Just Another Peterbilt
 

Well, it's been a long time since I have had a project and even longer since I had something Tamiya, well this is close to being a Tamiya.

I want to build a Peterbilt that is a similar to this truck. Heavy spec, sleeper truck.
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...psdbznyjds.jpg

I have a start but it's just a weak start. Grand Hauler frame rails, Rigid RC axles, transmission and fifth wheel. Lesu suspension and cross members. Tekin 55T motor and FXR speed control. Everything you see is metal (expect the 1/4 fenders), I need so much more and parts are never cheap so this build will take me some time to do. Thanks for looking.

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps4xipddbh.jpg
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...psniv4g4ci.jpg
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...pse4gmtaah.jpg
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...psyzv5fclg.jpg
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...psig3dfemw.jpg
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...psy44vgwuz.jpg

Re: Just Another Peterbilt......Half Breed.
 

That's great news Craig ! :bounce: missed ya bud, I remember when I first found this forum and saw the jaw dropping work you did on hill billy .
The new build is looking great so far and can't wait to see it come together.:cool::)

Not going to be a dump truck? ....you know you want to. :). Lol

Re: Just Another Peterbilt
 

Thanks Mario, you're much too kind!

Re: Just Another Peterbilt......Half Breed.
 

Nice start! Now where's the rest? Hurry up!

Re: Just Another Peterbilt......Half Breed.
 

WOW!!!
your going to go broke with all those trailer axles and tires
what are your thoughts on that lesu suspension ??

Re: Just Another Peterbilt
 

Whoops, I have no interest in the Flowboy, just the tractor. The rear suspension is very nice. I have a similar setup on my Wedico made by Scale Art and in my opinion the Lesu is better made.

Also, incase I wasn't clear this baby is going to be AWD.
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps0efj6iof.jpg
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...pszgic4ehl.jpg

Re: Just Another Peterbilt
 

I can't stop looking at these axles, very scale looking!
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...psame4kleu.jpg
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...psrertwnxx.jpg
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...psrtomsbkl.jpg

Also dropped the transmission down for better angle on the driveshafts.
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...psnnlh3ekn.jpg

Re: Just Another Peterbilt......Half Breed.
 

Those axles are very nice looking, and, they seem durable as well. Looking forward to see the rest of the build :)

Re: Just Another Peterbilt......Half Breed.
 

I just got a set of these axles last week. The housings are very nice! I could be wrong but they also appear to have a slightly lower gear ratio too. The suspension I got with my set uses plastic end links on the rear and they look a little flimsy compared to yours:(. Are you going to hook up the lockers? I was thinking since I only run on dirt that I may just "wire" them in the lock position on the rear and either leave the front open or maybe hook a servo to it to lock it when going straight. I've never used a driven front axle before so I'm not really sure what to expect.

Re: Just Another Peterbilt......Half Breed.
 

They do have a lower gear ratio. If you have a spare channel on your receiver, I strongly suggest you install a servo to operate the locks.

Re: Just Another Peterbilt......Half Breed.
 

Claus very nice work and a very nice choice of parts this will be an exceptional build. Ed

Re: Just Another Peterbilt
 

Hello Reg,

My Wedioc Peterbilt has Scale Art 3:1 locking diffs and is 8X8, I have never locked those diffs or set up a servo to do it as the trucks doesn't get run much and has never left the house. This truck will probably end up with much the same life. I do think the driven front axle is probably better than locking the rears anyways.

As for the rear suspension kit, there are a lot of leaf kits to choose from now a days. I chose this one because of the way the top links mount ti the diffs but when I assembled it I realized I like it for much more than just that. The bolsters are very strong and heavy looking and there is a nice rear H section that replaces that goofy looking member Tamiya uses but what really got my attention was each link has a pin that goes through the ball socket, each pin has two holes in it that get bolted (anchored) down. On my Wedico with Scale Art suspension a simple screw is used instead of the pin. Seems more sloppy to me and thing tend to work loose on that kit. Also yes, these links are all metal no plastic ends, same with my Scale Art kits.

This is what I'm talking about....
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...pszn0ywjpx.jpg

VS. this....
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...psrnatubfi.jpg

Re: Just Another Peterbilt
 

Thanks Ed!!

Re: Just Another Peterbilt......Half Breed.
 

