fractalign Posted August 20, 2015 Author Share Posted August 20, 2015 (edited) Hey Guys. Here are some photos of the changes I have had to undertake. I test fitted the interior bucket only to find the hood did not fit much to my frustration ! Edited August 20, 2015 by fractalign Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fractalign Posted August 20, 2015 Author Share Posted August 20, 2015 The solution, make a new one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fractalign Posted August 20, 2015 Author Share Posted August 20, 2015 I took a completely different approach with this one. While the original was done in stages, for this one I wanted to simplify the process. To do that I used old office paper to make up templates that were wrapped around the front of the cab and cut to shape. Once I was happy with the template, I layed it over the styrene, traced around it and cut the styrene out to the same shape. I wanted to get the bulk of hood shaped from the single piece. This was quite successful up until a point. The more pressure I used to try and get the piece shaped to fit around the front the more it wanted to snap. I heavily reinforced the inside of the hood with body filler which is visible in the gaps at either top corner. I did this in preparation for the heavy sanding that was needed to get the shape right. The corners themselves came about by accident. I was staring at a plastic spoon and then it dawned on me. These would be perfect corners, problem solved. I still have a lot of finishing to do on it but its 100 times better than the other one. It wraps neatly around the front of the interior bucket unlike the original. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fractalign Posted August 20, 2015 Author Share Posted August 20, 2015 Because this project has been taking me so long I have resorted to a few measures to speed it up. I was going to scratch build the grill using lengths of plastic tubing. These were not fine enough. I had some spare 32 Grill inserts laying about. On closer inspection, I worked out I could use these instead. The plastic tubing will wrap around the perimeter once the insert has been reshaped and lengthened to suit the 35 Grill shell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fractalign Posted August 20, 2015 Author Share Posted August 20, 2015 (edited) The other thing I decided to do was use the standard front fenders rather than the modified pair I was working on. The modified set had the filler compartment added to it which was proving messy. The fenders shown here are actually the first set that I cast. I will cast another two sets of these over the weekend for the other two trucks and that problem will be solved. Next task will be to finish the hood and grill. Edited August 20, 2015 by fractalign Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gatorincebu Posted August 21, 2015 Share Posted August 21, 2015 Wow! you are moving right along here. Much credit to you for ability, craftsmanship and patience! Be Well Gator Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chariots of Fire Posted August 21, 2015 Share Posted August 21, 2015 Kinda frustrating sometimes, eh? The second hood has a nice shape to it. Should work out well. Once in a while you just have to keep trying! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fractalign Posted August 21, 2015 Author Share Posted August 21, 2015 Thanks for the feedback guys, all this has been a walk in the park compared with making up the wheels, now that has been a nightmare ! It will be worth it in the end though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fractalign Posted August 24, 2015 Author Share Posted August 24, 2015 (edited) Hey Guys ! I have been slow with uploading progress of the build so I have a quite a bit to show. tonight I started work on the sides of the riser box. Here you can see the position for the steps have been drawn in place. I will be using very fine box tubing for the actual steps themselves Edited August 24, 2015 by fractalign Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fractalign Posted August 24, 2015 Author Share Posted August 24, 2015 Without a doubt the hardest part of this build has been creating the wheels. Here is the 1:1 I am referencing. You can use all the images in the world, but nothing is better than the real thing when you want create an accurate replica Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fractalign Posted August 24, 2015 Author Share Posted August 24, 2015 (edited) Having looked carefully at the wheel I realised the master was all wrong and I would need to start again. I have lost count of the number of scratch built wheels I have created only to find they were no where near accurate. This time I was going to make sure I got it right. The first thing I did was draw a circle into the styrene with a compass. The pivot point was enlarged and I used Fimo to shape out the punch. This was cut into five sections and these were place evenly around the perimeter of the circle and glued into place. The circle was then cut out and the wheel press was complete. This press was then reinforced with thick balsa wood. More Fimo was roughly shaped out and the wheel press was pushed into it to give the impression. One this rough shape came out of the oven the machining began. Edited August 24, 2015 by fractalign Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fractalign Posted August 24, 2015 Author Share Posted August 24, 2015 I used my electric drill as an open ended lathe. I found that when I pushed the wheel to the base of the drill bit near the chuck, the wheel was very stable. There is quite a knack to machining. Too much pressure and wear will be uneven if it flexes. With a stable base I did not have to worry about this. As well I machining I also used a lot of undercoat to saturate the face. This was to get the holes more uniform and smaller as well. More primer and more machining was needed to get the surface to this stage. Comparing the new master to the previous one shows how much closer to the 1:1 this one is. The holes are bigger and the actual surface face is smaller. 