Pete68 Posted January 17 Posted January 17 (edited) Lots of fab work here Brian. Very impressive work Edited January 17 by Pete68
gotnitro? Posted January 17 Posted January 17 Even though it looks like a never ending problem with the hood profile, you've shown on numerous occasions the ability to correct it to your liking! If ya cut corners now, it would always annoy ya . Keep at it in small doses, we'll all be here w support ..or sarcastic remarks..mostly support lol
BK9300 Posted January 17 Author Posted January 17 5 hours ago, Pete68 said: Lots of fan work here Brian. Very impressive work Yes, Lee, I made a lot of work for myself! Like I said earlier, was reluctant to start cab and hood, because I knew how much would need to happen to get it close to the real truck. No turning back now, and I appreciate your compliment! 1
BK9300 Posted January 17 Author Posted January 17 1 hour ago, gotnitro? said: Even though it looks like a never ending problem with the hood profile, you've shown on numerous occasions the ability to correct it to your liking! If ya cut corners now, it would always annoy ya . Keep at it in small doses, we'll all be here w support ..or sarcastic remarks..mostly support lol Well, Jeff, you’re probably right about being annoyed if I didn’t take it further! My wife also asked me if I’d be happy if I didn’t make the hood better. So I guess I need to figure out a way to get the cab/hood closer to the real thing. Small steps is definitely the way to go, and the support (or sarcasm!) along the way is appreciated! Thanks, Jeff.
BK9300 Posted January 18 Author Posted January 18 I've spent a lot of time during this build looking at old pics, and new ones, trying to get my head around how things go together. Spent the past few days looking for better pics of hood profiles; lots of used hoods for sale on the internet, but always missing just the right angle that I needed. So, sticking with pics I already had, and having made the decision to re-work the firewall and modify the hood further, I had to extend the back edge of the hood a bit to accommodate the top down profile. Will be moving the firewall back just shy of 1/4" - that should achieve the effect I need and not create too much work. Moving the firewall back will give the 'look' of the firewall being skirted in by the remaining side panels of the cab. I laid out a hood profile pic on the hood to confirm what else I need to do still. Not a lot of progress to add, but gives me the comfort my process going forward is ok! Extended outside parts of back edge of hood to allow for the curve profile I need to create; some initial sanding done on the filler pieces and shouldn't need a lot of Tamiya putty to blend in all the curves; need to do a bit more work where fenders meet hood side panels, too Scaled down one of my top down hood pics and taped it to cab to determine how much firewall needs to be moved back. This still isn't going to be 100% like the real truck, but visually, it will look much closer to the real thing - hopefully! Same scaled down pic laid on top of my hood showing the adjusted cut lines needed to be made - no air cleaner on this side of truck, so no cut out at back edge Slightly better look at outlined, curved profile matching the cab profile at base of windshield, and the side cutout for air cleaner that needs to be made. Cutout was also roughed in from a scaled side view photograph of hood for sale online. Once the hood extensions have set overnight, I can start in on cutting out the hash marked areas, get a few, thin layers of putty applied on top and see what is going to be needed for the inner hood support brace. Also, once back edge profile of hood is set, I can use it to layout the cut I need to make on hood in front of windshield to modify firewall. Back at it for a bit more today, and thanks, as always for your thoughts and comments along the way! 4
AmericanMuscleFan Posted January 19 Posted January 19 Nice job on the hood Brian, your preparation and organization is evident. 👍 As with most modelers, there must be a stage of the build that you enjoy the most and another that you enjoy less? I would be curious to know which ones because every aspect seems to me to be done with a lot of dedication.
BK9300 Posted January 19 Author Posted January 19 (edited) 7 hours ago, AmericanMuscleFan said: Nice job on the hood Brian, your preparation and organization is evident. 👍 As with most modelers, there must be a stage of the build that you enjoy the most and another that you enjoy less? I would be curious to know which ones because every aspect seems to me to be done with a lot of dedication. Thanks, Francis - I appreciate the observation! I think making all the scratch built parts has been the most fun (and satisfying), while the body work is one of the most anxious parts for me. If its not done well enough, the primer/paint is sure to show all my shortcomings. A lot of firsts in this build for me and I've never done any body modifications before, so we'll all see how this turns out - for better or worse! Edited January 19 by BK9300 typo 2
BK9300 Posted January 19 Author Posted January 19 (edited) Made good progress on hood and cab this morning - got the lower cab apron filler pieces smoothed out somewhat and took the big step of making more cuts on the hood. I now have the shape of the hood defined and I can get to the even more fussy business of puttying and sanding these next few days. Finally, couldn't resist an early mockup of the cab/hood on the chassis! The lower cab apron gaps have been filled and roughly matched up with the existing body lines; had also trimmed the rear, vertical edges of hood - may still need a little refinement and the hood will need to sit a little lower yet once the firewall has been moved back and a new lip for the back edge of the hood to sit on has been made This is as close as I think I'm going to get to the 4900FA hood profile at the back edge - now it can be used to outline the cut I need to make in the cab, just in front of the base of the windshield; also need to do the finishing puttying and sanding (not fun - reminds me of doing gyproc mudding, which I don't do well with either!) Hood is very close to final position so, now I can scribe a cut line on the cab and rework the firewall This hood, air plenum cutout was made using a side view from a real 4900FA - may need to modify it a bit when the air cleaner is held up in place; also, once the firewall is moved back, an additional inner cab panel will be added to overlap with the inside of the hood on this side; the hood will eventually sit about 1/8" lower than it is once the other modifications are made Had to take these next couple pics - good feeling to get to this point and imagine it finished. Cab/hood assembly will be forward a bit further than this once they are fixed in place. Slow going - as I said earlier on, I find this body work stuff to be difficult, but still making progress so that's good. Take care! Edited January 19 by BK9300 4