Yes I am interested to see how much difference the driven front axle makes. Currently I have both rears locked with hot glue in two of my trucks and one locked in another. The truck with only the one axle locked(yellow KH) is constantly getting stuck it seems.lol I don't really notice the lack of steering circle on the dump trucks but when I use the one truck to demo the trailers I build the lack of steering while locked is noticeable. Even with both axles locked the truck won't pull the grades on my roads with a trailer in tow(empty or loaded). I am hoping the front axle pulling will help! I haven't assembled the suspension I got yet but it is the older style with the less detailed X member. Definitely not as visually appealing as what you have but it will do. I like the style of the forward rear axle. Very similar design to the axles I made for my big KW only much nicer.lol

Re: Just Another Peterbilt......Half Breed.
 

@Claus: The pin through the bushing with 2 bolts through it is a typical 1:1 setup and that's the first I've seen it in 1/14 scale, very nice!

@RCP57 Since you run "off road" the driven front axle is almost a must. My 6x6 quarry dump truck has all three axle locked and does very good to the point I go looking for stupid stuff to get stuck in! 2 things I have found playing around with drive systems:
1) Having the right tires, I have the same tires that Craig has in the picture Above and they are great off road, excellent flotation and traction.
2) A good working suspension, I added leafs to the front suspension so it doesn't bottom out and lock up and built my own rear for maximum articulation to keep equal weight and all tires on the ground getting traction. I would like to Craig suspensions articulation, it looks good.

Re: Just Another Peterbilt
 

Very aware of the pins and bolts being prototypical but thank you. I will do some articulation photos when I get wheels, saving up for some of Steve's wheels!

Re: Just Another Peterbilt......Half Breed.
 

Sorry guess I read that wrong. Does the axle affixed vee rod mount come from LESU also? How much modification needs to be done to the axle to attach it?

Re: Just Another Peterbilt
 

Yes, those links and all parts are included in the kit. No modifying to anything, it all bolts together like it came from the factory in one big kit.

If you are looking to buy one of these kits pay close attention to the photos of each kit. There are a lot of different kits out there and they all have some differences in links, etc.

Re: Just Another Peterbilt......Half Breed.
 

Excellent job. Glad to see ya back at it.

Re: Just Another Peterbilt
 

New Truck, Old Truck,
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...psgf2lxhmc.jpg

Re: Just Another Peterbilt......Half Breed.
 

Carrier bearing installed, love the way these Lesu parts all work together, it bolts right to the crossmember and tucks up in the frame nicely.
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...psxaqvzcsp.jpg

Re: Just Another Peterbilt......Half Breed.
 

I don't know about yours but I installed my rear suspension a few days ago and I am not that impressed. When I pick the truck up there is nothing to keep the axles and springs from moving all over. The axles drop a bunch and the springs rock around. They need to have mounts on top of the spring pads to keep everything in place like a real truck(I will be making myself some). Also when using this style front tandem axle with stock Tamiya X members and KH spacing there is almost no upward travel. Kinda bummed with mine from a mechanical standpoint...:( Yours is looking very nice though and I am looking forward to the next update!:D

Re: Just Another Peterbilt......Half Breed.
 

Reg, Rigid does make a set that attaches the springs to the axles. It is the set with the red Links, Izzy has it on his daycab. I have owned this set along with ScaleArt and Oswald sets, none of mine have hooked the spring packs to the axles. I agree, they should be but I think that limits the axle travel. I also think all of these kits should have a brace or cross member running under the suspension tying the two bolsters together, haven't seen that done either.

My ScaleArt sets on my Wedico articulate very well.
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps8d7d3eaf.jpg
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...psa5ef877d.jpg

Re: Just Another Peterbilt......Half Breed.
 

Looking very good great job I love what you did with your wedico, how did you get to lower the rear oswald/scale art suspension on the wedico?mine is just face down but in the air looks weird

Thanks

Re: Just Another Peterbilt......Half Breed.
 

Thanks for the compliments! The Wedico gave me many fits trying to get things right. Originally I had Oswald suspension front and rear. The Oswald front really made the front low and made the rake even worse. When I sent my chassis parts out for powder coating the heat ruined the Oswald rear bolsters. Then I decided to go 8X8 with the truck and ordered ScaleArt diffs and suspension kits. Then I don't remember exactly why but I didn't like the ScaleArt front suspension kit either. In the end I ran stock Wedico springs up front and ScaleArt out back. The truck sits a little high but it's modeled after a heavy spec truck so I can live with it. The problem with a Wedico is when you change one thing that leads into 10 other things needing to be changed and in the US that means custom made parts for the most part as there just isn't much Wedico over here. Lots of trial and error.

