Western Star 4900 FA plow truck

[Mattilacken]

Such a great build! I thought it was a biger scale until i saw your hand next to it! Great work for sure! Wirering, and functional parts as your plumbing over al is just top notch. Great scratch built parts!

[BK9300]

I appreciate your generous comments, Anton!  Have really enjoyed getting back at this hobby.  I’ve been thinking about where I could incorporate your switches in this truck - there is a column and switch/lever panel in the cab between the seats that the operator uses to control the trucks’s attachments - maybe there (I need better pics of the panel first!)

(Hope we get to see an update on your Silverado C5R soon)

[BK9300]

Been saying for a few posts that I would be getting to the hydraulic hoses at the back end of the sander.  Managed to do most of them this afternoon - only have the two lines (pressure and return) to the sander spinner to connect.  Need to still do a bit of fabrication at the back end, wire in the speed sensor, add some decals (when they're ready), more lights and finally the sand conveyor.  Anyway (you guessed it!), more sander pics . . .

 

Line run to sand conveyor hydraulic motor and in turn, through the aluminum housing for the pre-wet pump motor, and back out again to the return hard line.  Still need to hook up hydraulic motor for sand chute spinner

 

Control wiring run to pre-wet unit; clear lines run from filter to inlet of pre-wet pump and back out again to "T" fitting - I still need to build the spray nozzle fittings that apply liquid to the sand falling into the spinner chute

 

A couple pics of side tanks temporarily in place

 

 

More to come next week - thanks for the comments along the way!

Edited October 5, 2024 by BK9300
added text

[Biggu]

THIS is just plain KILLER GOOD ‘!!!!!!!

[BK9300]

1 hour ago, Biggu said:

THIS is just plain KILLER GOOD ‘!!!!!!!

Thanks, Jeff - slow going but progress feels good!

[Jürgen M.]

18 hours ago, Biggu said:

THIS is just plain KILLER GOOD ‘!!!!!!!

Said by a man who really knows what he's talking about! 

I can only agree with Jeff! 

There's nothing to add!

[BK9300]

6 hours ago, Jürgen M. said:

Said by a man who really knows what he's talking about! 

I can only agree with Jeff! 

There's nothing to add!

Thanks, Jurgen!

[BK9300]

I've been wanting to see what the sander looked like on the truck frame - yesterday I tried to set the sander in place and discovered that the pintle hitch I installed so long ago doesn't clear the sand chute - the real truck doesn't have the hitch attached when there is a sander on the truck (should have checked real truck's pictures more often!).  So, had to remove the hitch, repair the area, add a 'plate' to the area, drill the bolt holes that would be used to mount the hitch and re-paint the end of the drop cross member.  After all that, the sander fit in place as it should.  A few mockup pics of sander sitting on the frame.

 

 

 

 

Next, I'll need to make a different rotisserie, one that will work with the sander mounted on truck, so I can minimize handling during rest of its assembly.  Thanks for stopping by!

[Biggu]

Brian, this looks spot on.... along with the removal of the pintle, Ken and the boys in our shop, also used to remove the glad hands and put caps on the hard lines that protruded through that plate, as well as take the hydraulic quick coupler off and plug the hydraulic line as well, but also sometimes left the quick coupler on and shoved a rag into the receptacle and wired it so it would seal the fitting. Also the trailer ABS and light plugs were left on.... not sure how exactly detailed you wanted to get, but that was part of the winter change over. This was only for the body sander units of course, as the Tenco units could still pull the pup and equipment trailer if needed, we did a LOT of hauling with the pups during winter shift.

I love your updates, I was comparing some of it to the real thing I have photos of and your paint is dead on as well as the details..... incredible workmanship....

Jeff

[BK9300]

Hey Jeff - I appreciate the comments!  There is going to be a level of detail I'm not going to be able to achieve - I admit I just haven't determined how far to take it.  I've been bumping up against limitations all along in this project - some I have been able to over come and some I haven't.  So far, its been working out!  Thanks again, for checking things out and offering your observations.

[Biggu]

38 minutes ago, BK9300 said:

Hey Jeff - I appreciate the comments!  There is going to be a level of detail I'm not going to be able to achieve - I admit I just haven't determined how far to take it.  I've been bumping up against limitations all along in this project - some I have been able to over come and some I haven't.  So far, its been working out!  Thanks again, for checking things out and offering your observations.