Biggu Posted January 20 Posted January 20 Brian, your engineering and fabrication skills are off the clock. So interesting to watch and follow your methodical line of thinking and fabricating. Incredible skill set. You are nailing this one down perfectly. 1
Scott Eriksen Posted January 20 Posted January 20 Brian,,,,,whattaya think,,,,my next project? I can take some pointers from ya 😉
BK9300 Posted January 20 Author Posted January 20 3 hours ago, Scott Eriksen said: Brian,,,,,whattaya think,,,,my next project? I can take some pointers from ya 😉 That’s a would be a great project - didn’t know some fire departments had their own plow trucks, but makes sense - great pics! 1
Scott Eriksen Posted January 20 Posted January 20 4 hours ago, BK9300 said: That’s a would be a great project - didn’t know some fire departments had their own plow trucks, but makes sense - great pics! That truck was repurposed by the FDNY from a Squad to this,,,a lot was done in-house by the FDNY Shops 1
BK9300 Posted January 21 Author Posted January 21 More surgery on the cab and dash today; carefully cut out the firewall, removed 1/4" from the interior floor pan as well as the support piece behind the dashboard. Net effect was to leave dashboard in same position relative to the windshield, and move the firewall inward by 1/4". Now I have the side skirt effect that is on the real truck. Firewall removed - Cut lines defined by 1/4" tape strip - this is just empty space between the dashboard and the firewall Floor pan and dashboard support glued back together and ready for a mockup to check result Front edges of cab now form the desired 'skirting' around the firewall Now I need to cut out above the firewall, in the shape of the back edge of the modified hood; then, a thin filler piece needs to be added behind firewall as the cab is wider at the firewall's new position. Just about there! 3
gotnitro? Posted January 21 Posted January 21 Clean work! Moving the firewall back would definitely add a few gray hairs to my growing collection Keep up the killer work. Too bad someone couldn't cast this after
BK9300 Posted January 22 Author Posted January 22 19 hours ago, gotnitro? said: Clean work! Moving the firewall back would definitely add a few gray hairs to my growing collection Keep up the killer work. Too bad someone couldn't cast this after Thanks, Jeff - gray hairs are all done for me a long time ago! I read an article a long time ago, about using a 3D scanner and importing the scan mesh into Sketchup - never pursued because I didn't have anything I needed to scan (plus I don't have a scanner!). Might be something to look into 1
BK9300 Posted January 22 Author Posted January 22 I got the hood to fit in place on the cab today. I need to remind everyone that my hood to cab join is lacking some geometry of the full size truck, but I went as far with it as I think could reasonably be accomplished. It looks good - I just know its not 100%! I taped the hood in place and scribed the cutline needed - used back of X-Acto blade to make the cut Firewall and dashboard back in place to check for filler pieces that will be needed to mate firewall up with cab on three sides; a new lip, around the left fender skirt and across the top of the hood opening, will need to be added for hood to close against - the skirt on the right side needs to be extended to cover the air inlet opening in that side of the hood. I now need to keep all this in alignment when I make the new hood hinge assemblies and have the hood open and close this tight afterwards! (the black markings on the hood roughly border the area that I need to address with some Tamiya putty) Starting the finishing work on the hood tomorrow - take care! 5
Biggu Posted January 22 Posted January 22 Man…….. this is such good stuff … fabulous tutorial on fabrication.
Gary Chastain Posted January 22 Posted January 22 Goodness you guys, just keep raising that bar. Think I will quit posting my junk……just kidding, fabulous work sir. 2
AmericanMuscleFan Posted January 22 Posted January 22 You are on the right track Brian, the cab and hood modifications look great, the puzzle pieces are falling into place... thanks to your excellent work! It is a puzzle with a lot of pieces though! 😁 1
BK9300 Posted January 22 Author Posted January 22 15 hours ago, Biggu said: Man…….. this is such good stuff … fabulous tutorial on fabrication. Thanks, Jeff - the pictures always show up the worst parts of my efforts, but some cleanup will make the parts better. Looks good when I'm sitting looking at it, though! 1
BK9300 Posted January 22 Author Posted January 22 1 hour ago, Gary Chastain said: Goodness you guys, just keep raising that bar. Think I will quit posting my junk……just kidding, fabulous work sir. Thanks very much, Gary - appreciate your comments, as always! 1
BK9300 Posted January 22 Author Posted January 22 57 minutes ago, AmericanMuscleFan said: You are on the right track Brian, the cab and hood modifications look great, the puzzle pieces are falling into place... thanks to your excellent work! It is a puzzle with a lot of pieces though! 😁 Thanks, Francis - very complimentary! I think a count of the puzzle pieces might..., well, maybe not!
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