Freightliner FLC

[Jürgen M.]

Thanks Brian! I think it will be the correct consequence.

Maybe I'll leave the roof black though.

Here's another mock-up with the primered box:

And a closer look at the grille:

[Gary Chastain]

This truck really looks the business 

[Jürgen M.]

This is the idea of the new bumper!

I tried to keep the impression of a classic FLC bumper with a touch of heavy duty!

It's in print at the moment. Hope it fits!

[Wolf]

Simply amazing Juergen!

Especially as all you started with was good intentions. The ability to use 3D printing is such a game changer. It’s something I would love to learn but don’t have the wherewithal to do so. I’ll live vicariously through your work.

Cheers,     
Wolf

[Jürgen M.]

Thanks Wolf!

I'm glad you like my build.

I began 3D designing and printing about two and a half years ago! 

My first own design was a Marmon cabover! Quite easy due to it's box like cab. From then on I learned and tried and improved my skills!

Anyone can do it! 😊

[Rockford]

It looks a proper bruiser! Great stance. Decals aren't lazy, they're clever! 

[Jürgen M.]

A bit more progress:

Plumbing from air cleaners to cab and turbo charger mounted.

Stack heat shields also mounted as well as the side steps.

I'll leave the hood alignment till shortly before completion. I noticed a bit of a twist in the chassis which will make it complicated. Might have to adjust the hood hinges differently on each side!

The doors will be a challenge too. I have to work on a different sequence concerning the mounting of the doors and hinges. 

Worst case would be to take off the cab again and remove the dash and steering wheel.

Then mount the hinges and doors, then remount dash and steering wheel when the interior is back at its place.

Hope to avoid that. 

Edited Friday at 02:28 PM by Jürgen M.

[Biggu]

Boy. This one is sure looking good, I love the bumper you’re making as well. Adjusting the hood hinges may be the easiest way to go for the hood rather than pull everything apart. I will be taking notes how you do this operation for future reference for my adjustments. I’m sure I will learn something … keep going bud, she is a beauty. 

[Jürgen M.]

Air cleaners are mounted.

The left one I'll have to take off again. Don't like the looks of the brackets. (That's why I'm only showing the other side) 😉

Stacks are just stuck in, not glued yet.

[Biggu]

I’m liking this more and more. 

[Jürgen M.]

Some more parts added:

Slowly getting there! Hope to get finished by next weekend!

Still have to install the doors, scratch build the mirrors and brackets, paint the service box, ... and lots of small stuff!

[Jürgen M.]

I'm afraid I have to take the challenge of correcting the hood alignment now!

I managed to remove the hinges from the hood and the bumper from the frame without breaking anything. So far so good!

Next step is to tape the hood into the best possible position so I can find the perfect position of the hinges. Sounds easy, will not be! My biggest worries are that the tape will peel off the paint! 😬 

Maybe I'll find a way to support the hood in a different way.

Edited Saturday at 06:12 AM by Jürgen M.

[Gary Chastain]

This is gonna be your best one yet

[Jürgen M.]

Thanks guys! I'm beginning to believe that it will be at least one of my best.

Considering that I started out with the plans of a long distance truck with a big sleeper and now arrived at some sort of service truck trying to look a bit heavy duty.

The hood is aligned as good as possible. Had to print new hinges cause I lost one and the other one showed some plastic deformation. 

Anyway, it took only 10 mins to print new ones and I was able to arrange them in a way that would allow the hood to close almost flush on both sides. It's not perfect but it's all I could do.

The service box still has to be painted. 

Got the mud flaps hooked up:

I might shorten the stacks a little bit before glueing them into place.

I also got the hint that mud flaps in front would fit that bumper pretty nicely. I'll give it a try and see how it looks!

Next will be attaching the doors, hoping they will be functional. If not, ...!

Then bend the mirror brackets of 1mm brass rod. The mirrors will be made of three parts each. The shell, the 'glass' made of chromed styrene sheet and the frames printed and everything assembled like a sandwich.

[Gary Chastain]

Agree, this has to be one of your top builds, well done🏆🏆🏆

[Jürgen M.]

I might add some orange flashing lights on top of the service box. 

Also red and yellow signal decals. Don't know what they're called.

My vision of this build is a service truck for broken down trucks on the highway or where ever. The fifth wheel is for towing trailers of non reparable trucks to a service point of some kind or to their destination.

A tow bar and chains might also be added.

Edited Saturday at 11:40 AM by Jürgen M.

[Jürgen M.]

6 minutes ago, Gary Chastain said:

Agree, this has to be one of your top builds, well done🏆🏆🏆

Thanks Gary! I really appreciate your opinion. 

Your KW and trailer are fabulous and will be a real eye catcher.

[Biggu]

I agree with Gary. This is one of your top builds. Also very unique. So as far as your hood is concerned, if it’s a little bit out of whack that is well ok as a lot of real hoods after time don’t fit all that well. The hinges get weak on the heavier hoods over time and the frame twists and flexes. Most of the old trucks I drove, the hoods weren’t anywhere near perfect fit. I’d say you nailed the look, this is a really good build. 

[Jürgen M.]

Thanks Jeff! Perfection is for the shelf. I've seen hoods and other parts that don't really fit. 

I'm satisfied with the results of my efforts. Hope the rest works out too. Still have the doors to install. Won't be easy!

[Jürgen M.]

Made a tow bar. 4mm Aluminium rod and the ends are printed!

Made these parking poles or whatever they're called. 1mm brass rod chromed with a pen. Brackets and balls are printed.

The bumper is just stuck on, Not glued yet. Needs to go up a bit higher.

Stacks are shortened by about 12mms.

[RoninUtah]

1 hour ago, Jürgen M. said:

Thanks Jeff! Perfection is for the shelf. I've seen hoods and other parts that don't really fit. 

I'm satisfied with the results of my efforts. Hope the rest works out too. Still have the doors to install. Won't be easy!

Of all the hundred plus trucks on my shelf I’d be surprised if more than three had a hood that fits perfectly! Yours looks great! This is an amazing build, exciting to see it coming together!

[Jürgen M.]

Thanks Ron. 

When you're building such a model you just tend to try and make everything fit perfectly and be straight. Of course that's not reality! 

The doors won't fit perfectly either and I'm afraid I might have to glue them in and just ... function.

I'll see if I can make at least one door work.

[Jürgen M.]

Finally got some paint on the service box!

Also added a few small parts like wipers, sun visor, horns, hand rails.

I'm still working on the mirrors and a few other things. It's the small stuff that takes most of the time. 

[Jürgen M.]

A few more parts added:

Marker lights, a little grab handle, ...

Mounted the tow bar up on the service box (including a padlock to secure it against theft! You never know!) and I thought that if it's supposed to be a break down helper a hitch would be a good idea.

Hope to mount the doors today. Don't expect them to be functional. I made a serious mistake in the assembly sequence so I probably won't be able to hook them up with the hinges to make them work.

I might give it a last try but my hands are just too big to fit in through the side window! 🙈

Edited 20 hours ago by Jürgen M.

[Biggu]

The Pad lock Is such a cool addition !!!!  LOVE that...