Freightliner FLC

[Jürgen M.]

Hi everyone!

I'm back with a new project. I chose a Freightliner FLC.

Basically it's a 1975 model BUT while doing research on vehicle details I found some things I wanted to take over in this build. So it will contain a decade of attributes reaching from mid 70s to mid 80s.

I was quite amazed to see that Freightliner had already used air ride suspension in the 70s. Maybe it was just a conversion though. Anyway I decided to use it and took over the parts I had designed for the Transtar II. I'm also using the Cat engine I had designed for the Marmon Harrington. Chassis rails, body parts and rims are be specially designed for this build and of course the interior.

The pic shows the basic truck I'll be building. I'll add a long sleeper though and two external air cleaners.

Here's a pre-view of the design:

There might still be one or the other changes but principally that's where it's going!

 

[Gary Chastain]

Be watching this build. 

[BK9300]

This build shows the advantage of designing your own ‘kits’ - you have a digital parts box, full of ready to go items to add to new builds.  Good stuff, Jurgen!

[Biggu]

I always miked the style of these trucks. They look tough and ready for work. Your design work is iff the clock good. This will be a really interesting and fun build to watch. Looking forward to the next update. 

[Jürgen M.]

Thanks guys! Hope it turns out as good as I expect. 

In the early 80s, when I found my interest for American trucks, this was theee stereotype of an American conventional to me. 

After my 1/32 Freightliner conventional got destroyed I never built one again. Today I'm building this revival version.

I'll change the nozzle of my printer to get a better surface quality. Not sure if it'll work though!

Anyway, it'll be a mixture of own design, box parts and virtual box parts!

[Rockford]

Clever stuff mate. Onward and upwards, as ever.

[Jürgen M.]

Got the first chassis parts printed.

Had to split the rails to print them cause they we're too long!

Rails seem to be straight. Looks promising!

[Jürgen M.]

A little progress on the chassis:

Suspension is also printed ...

This is how it's supposed to come together:

Chassis rails fit together 

Front axle and some smaller chassis parts ready to assemble:

[Jürgen M.]

Got the radiator installed. Needed that to straighten the chassis. It actually had a little twist but nothing serious!

I put weights in the front and rear of the chassis, then glued the radiator in. After the glue had hardened the chassis was straight again

Test fit of the engine before painting:

Engine out, radiator masked to make it ready for primer!

[Gary Chastain]

Jealous of you guys with all the 3D modeling on computer and the 3D printing, imagination is your only hurtle. Well done. 

[Jürgen M.]

Thanks Gary! 

But no need to be jealous. I wouldn't need 3D printing if my scratch skills were half as good as yours!

[Jürgen M.]

I'm doing a bit of scratch building too on this.

The air cleaners are made of a 10mm aluminium tube, the top is an aluminium cap of an allen bolt, the connector is a 6mm brass tube. Only the brackets, the bottom cap and the filter piece are printed.

These are the parts for one air cleaner:

Assembly sequence:

Assembly mock-up:

Parts still need some attention but you can get the picture! 

[Biggu]

Now that’s cool!!!

[BK9300]

Making good progress, Jurgen!

[Jürgen M.]

Working on the mud flaps:

I'm using a 2mm brass tube with a 1.2mm inner diameter so I can stick a 1mm brass rod through and bend it into shape.

I also designed extra mounts to fit in the rods. 

I'm not sure if I'll use the flaps shown here but I can attach any kind I like.

A cute little detail is that the flaps will be movable since the tube isn't glued to the rod. They can Swing back and forth that way.

And I can bend them any direction I need to if they're not in the correct position.

Edited September 11 by Jürgen M.

[Biggu]

Perfect bends on the flap rods. Did you do that free hand? Or a jig?  They look great. 

[Bren]

I love where this build is going Jurgen. Last night I printed the sleeper/roof and found a position to print the hood without z-lines showing up. I’m putting a push on to get all the kit parts to you ASAP so the build can progress. I agree with some of the comments here - with no new kits coming out, us “tiny truckers” will have to get creative with our skill-set and learn how to make our own kits. 

[Jürgen M.]

19 minutes ago, Biggu said:

Perfect bends on the flap rods. Did you do that free hand? Or a jig?  They look great. 

Thanks Jeff. I did those free hand. I used the first one as a template for the other one. Works pretty well.

[Rockford]

Good idea on the flap mount bars because if they get caught on anything (which they always do) they can move instead of snapping. That's why I modify mine. The kit versions are too fragile. 

[Jürgen M.]

True! They always get caught somewhere! 

The swinging will hopefully prevent bad accidents! 

[Jürgen M.]

The fuel tanks are made of 25mm aluminium tube and plastic caps in the ends!

I cut the tube in half making two 50mm fuel tanks.

For straight cutting I use this:

Afterwards the cut ends have to be deburred. Then the caps are added. No glue needed, they have a very tight fit.

Now they're waiting for primer and paint!

Edited September 12 by Jürgen M.

[Jürgen M.]

The sleeper interior is printed but still to be painted!

The bed is from the Scania 142M that I converted to a cement mixer!

I even made a tv and a little shelf! 🙃

[Rockford]

Some great touches there! Why don't you try polishing your tanks? I'd use wire wool then Solvol Autosol metal polish for chrome bumpers etc... works great. Would look sharp and no painting.

[Gary Chastain]

Like that fuel tank build, gotta play with that build idea. 

[Biggu]

On 9/11/2025 at 12:15 PM, Rockford said:

Good idea on the flap mount bars because if they get caught on anything (which they always do) they can move instead of snapping. That's why I modify mine. The kit versions are too fragile. 

Lol. They do on the real trucks too. … ask me how I know 🤭🤣🤣🤣