1:25 scale so it sits comfortably inside the tyre. The trim that makes up the inner and outer rings for the rim is a lot neater too. The inner one is made from round plastic tubing and the outer one is sheet styrene. Next task will be to join the rims together and continue to refine the holes until its finished. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fractalign Posted August 24, 2015 Author Share Posted August 24, 2015 Over the weekend I managed to cast up the two sets of fenders as well as a few sets of brakes and tyres. There will be a lot more needed but once the wheel is finished I will cast up several versions of it as well, with and without the studs so I can get all the wheels and tyres cast up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chariots of Fire Posted August 24, 2015 Share Posted August 24, 2015 I appreciate someone who is not afraid to start over! A nice job on the wheel Robert! What kind of molding materials are you using? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fractalign Posted August 25, 2015 Author Share Posted August 25, 2015 I get all my supplies through Barnes products, Pinky Sil, Its called Pinky Sil because its mixed as two parts with a red and white silastic rather than a regular catalyst. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fractalign Posted August 26, 2015 Author Share Posted August 26, 2015 (edited) Hey Guys. I managed to find time to do some more work on the wheel. My main concern was getting the holes consistent. Well three of the five are consistent and the other two need some minor work to get them in shape. I used a single wheel punch rather than the whole wheel press to get the holes to this stage. I also gave the wheel a light coat of primer. For the other two holes I will most likely use the same primer but use a small brush to lay it on. I will allow the primer to dry a bit before I use the press on the remaining two holes. Another thing I did was join the outer rim. You can see how much better the wheel looks with the light finish. Its also 1000 times better than my first master. Edited August 26, 2015 by fractalign Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fractalign Posted August 26, 2015 Author Share Posted August 26, 2015 The other thing I did was machine the underside. This side will be the visible side at the back so it needs to be as smooth as the other side. I will need to make up the hub and stud assembly as well. I will also need to make up the rim as well. But before I do any of that I will need to get the remaining two holes looking like the other three. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chariots of Fire Posted August 26, 2015 Share Posted August 26, 2015 The latest wheel looks really great. Can I make a small suggestion? I'd sand off the lug nuts and then glue on some plastic hex rod. It will give you nice crisp edges. The other thing you can do after the hex rod is in place is to drill a hole in the center and glue in a piece of plastic rod the size that the lug would be. Just snip if off and sand leaving just a bit protruding like it would be on the real wheel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fractalign Posted August 27, 2015 Author Share Posted August 27, 2015 (edited) Hey Charles.You will be pleased to know I sanded them off earlier today. I came up with a simpler solution. Edited August 27, 2015 by fractalign Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fractalign Posted August 27, 2015 Author Share Posted August 27, 2015 (edited) Hey Guys. The wheel is nearly done. The holes are starting to look more uniform. I have been using the single punch to get a consistent finish on each one. I also changed over to a white primer so that I can see the flaws easier. Edited August 27, 2015 by fractalign Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fractalign Posted August 27, 2015 Author Share Posted August 27, 2015 (edited) There are plenty of flaws too !The old lugs were wrecked from the over spray so I sanded them down and added these ones. To get a smooth finish around the perimeter I will dab some more white primer around it and sand it back when it dries. Then I will mask off the lugs and put a final light undercoat over the surface, lightly sand it back and the wheel will be finished. This will be my last post for a week, as I will be away, when return I will wrap the wheel up and move onto finishing the cab, hood and grill. Edited August 27, 2015 by fractalign Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fractalign Posted September 2, 2015 Author Share Posted September 2, 2015 Hey Guys. I just got back today. While I was away, I was able to pickup some goodies from a cool little hobby store including a couple of kits. The other thing I picked up was some half round. The smaller rod will be to make the swage line along the hood, which I hope to do tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chariots of Fire Posted September 3, 2015 Share Posted September 3, 2015 What would we do without Evergreen stock!!!!!!!!! I try to keep my supply up but invariably I'm either out of a certain size or just about out with less than the full amount I need! BBRRRRRRRRRRRRRR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slusher Posted September 4, 2015 Share Posted September 4, 2015 Rel nice work so far.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fractalign Posted September 6, 2015 Author Share Posted September 6, 2015 Hey Guys.I was supposed to be working on the hood, but have not had time. I figured I would work on the wheels until I finished them, then I can at least say I have something completed. And I can say that will be the next couple of days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.