ENTERING the BIG Money Pit Club - Grand Hauler!!

[Carmine A 2046]

FINISHING THE DASHBOARD!! 😊 

 Still needs a little touch up, after I'm done messing with LEDs....

SORRY! I just love the way my best Mate in England says "Decals"!! 😜

 Made the Holes as tight as possible, to help with light bleed. 

 More Soon!!! 😊

[topforcein 1764]

decals.... deckals it the same with aluminium  and jaguar .... mike from wheeler dealers tryed to get some guys from the lowrider scene to pronounce aluminium the english way in a program the other day 

the dash is looking great can't wait to see it lit up

[Carmine A 2046]

... My Friend is always trying to get me to speak the "Queen's English"!! 😜 

Hopefully tomorrow it will be ready for a demo. 😁

[Tamiyabigstuff 831]

Check out the YT video from Bob at Hobbyconcepts :

 

 

[topforcein 1764]

that is one thing i dont spake is the "queens engish" if i was talking to you you prob would not under stand me 

they do look great i may have a go at doing this in my merc when i get a right hand drive dash.

i did manage to convert the dash in my grand hauler to right hand drive and installed a fibre optic system its not pretty as them dash's but it does serve a purpose and it cant be seen that much anyway as i have tinted the windows

[Carmine A 2046]

@Tamiyabigstuff - that's exactly where I got the idea from! 💡

@topforcein looks good!! There's a few great methods of Dash lighting... I actually want to try Fiber Optics.

[Carmine A 2046]

NEXT STEP.... 

Slower progress than I hoped, but I did get the time to get the LEDs in and secured! 😉 

 SHOULD be finished today!

So.... Speaking of projects.... how's THIS for a Sleeper!?!!??  One could literally live in this Truck!! 😊

[topforcein 1764]

dahm i recon you could swing more than one cat in there

[JennyMo 3526]

1 hour ago, Carmine A said:

So.... Speaking of projects.... how's THIS for a Sleeper!?!!??  One could literally live in this Truck!! 😊

You need to get the styrene out and stretch yours!

Jx

[Carmine A 2046]

1 hour ago, JennyMo said:

You need to get the styrene out and stretch yours!

Jx

Well Ms. Jenny... Possibly my second Rig. 😊  I've dreamt about doing a Cletus Snow Kenworth for about 27 Years!!  I love the idea though. I don't think any Tamiya Frame is long enough.... So I might be paying Semi Joe's RC Truck Shop a visit. He's the best in the U.S. with Semi Mods. 👍👍

[JennyMo 3526]

6 hours ago, Carmine A said:

Well Ms. Jenny... Possibly my second Rig. 😊  I've dreamt about doing a Cletus Snow Kenworth for about 27 Years!!  I love the idea though. I don't think any Tamiya Frame is long enough.... So I might be paying Semi Joe's RC Truck Shop a visit. He's the best in the U.S. with Semi Mods. 👍👍

Ha - talking of Cleetus' and stretched trucks - are you familiar with the Cleetus McFarland YouTube channel? He has a huge following due to building all sorts of mental drag racing cars and other petrol-headed tomfoolery over the past couple of years... this is an introduction to his latest toy (no doubt paid for in part by having a huge 2.5M subscribers on YouTube) - the 'Towterhome' 5th wheel hauler... check out the 4 car trailer they've had built to tow behind it too!

 

Maybe I need to build a 1:14th of this rig? - "H E L L Yeah Brother!"

Jenny x

[Carmine A 2046]

2 hours ago, JennyMo said:

Ha - talking of Cleetus' and stretched trucks - are you familiar with the Cleetus McFarlane YouTube channel? He has a huge following due to building all sorts of mental drag racing cars and other petrol-headed tomfoolery over the past couple of years... this is an introduction to his latest toy (no doubt paid for in part by having a huge 2.5M subscribers on YouTube) - the 'Towterhome' 5th wheel hauler... check out the 4 car trailer they've had build to tow behind it too!

