Tamiya Haulers - Update day

[Rich]

From the outset I knew the stock exhaust stacks wouldn't cut the mustard so ordered some stainless tube. I think that's sufficient.





Started installing the cab parts and lights.



Didn't like the visor at first, but it grew on me. Looks badass. Note also Grand Hauler quad headlights installed. Makes a huge visual difference.



Battery tray/hide panel/deck plate made up. It's zintec so it's retained with small magnets glued to the rails.





Cab is loose fitted here but the tail lights are now in and it's all built up.













Managed to squeeze a TBS sound unit in. Speaker is a bit pants but you won't hear any of it in a hall with 20-100 other trucks depending on where I'm driving.

[Rich]

Remember this?



Chop!





Chassis trail fit (not done one of the 'old' trucks yet)



Back together! Using steel B series rails on the rear end.







Yes, the winch works!

[Rich]

Lots has happened with the fleet, forgot to link in the pics we took at the UK National RC Truck gathering, which can be found HERE

All caught up with the NRCTG pics, yes? So in some semblance of order. The flatbed wrecker got liveried up, and I have now decided to sell it, going to deliver it and the yellow Roadside Care van to the new owner at the Mendips RC Truck Club meet. I have some fingers in some pies moving forward with the lack of small commercials though.









I picked up this El Cheapo DoubleE dumper truck at a car boot on holiday which despite being under-scale is ideal for a little fun project



Stripped down with WPL RES V3 electronics going in to be fully proportional on the cheap.





I then ended up with some things after the Swindon RCTC and Southwest RCTC meets...



Crane was a nice fit on the Unimog which gives it a bit of purpose and influenced the decision to sell the flatbed.



Mounted with working winch







Some pics of it in action at West Country RCTC





















It's since gained a beacon, trying to keep it looking like a period 80's medium wrecker so went with a single acorn style.



The other bits in the box?





big trailer!



I wanted to built an in-keeping low boy for the US trucks. I'd settled with the euro-style step deck for the National Gathering but only because I had no timeframe for sorting anything. I'd by chance seen these parts for sale at a meet and it just was made to be.



Folding auxiliary axle uses Lesu simulation airbags. It's a nice look.







I etched the planking detail with a hot knife as a sheet of 3MM ply never looks nice.



Trialled for size. It's quite long.







Looks good behind Old Yeller though.



Time for some paint...





I find the original Tamiya packaging satisfying...



Then it was time again for the West Country RTCT meet. Load the car up!



Pics in no particular order. Trailer ran well despite it's length. Did need quite a swing on the corners but WCRCTC has new roadway including wider radius outer corners so less of an issue but I have a plan for a vehicle to assist with the size of the trailer...













































































And for this update, I will leave you with this little pic. Details are what makes a model.

[Rich]

New stuff arrived, first of which was the Bruder dodge ram 2500. I had a B24KM WPL chassis under another truck I never use so repurposed that with a RESV3 petrol for absolute Mall Crawler BroDozer vibes.





Going to add some more details in time but it’ll be an escort vehicle for the lowboy.

[Rich]

This also joined the fleet on Sunday.



Already stripped down to add some more detail, like a driver, and add a voltage converter to run it on a LIPO as well as rewire the lighting to use LED and be on constantly rather than directional.

[pedalcarjoe]

nice work and attention to detail

[Rich]

Quick-fire updates!

Beacons!



Made up the Oversize load sign





I probably tidied up the bench a bit too but I can't be sure.

[Paul Y]

I didn't know that this world existed.

Lovely!

P.

[generallee]

Me either.

I have no idea what you are talking about most of the time, but I can appreciate the amount of time, effort and attention to detail these models must take. I can remember drooling over the King Hauler in the toy shop window, I had no idea they were still a thing.

"Mall Crawler BroDozer" is quote of the thread for me.

[Rich]

Nov 11, 2022 14:34:44 GMT generallee said:

Me either.

I have no idea what you are talking about most of the time, but I can appreciate the amount of time, effort and attention to detail these models must take. I can remember drooling over the King Hauler in the toy shop window, I had no idea they were still a thing.

"Mall Crawler BroDozer" is quote of the thread for me.

I always wanted one from the first time I saw one. Finally been able to justify it and there is a surprisingly large following and community for the 1/14 trucks.

[Rich]

Had a friend in the WCRCT send me some steps from his Volvo logger he replaced with nicer ones, as we were talking about adding some detail to the HellHound. Looks much better to my eyes anyway.



Following on from that, I thought I could make a brakepipe stand, or pogo stick. Came out well!






Further projects have moved forwards in the form of doing a thing with that green truck.

HoTWire , HARDCORE , it has begun...

[HoTWire]

Hoping to have a hobby room/thing at Weekender, would love some R/C truck action

[Rich]

Nov 12, 2022 20:59:41 GMT HoTWire said:

Hoping to have a hobby room/thing at Weekender, would love some R/C truck action

More than happy to oblige. I WILL have the Deko-dumptruck done by then too

[HARDCORE]

Nov 12, 2022 20:08:12 GMT Rich said:

HoTWire , HARDCORE , it has begun...

YAS!

[Rich]

Just a little Dekotora update..

[HARDCORE]

LOVE this

[vanpeebles]

Wonderful stuff as usual. I still haven't got a truck yet but I treated myself to a TRX4 Defender and also two interesting second hand buggies from a model shop. A losi 22 racer and an old 1989 Kyosho Raider

[Rich]

Nov 24, 2022 18:59:22 GMT vanpeebles said:

Wonderful stuff as usual. I still haven't got a truck yet but I treated myself to a TRX4 Defender and also two interesting second hand buggies from a model shop. A losi 22 racer and an old 1989 Kyosho Raider

Nice, get some pics up somewhere dude!

[HoTWire]

RC TRUCKO RACING!

[Rich]

Nov 29, 2022 13:52:01 GMT HoTWire said:

RC TRUCKO RACING!

Quite a few people who have the ‘hauler’ trucks have race trucks too. There was a racetrack at the National Gathering, was quite a bit of casual racing action on and off over that weekend. Including Colonelk racing a Ferrari F40 with a recovery truck. Because.