Re: Cat 777D Mining Truck
 

Get yourself a CAD program and sit there and design all the pieces you need to build on the Triple Seven!! This usually takes longer to do than actually building it.
What happened to your foot? My wife is having problems with her's from standing at work all day.

Re: Cat 777D Mining Truck
 

Joe-thanks, I understand. A few days are okay but then-WOW!! Boredom sets in but all we can do is wait. Steve-I wish I could afford a CAD program. I would like to know how to do that kind of work. All my problems are diabetes related. All my toes are curled under from nerve damage and I developed an ulcer on my 2nd. toe from it pressing so hard on my shoe when I walk. They put a steel pin in the toe and cut the ligaments so the bones can fuse together and keep the toe straight and in 3-4 weeks they will remove the pin. So I think I have quite a long road to recovery but I think I can work some before it completely heals up. I hope so!!

Re: Cat 777D Mining Truck
 

I think Google sketchup is free, and know a few people that have used it. It's not a high dollar program but it can get things further ahead than napkin sketches.

Good luck in your recovery, hope you get back to the model soon.

Re: Cat 777D Mining Truck
 

I downloaded Alibre for a free 30-day trial period and after that it switched over to a stripped-down version. I can't print out drawings now, but it's still fun to play with and when the day comes for me to cough up 100 bucks for the full version I'll have some cool stuff ready. Hope all goes well with the foot.

Re: Cat 777D Mining Truck
 

I finally got some work done on the Cat truck.I had the lower body almost finished but it was not level and was a warped and twisted mess and I could not correct it so I threw it in the trash and started over with thicker metal. I used .035" steel and some .050" brass and it is working well so far. Here is how I started. I made the rear of the front fenders and the rear of the lower cab first-
http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...k/100_1285.jpg
Then I added the floor and cut the hole in the center.-
http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...k/100_1287.jpg
This is the only space I have for radio gear-very small-
http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...k/100_1293.jpg
Next I added the front pcs. of the front fenders-
http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...k/100_1294.jpg

Re: Cat 777D Mining Truck
 

I figured you were about due for an update. Hows the health?
On the dump body, you may have to build a fixture to eliminate the warpage. Too bad you don't have a TIG welder.
I'm just about ready to start up too on my boom point.

Re: Cat 777D Mining Truck
 

Next I added the tires to check clearances-
http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...k/100_1295.jpg
Another-
http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...k/100_1296.jpg
I had to make this small press to stamp the grille-
http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...k/100_1300.jpg
http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...k/100_1301.jpg
I may change this later if I can find something better. I have never seen the radiator of these trucks so I don't know what they look like. I have a few pictures but not close enough to see details-
http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...k/100_1298.jpg
Another-
http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...k/100_1299.jpg
That's all for now.

Re: Cat 777D Mining Truck
 

I can get you as many pictures as you need....just tell me what detail you want to see :)

Re: Cat 777D Mining Truck
 

Nice fab work Tom, good to see you mobile again. :)

Have you seen modelkran's 777D model? May give you some ideas.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CM0n0...re=uploademail

Re: Cat 777D Mining Truck
 

Steve-my foot has healed up okay but now I am faced with shoulder surgery to repair a rotator cuff. The doc says I cannot use my left arm for 3-4 wks so I'm not sure how that is going to work. I will put it off as long as possible. The silver solder I am using has to get really hot (1400deg. I think) to melt and warpage is a big problem. I plan to use brass on the dump box and I don't know if that will help the problem but I may have to build a fixture like you said I'm just not sure how to go about that. Papy-thanks a lot-I would like to see a close-up of the grille. I don't know what material to use for this. I am not going for exact scale. I don't have enough info for that. I just want it to look close but mostly I need it to operate really good as a dump truck. Lilgiantsjoe-thanks a bunch-that is a very nice model in the link. I don't think my skills are up to that. I just want a working truck.

