RichO Posted October 6, 2018 Author Share Posted October 6, 2018 Hey Guys, The steering has been started. To date I have built and installed the anchor points for the steering linkage. Building these little components was not to difficult, but small and slow. The photos below are a sequence of the corner anchor points. These are different than the central anchor points, in that the corner anchors have to support a shock absorber assembly, so a few extra parts involved. This photos is starting these corners, getting the mounting plates bolted down... I'm building up the layers that I need to get these corners into shape... To get the linkage to function and steer properly, I had to drill out the center of a styrene rod, and install a brass tube to accept a metal pin for ease of movement... Ready for painting...They look terrible at this scale, but remember that these are just barely 5mm tall... Ready for install... The aft starboard corner... These are the central linkage supports... These sort of hide out down at the bottom of the frame and will support a linkage arm... Port side bow... Now that I have all the supports installed, it's time for the linkage. I'll be back.........Thanks All for looking! 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichO Posted October 15, 2018 Author Share Posted October 15, 2018 Hey All, Boy did I have fun building this steering linkage. I'm sure you can hear the sarcasm abound. Once I got the path of the linkage worked out, it was all fun and games. The frame is getting quite crowded, and I had just enough space to get the styrene rods through the maze of tight spots. I built a mock up of the route and connections to get the best idea of how things all fit together. Once I got everything sorted I built the final Steering Linkage. The first part........ You can see that the connections are very raw here. I was just after a moving joint, and to clear the path..., Front.. Back... I finally got the path worked out and got the linkage flexible enough to move... Some small parts... Starting to add the details... When I got it all sorted, it was off to the paint shop... The new parts look so nice in their new home, front... Back.... This is starting to get dirty... Now that I have the Steering Linkage built and installed, you can barely see it, It's all going to get covered up with a ton of items anyway, but I sure had a time building this. Next up is a relatively simple item. The Exhaust Mufflers and Pipes. Thanks All, for Watching.......... 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peterpools Posted October 17, 2018 Share Posted October 17, 2018 Amaxing work - and easily the patience of a saint. keep ‘em comin Petet 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GusMac Posted October 17, 2018 Share Posted October 17, 2018 Superb work again Rich. Such attention to detail in places that'll barely be seen. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichO Posted October 18, 2018 Author Share Posted October 18, 2018 Thanks Guys. Great comments! Lets get to Spending and Driving... This photo shows various materials that I was considering to use for the Exhaust Muffler. You can see that I was just going to cut off a length of something, and paint it a rust color. I looked at various photos of old mufflers and got the idea to make these from card. That way I could really abuse these well, and get some real rot going on here. I can get smaller details with using card. Painted and rusted through... I was getting ready to install the Mufflers when I ran into a slow down. The path of the Exhaust Pipes, goes out over the frame. It was time to close up the frame, and get all this into one unit. And just like that, the top of the frame is secured and installed, and everything is clean and tidy. Installing the top of the frame has made the whole thing very solid and heavy. Freshly aged.... Now that I have the top of the Frame installed, I can get to thing topside. I have to secure the Mufflers and get the Exhaust Pipes routed. I'll be back.........Thanks All 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peterpools Posted October 19, 2018 Share Posted October 19, 2018 Fantastic - the detail is amazing Keep ‘em comin Peter 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drifter Posted October 21, 2018 Share Posted October 21, 2018 Cant we all club in and get this guys some meds? 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martinnfb Posted October 21, 2018 Share Posted October 21, 2018 The addition of sawhorses is priceless ! Great work! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichO Posted October 21, 2018 Author Share Posted October 21, 2018 Hey You Guys, this is what happens when I'm on my sativa meds! