Western Star 4900 FA plow truck

[BK9300]

Working on the sander - again (still!).  Needed to add the sander's front mud flaps.  Cut out and painted the eight straps (not shown) that provide extra tie down for the pre-wet tanks as well as provide a bit of support for the rubber flap that covers the tanks (haven't made those flaps yet, but, likely tomorrow!).  Getting close to attaching sander to frame so, thought another mockup with rear wheels/tires on was in order.

At the top of the picture you can see a test mud flap - I was trying to determine the length of chain I needed to keep the flaps from 'blowing' back onto the tires at speed (I need to get a life . . .)

 

Chains bolted to sander fender supports and to flaps

 

 

Wasn't clear on how to do the inside of the flap, so I drilled out two photo etch bolt heads to make them into nuts and carefully glued them in place with CA glue

 

Just about a full roller, but that's a ways off yet - however, was determined to see what a 'back half' roller looked like, so a couple mock ups 

 

Fuel tank is still not installed - I do have a plan for hold down straps in the works, though.

The mud flaps seem a bit short, but they are in scale with the real truck I'm modeling - I never thought to ask anyone why they weren't longer.  More to come and thanks for having a look!

 

Edited October 26, 2024 by BK9300
Missing word

[BK9300]

Will be on hold with model pics for a couple weeks - wounded my left thumb (not at the bench), to the tune of eight stitches.  On the bright side, if I can call it that, I could take this break to see if I can 3D model the operator’s plow/sander/dump control panel that sits between the seats in the cab.  Also need to model some semblance of a dash mounted automatic shifter for the Allison transmission.  I don’t have resin printing capabilities, but I read about a 3D club at a university near me that might be able to do the printing for me, if I can model it properly.  So, carrying on, hopefully I can make other progress while thumb is on the mend!

 

A couple pics of the control console and monitor I hope to model -

 

 

 

 

I’ll see if I can straighten out the rubber boots!

Edited October 27, 2024 by BK9300

[Gary Chastain]

Wow, well heal up quickly

[Biggu]

Sorry to hear of the injury, Brian. Hope it heals fast and well. That kind of sucks…… oh those controls. Man that brings back memories. The front yellow lock valve was truck dump box and the back one for the pup. The live hydraulics were great as we could raise both boxes at the same time. Is your underbody an extendable?  The “ sander override” button on our trucks were set up so you cud hit that button and stop the spinner when you met cars but cud still put out sand with the chain still running but not breaking any windshields but still sanding. I liked that because it didn’t leave any ‘blank ‘ spots to catch someone unaware. I hope you get better really soon Brian as I will be seriously missing your regular updates.  Take good care my friend…

Jeff

Edited October 27, 2024 by Biggu

[BK9300]

Gary, Jeff, thanks.  The under body is not extendable on this truck, so may need to blank off the ‘side shift’ lever!  Might still be able to give an update with a control console render, if I can make a reasonable version.

[Biggu]

21 minutes ago, BK9300 said:

Gary, Jeff, thanks.  The under body is not extendable on this truck, so may need to blank off the ‘side shift’ lever!  Might still be able to give an update with a control console render, if I can make a reasonable version.

AFTER you heal up.  Was a doctor involved in your injury? 

[BK9300]

5 minutes ago, Biggu said:

AFTER you heal up.  Was a doctor involved in your injury? 

Won't make console yet, for real, but should still be able to do 3D version and make a rendering of it to check out. (guy doing the stitches in emergency said he was a doctor!)

[Biggu]

17 minutes ago, BK9300 said:

Won't make console yet, for real, but should still be able to do 3D version and make a rendering of it to check out. (guy doing the stitches in emergency said he was a doctor!)

I think it is pretty cool the university (BCIT?) is willing to print some things, I am assuming it is good classroom practise for them. It will be duck soup if they will print it for you ! Keep us posted on that project. Pretty cool. Your injury sounds like not a fun time. Hope it heals fast. Take it easy. 

[Randy D]

Hello Brian, 

This is one of those builds where if I haven't checked in for awhile I find myself going thru it over and over to soak in all the wonderful detail.

Can't wait to see how you do the cab control details...I will be stealing ideas as my truck has some  similar stuff.

 Get healed up quick my friend!

Randy

[BK9300]

On 10/27/2024 at 10:47 AM, Biggu said:

I think it is pretty cool the university (BCIT?) is willing to print some things, I am assuming it is good classroom practise for them. It will be duck soup if they will print it for you ! Keep us posted on that project. Pretty cool. Your injury sounds like not a fun time. Hope it heals fast. Take it easy. 

The 3D club is at UBC - I have to make the digital model in a manner that allows it to be exported to a printable file - never done that before, so new process for me!

[BK9300]

15 hours ago, Randy D said:

Hello Brian, 

This is one of those builds where if I haven't checked in for awhile I find myself going thru it over and over to soak in all the wonderful detail.

Can't wait to see how you do the cab control details...I will be stealing ideas as my truck has some  similar stuff.

 Get healed up quick my friend!

Randy

Thanks, Randy - I appreciate you having a look!  I may have taken way too many pics - before I started posting here, was simply making a record for myself.  Should have an initial go at the digital model ready later today - sure going to be small, though.

How is your truck coming along?

Edited October 29, 2024 by BK9300
Typo

[Rockford]

Still impressed! 

[BK9300]

1 hour ago, Rockford said:

Still impressed! 

Thanks, Steve, and likewise back at you!

