Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

How about this...
http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/45/...203248718j.jpg

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

Wow that is quite the paint job, stacks and all!

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

there is a guy on RCC that goes by the screen name MTHead, that can make the cummings logo you're after, and it'll be chrome. he's very reasonable as well. here's a pic of a custom grill emblem he made for me for my yota crawler.

http://i1113.photobucket.com/albums/...4956128634.jpg

it actually has sorta brushed aluminum look, and has a satin black outline, and they are self adhesive. he can make you anything you want, any size scale.

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

man that truck is just to perfect!! great craftsmanship and details. those tanks are so cool and all the hardware on the frame is eye candy great looking truck

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

Not sure if anyone has mentioned this, but congratulations on Build of the Month for March, Nathan! This is one impressive rig, and it deserves every award and complement given to it, and it's builder! Great work, buddy!:D Now, let's see an update!:D

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

Hey!,hey!, hey! What are those tasty German treats in the background? Are you putting some Hillbilly in this truck?
http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/...ps565bdde1.jpg

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

Simply beautiful Nate. Great work and attention to detail.

Ben

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

Congratulations on your contest win! Well Deserved!

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

Thanks Craig!

Thank you egronvold!

Thank you Ed!

Thanks Kent. Sent one back to you too.

Jimmy, thanks for the comments! The rear of the truck is starting to get that finished look.

Not sure what she weighs yet, farmhauler. It gets a little heavier with every update though!

That's pretty darn fancy! I like some things about the paint scheme, but not everything! Stacks should be chrome, or stainless. :D Still thinking about color ideas, but I haven't decided yet.

Thanks FATBOY! I appreciate the lead. I may check into it. You are one of a few guys who have come forward with some good suggestions, and help. I appreciate the kindness in helping me find what I need. You guys are great.


Thanks Diesel Demond! I'm liking the hardware everywhere too! Once painted, the stainless fasteners will pop out nicely!

Bigrigger, thank you kindly! I was a bit surprised my truck made build of the month. It's not even done yet, and there were some really awesome nominations. It was a tight race. Hopefully when my truck is finished, it will look even better!

:D Why it appears as though someone stole the rear ends off the Hillbilly Deluxe!

Thank you very much, Ben. I appreciate it, especially after seeing what you are capable of building!

Thanks JD. And thanks to everyone who took the time to check out my build, and decided to throw a vote in my direction. I appreciate it guys.

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

And now for an update!

Love'em or hate'em, I finally made up a set of big fat stacks for the 1950 KW, and because I needed the cab to be removable for battery access, I also ended up maching a set of stack mounts, so the stacks could be left on the chassis.

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/...psd43a1658.jpg

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/...ps7fc3aaa4.jpg

Don't worry, the zip ties are just temporary. :D When I get the stacks drilled for mounting holes, scews will hold everything together. The stack height is yet to be determined, although it's pretty darn close to where the stacks will sit. I am also planning on making some cross bracing to tie the stack mounts together, and they will probably bolt to the chassis deck plate, which is yet to come.

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/...psf6248ca8.jpg

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/...pse91f343e.jpg

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/...psc9aa7a53.jpg

I'll have to send the stacks out for chroming, eventually. I found a somewhat local chromer, in my state that I'm going try out. As soon as I get a few finishing touches done on the mounts, and stacks, off they'll go! I'm kind of looking forward to that. I hope they turn out nice.

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

Looking good Nathan! Are we not having a rear window? Underneath the stack of tires hanging on the wall is that a hot rod engine?

Jimmy

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

Forget the hot rod engine, How about the Optimus Prime Prison Guard? Why Aint this truck finished yet boy!?

:D

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

Looks Killer Nate!

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

Thanks Jimmy! Yes, I will have a rear window. I just haven't got around to milling it open yet. Lots of more complex things I'd rather work on first, you know? :D I think the window will be one of the easier things to finish.

That is a hot rod engine, in the background, and a partially completed pinewood derby car for the engine to go into. There is an annual adult pinewood derby car contest that is put on by a local group every year. I thought I'd give it a shot, just for fun.

Thanks Jason! Optimus Prime does make sure I'm always working on the KW (weapon always drawn) when I'm in the workshop, but he must not be cracking the whip to badly! I'm going almost as fast as I can! :D

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

Nathan, awesome! You're killing me, making me want to ditch my sleeper and chop a couple inches off my frame.

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

Nice job! Those stacks are huge! I didn't like them at first but the more I look at the pics and imagine them chromed the more they grow on me! Keep up the good work!

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

Nathan,
Just had a thought, the rear window oval shaped? Kinda old schoolish. Might fit with the retro mod look.
Jimmy

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

Thanks Craig! I think your Peterbilt looks great with the sleeper, but you know I'm a fan of day cabs!

Thanks Reg! I agree with you. Once they are chrome plated, and I get a visor on the cab, it will all pull together well. I already like my stacks. I'll like them more with a drop visor.