Re: Just Another Peterbilt......Half Breed.
 

OK thank k you I k of what you mean I was admiring your and espefaan you guys did a great job

Thanks again

Re: Just Another Peterbilt......Half Breed.
 

Looking good. Great job.

Re: Just Another Peterbilt......Half Breed.
 

Looking good Craig! Keep it up :cool:

Re: Just Another Peterbilt......Half Breed.
 

Thanks, really appreciate the compliments, I can't even begin to build trucks half as nice as Espeefan can!

Thanks Fred, feels good to be building again!


Thanks Brandon! Hopefully I get this puppy running soon but will it ever be done?

This hobby has advanced so much since I bought my first King Hauler in 2009 but all this cool stuff comes with a heavy price which sure slows down the building. Funny thing, when I'm building I keep wanting to push on to the next step and sometimes even get discouraged about things taking too long but when the building is over the fun slows down for me. In someways for me the building and seeing progress and ideas come to reality is more fun than running these trucks around. In two years since being completed I haven't put an hour on my Wedico. I hope to add lights and sounds to this truck (someday), maybe that will be more of an attraction for me.

Re: Just Another Peterbilt......Half Breed.
 

Same here I often build and complete projects but rarely actually use/have fun with them. Kind of adds a distraction from the daily grind which I guess is kind of the point of having a hobby ?

Re: Just Another Peterbilt......Half Breed.
 

Is that a Wedico Pete?

Re: Just Another Peterbilt......Half Breed.
 

Yes, it is. Hillbilly Deluxe.

http://www.rctruckandconstruction.co...ight=hillbilly


http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps746553d9.jpg

Re: Just Another Peterbilt......Half Breed.
 

I know this is off topic but what happened to Nate? I saw he was looking at this thread recently but he hasn't posted anything on his own stuff for about 5 years it seems:rolleyes::p. Did he ever finish ANYTHING?

Re: Just Another Peterbilt......Half Breed.
 

Nathan is alive and doing well! I know He is very busy these days, I'll see if I can get Him to chime in.

Re: Just Another Peterbilt......Half Breed.
 

I would like to build somthing similar, with the same brand parts as you, but with a 8x8 configuration. I use my construction equipment in sand and loose dirt so I need the added traction. But I would like a full metal cab, will the scale art cabs work with this set up or maybe the Wedico?

David

Re: Just Another Peterbilt......Half Breed.
 

I have never seen a ScaleArt cab in person. As for the Wedico, that is something I have been thinking all along. I would like to use a Wedico Peterbilt cab and sleeper and either have a custom hood fabricated or try a Shapeways hood. The Wedioc and the Damita cabs are ver close in dimensions, I don't think it would take much work to use a Shapeways hood but then again I have never bought one so it's all a guess for me. The biggest down side is a Wedico cab and sleeper is roughly $625n then if it doesn't work........:jaw:

Here is a Wedico and a Tamiya floorboard next to each other.
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...pspg5prnbd.jpg
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps3wcrmfno.jpg

That is the total difference, with both of the floors lined up on the other side.

Re: Just Another Peterbilt......Half Breed.
 

Very close, thanks Claus, I think it would be cool to have the Wedico Pete, but your Right about the $$$. Like your thread on this new build, I haven't built my first truck yet, so it will be an experience, but I do want to use the lesu stuff, that why I really liked your pictures and idea's

Re: Just Another Peterbilt......Half Breed.
 

Hey Claus.
I am following this Peterbilt Project. A lot of goodies :) I'm thinking to use same sort of parts in my BeamHauler #3
Keep up the good work Claus.

Re: Just Another Peterbilt......Half Breed.
 

Thanks for the compliments! I love metal more than plastic too!

Thanks Bo! Can't wait to see your next truck.

Re: Just Another Peterbilt......Half Breed.
 

Progress is slow, so many parts to buy. I did get my new grille. I bought from eBay seller viewsonicppcheng, He was awesome to buy from! I asked Him if he would make me a grille like His awesome Peterbilt grilles but I wanted the double round headlights and the hood ornament, the ones He has listed have one or the other. So he did and I got it today. I love the quality and detail. That hood ornament is very delicate, be careful if you buy one. I need to find a way of tightening the headlight mounting screws, no way of getting a tool in there.
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...pszmqkjkzh.jpg
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...psbvswqx8s.jpg
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...pswahwxkov.jpg
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...psxnhrduyd.jpg