 

Maybe I need to build a 1:14th of this rig? - "H E L L Yeah Brother!"

Jenny x

Oh I've definitely heard of Cleetus McFarland!! Subbed too. 

YES!! That's the Rig project for you! 😁

[Carmine A 2046]

Dashboard is DONE!!! 😊

 Not my very best work... but it does what I need it to do. 

I also test fit the Interior! 

.... I'm going to try to make inner Door Panels. Shouldn't be too hard. 😉

Now that my little "pet side project" is done enough for now, TIME to actually start BUILDING!! 😁

[Re-Bugged 10100]

Cool dash lights 😎, great work, a Grand Hauler could never have to many lights on it. 

[Carmine A 2046]

14 hours ago, Re-Bugged said:

Cool dash lights 😎, great work, a Grand Hauler could never have to many lights on it. 

That's exactly what I thought. I plan more... Found a 3D Printed CB Radio with lighted faceplate, and I'm fitting LEDs in the Ceiling too.

[Badcrumble 4201]

@Carmine A, great to see you building again. 

Would this help?

https://tamiyabase.com/articles/54-painting/119-part-6-painting-driver-figures-plaid-shirts-a-jeans.html

 

[Carmine A 2046]

3 hours ago, Badcrumble said:

@Carmine A, great to see you building again. 

Would this help?

https://tamiyabase.com/articles/54-painting/119-part-6-painting-driver-figures-plaid-shirts-a-jeans.html

OMG!! That's PERFECT! Maybe just good enough to fit my slightly limited skillset. Thank you so much!

[Carmine A 2046]

On to the actual Build!!! 😊

From Step 1..... 

 Even this is longer than the stock Servo Horn... But it's sure going to be solid! 😁

 YES, People have used Lipos with Servo Setters for Years, with success, using the Balance Lead - in a very specific way... But forget to plug it in correctly just ONCE, and KABOOM!!! 💣 (Don't ask me how I know)😜  AA batteries are cheap. The Battery holder is cheap. It's foolproof!! 

 ..... All I had was 12, 18, and 20mm Hex Screws. So I improvised with an 18mm and a spacer! The whole thing is going to be painted Black anyway. 

 .... But the Rod Ends were SLOPPIER than the Tamiya Ends!! SO......  Had a spare Steering Link from a SCX10, so I modified it!! 😉

 Works a TREAT!!

Now a break, for my Alcoa Wheels! 😁 

 .... Because NO Vehicle ever has clean, painted Brake Drums!! (Except for Show Vehicles)

 I had to end up fitting Shims to the inside of the Axles, because the wide Tyres rubbed on the Rod Ends...

 REALLY!! If you can get hold of some Syringes (30-24 gauge), this might actually be the BEST idea I've ever come up with!! 😊  It's precise, easy and NEAT. Glue goes only where YOU want it!! 

OK.... Back to the regular Build!! 😊

[Carmine A 2046]

Assembling the Frame....

 Most People may not notice... but I will.

 There's going to be SO much Wiring in this Rig, that great ideas like this are invaluable!! 

 Sorry.... My best Friend is in England, and I LOVE the way he pronounces "SprinG"!! 😜

 I think that HPI makes Hex Head Step Screws in various sizes. I'll have to search...

 Fortunately, they're the same length as the Tamiya Ends... Making this even easier! 

 Yet another cool trick from Ms. Teri Wilde. If you haven't checked out "Teri Wilde RC" on YouTube, you really should!  ..... "Carmine's RC Tips and Tricks" isn't so bad either!! 😁😜  If you fancy 80's Music, my Channel features my old Band, doing covers and Originals from that Decade. They're the backdrop for my RC Builds. 😉

 I tested them on a Postal Scale, to ensure evenness.

 .... I will be "rusting" all those shiny bits as well.