Jimmy, good idea, although I feel an oval window look better on a Peterbilt. Just because the Peterbilt emblems are oval too. I really don't have an easy way to mill out an oval either. I'd have to ask one my machinist friends at work to do it with one of the CNC mills. We'll see!

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

Time for a weekend update guys. :D

The Kenworth turned into a glider, but for good reason! I got some new goodies to add to the build.

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/...pse42c420c.jpg

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/...ps8b1de8d8.jpg

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/...ps2e1d7697.jpg

Santa 'Claus' dropped off an early Christmas present. :D Thanks Craig. You are a heck of a friend. A little bit of the Hillbilly Deluxe will live on with the Kenworth now. I spent a little time this afternoon cleaning up the casting lines on the new axles, and swapping the hardware for stainless screws and nuts. They'll look great when, and if, I paint them now.

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/...ps7280cdc2.jpg

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/...ps97069590.jpg

It might be hard to see, but I am re-working the torque and radius rod mounts, so I can get improved 4 link geometery. I machined up a couple blocks that bolt to the bolsters, replacing the original L-brackets that were used before. I'm also going to work on new top link mounts for the axles. More pictures to come, as I make some progress.

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

This build is really amazing Nathan. I love all the detail and hard work your putting into it. Can't wait to see more!

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

Awesome work as usual Nathan!, as for the axles don't mention it, friends helping friends. You have helped me out too Buddy. I notice the hardware has already been given the Espee treatment!!

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

Looking great!!!! Awesome job on it

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

thats gonna be one heavy rig but im loving it

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

I love it, every aspect. Keep it going Nate!

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

Very nice work Nathan.....as usual :cool:
Crazy suggestion for ya..... I was looking at the stack mounting brackets and the cab with no rear window when I suddenly thought, what about a storage box like Craig has on his but only the width of the stacks? You could mount the stacks inside the box all hidden and it would fill the space nice??:confused: like I said , crazy eh?:o

Mario

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

Thank you petermoblin! It's amazing, sometimes, how the hours fly by when I'm making parts, but it keeps my mind occupied!

Thanks again Craig! Yup, standard operating procedure for me is to upgrade to stainless socket head cap screws!

Thanks Aaron!

Believe it or not, it's not quite that heavy yet, but I think it will have some good mass to it, when finished! At least it should have good traction, empty!

Thanks Jason! I appreciate the comment.

Mario, thanks. Nah, your idea isn't so crazy! I've thought of different ways to mount the stacks too, and this is my favorite idea. I'm going to machine up a couple more braces, and tie them into the vertical posts. I like the headache rack / drom box idea, but I wanted to emphasize the day cab look, and not cover up the rear window, once it's milled in. I had some thoughts to mount a winch behind the cab......I don't know about that yet. I thought about building a vintage cable end up trailer to go with the truck, but I might just scratch that idea. Still to soon to tell! :D

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

I know it's been a couple weeks since the last update, so here is the latest! :D This little piece has been taking up a lot of my time. The first version I made didn't work out right, so I had to remake it. Call it R&D, I suppose. It wasn't so much a failure, as it was a learning experience, but here is the result of the 2nd try, and it's a good one.

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/...psdd1daf0e.jpg

My new rear frame cross member. I wanted to rework the truck's rear suspension links, and stiffen the whole chassis up, so rather then make more parts to bolt onto the original (smaller) rear member, I redesigned it, and made a completely new one. I should note that I was planning on machining the gusset straight, along the bottom edge, but after doing the angle cuts up the sides, I took it out of the vise to reposition it and thought 'hey, that looks like of cool, maybe I'll leave it looking like a upside down 'W' or a Batman symbol.' :D What do you guys think? Kind of custom looking, if not 100% prototypical.

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/...ps4ae19d55.jpg

It ties the rear Osswald suspension trunnions into the upper frame connectors and chassis, as well as providing a better place for the axle's upper 4 links to mount to. You'll see more photos of that, in a bit, but first.....

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/...ps739a0b1a.jpg

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/...ps9f85b094.jpg

One thing that I didn't exactly like about the Osswald suspension was the way the upper 4 links crossed over each other. It might as well have been a 3 link suspension, so I changed it to a true 4 link, and made a center mount for each axle.

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/...psf52432f9.jpg

Here is a photo of the new rear cross member, tied into the Osswald trunnions, along with the new axles and their proper 4 link geometery.

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/...ps24444b3c.jpg

From the top....

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/...ps834e6011.jpg

From the rear....

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/...ps52ec411e.jpg

And as long as I was in the mood of changing things over in the rear, I picked up a set of new driveshafts for the Kenworth.

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/...ps5ee7a5b7.jpg

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/...pse16edf44.jpg

These Ultra Scale shafts are beautiful! The shaft which runs between the tandems is border line short, although it is not really in any danger of coming apart. I may have to buy a little longer one, and cut it to length to fit perfectly, but for now, it will be okay! :D

Thanks for looking. Enjoy the weekend.

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

Your build is AWSOME!!!!!! AMAZING!!!!!!!!! I'm lost for words, keep up the good work!

