaching to a DD 60 series crankshaft pulley, but I somehow deleted the picture I did have of one from a mixer)

 

As often happens, by the time the shed warms up, weather changes and painting not a good idea.  Maybe tomorrow - take care!

[Chariots of Fire]

Brian:  I got some of those U-joints in 3D form a while ago.  Neat stuff.  If you need a reference let me know.

[BK9300]

8 minutes ago, Chariots of Fire said:

Brian:  I got some of those U-joints in 3D form a while ago.  Neat stuff.  If you need a reference let me know.

Thanks, Charles - that would be great!  Will definitely look at anything.

[Biggu]

The snow plow / sanding world became a much warmer place when “live hydraulics” were introduced. With the old system there was no immediate lifting of the plow in an emergency. But if you cheated the ‘rules’ you could get around that. This generation has it good. This is looking really good Brian. 

[Chariots of Fire]

18 hours ago, BK9300 said:

Thanks, Charles - that would be great!  Will definitely look at anything.

Matt Leese does a lot of 3D printing.  U-joints come it a variety of sizes depending on your needs.  His email address is mdlbldrmatt135@gmail.com  Give him a shout.  Good guy to deal with.

[Pete68]

On 12/7/2024 at 5:31 PM, BK9300 said:

Christmas came early

Look at all those goodies 

[Pete68]

On 12/11/2024 at 5:19 PM, BK9300 said:

some progress is always a good thing!

Yes it is especially when it’s insane scratchery 😂 

[BK9300]

24 minutes ago, Pete68 said:

Yes it is especially when it’s insane scratchery 😂 

Thanks, Lee!

[Pete68]

2 hours ago, BK9300 said:

Thanks, Lee!

Your welcome Brian 

[BK9300]

Big one off my list - sending unit and vent line are in - fuel tank is finished, finally!  Few quick pics and out to the paint shed momentarily, to brighten up that hydraulic pump!

 

That 'blue' vent line is actually clear tubing- maybe the fluorescent light from the desk lamp doing that.

 

'Split wire' loom from sending unit heading down into frame rail

 

Split wire loom routed into frame rail (not going to pretend - the loom just ends 'out of sight') and vent line terminates by underbody plow lift cylinder.  Put a wear protector sleeve on fuel lines - thanks for the reminder, Jeff!.  Driveshaft paint took a bit of 'damage' during loom routing (the mechanic did his best to avoid any damage!) - will probably leave the aluminum tubing peeking through, as is. . .

 

Painted the two hydraulic fittings at the trans cooler but I've decided to leave hooking up the cooler lines until I get the front plow lift group mounted - don't want to make a mistake on not having the hoses clear the lift group.  Off to the shed - thanks for having a look!

 

 

Edited December 13, 2024 by BK9300