Re: Classy Shak
 

Ummm NO. I can't start on the trailer till the truck is done... OCD thing.. or I'm just crazy either way got to finish the truck first.

Oh and thanks

Re: Classy Shak
 

So that's how you finish a truck ! No wonder I can't get my done my OCD or ADD keeps getting in the way of look at that spider on the wall

Re: Classy Shak
 

This thing is just INSANE! Huge and very detailed, with some awesome touches. Great work, I can't wait to see this finished. Sorry if you have already mentioned this, I couldn't see, but do you have a paint/color scheme in mind? I suppose it will need to be something pretty epic in order to finish off an epic build.

Re: Classy Shak
 

Thanks Swag... Check out the first page of the build, there you will find drawings of the truck with the color scheme.

Re: Classy Shak
 

Oooohhhhh man! What an amazing looking truck.

It's a beauty!
















~ Jeff

Re: Classy Shak
 

Wow Mike that is one serious stage coach......that is one serious project, especially since I've been following it since the drawn up plans of the build. It's nice to see her progress this far. You are a true craftsman, not to mention with the patience of a saint, guess that's why your truck looks as good as it does and mine....well let's just say patience isn't my strong suit. Great build man.

Re: Classy Shak
 

my friend that is a seriously long tractor and in all my time of building trucks and what i have seen over the years i have never seen a build as detailed as your truck...my hat is off to you ...you have done an amazing job!!!!!:cool::cool::cool:

Re: Classy Shak
 

Thanks

Thanks, No cash makes patience. The good thing is had I had the cash to do this faster it would not have had the detail it does. Keep in mind your truck only has to look good to you, why others opinions are worth something, in the end you have to be happy with your truck regardless of what others think.

Thanks. And I cut it down by 5 inches..

Re: Classy Shak
 

http://i587.photobucket.com/albums/s...emo-update.gif


I got my Bending Machine from Micro Mark this week so I got my tank straps made with the Stainless Strips from Brian.

http://i587.photobucket.com/albums/s...20Shak/496.jpg

Re: Classy Shak
 

Anyone got a tissue?....drooling here! Tanks and straps are so scale....love it.

Re: Classy Shak
 

****... it's gonna have more LED's than a small town. Awesome work

Re: Classy Shak
 

Ok brain picking time...

Anyone familiar with RC air craft?

I need a cable to operate my fifth wheel release. I was thinking that maybe RC air planes use them.

Here is what I am looking for only I need it much smaller and shorter.

http://www.allelectronics.com/mas_as...6/3/5/1589.Jpg

If I can't find one of these small enough then I could use some braided cable in a piece of stainless tubing if I can find it small enough. I think .018" cable would be perfect.

Re: Classy Shak
 

Mike, that is a good idea, and I was thinking the same thing. But i'm like you...no luck finding aircraft cable short enough. So I was thinking of going to a local music store and looking at guitar strings. Cutting to length, bending the ends like I need them. If this works, i'll let you know.

Big John

Re: Classy Shak
 

Dreamweaver, I used to build RC planes, many years ago. Things may have changed, but I used to get delron or PVC flexi tubes in RC plane shops. This was able to take a decent curve. I would run from cockpit to tail, down inside the fuselage. I would then get a thin flexi rod to feed through the tube and then you would have screw on "horns" hand screwed onto the ends of the rods and they would snap to the servo horn on one end and the control surface (rudder, aileron or elevator etc). I am sure that this would work for you and there are choices of design and finish on the horns available.

You can also make "hard" push rods. See video below, he uses the plastic horns I mentioned, you can also get alloy ones.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3raUcsSjvhs

Re: Classy Shak
 

I do a lot of R.C. boat building, at least half of them use flexi shaft for rudder steering, I'm sorry, I can't upload pictures,for some reason it never works from my computer,but if you have access to rc boats, you'll see right away how simple it is.
P.S. Love your build.

Re: Classy Shak
 

Mike I just used a simple push rod made similar to what Swagger was talking about with a ball joint on the other end and a few other bends to get thought the turn table base plate and covered in black heat shrink connected to a micro servo...

Re: Classy Shak
 

Thanks Swagger I'll see if I can find some and see if it will work.

Thanks Kaptain Jack. I have no access to boats, I'll try and find something on youtube or something.

Tracey got some pictures of what your talking about. The thing is to do it as I want it needs to be pretty flexible. I want the cable to come through the mounting base for the fifth wheel and then forward to the fifth wheel lock. Then I want it to go under the deck plate and up through the sleeper floor to the servo in the sleeper.

http://i587.photobucket.com/albums/s...20Shak/359.jpg

http://i587.photobucket.com/albums/s...20Shak/358.jpg

I was thinking hooking it to the bolt that the spring is on there so that the servo pulls to open.

Re: Classy Shak
 

Looks good Mike! the tank straps are off the hook!!