 I actually cut TOO much!! I'll have to adjust end points to keep the Tyres from hitting the Leaf Springs!! 😖 

 WHY doesn't anyone do this for Cars that actually go FAST!?!? 😲

Back to the grind... Hope everyone's having a great Weekend!!

[topforcein 1764]

the wheels look great and the needle glue idea is a great one but i could never have them in the house as the wife has got a proper phobia with needles 

i see you have also been watching teri's recent truck build i ordered that grease he uses to try out and i did order the spring hangers as was gonna copy his steering mod 

but i ordered a cranked rod and used the cranked ends also and tbh i have not need to trim the spring hangers or notch the axle either i orderd the same rod again for my merc and will be doing the same on that but i am waiting on a right hand drive dash to turn up yet before i make a start on that also have a rear bumper and 3d printed wheel hub caps for the truck and trailer also to paint along with the dash 

oh and btw traxxas def is not a dirty word to me  my first nitro was a t-maxx and i still own my revo from new when they was first released 

 

[jonboy1 2943]

On 5/8/2021 at 10:33 AM, Carmine A said:

On

OK.... Back to the regular Build!! 😊

Lovely job on the wheels and brakes!! Looking good my friend!!  

[Carmine A 2046]

11 hours ago, jonboy1 said:

Lovely job on the wheels and brakes!! Looking good my friend!!  

Thanks Mate!! 😊  I just wish I had thought of Scale Bolts BEFORE I Threadlocked the Screws in!! I don't think they're ever coming out... They're tiny, and soft. 😖  OH well, learning experience! 

@topforcein  Thanks! I had the original T-MAXX 2.5... My Last RTR I ever bought. But a Nitro with REVERSE!?? I had to have it. 😁 

Yeah, using a Syringe 💉 isn't for everyone... But for anyone who CAN, I've really found nothing better to apply Tire Glue! 👍👍💯  Seriously, the neatest method ever - and I'm proud to have actually thought of such a thing! 😊

[Carmine A 2046]

THE DIFFS.... Source of Debate and Arguments!!  I DON'T believe in Locked Diffs. There are better alternatives. HERE'S my solution for my version of Positraction!! 

 This pot was sitting UPSIDE DOWN for a week - and it DIDN'T move towards the Cap!! 😲😳

 I actually mixed some 30K Weight Diff Oil, because it was TOO thick!! 😲

 ..... CHECKING to make sure they turned in the RIGHT direction! 😉

On to the HARD part!! 😲

[Carmine A 2046]

THE GEARBOX!!! 😳

I was so worried about this, but with some common sense, it really wasn't bad! 😉 

 The Shift Rod WASN'T where the Manual said it was!! 

 I'm NOT fitting the two outer Springs... I'm told that it strains the Servo in 1st and 3rd. The Servo will hold it in Gear anyway. 😉

Skipping ahead.... 

This is WHY I'm not buying into the 80 Turn Motor theory!! I'm using this, and a 35T Crawler Motor. If I'm wrong, I'll admit it!! 😧😊

[Carmine A 2046]

.... Short update. Fitted the Rear Wheels and spun each to test the ultra thick Diffs.

I'm happy to report that when I spin one - the other three spin at the same speed!! 😁👍👍  If I hold a right Wheel, and spin a left Wheel, it takes considerable effort. BUT, when I roll it on the floor, all four Wheels turn easily - and at different speeds!! 

20 Million Weight Diff Oil would be RIDICULOUS in most Gear Diff situations... But these Diffs have comparatively small Diffs and Diff Gears. In the past, I've stuffed CC-01 Diffs with Marine Grease or thicker - with practically NO effect. Same reason.

So this SUPER thick Diff GOO, although hard to work with, IS the answer if you want traction on ALL wheels... But like me, a Retired Auto Mechanic, KNOW that Locking Diffs causes undue stress and kills your Steering circle!!! 😉 

Happy Building, Ladies and Gentlemen!