Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

Sorry Reg, nothing new to show on this project right now. I ran into a case of having to remake some new parts that I am not happy with, so until I can figure them out to my liking, there probably won't be much to talk about. Remaking parts three times over starts to kill my motivation, but once the cold weather hits, I'll get back into the swing of things.

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

lame!

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

This truck is an amazing build the work your doing is awesome

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

Very impressive! your machined parts look amazing, looking forward to the next update.
Stu

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

Hello guys, thanks for the nice comments. As always it's appreciated. I know some time has passed since my last update. The truth is I got a little side tracked and lost some motivation for this project truck, but I'm slowly (as always :D) working on getting back some momentum, starting off by finishing up a new cab visor!

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/...ps50d01938.jpg

Turns out making a great cab visor is not very easy. It was kicking my butt for a few months. I must have made 4 or 5 of these things, at about two hours a piece. The more I made, the better they got, but it was a bit frustrating putting all the time into making visors that never quite fit right, or looked good. Finally I have one that I am happy with!

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/...ps02d0266f.jpg

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/...ps73fe0770.jpg

It's a big show truck looking drop visor, with a little bowtie mixed in, cut and formed by hand out of .032" thick aluminum. I mounted the visor to the cab with four 0-80 screws. It's pretty fun drilling and tapping small screws like this in aluminum (not!). I had to do it by hand, and thankfully all the holes lined up great!

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/...psddb4db6d.jpg

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/...psaf3af9a9.jpg

This thing 'ought to match the big fat stacks pretty nicely, when the truck is all finished up! :D Thanks for looking.

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

:jaw: Bad ***, that all I can say!!!

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

Looks great....



Wayne

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

Wow Nathan, looking a little more gangsta than my taste but who could complain?!!! Love your custom work, every time!

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

I have a complaint.... HURRY UP ALREADY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:rolleyes::p

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

Thank you wolfws6. That's pretty much the look I'm going for.

Thanks Wayne!

Gangsta is definitely a good description! My driver is definitely going to have to let all the air out of the seat..... :D Up next, the super tall shifter!

Reg, what's your address? The only way I'll get this done fast is to send you the whole truck and let you finish it! :D I'll even let you paint it. I hate painting.

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

Sounded great until you mentioned painting....

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

I have a brand new 3" brush and a roller I could lend out.

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

Hahahaha

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

Very nice - more progress please.....

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

Hey Nathan, have you considered anodizing the truck instead of paint? Looking good!
cheers, Neil.

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

Wow that's too cool:cool: Hey if you don't like painting maybe get it anodized, powder coated, or even hydro dipped like this body:

http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/...ps185e9896.jpg

Have fun! :popcorn:

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

I love the paint job

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

Thank you Izzy. I'm working on it!

Thanks Neil. Yes, I have considered anodizing more than once. Especially for the for the chassis and axles. The thing that worries me about anodizing is I think that process builds up a protective, hardened layer on the aluminum and I haven't accounted for that. I am worried things would not fit back together again, as I haven't machined my parts undersized to allow for it. I'm also worried that some parts might get lost in the process, or in transit. For the cab, it's a casting, and not quite perfect, even though it's pretty nice. There are some minor little low spots and things I would like to smooth over with body filler. Anodizing wouldn't really cover those well, unless I went with a matte type finish, and I think I'd rather have a shiny truck. Hmmm, matte black or blue, with polished aluminum parts though....? :D

That's a sweet looking shell, Trucker_Jo! I think if I do any painting, I'll be sending the cab out for a custom job. The chassis painting, I can handle. Actually, let's put it this way. I do fine painting single color schemes. It's the masking I am not good at, with multi-color schemes. Hydro-dipping is something I never considered. Might be an option! Thanks.

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

Been working on these little buggers for a while now. I just finished soldering up the LEDs for one of the air cleaner light brackets this morning. I still have the other to do yet. It's a lesson in patience, soldering the LEDs inside the brackets. It took me 2 or 3 hours, but at least one is pretty much done!

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/...ps1778115b.jpg

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/...ps3c1a5ff6.jpg

Orange (front) side.

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/...psb4ba883e.jpg

Red (rear) side.

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/...psc831fe3b.jpg

Both, from above.

I haven't got to the breathers yet, but the plan is to mount them against the machined saddle, on the face of the brackets. Might have to get a little help making the breathers, as I don't have my own lathe......

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

Trucks looking good Nathan! Keep at it, it'll be done before you know it! (We Hope!?):D