Model: (Click to see more) 56301: King Hauler
Status: New built
Date: 27-Nov-2007
Comments: 0
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Having seen the live action Transformers film some time ago i have always had the image of optimus prime stuck in my head, then the wife offered to get me a King Hauler.... that didn't take alot of thinking about, needless to say, I collected from a chap in Brighton and started building that evening, i had most of the chassis built within a few days (only did an hour or 2 at a time) then thought........hold on it 'could' look like optimus prime. so first I found some spare mudguards off a very nice man (thanks gareth), proceeded to chop 30mm from the centre of them and join back together, had some mounts made to use the original mounts on the mudguards and trial fitted, ok so thats that one sorted. next i needed a deeper bumper, again look through the old trades and found one on here! polished and fitted that.
Then the work started on the shell, I work as a paint sprayer (industrial NOT cars!) so access to 2pak paint is not a problem so i thought i'd use some sparkle paint and others, so i painted the shell and mudguards (Etched them first) blue, let that dry then masked them up.....and the paint peeled off the cab like a snake shedding its skin AAAAAAARRRGGGGGGHHHHH, so back to work and a coat of primer, and another coat of blue for the shell (the arches where fine!!) let that dry for a day or 2 then masked with vinal flames (made by a mate who works for a vinal place!) then came the fun of the orange to red, mixed my own orange, then used a BMW red pearl i had spare, all topped with a coat of sparkle laquer, and to say i was happy with the result would be an under statement!
I bought a trailer off ebay and it arrived the day i brought the shell home, i wasn't happy with some of the build on the trailer so stripped and rebuilt it using all the correct screws and nuts. got a couple of lengths of tube from DIY shop and hey presto...
all done.
It just got better and better as i built the truck up the chrome look great against the paint, and the arches looked the dogs, i then tried to hitch the trailer, and ended up pushing it backwards across the lounge!! problem, the arches hit the leg release..... i looked at several solutions but wasn't happy with them, then had a brain wave (at 2am!) put spacers under the 5th wheel so i did (6mm worth!) and that worked a treat, i used some modelling clay to weigh the back of the 5th wheel down so it sat correctly to connect the trailer.
by now i had finished putting most of the chrome and stuff on the cab but wanted lights, so i ordered a lighting kit for truck and trailer (can't afford a MFU) the last bit to fit was the cab top lights, but i wanted these blue not the normal orange........I measured the holes in the mounts and found a 5mm LED should fit, however this wasn't a straight fit, i had to enlarge the hole in the mount to 5mm, then trim the wide part off the base of the LED to make it 5mm all the way along, then with a firm push and a blob of superglue.. hey presto they where in and worked. More pics will follow when I've fitted the light kit and the rest of the blue LEDs



Not Bad (OK I Love It!!!!!) 30mm Too long Sorted... next the paint Ready for Paint (no primer on cab!!) Blue (first time and peeled off!!) The Arches were fine Masked and painted, demasked and laquered Same for the shell.. All hung to keep clean LEDs So Far (Lots more to follow!) Truck And Trailer, just need lighting kits!!

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