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

Beautiful work again Nathan. Like how you used the brass nuts to space the links and make everything line up like it should. The only thing you may want to consider for scale purposes, I think in the 1:1 world there would be a member running from one bolster to the other across the bottom but then again you don't need it.

I do love that scale driveshaft!

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

I was wondering what was happening here....I thought you were suffering from no-postitis or something. Great job on the cross member and 4 links. When are we going to see this thing move around?

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

Thanks wolfws6!

Thanks Craig!

I love the RC4WD driveshafts too!


Thanks Reg! Not so much a case of no-postitis. It was more a case of re-makitis! :D While it is a pain, sometimes, to go backwards with a build, the results are worth the effort, if you can do something better the second time around. This is a build as you go, kind of project.

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

Nathan you are doing a great job on the rear suspension. Now when are you going to smooth up those rear ends? Those drivelines look great I've been eyeing them for quite awhile and put off buying them right now to many irons in the fire. I asked about the internal spline and they said they go all the way so if you bought the longer ones you could make them any length you want. Ed

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

Holy trunnion mount batman! :jaw: Another piece of beauty! Love your talent! I like the driveline also. Very realistic. Can't wait to see what you've got planned next.

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

As always you have done amazing work.
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...33883330_n.jpg

Here I got you a paint sceme :lol:

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

Nate, incredible work on that cross member and everything else. I understand the time and planning that goes into a piece like that. And it's just one of many.

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

WOW :eek::eek: Nate this thing is AWESOME..

Great work so far buddy.

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

Thanks Ed. I appreciate the nice comments, as always. I already smoothed up the axles a little bit. Suppose they could use a little more work, but I don't really mind the cast roughness. Painted, I think it will help sell the point that they really are metal.

Thanks Jimmy. Update coming soon!

Thank you Trucker Jo. That's a sharp Kenworth for sure! Wish I could drop my suspension a little more to match it, but I guess I'll have to settle for a working truck, rather then an all out show truck. I did see some grease on that 1:1 Kenworth's 5th wheel plate though! :D

Jason, thanks! Sometimes it's surprising how long it takes to make what you think is a 'simple' part. Then you mess it up somehow, and have to make another! :D

Thank you Mike. Means a lot to have your approval, since you are a heck of a builder.

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

Despite this build falling off pace for a bit, I haven't stopped working on it. I got a couple things done last week, and this weekend. Here is an update.

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0b5fe7ec.jpg

We have steering! Boy, I could almost drive this thing now, if I just quick threw a battery, ESC, and receiver into it.

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/...psd506b7ec.jpg

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/...ps05e83e60.jpg

For the purists....proper ackerman steering geometery! I think this truck is going to handle nice. Look close and you'll see the inside wheel turns sharper then the outside. I think the turning radius is going to be really good. I'm happy about that.

And then I worked on something I had been putting off over and over again. Figuring out how to mount the cab to the truck. It's two pieces, in case you couldn't tell. :D The cab base mounts to the chassis, and the cab to the cab base. As a toy, the cab is more less held to the cab base with some cast in bosses but I had to mill those off to make room for the electronics inside. That left everything floating free. After thinking a great deal about how to mount the cab to the chassis, yet have it be removable, this is what I came up with.

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/...ps8bc11e0e.jpg

I machined some blocks to bolt the cab base to the chassis. In the blocks, I milled a keyway, front and rear. I also had to mill the cast cab seats off, but that was some time ago....

Inside the cab, I bolted on some keys to fit the keyways. This way the cab is aligned perfectly, and it cannot slide forward, backward, or side to side. It took some math, some trial and error, some test pieces, and a lot of patience, but the results are great.

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/...psebf6f2c0.jpg

As a plus, there are no screw heads showing anywhere on the outside of the cab. They are drilled and tapped from the inside out.

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/...psa2653c6a.jpg

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/...ps912dd9d4.jpg

The keys have a T-shape to them. This is to allow the keys to only side into their respective keyways to a specific depth. I also have found some 1/8 diameter magnets that I think I will use to hold the cab to the base. I'll probably mill a shallow bore on each side of the T's, glue a magnet to each, and then do the same in the cab base mounts. When they line up, they'll snap into place. The magnets are rated at .7 pounds of pull each, and with two in the rear, and two in the front, (should be 2.8 pounds pull combined) I'm hoping that will be strong enough to hold the cab on, with the truck flipped upside down. Not that it will spend much time like that...

One more photo, showing how it all lines up.

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/...ps6eb48f2a.jpg

I'm really glad this step is all done. Now to start making some electronic mounting plates for the 10 pounds of stuff I have to fit inside the 5 pound bag! :D

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

I like how you have set the front end up!!!
Cheer's, Neil.

Re: 1950 Kenworth Needlenose
 

Wow nathan im Impressed ..Steering looks bulletproof ..Cab Mounts Very well thought out ..sometimes it takes a few sleepless nights to come up with a plan and a design and this one looks very clean ..Good work ..I could imagine the fun you would have with a CNC ..your very creative