Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

Once again you have outdone yourself Nathan. You know how I feel about clear lenses but it's your truck and that's why they're clear! I can't wait to see the mudflap hangers because that will change the look again, truck also deserves to simple classy chrome mudflap weights back there.


No offene Nathan but my God those Wedico diffs are crude looking! Keep up the build, one of the most custom machined, unique builds to date.

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

Thanks Kent! I appreciate the comment. I need all the motivation I can get!

Thank you Craig! I'll be the first to agree with you. The Wedico axles are pretty crude looking. Hang tight. They may not be under the rear of the truck for much longer. :D I would love to get some mudflaps with a chrome Cummins 'C' on them (where am I going to get that?!), but I'll probably go with your advice, and keep it simple and clean.

Reg, uh oh is right! I've had my goof ups building this truck, I just don't talk about it much. :D Some parts I made, then made again, before I got them right. I hate remaking parts, but I hate doing a mickey mouse job more. I'm such a perfectionist, even the smallest mistakes irritate me to no end, and so I don't quit till I get things right. It's a character flaw!

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

Okay guys, here's a small update. Fuel tank saddles! These things, I tell you, they test my patience, no matter what kind of truck I'm building. Machining the ones used on my Wedico Peterbilt was way tougher, but these Kenworth style tank saddles are not going quite as easy as I thought they would. Never the less, I've made some headway.

I made a test piece first, to see if my ideas would even work. It didn't turn out to bad. The test piece is the only one in the following photo that has been machined to a finished state (more or less), and it's standing upright.

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/...ps5a973fb2.jpg

The other five pieces are still in a semi-raw state.

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/...psf0260f48.jpg

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/...ps1630ef5a.jpg

I made five, for those 'oops, just in case' mistakes. I only need to get four right. One can be a practice piece. :D Here is the first test piece, bolted to the truck. The radius is larger then it should be, but hey, that's why it's a test piece! The tanks are going to be 1.5" in diameter, when it's all said and done.

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/...ps4f7de55f.jpg

Don't mind the oil and 'luminum chips! I guess I didn't wipe them all off, for the photo!

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/...ps68116a2a.jpg

Just a little mock-up photo to see how everything might look. The quarter fender is not permanently mounted yet. I'm not sure on the exact placement yet, but it does look decent right where it's at. The fuel tanks are going to be shorties. I like the way they look, and it's fitting, for a day cab.

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/...ps66c653d1.jpg

And a couple of the quarter fender.

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/...pseb58a626.jpg

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/...ps325e61e8.jpg

Now I need to finish the rest of the tank saddles, and start making some tank straps. That's all for now. Thanks for looking!

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

Nothing taste better than custom made parts!

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

Nathen, this is awesome. I love all the aluminum and the machine work you have put into it is second to none.

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

Looking good! Your machine work is top notch!

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

the tank saddles get easier after you make a few hundred of them :D

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

You never cease to amaze me. Awesome as usual.

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

Absolutely amazing....

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

Your metal working is fantastic! It really gives this build a lot of realism. Keep up the great work!

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

Thanks Craig! Glad you like them.

Hey, thanks Keith! It has taken me some time to get everything machined up, but I feel the end result is worth the effort!

Aaron, thank you! I do my best.

Russ, I imagine they do get easier. I'm glad I only have to make one set for this truck! They've taken a lot of thinking, and some trial and error. It's amazing sometimes how something that seems simple to machine actually takes a lot of time on the mill to make.

Thanks Jimmy!

Thanks Loaded_Heavy. There isn't much Wedico left in this truck. About all that is Wedico would be the rims, tires, front axle, and the blank frame rails. I'd say the rear axles are Wedico too, but I don't know how much longer they are going to be holding up the rear of the chassis!

Thank you Mama Sue!

Thank you Bigrigger!

Chris, yes, I have two of these cabs. It's explained why in the previous posts. :D We'll just say there was a whoops! For mock-up sake, I use which ever is closest to my reach.

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

Time for a weekend update! Work continues on the tank saddles. I have them to the point where I only need to drill one more hole, and then make the straps. The straps will be attached to the upper mounting ears, at the top, and then hopefully I'll have a tension screw to pull the strap tight, at the bottom of the saddle. Just like the real thing, only smaller! :D

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/...ps10cb8cdc.jpg

The mock-up tank is just a piece of tube. It's the correct diameter, but hopefully I can have someone make me a proper set of tanks, that will look nicer. Hopefully no one is getting tired of looking at the same parts, as they evolve.

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/...ps32f9fe5e.jpg

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/...ps1c3e2894.jpg

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/...psc681624a.jpg

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/...ps8902967b.jpg

These little buggers proved to be more time consuming then I first thought. But this is why I get bogged down with the details sometimes! I think the work is worth it though.

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

Looks great Nathen! If you get them to work ill take a set ;) im tamiya size lol Ive been looking at ways to make the straps look more real.. i think your gonna nail that!!

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

Thanks Aaron! Yes, I have some ideas for the straps. I just need to order some material tomorrow, so I can try to make them. I am hopeful I can make it happen. I've got a lot of time into the saddles. To not have the straps would be a bummer!

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

I can tell you got lots of time in them it shows but thats how things turn into a work of art!

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

:eek:..Looks awsome Nathan..Your machining skills are really coming along..Looks all like you have been getting things done by a machine shop ....The proportions are really turning out well and looks like quite a challenge to work with the smaller cab ..I cant beleive the great work all you truck builders are coming up with ..thumbs up

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

AMAZING!! my God that is an outstanding looking rig. Great work.

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

Nathan your truck is beautiful! Long way away already from the toy truck that it was meant to be.

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

Arghhh , Absolutely amazing , i like your metal working Nathan ......great work .

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

Thanks Aaron! It's surprising how long it takes to make some parts. And then for something like this, after you finish one, you step back, look at it, and say, 'Ahh, perfect!' Now go make three more just like it!


Thank you Lou! I appreciate the nice comment, coming from a pro like you! I agree. The level of trucks being built these days, on the forum, is always going higher and higher. That's to say nothing of the construction machines! Wow!

Thanks Tyler!

Thank you Craig!

ZINCOU, thank you very much!