Re: Freightliner Logger - Built By PaulNZ
 

Polished aluminum pipes, that's a good idea!

Re: Freightliner Logger - Built By PaulNZ
 

Hi Jack

I picked up a length of Aluminium tube, cut it at 45 deg at the length I wanted the pipes then polished them up, as they are heavy wall they went straight on where the originals came off with a dab of glue. as mentioned they are 10mm dia. 12mm was too big but would look good on a more custom build, I was looking at putting a slight bend at the top to curve them out for a more traditional look but the straight ones suit my truck. :)

Re: Freightliner Logger - Built By PaulNZ
 

That's a good way to go. I might try, until now I used copper pipes and after polishing them sent for chromium plating, expensive though.

Re: Freightliner Logger - Built By PaulNZ
 

Hi All

small update, plastic Bolsters have gone and I have made some Aluminium ones, using some channel and plate, will post a picture when I have them mounted on the truck and trailer

Below is what they will look like: they will fold down by pulling the top pin. The other holes will be riveted or screwed not sure yet, in the assembly stage now.

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/b...olsterAssm.jpg

cheers
Paul

Re: Freightliner Logger - Built By PaulNZ
 

Bit more progress with the trailer design.....next start building from Aluminium :) most parts will be cnc cut and drilled.

Trailer will take the std 2 axle set without the shocks.

Should be able to carry 1000mm logs with this set up and still get it on the back of the truck..... that's 14.5 meters at 1:14.5 scale.

If I am carting full length stems then they can overhang

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/b...railerAssm.jpg

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/b...lstersdown.jpg

Re: Freightliner Logger - Built By PaulNZ
 

That looks good!!:cool:

Re: Freightliner Logger - Built By PaulNZ
 

Thanks Jo

........still a lot of work to be done but its getting there and I'm pretty happy with it too :)

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/b...141006_002.jpg

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/b...141007_002.jpg

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/b...141005_001.jpg

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/b...141005_002.jpg

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/b...141006_001.jpg

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/b...141011_002.jpg

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/b...141011_001.jpg

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/b...141011_003.jpg

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/b...141011_004.jpg

As you can tell by the pipes it is a fair bit longer, should be able to cart full length stems at @ 1200mm long with only a small overhang (that's 17.4 scale Meters or 57 Feet)
If I follow what they do in the real world I would be looking for trees 1500mm long. (21.75Meters or 71.36 Feet) I cant remember what the stem length was that they are carting, someone will know :)

found a use for a few of the hooks from the kit also, I will also put one on each corner of the base of the Bolsters also to chain the load down.

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/b...141011_005.jpg

now to go and find some trees to cart...................... :)

Cheers
Paul

Re: Freightliner Logger - Built By PaulNZ
 

No Paul, bad idea, leave the trees alone. You should go and make a grill for me. HA HA

Re: Freightliner Logger - Built By PaulNZ
 

LOL....... I need to deliver the trees to the mill so they can make cardboard so I have a box to send it in!

lol :)

seriously, have a look in front of the truck, that's the last one, just need to polish it up..........I'll find time ........ somewhere :)

the beauty of CNC is that you can set it and forget it, give me time to multitask...........now I sound like my wife :lol: :lol: :lol: :eek: :cool:

Re: Freightliner Logger - Built By PaulNZ
 

Hi all,
time for an update:

Never liked the rear bumper and mudflap pole, although the pole is not too bad, but its still plastic, so I made my own, polished aluminium, what else!
Here in Aus and in NZ we have to run the tail lights and indicators out wide unlike the way that they can run them in the US in the middle so I made a set that are similar to what we see down here.
I am going to have to weigh this thing and see how much all the metal hanging off it has increased the tare........ :rolleyes:

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/b...141022_012.jpg

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/b...141022_011.jpg

also made a 6 pin connector for the trailer wiring, used the old bumper mounts for this, worked out perfect! its funny because I had the dremel fired up ready to cut the mounts of the cross-member then I had a thought......... timing is everything :cool:


Tail Lights on the inside, brake lights on the outside and indicators in the middle ........

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/b...141022_009.jpg

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/b...141022_008.jpg


I will post a bit more about them in my Vendor section if anyone is interested.
Next will be aluminium cross-members, but first I need to finish the trailer and I have a few bits to make for fellow truckers.............

Re: Freightliner Logger - Built By PaulNZ
 

That is one awesome freight shaker. Truck upgrades are great!! That trailer is very nice design. Do you have a mfu in it!!

Re: Freightliner Logger - Built By PaulNZ
 

Cheers!!

I don't have a mfu in it, I am thinking of putting one in but it will not be the Tamiya one as I don't have the room, space for a speaker is an issue.

I will do another truck one day and that will have one as I'll do a semi with a sleeper.

Re: Freightliner Logger - Built By PaulNZ
 

Hi All

Just a small update: made a light and mudflap bar for the trailer, need to wire it up but I'll paint the trailer chassis first.

