Cat 777D Mining Truck

[modelman]

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.

[pugs]

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.

[modelman]

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.

[modelman]

I got a little more done by adding the cab-

I made this part removable since I may have to use this space for R/C gear-

Now back to work----well maybe monday.

[D8R]

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

[RCLogger]

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

[modelman]

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.

[modelman]

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-

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.

I have hours of brazing to do but then hopefully I will have a dump bed. That's all for now.

[D8R]

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

[modelman]

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.

[modelman]

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.-

I brazed the braces on the sides with them clamped down on the table but I knew I couldn't clamp the box together-



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-


I also made some of the detail pcs. while I was working on the box-

I still have a lot to do on the box but hopefully the hard part is done.

[D8R]

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

[Dreamweaver]

Tom This thing is looking awesome. Nice job on the metal work.

[tc1cat]

Great looking truck 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

[kerst]

Looks good!

Kerst

[9W Monighan]

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

[ihbuilder]

tom you sure are a master

[Jared]

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

[lorenzo]

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?

[modelman]

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.