Re: Cat 777D Mining Truck
 

looking great keep up the nice work

Re: Cat 777D Mining Truck
 

Starting to look like a truck! Looks great.

Re: Cat 777D Mining Truck
 

Nice progress! Its going to be a nice heavy truck.

Re: Cat 777D Mining Truck
 

What do you mean? :confused: You casted your own tires for goodness sakes, your skills are every bit as good as his. ;)

Re: Cat 777D Mining Truck
 

I'd say your pretty close
http://svsm.org/albums/Cat777D/IMGP2509.jpg
Found this guys pic album which has a lot of closeups in it, hope it helps you
http://svsm.org/gallery/Cat777D/IMGP2508

Re: Cat 777D Mining Truck
 

Tom,you should be able to get a finer mesh screen possibly stainless steel. I've been to Cleveland Wire Cloth Co. before and they make all sorts of mesh. Heck I was leaving one time and rummaged through their scrap bin out side and found some real nice pieces but larger opening.

Re: Cat 777D Mining Truck
 

Here ya go Tom... Grill screen..

Plano Model Co.

Use the Morton Pattern

http://www.planomodelproducts.com/203zoom.jpg

They have in in brass too.

-Mike

Re: Cat 777D Mining Truck
 

Thanks to everyone!! Pugs-that is a GREAT picture! All the pics on that site are good. Thanks for finding that. Steve-the mesh I used has .060" squares and I found some at smallparts that has .040" squares but I think I like the round holes much better. I made the grille removable so I could change this later. I am not pleased with the mesh look and I will probably do something different. Dreanweaver-that looks like just what I need. I like the round holes but I knew there was no way I could drill all those holes accurately. I will try to find out the thickness of the wire to see if I can form it and the size of the holes. This is a small truck (1/30 scale) so the size is important. Thanks for the link.

Re: Cat 777D Mining Truck
 

Mcmaster Carr has some really small hole stuff (like down to 0.006" hole dia) and everything in between.

Just search for perforated sheet and then click on round hole. Something like #9360T14 with .020" holes maybe.

Re: Cat 777D Mining Truck
 

Pugs-your right, Mcmaster-carr has a good selection. I counted the holes in the grille of the picture and with my figures It looks like I need .023" holes with .024" spacing but the closest they have is .020" holes with .040" spacing but I think that will work great. The brass has the thickness I believe I need but I would have to paint it silver. The s.steel would probably look the best although it is a bit pricey but I will decide on this later. I have a lot more work to do and I can change the grille at any time. Thanks for the help.

Re: Cat 777D Mining Truck
 

I got a little more done by adding the cab-
http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...k/100_1325.jpg
I made this part removable since I may have to use this space for R/C gear-
http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...k/100_1320.jpg
Now back to work----well maybe monday.

Re: Cat 777D Mining Truck
 

Looking good, will be a one of a kind model for sure. Have had toughts about a 777 to but that will be years ahead. So many project to build, so little time.

impressed of those tires, best looking so far.
Dan

Re: Cat 777D Mining Truck
 

Looking real good, you are moving along very fast. What is the scale of the 777 ?
Also what are you going to use on the dump box for power

greg

Re: Cat 777D Mining Truck
 

D8R-thanks-I chose the 777D because it is an earlier model and it goes well with my Marion shovel model. I have found a better way to make the tires to get a smooth finish on both sides so if the truck turns out really good I may make new tires. RCLogger-thank you-the truck is an odd scale (1/30). When I built the Marion shovel model I knew the 1-1 machine was really big so I made a drawing the size I wanted the model to be and it came out to 1/30 scale so I went with that. Then I made the truck to go with the shovel model. I will use a screw drive to lift the box and even that will be a challenge because there is very little room to work with. "Freddygeardrive" is going to help me with that and I'm sure I will need his expert guidance. I have a lot more work to do but I am enjoying it a lot.