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/b...ps65f1cb39.jpg

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/b...psf973058d.jpg

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/b...pse2cf3e76.jpg

still need to find some tree's .....................

Re: Freightliner Logger - Built By PaulNZ
 

That is a great looking trailer Paul... great detail......


Wayne

Re: Freightliner Logger - Built By PaulNZ
 

Thanks Wayne, I stripped it down and painted the chassis this morning, went and found some tree's, cut down 8 that were perfect and cut them to a length of 1m, that has given me 16 1m length logs, if its not enough I will go back and get a couple more. now I just need to reassemble the trailer, put the lights and wiring in and load it up.

Can anyone tell me where to get load binders from? I want the chain type not the straps.

PMD? I cant find them on the site if they do.

cheers

Re: Freightliner Logger - Built By PaulNZ
 

Hi Paul nice truck and trailer, here is a link to binders and chains
http://www.gardentrucking.com/list.t...tegory=Binders
http://www.gardentrucking.com/sublis...%20and%20Cargo

Cheers Tracy

Re: Freightliner Logger - Built By PaulNZ
 

Thanks Tracy, I thought they would have them

cheers

Re: Freightliner Logger - Built By PaulNZ
 

Hi All
A couple of updates, this is getting close to being finished but still a few details to get done.

First load of Pine to the mill, load is a bit small, need to cut down a couple more trees to fill the bolsters.
Payload is 15KG, it gets along ok with this but I still have some work to do with the motor and gearing.

As mentioned early in the build, I am running an 80 Turn motor and std Pinion,
I find it is a little fast but not to bad, but surprisingly it has no power, one of the guys on the Aussie Forum warned me of this but I had already ordered and paid for it so I thought I would give it a go.
I have now ordered a 60 Turn motor, its a Venom Brand from the US, the type with the exposed brushes (not sure what they are called, remember I'm still new to RC) and three new steel pinions, a 10, 11, and 12 Tooth so I can play with the ratio's a bit. I had thought of putting one of those reduction box's on it but I still would like to make my own range section on the back, bit like a two speed planetary as seen on Euro trucks, this will be the most compact way to do it I think, 6 speed would be cool!

It was funny, the other day I was in second gear going along the footpath, and turned up the neighbours drive which is a slight uphill, half way up I had to change down to first and it launched the front off the ground for a second, I didn't back off the power and it just grunted up the hill and settled back down, I wish I had a video running at the time! its interesting because if you look where the fifth wheel is its forward of the centre unlike the std position behind centre, and with that much weight over the front axle it still lifted it, imagine what it would do in the std position, no wonder guys complain about the steering, I don't have an issue with the steering due to the weight over the front. I will do a Tare weight split with front and rear plus total, this will be one of my decals that I will make along with my Company Logo that will go on the doors.

Also ordered a sound module for it last week so that should bring it to life.
Not Sure where I will hide the speaker.........................:confused:

Below pictures were taken from my Daughter who has a Photography business and has done this for me, looks cool in B&W!

thanks for looking
Paul

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/b...ps8b877b46.jpg

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/b...ps1e2a8fb5.jpg

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/b...pscb079ce4.jpg

:)

Re: Freightliner Logger - Built By PaulNZ
 

That is a great looking truck Paul.....

Re: Freightliner Logger - Built By PaulNZ
 

That looks awesome! I wish I could find some logs like that around here. Most everything here that small has a ton of limbs and doesn't look very scale. Those look perfect! I use mostly red cedar for my KW but the truck is so big that the load is still close to 30KG. I don't want to cheat and use fake logs but I am afraid of breaking it with that much weight on anything but flat ground.

Oh, yes I have had the same experience with the 80 turn motor. My KH has one in it and it is very flat for power with no snap at all. I changed to a 9T pinion and the speed is better but if you need a burst of power good luck!lol

Re: Freightliner Logger - Built By PaulNZ
 

Thanks for the kind words guys

What is a big load for these trucks? 20KG 30KG?

I think if I fill the bolsters it will be @ 20KG payload, is this too much? am I pushing it?

The trees I'm using have been a really good find, they are young hoop pine that are very straight and don't have too many Branch's, and the best thing is that they are in a housing Development so they are getting cleared and I don't feel guilty about cutting down young trees :)

I think I will add another 4 pieces to finish it off

cheers
Paul

Re: Freightliner Logger - Built By PaulNZ
 

Paul,

Great looking truck. The details you made for it came out superb, very nice work.

If you are worried about the weight of your log load, then might I suggest making them out of foam. This is a popular construction method among G-Scale railroaders to keep weight down. You just need to go to your local building supply store and pick up a piece of 1-1/2" - 2" thick Pink (or Blue) foam. Use the solid kind, not the white beads type. Then you simply cut a block to the length you want and start carving. I have found a stiff wire brush will make quick work of the foam, and leave you with a bark appearance. (It makes a big mess so don't do it in the living room) A little detail work to the end and then paint with a craft paint. Make sure you vary the length and diameter of your logs, but don't change the outer appearance, you want them to look as they came from the same place. Once finished use a little white glue to turn them into a bundle and wrap a chain around them in a couple of places. Then you have a nice full yet light load for your truck.