[BK9300]

So, things are well enough for me to have spent some time in my Sketchup program the past couple days, building the 3D control console file.  I've finished it to the degree that it makes no sense to put in more details, as a 1/24 version just won't show it, or even be printable.  In fact, until I can talk with someone who knows what's achievable, I'm not certain the detail I do have is printable.  The scale size of the metal 'box' that the controls are mounted on is 13 mm x 13mm x 16mm and the overall height from the model's floor to the top of the display monitor plus its mast, is slightly less than 1.5 inches (see an earlier post for some pics of this console in a real truck).  I guess I'll find out this week what printed detail can be achieved when I talk to the university club.  In the meantime, a few renders of the model control panel!

 

This render was done with no colours or textures rendered, just a 'clay model' as I've heard it called.

 

Same view with colours and rubber, plastic and metal textures applied to the model - if you zoom in on pic you can see lots of little detail that likely won't be able to be printed.

 

Passenger's side view of console and monitor - a good deal of wiring comes out the back of the monitor and runs down and into the back of the metal console box - have to figure something out for that too.

 

Its all going to be very tiny, if it can be printed anywhere near what I would like it to turn out to be.  And if it does turn out ok, its going to be very difficult to detail. . .another problem to deal with!  Take care.

Edited October 29, 2024 by BK9300
typo

[Gary Chastain]

Like where that is going, good luck with print

[BK9300]

8 minutes ago, Gary Chastain said:

Like where that is going, good luck with print

Here's hoping - thanks!

[Biggu]

???

[Chariots of Fire]

The only thing you are going to need when you are done is some scale salt and scale sand.  The rest of this is one magnificent build!!  ?

[BK9300]

5 hours ago, Chariots of Fire said:

The only thing you are going to need when you are done is some scale salt and scale sand.  The rest of this is one magnificent build!!  ?

Thanks, Charles- I was thinking about that too, because there should be some bits of sand left in the conveyor from the calibration process!

[BK9300]

Back at it again. . .Nothing to update on 3D printing the console but I am waiting to hear back from one local company soon.  So, I carried on with - you guessed it - the sander.  The pre-wet tanks on the sander fenders are held in place with strapping and some brackets that are mounted on the fenders, lower edge of the front and back of the tanks (I still need to make those).  The tanks also have a second set of sturdier straps that appear to provide some support for the rubber skirt/cover attached to the side of the sander (I am told these skirts keep sand/salt loaded into the sander from accumulating on top of the tanks).  Some pics of the last few days work -

 

Early in the week, had cut out and painted all the strapping needed for the tanks; pre-drilled the skirt support straps and secured Top Studio rivet ('bolts'!) on the end of each one with a bit of CA glue.  I also pre-drilled bolt holes in the edge of the fenders for the bolts

 

 

Support straps bolted in place; the tank hold down straps needed to be glued with styrene glue and left to set before I could handle them and determine where to drill holes for the top of the straps in the sander body; cut out the skirt from my sheet of 0.5mm silicone rubber, scuffed it up and painted a strap to attach it to the sander

 

All support straps and hold down straps (both sides) are now 'bolted' in place

 

Had pre-drilled holes in strap and used them to align slightly smaller pilot holes in the skirt - this made it easier to push the bolts through the rubber, but also held them in place with friction when I went to glue them in place on the sander

 

Slightly bigger diameter bolt holes pre-drilled in sides of sander.  I made them a bit bigger so I could apply thin CA glue to the bolts from the inside of sander and have it wick in the bolt holes

 

This was fun - I placed a spot of slow drying CA glue on each of the pre-drilled holes and then had some (lots of!) difficulty getting each bolt into its respective bolt hole in the sander before the glue set too much - more than a little stressful!

 

The real truck has bungee cords at the lower corners of the rubber skirt holding it from flapping around at speed - don't quite know yet if I can make anything at scale that will do that job; I have a couple ideas but first attempt looked too big, so will keep thinking!

 

Decals from STS were shipped yesterday.  When I get those in place, will still need to finish wiring lights on back of sander, including front and rear roto lights and attach the ladder to the driver's side of the sander.  Getting close to finishing the sander - its been a model unto itself!  Still have lots to do on the truck overall and will keep the updates coming!   Always appreciate you stopping in!

Edited November 8, 2024 by BK9300
typo

[Biggu]

Oh my Lord , Brian. This makes my eyes water…… your attention to detail is staggering. Where did you get the mud flap material? It looks really good and right to scale. Also did STS do the YRB decals? Love the update

[BK9300]

27 minutes ago, Biggu said:

Oh my Lord , Brian. This makes my eyes water…… your attention to detail is staggering. Where did you get the mud flap material? It looks really good and right to scale. Also did STS do the YRB decals? Love the update

Thanks, Jeff - I always appreciate you having a look!  The mud flap material is a sheet of 0.5 mm silicone rubber I found on Amazon.  Takes a bit of work to lose the shiny finish it comes with, but looks good in the end and is quite flexible, too.  STS sent me the proof below - needed a few minor changes - and Terry did the YRB logo, too (the decals will be printed on a clear background, not the grey in the proof).  I had extras made of everything in case I mess up!

 

 

Edited November 9, 2024 by BK9300

[Biggu]

Those decals are beauty’s !! And I will have to look for that material. Thanks !

[Jürgen M.]

Wow, Just Like Jeffs Pete-engine your Plow has to be an original projected down to size! There's no other explanation! 

Awesome job! 

[BK9300]

1 hour ago, Jürgen M. said:

Wow, Just Like Jeffs Pete-engine your Plow has to be an original projected down to size! There's no other explanation! 

Awesome job! 

Thanks for the kind words, Jürgen.  Sure is taking awhile to do it all, but making progress - thanks again for having a look!