I am interested in getting started in scale RC.

[Prop Shaft]

Tamiya is going to be your best bet. You can get everything your looking for out of a tamiya kit as far as functionality goes. Sounds like there will be alot of scratch building involved to get the body and mixer parts you want. There are people around who will build scratch bodies for customers. Semi Joe comes to mind.

[JonBailey]

Originally Posted by Prop Shaft

Tamiya is going to be your best bet. You can get everything your looking for out of a tamiya kit as far as functionality goes. Sounds like there will be alot of scratch building involved to get the body and mixer parts you want. There are people around who will build scratch bodies for customers. Semi Joe comes to mind.

Perhaps, Joe can build me that custom Kenworth W900 day cab to fit that Tamiya frame as well as the mixer equipment. Can he do paint and decal work?

Is there a link for Semi Joe, please?


What kind of radio, servos, controllers and motors will I need for a mixer truck with "the (functional) works" on board? How many channels?

Does the mixer barrel need its own motor and controller?

Who supplies scale people figures for RC truck cabs?

It seems like Tamiya has not yet offered special-purpose truck bodies (dump, mixer, concrete pump, etc.) in kitted form yet, only tractors with 5th wheels.

[JAMMER]

Hello JonBailey I have a mixer from Bruder truck I took apart to get the cab $ 20.00 US dollars plus shipping and it's yours it has water tank ans chutes. This should give you a good start. Ed

[JonBailey]

Originally Posted by JAMMER

Hello JonBailey I have a mixer from Bruder truck I took apart to get the cab $ 20.00 US dollars plus shipping and it's yours it has water tank ans chutes. This should give you a good start. Ed

I went to the Bruder web site. Those mixers are toy trucks with a crank handle in the water tank. What scale are these toy trucks? Could the mixer unit easily fit a Tamiya chassis? Could the mixing barrel be converted to electric power to turn it?

I may have to set my sights on another type of scale truck than a cement truck.

I still have to have a Kenworth W900 cab with interior and driver figure, no exceptions. A tractor might be more doable because of the availability of off-the-shelf parts or kits. But then I need a semi trailer in scale. Maybe a cattle trailer with scale cow figures inside? Electronic mooing sound effects? RC operated landing gear?

I am getting the impression right off the bat that the kit and parts market for the serious scale RC on-road/construction trucker is limited in selection.

Before I start to put money into any project, I have to have a master plan first.

I need to compile a parts inventory: everything must fit like a glove once the correct mods are made to some parts whenever applicable.
I need to find the proper starter kit.
I need to find a qualified paid model painter. I am no master painter myself. I have a mechanical aptitude, but not cosmetic skills for vehicles as paint.
I need a plan for acquiring any needed custom parts and/or commissioning a guy to do such fabrications.
I need a master budget plan too: a cost outlay assessment for the truck of my dreams.

There is no hurry for me to build my truck. It could be a project spanning a year or more.

I feel I have the aptitude to assemble the truck plus install radio electronics and get her up and running once all the parts are in order and all the special paint/decal work is done.

I don't think scale-model commercial trucking has seriously caught on in America yet. I am a Kenworth man and a classic American vehicle man. I may have to send a wish list off to Santa Claus next Christmas. I love classic Kenworth looks and classic Kenworth style. Euro style is not my bag.

In practice, I would like as many off-the-shelf parts/kits as possible to build a nice scale truck to my liking. I still may have to contract an expert craftsman to do some custom work.