You have SO much detail that one or two small things that may not even be seen anyway won’t make a lick of difference. There is SO much to savour with this build as it stands. This is without question a museum quality build. The level of detail you have achieved  is spectacular and your scratch building skills are off the clock. When this is done it really needs to have a place of honour for display so many people can enjoy your efforts. Just a random thought …….  
Jeff

[Bainford]

I have just found this thread, and spent a couple of very enjoyable hours reading through it. You have wickedly impressive model building skills. This is just a stunning model, and so complex. Mind-blowing detail, and so skillfully applied. Seriously impressive. Having found it, I am now tuned in for the rest of the ride. Cheers.

[BK9300]

duplicate

Edited October 8, 2024 by BK9300

[BK9300]

1 hour ago, Bainford said:

I have just found this thread, and spent a couple of very enjoyable hours reading through it. You have wickedly impressive model building skills. This is just a stunning model, and so complex. Mind-blowing detail, and so skillfully applied. Seriously impressive. Having found it, I am now tuned in for the rest of the ride. Cheers.

Thanks very much, Trevor, for having a look and I appreciate your generous comments!

[vincen47]

As many have said, this project is truly impressive, and that’s an understatement. Museum-quality is the best way I can describe it, and yet, I don’t think that does it justice.

[BK9300]

7 hours ago, vincen47 said:

As many have said, this project is truly impressive, and that’s an understatement. Museum-quality is the best way I can describe it, and yet, I don’t think that does it justice.

Thanks, Victor - glad you stopped by and thanks for the kind words!  I remember looking at your build back in March (before I started posting) and was intrigued by the windshield washer reservoir(s) you made - they're very realistic.  (I need one for under the cab of my truck and haven't figured out how to do it yet. . .)

[BK9300]

The two remaining hoses at the rear of the sander have been installed (pressure and return line for chute spinner).  I didn't have good luck with the CTM photo etch zip ties while doing the previous wiring (just managed to chip paint in a couple places!), so I ran the two hoses for the spinner through two, very thin slices of a bigger rubber hose.  If you don't get right up close, the hoses look like they have been wrapped in those two spots.  It is a cleaner look to my eye.  And, as Jeff reminded me the other day, there are some connectors on the rear drop cross member.  I had some CTM couplings and sockets that I had been debating whether or not to install, because they are a bit bigger in scale than on the real truck.  I did install them and despite being a bit big, they look good (no rags stuffed in the sockets yet, Jeff!)

 

Two hoses to/from sand spinner are installed

 

Better view of hoses attached to spinner hydraulic motor

 

Drop crossmember sockets and couplers installed - openings in the sockets need to be 'filled' for winter operation!  The hydraulic line opening at the top of the cross member will be capped as well, once I am done with needing the frame to be on the rotisserie.

 

 

Still waiting for some decals to finish lighting and wiring on back panel of sander (need to get that new rotisserie built as well).  Thanks for stopping in to have a look!

[Biggu]

I feel bad, I didn’t mean to shame you into adding extras but I have to say they are dead on and are exact in detail. Finishes off that plate perfectly 10/10 ! 
Jeff

[BK9300]

3 minutes ago, Biggu said:

I feel bad, I didn’t mean to shame you into adding extras but I have to say they are dead on and are exact in detail. Finishes off that plate perfectly 10/10 ! 
Jeff

No shaming involved!  I had the connectors but wasn’t sure about them.  The sand chute will partly obscure them so will look ok.

[TopherMcGinnis]

Beautiful craftsmanship! 

[Jürgen M.]

What a perfect job! It's so fun watching this! 

Keep going! Can't wait to see the final model! 

[Force]

Mindblowing.

[Gary Chastain]

Love watching your build, and might steal some ideas. The level at which you and a few other guys are building are at another level. Makes me not wanna post my basic builds. 

[BK9300]

26 minutes ago, Gary Chastain said:

Love watching your build, and might steal some ideas. The level at which you and a few other guys are building are at another level. Makes me not wanna post my basic builds. 

Gary, I'm relatively new here, and have appreciated your comments since I started posting.  Long before posting, I had often visited the forum and, as I said before, I was always attracted to your builds.   I very much dislike painting as part of the overall process, and took inspiration from your careful attention to the finishes on your builds.  So, in my opinion, you very much need to continue posting your fine work!

[BK9300]

14 hours ago, TopherMcGinnis said:

Beautiful craftsmanship! 

Thanks, Topher - much appreciated!  (I've enjoyed watching your pickup builds - love those sixties Chevies!)