Re: Cat 777D Mining Truck
 

I have decided not to use brass on the dump bed. It cost about 8 times more than steel but the main problem is that I cannot get the sizes I need in the flats for the braces. I would have to buy bigger sizes and machine them down to the exact size I need and this would involve a LOT of labor. Plus I would have to buy a radius cutting mill which is quite expensive so all in all it would have been a costly and time consuming deal so I decided to go with steel. I have the bed cut out and ready to put together-
http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...k/100_1328.jpg
I got a local sheet metal shop to shear me some pcs. for the bracing. The cuts are smooth and straight and all I have to do is cut them to size and bend them into the shapes I need and braze them on.
http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...k/100_1329.jpg
I have hours of brazing to do but then hopefully I will have a dump bed. That's all for now.

Re: Cat 777D Mining Truck
 

Better way to make the tires, you´r kidding, the ones you have now looks real good. Was it not possible to get the shop to bend U profiles for the bracing? that have saved you a lot of time.
Following progress, keep pics coming.
Dan

Re: Cat 777D Mining Truck
 

D8R-the metal shop had problems cutting the small pcs. that I needed so I don't think they could have bent the shapes on their huge brakes. I have a small brake so I can bend the pcs. into the shapes I need.

Re: Cat 777D Mining Truck
 

Well I got the dump box together after a lot of problems. I had to give up on the brazing because the thin metal would not take the heat without warping and twisting. I used a low-temp silver solder and it seemed to stick okay. Not as good as brazing but I had no choice.-
http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...k/100_1332.jpg
I brazed the braces on the sides with them clamped down on the table but I knew I couldn't clamp the box together-
http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...k/100_1333.jpg

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...k/100_1334.jpg
I made one pc. of hand railing and using the norscot model I have the railing should be made with .090" wire but it looks big to me. If anyone knows the O.D. of the rails on these trucks I need to know what it is-
http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...k/100_1336.jpg
http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...k/100_1335.jpg
I also made some of the detail pcs. while I was working on the box-
http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...k/100_1339.jpg
I still have a lot to do on the box but hopefully the hard part is done.

Re: Cat 777D Mining Truck
 

Nice looking 777. Don´t know if Cat has standard size of railings, but on the D8 all are 1" tubing.
Like those wheels too (:>)
Dan

Re: Cat 777D Mining Truck
 

Tom http://i587.photobucket.com/albums/s.../kidding54.gif This thing is looking awesome. Nice job on the metal work. http://i587.photobucket.com/albums/s...es/cheers2.gif

Re: Cat 777D Mining Truck
 

Looks good!

Kerst

Re: Cat 777D Mining Truck
 

Great looking truck:D If you want the handrails closer to an inch, try some .035" tubing or wire. It scales out close to 1". Your .090" wire is way out of proportion to the truck.

Lynn

Re: Cat 777D Mining Truck
 

You sure are working fast. I figured you would have to go to the solder.

Re: Cat 777D Mining Truck
 

tom you sure are a master :eek:

Re: Cat 777D Mining Truck
 

That looks great! Wheelbase doesn't look so stubby now with a box on it.
I'd take a stab at 1" railings.

Re: Cat 777D Mining Truck
 

Hi Tom, it's looking really good and heavy. Awesome steel work. Keep up the good work.
How did you cut the holes for the headlights?

Re: Cat 777D Mining Truck
 

Thanks everyone for the comments and input. On the handrails if I use 1" tubing as a guide that makes the rails .033". That looks way to small to me. I think I will try .060" wire which I used on the shovel and it looks right. I may make a small pc. and post a picture. Lorenzo-I milled the headlight holes using an .062" cutter. I had to go really slow but it worked.

Re: Cat 777D Mining Truck
 

wow nice fab work love it....

Re: Cat 777D Mining Truck
 

Woah, you made a ton of progress, fast! That dump box and the cab look great! Nice to see you stuck with metal. By far nothing looks as realistic, when painted up. Can't wait to see the next update!

Re: Cat 777D Mining Truck
 

Really looking good there Tom. Nice metal work.