Thundercat Posted May 30, 2012 Share Posted May 30, 2012 This build took me over 4 months. Over 240 hours. Instaud 49 LED's. Scratch built the upper and lower racks on the rig. Streched the chassis to put in the sleeper cab that the kit didn't come with. Lowered the fifth wheel to align with the trailer. On the trailer I scratch built all the front lower framing to lower the king pin and hide the batteries. Built outer framing for the LED's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckyr Posted May 30, 2012 Share Posted May 30, 2012 (edited) Nice! Looks like you modified the Revell KW wrecker. I wonder why many more truck modelers don't use LEDs. The Italeri kits are just about made for this modification. The Italeri Facebook page has a number of modeler's subjects with LEDs. Edited May 30, 2012 by chuckyr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thundercat Posted May 30, 2012 Author Share Posted May 30, 2012 It seems you know the kit. The Italeri kits are great for putting LED's in. I'm working on one right now. It's the LA Fire Department Recovery Truck. A little stuck on lighting up the bullet lights but I'm figuring it out. I drilled from underneith in an angle so the hole came right out of the front and glued in place. Tomarrow I will drill from the front straight threw the cab for the LED's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bennyg Posted May 30, 2012 Share Posted May 30, 2012 That's awesome! You should do a tutorial on LEDs. Cheers Ben Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckyr Posted May 30, 2012 Share Posted May 30, 2012 It seems you know the kit. The Italeri kits are great for putting LED's in. I'm working on one right now. It's the LA Fire Department Recovery Truck. A little stuck on lighting up the bullet lights but I'm figuring it out. I drilled from underneith in an angle so the hole came right out of the front and glued in place. Tomarrow I will drill from the front straight threw the cab for the LED's. This one might encourage you or discourage you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
le_marbrier Posted May 30, 2012 Share Posted May 30, 2012 waoh, impressive ! Either the Auto transporter than the recovery truck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thundercat Posted May 30, 2012 Author Share Posted May 30, 2012 That's exactly what I'm doing. How do you do the flashing LED's? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ARTEMIS1759 Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 This is pretty cool. My Dad has a 1:25 scale Remote Control Auto Transport but is missing some stuff like the remote but I was thinking of rebuilding it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sixties Sam Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 That's amazing! It adds a whole new dimension to model building! Great work! Sam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thundercat Posted May 31, 2012 Author Share Posted May 31, 2012 That's awesome! You should do a tutorial on LEDs. Cheers Ben I sent an artical with lots of pics, tips and how to's to MCM. I'm hoping it will be in one of the next two issues. I have most of the story in my gallery. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thundercat Posted May 31, 2012 Author Share Posted May 31, 2012 Thanks guys. Hay TJ. Do you think that remote control auto transporter would work with my trailer? I was thinking on going to radio shack and getting a 1/25 RC car to convert to a big rig. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckyr Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 That's exactly what I'm doing. How do you do the flashing LED's? They make flashing LEDs. You can also build or purchase a flashing circuit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thundercat Posted May 31, 2012 Author Share Posted May 31, 2012 What is the differance between fused and non fused flashers. I can get a 100cnt for about $9.oo for either one. Can you send a PM so I can figure this out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewaskew Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 That is a very nice build and the load is very impressive also. I saw a real one the other night and thought about your build and how cool it looks in the night time photos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ARTEMIS1759 Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 Not sure on Thanks guys. Hay TJ. Do you think that remote control auto transporter would work with my trailer? I was thinking on going to radio shack and getting a 1/25 RC car to convert to a big rig. Not sure. But that rig is from the late 70s early 80s so good luck on finding it. I think it had some functioning lighting. Someone on the forum here is building a 1:24 or 25 semi into RC so you might check it out. It is in the big rig section somewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thundercat Posted June 1, 2012 Author Share Posted June 1, 2012 Thanks TJ. I'll check that out. Earl. That's where I got the idea. I was going to light up a car but I saw a auto transporter out side of my job one night all lit up. I thought hummm, I wonder if I can light one of them up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcdave Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 I am the one building the RC semi, here is the link if you havn't checked it out already http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=57846 I checked out your thread because I will be putting 80 to 100 or more LED's on my truck and trailer. Feel free to ask any questions because I may have some for you when I get around to the lights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baloney Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 wow!!! very nice&impressive. i like it , lots of work. congrats for all your effort and showing it to us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alfnut Posted June 3, 2012 Share Posted June 3, 2012 It seems you know the kit. The Italeri kits are great for putting LED's in. I'm working on one right now. It's the LA Fire Department Recovery Truck. A little stuck on lighting up the bullet lights but I'm figuring it out. I drilled from underneith in an angle so the hole came right out of the front and glued in place. Tomarrow I will drill from the front straight threw the cab for the LED's. i did one a few years ago and i used fiber optic cable with one of the leds as a source for bullet lights, drilled a hole in the roof and drilled out part of the bullet to feed through Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thundercat Posted June 3, 2012 Author Share Posted June 3, 2012 I just did the whole set up for that and used mini LED's. It didn't work so well. I wish I would have thought of fiber optics. The holes I drilled were perfect to slide the cable into. The chrome for the bullet lights are on. I dremeled them down to a perfect 45 degree angle in the front. Planing to use 1/4W LED's, I filed a notch in all 5 to fit the lip of the LED's. Did a test and I think it's gonna work. Just waiting for the transparent amber paint to dry to finish. Thanks for that tip. I gotta put that on my list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcdave Posted June 3, 2012 Share Posted June 3, 2012 I already had fiber optics on my list, thought of it after I went to Six Flags and saw 1 of those kids toys. http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-MTR-FIBRE-OPTIC-STRAND-FILAMENT-LIGHT-GUIDE-3-mm-Dia-/261035453147?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Components_Supplies_ET&hash=item3cc6eceadb Alfnut, what size fiber optics did you use? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alfnut Posted June 3, 2012 Share Posted June 3, 2012 I dont remember the exact sizes I had used but if my memory serves me correct it was 2mm. my pap had a fiber optic variety kit he bought for my gram to do one of those christmas trees and it had 5 or 6 different sizes but im strong on saying it would have been 2mm, i wish i still had the truck of photos of it because i have a fire engine i plan to light up with fiber op and strobe kits Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thundercat Posted June 3, 2012 Author Share Posted June 3, 2012 Josh. What fire truck do you have? Dave. Good job ordering over seas. Things are a lot cheeper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alfnut Posted June 9, 2012 Share Posted June 9, 2012 I have a few, new alf eagles which will be simple. alf century cab(still need to fab the body) which i have custom front rotators for and a few older alf kits plus a SSB Resins FDNY Squad kit that will be done up for Squad 252..... been on hold for a few years due to work but ill have time to start them on my vacation til mid july. If i can locate at least the packaging it came in i can list all the sizes of fiber cable i had Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thundercat Posted June 14, 2012 Author Share Posted June 14, 2012 Just ordered the 2mx2mm fiber optics. Also ordered a strobe kit with siren from www.modeltrainsoftware.com. Thanks for the tips fellas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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