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harv Posted October 21, 2018 Share Posted October 21, 2018 Wow. Just fantastic work.... Harv 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocRob Posted October 22, 2018 Share Posted October 22, 2018 Hi Rich, splendid work here again. With your love for corroded metals, I don't want to see your real car . Keep it coming, your ugly frog is a clinic in scratch building and heavy weathering. Whatever may happen to metal, you show it in your builds . Cheers Rob 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichO Posted October 31, 2018 Author Share Posted October 31, 2018 You guys are great with comments! Thanks. It's been a while cairde, since my last post. The build just dose not look the same any more. I have added items to the top side of the frame that are making things look a bit more crowded. It's been a good build week with a good plan of what I'm doing, but you know how these thing just don't last, so all's right with the world for the moment. At this time I'm sort of building all around the top side, just to add items that I need, and to get the inner details before I cover everything up. I'm at that new point in the build where I can just about build anything in any order. For this report I have added a bunch of Bracing. These parts are stiffeners to brace the top side of the frame. Same as the bottom, just mirrored... These parts below are for a Control Box and a side mount Support... This is the start of a sub frame that supports both the Hoist Crane, and the Rocket Catapult... A batch of new items for the paint shop... A close idea of where these items are to be placed... This Control Box lives at the center of the frame under the Rocket Catapult. It appears to control both the Hoist Crane and the Catapult. I can't really find a good photo of this item due to, it's so deep under everything. I'm also not sure if these are Control Cables, or Hydraulic Hoses... I just sort of used a generic looking material, knowing that this will also disappear from view... Like most items with this build, I don't have much room to place things... At the moment I have not painted the new items. I can see thing easier this way for now... Now that everyone has seen these new items, I can paint, and everything will disappear into itself... Up next is the finishing of the Suspension System, and thinking about Wheels and Tires... Thanks All.......... 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wingco57 Posted October 31, 2018 Share Posted October 31, 2018 Fantastic how you break down complex parts into their basic shapes. Your attention to detail is staggering. I wonder what will happen if you decide to use your skills on an aircraft model. That would be freakin' amazing. Cees 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GazzaS Posted October 31, 2018 Share Posted October 31, 2018 That's some amazing results! Gaz 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichO Posted October 31, 2018 Author Share Posted October 31, 2018 You wont believe this Cees, but the only aircraft I ever thought of scratching is the giant, Gotha G-V. Watching what you are doing with your 0/400 sure has me thinking about this again. Your doing a great job on that build. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martinnfb Posted November 1, 2018 Share Posted November 1, 2018 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichO Posted November 7, 2018 Author Share Posted November 7, 2018 Hey Guys, A brief report for today. I have been finishing the suspension system and starting work on the wheels and tires. My tire construction is very different than the tires I built for the Maz. This time around I have a much better control of the tire shape and the roundness of it. I'll start with what I have for the suspension. I finished up building the corner post for the top end of the shock absorber. A few parts to construct these tiny corner posts... I'll paint the bottom end of the shocks when I get ready to close this up... These items are very small and hard for me to see, but it all will blend in when I'm done... Time for some rubber... The wheel construction was a bit intense. I had quite a small space to work with ... Master Club bolts... The tires are a series of card "doughnuts", that ascend in size to get the side curve... A serious amount of cleanup here. The tire needs to be cleaned and the wheels need a back side... I'll get everything sanded, and then cut the 1.5 million treads to mount on the tire skin. I might be able to start casting these this week. Thanks for watching everyone... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GazzaS Posted November 10, 2018 Share Posted November 10, 2018 You are truly mad... but in an admirable way. Gaz 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martinnfb Posted December 25, 2018 Share Posted December 25, 2018 Excuse my ignorance Rich, are you going to sand cardboard ? What glue did you use ? What is the process that allows you to do so? Cheers Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichO Posted January 1, 2019 Author Share Posted January 1, 2019 Hey Martin, have I got a story for you..... Hey Guys, You can see in the last photo, of the above post. I have constructed the tire with my new "doughnut" technique. All's well so far. In the photo below you can see how I have sanded a flat spot (to make a weighted tire), I next put on a flat piece to cover this hole. I'm going to cast this tire "blank" You can see how the "doughnuts" are arranged to get the tire shape... This is all sealed up and ready for casting... It was at this point were everything went sideways. I had finished the prep work for the mold. I built the Lego container to pour the rubber into, I sealed up the container to the bottom so no rubber would leak out, and got ready to cast the tire blank. I glued the tire to the bottom of the mold and now