Re: Classy Shak
 

Mike here is a couple of quick pic's till I can get her opened up , but the push rod has two Z on ether end one has a ball join going thought the turn table base plate to the locking arm and then the other end with a z on it goes thought a servo horn ( note the push rod runs under the cross member/s not through them), the micro servo is running parallel to the chassis with a adaptor plate I made to suit the location of the mount.. (I have my servo under the sleeper to keep the back nice and clean)
http://i905.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/9685457a.jpg
http://i905.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/8f65693a.jpg
http://i905.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/460e49c5.jpg
http://i905.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/05d8d18b.jpg

Re: Classy Shak
 

I just took few snap shots of the rudder and servo links,but as usual it failed to upload.If you want you can Email me and I'll send you the pictures.IAMJACKIAM@HOTMAIL.CA. Jack

Re: Classy Shak
 

Mike that thing just gets better looking all the time!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Classy Shak
 

Dreamweaver try this link, if the first three items don't work for you keep searching the site and I beleive they have 3 other sites. Just google Du-bro. I understand what you want and you should be able to find it on this site.
http://shop.dubro.com/products/categ...161.5186.0.0.0

I buillt a lot of RC planes.

Re: Classy Shak
 

By the way Dreamweaver thanks for rattling the brain now I know how I'm going to set up my 5th wheel latch and lift axle control!!

Thanks again,
Kent

Re: Classy Shak
 

Thanks Brian. I got the other straps the other day just have not been home to finish them.

Thanks Tracy.. I was driving along today and just out of the blue the idea came to me. I will be doing something similar. I figured what I could do is make something similar to the bell crank they make for the steering on the scania's. I can make it out of brass and solder the outer tube into the fifth wheel mount then it would just be a little push rod from the bell crank to the jaws. Move the ball on the jaws from the stock location to where the spring mounts. Then run a push rod from the under side of the bell crank forward to the servo shaft sticking down through the sleeper floor.

Think that will work?

Re: Classy Shak
 

Mike, I had to drag this back up! I hadn't been keeping up with your latest updates, but the truck is looking super fantastic! The grille is perfect. I love the Pete oval style material you have behind it, and in the air cleaners. I was going to do some trading with Steve, for a set of his air breathers. The whole truck is awesome. Think you're going to sand off the ribs on the hood and put some new ones on to fix the off center problem? Also, I don't know if I missed it, but I was wondering what you've got going with the brass rod, running along the sleeper, ahem, I mean shack floor? Looks like a servo actuating rod for the 5th wheel release, or something?

Re: Classy Shak
 

Thanks Nate. I have not made up my mind on fixing the center section yet.

Do you mean the rod in this picture.

http://i587.photobucket.com/albums/s...20Shak/495.jpg


If so. This is the release levers for the sleeper so that I can get into the electronics. If you look in the picture below you will see the rod where it comes out the back of the sleeper. You pull on that and it moves four dogs that hold the sleeper shell on for access.

http://i587.photobucket.com/albums/s...20Shak/492.jpg

Re: Classy Shak
 

Cool, Mike. I understand the linkage now. Genius.

Re: Classy Shak
 

WOW this build is Fantastic!!! Ill be interested in learning how you wire up all the lights!!! Your building skills are top notch!!! Whats your turn radius going to be on it? I love the way you make a release for the sleeper (i mean mini condo) what size brass rods are those? I cant wait to see this thing with some color on it!

Re: Classy Shak
 

Thanks.

Lights will be in series of five. I don't know but it's HUGE. the rod is .072

Re: Classy Shak
 

Wow and I thought I was going overboard with details on mine, have you given any thought to fiber optic for all the lights? Might be easier than installing that many LEDs

Re: Classy Shak
 

Yes I have, to get the size light I need the fiber would have to be to big to big to bend in the space provided. and second I would not get the light pattern because the light would go straight out.

I have used fiber extensively for the head lights on my trains and I was able to put a slight bevel on the smaller fiber which helped a little but not much.

I am after the look of a 3" glass watermelon lens which I can easily achieve with the LED's.

Re: Classy Shak
 

Can't wait till move in day that bunk is bigger than my first house LOL!!!!!

Re: Classy Shak
 

So Dreamweaver, how is the most epic build of all time coming on?

Re: Classy Shak
 

SLOW... it's spring time which equals "NO TIME"

Re: Classy Shak
 

Mike, just like SWAGGER said this is truly an epic build! My hats off to you for making all the working pieces on this build. Man all the many many hours of fab. work has really paid off it looks amazing. >Marty<

Re: Classy Shak
 

Got an email from Lynn (tc1cat) today. He got the steering servo in the motor and its on it way....

COOL, CAN'T WAIT

Re: Classy Shak
 

Ah sweet, I have heard of this, but yet to see it. So sitting here patiently......ahem....yeah right....I can't wait to see this!!

Re: Classy Shak
 

hey dreamweaver, after looking at the center hood strip, my Dad was looking at the truck too(he thought it was amazing) he suggested that you could put a stainless strip like you could get at peterbilt to cover the current one. anyways the truck looks like its coming along well and it just keeps getting better and better! hope to see updates in the near future :D

Re: Classy Shak
 

Well got to drop by the house tonight for a quick shower and found that I had a package waiting for me from Lynn.

So here ya go.. One C-15 with the steering servo inside.

http://i587.photobucket.com/albums/s...Catwservo1.jpg


http://i587.photobucket.com/albums/s...Catwservo2.jpg


http://i587.photobucket.com/albums/s...Catwservo3.jpg

Did not have any time to do anything but take pictures.

Re: Classy Shak
 

Wow that is cool! I'm assuming it's a mini servo? What are the demensions of the motor?