One other benefit to this method is they will last longer and be less likely to attract bugs than real wood.

Chris

Re: Freightliner Logger - Built By PaulNZ
 

Hi Chris

thanks for the info but I would rather make it work hard with a real load and build it take it, just need to know what the trucks are capable of as I don't want to break it either

cheers
Paul

Re: Freightliner Logger - Built By PaulNZ
 

Paul, if my conversion is correct 30KG is about 66 lbs, I've seen a tri-axle king haul about 80 lbs on flat carpet floor. So I'd start around 20KG and see how it goes. If it does not strain much and preforms well add some more.:D

Re: Freightliner Logger - Built By PaulNZ
 

Paul,don't worry about load,look at my granddaughter taking a ride in the video section of this forum.
http://www.rctruckandconstruction.co...ead.php?t=9662

Re: Freightliner Logger - Built By PaulNZ
 

A littlebit depending on the surface, 20 - 30 kg should not be a problem. Locked diffs on a high friction surface may cause some wear and tear, but the Tamiya axles are extremly tough.

Re: Freightliner Logger - Built By PaulNZ
 

Nice!
Thanks guys, I think I'm looking at between 20-30 kg so it should be ok, just need to get my Hp and gearing sorted

Cheers
Paul

Re: Freightliner Logger - Built By PaulNZ
 

My first time visiting this section of the forum, ive been missing alot !
Thats a great looking truck and as Reg stated, your logs look incredibly scale. Overall one the cleanest looking trucks ive seen.

Re: Freightliner Logger - Built By PaulNZ
 

Cheers! means a lot :)

got the sound unit for it today so once I get that installed and a couple of minor things done, I can call it done, I will then uploads a video and post the link

thanks for looking and again thanks to all the kind words from everyone.

Paul

Re: Freightliner Logger - Built By PaulNZ
 

Hi paul what sound unit are you using in the daycab, i saw one for €110.00 from http://www.rcbrmin.com/114-rc-truck-...-l6-p-535.html but it looks like there is no reverse sound on it ?

Cheers tracy

Re: Freightliner Logger - Built By PaulNZ
 

Hi Tracy

looks similar but I have just one speaker, I went for this as it's small, may not have all the functions of some others but it will be ok, Loggers don't have reverse buzzers anyway, if they are backing up you best move out of the way, I've spent many a time getting off a forest road to make way for log trucks, they don't stop and wait for you :)

Re: Freightliner Logger - Built By PaulNZ
 

Update:

Truck is finished......till I change something else :)

I have installed a 60T motor and it has a lot more power than the 80T so lesson learnt on that one.

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/b...psdd93268b.jpg

open heart surgery, looks like a real truck getting a motor swap with all the electronics under the hood

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/b...psab092271.jpg

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/b...ps4c81be95.jpg

I will post a couple of final pictures and a video tomorrow

Thanks for all the positive comments, I've enjoyed this first build and dare I say it.....wont be the last :)

Cheers
Paul
PKD Scale Engineering.

Re: Freightliner Logger - Built By PaulNZ
 

Hi All

just a couple of short video's

need to get a few better ones latter, I have also just got a small video camera that I will clip to the headache rack and get a driving one once I get a micro sd card for it.

http://youtu.be/wTd2Mirpxyo

http://youtu.be/UFiceMapEbM

Re: Freightliner Logger - Built By PaulNZ
 

Looks great Paul
the logs look great for scale

Re: Freightliner Logger - Built By PaulNZ
 

Paul that is a great looking truck.. looking forward to your next build....


Wayne

Re: Freightliner Logger - Built By PaulNZ
 

Logs look great but they are heavy at 30KG!!! truck works hard to haul them but it handles it except I don't get much run time as it draws so much from my battery, and as Maverick has pointed out I don't think my charger is the best so I've ordered a new digital one.

There is a big present under the Christmas tree, wonder what that could be :rolleyes: ;) :cool:

Thanks for the kind words Guys, I will try and find a bit of time over the next few weeks to get some decent video footage done, maybe on a forest track, we are not far from a Pine plantation........ :)

Cheers
Paul

Re: Freightliner Logger - Built By PaulNZ
 

Paul, nice videos, your truck came out great! You need to build an Elphinstone EasyLoader for your next rig. Would love to see what you would come up with.

Re: Freightliner Logger - Built By PaulNZ
 

Very nice build looking sharp!

Re: Freightliner Logger - Built By PaulNZ
 

how much for cab guard shipped to bc canada

Re: Freightliner Logger - Built By PaulNZ
 

Would you consider making cab guard, bunk gear, AND that trailer for sale? I'll be working on a logging truck this winter, & really like what you've done. Since I DON'T have access to CNC, only basic hand tools, my fab capabilities are very limited to what I can accomplish.