I'm ready to pour the rubber. Because things are wet, I had a few minutes to get some coffee and do some chores while the glue dried. Obviously I didn't do chores for long enough. I got back and proceeded to mix half of my rubber stash. Everything looks good, so I poured the rubber into the mold. Perfect! I set the mold aside to cure, and off I went to do other things. I came back a few hours later and entered the "twilight zone". Some of the rubber had leaked out of the bottom, not to bad tho. Just enough to spill outside my container and down the front of the desk. The tire blank had come unglued from the container bottom and had floated, like a balloon ,to the top of the pour, so half the tire was sticking out above the rubber surface. And everything was coated in a thick coat of rubber NOT drying, all over everything. $15. American for the rubber waste. I was using older rubber mix and the "hardener" didn't work so well. The cast took about four days to harden, and still had a fair amount of goo when I removed the tire. In all it took about a week to deal with the tire mess. I lost my mojo, the holidays are here. No building for weeks. A couple of days ago the mojo switch was turned on again and thing are going forward. I cleaned my tire blank and rebuilt the mold and cast my tire blank for the treads. Once I got it all sanded, (I left some ridges on the tire blank after sanding) it was time to apply the treads... You can see here that I have added layers of card to get the tire to bulge. I sanded these smooth on the cast... I was surprised at this photo. the tire bulge looks much better in person... First treads... Only a million more to go... Now that I have everything going again, I will start building the rear bumper/stabilizers to break up the tedium of the treads. I'll be back when I get the progress going again Thanks for looking everyone! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichO Posted January 1, 2019 Author Share Posted January 1, 2019 Hey All, It's been a wacky month of families, holidays, food and booze. HAPPY NEW YEAR!! I hope everyone had a good time of it, but it's time to get back to work. I left off with starting to tread my tires. With all the distractions of the holidays I managed to turn a weeks worth of work into a month long job. Once I got the treads applied to the blank, I painted everything to get it all waterproof. Then it was off to building the mold box. Once I got the mold made and ready for casting, it was time to pour the tires... Eight new tires ready for finishing... That's it Martin, not to hard, just very slow and messy... I'll be back soon with cleaning these and mounting to the frame, along with hubs and wheels... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martinnfb Posted January 1, 2019 Share Posted January 1, 2019 This is madness Rich, I am speechless . My right eye is already uncontrollably twitching just by reading the above. Phenomenal work but slightly masochistic All the best in 2019 ! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GazzaS Posted January 1, 2019 Share Posted January 1, 2019 Great job on those tires. Wow! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichO Posted January 8, 2019 Author Share Posted January 8, 2019 Thanks you guys for the great comments!! Hey Altogether, The progress on the tires is going fine. I have sanded down the treads to look a bit worn and I have also cleared out the center hole for the wheels. I started to build the wheels and ran out of bolts. New bolts in a couple of days, so back to the rear bumper and stabilizers. In the photo below you can see how the rear of the frog looks. This close up photo is rather sublime in it's simplicity, but much detail here. This photo shows a bit better the amount of detail to add. The first parts... I was checking for center of balance to the frame, and something is not quite right, but what? It was about here that I looked at the reference photos above, and looked at the build, and realized that the patterns I had did not represent the entire width of the bumper... You can see in the photo below that I have attempted to add the extra length to the ends of the bumper, to more closely match the photos. The addition of the extra bits looked like the pieces were welded onto the bumper, really cool. However I just could not get thing square and true. So the new full length piece at the bottom... The start of the stabilizer pads... This is the start of the stabilizer arms... The location of the Stabilizers looks much better here (like in the reference photos) than where the original patterns had shown to place these. The Stabilizers were to be mounted to the inside of the bumper instead of at the corners. The fit looks fine so far... The extension legs will be trimmed more like the photo above. right now the frame is still up on the sawhorses (thanks again Richard) and these are extended for now... I like the way this looks...it's starting to get a feel of bulk to the build... I'll be back with more tires and wheels when I get the new supplies. So for now, on with more of the frame stuff. Thanks for looking........ 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GusMac Posted January 8, 2019 Share Posted January 8, 2019 Superb scratch work again Rich. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now