Tamiya Haulers - Update time again!

[vanpeebles]

Sept 29, 2024 14:38:20 GMT Rich said:

Sept 28, 2024 14:19:08 GMT vanpeebles said:

I managed to pick up two used tamiya trailers, one a tanker and one the reefer 3 axle, which seems to have all the axle and running gear etc, just no box on top. So pondering making that into a flat bed etc.

Sounds like it’s a nice planked floor and headboard away from being a nice tri-axle flat

That's exactly what I was thinking! Great pics of the run too!

[Rich]

So, since the last update. The roof came off the workshop (through choice, not weather)



And after an extensive refit, I was left with a nice, dry warm space to work in. Finally.



First thing I looked at were a few bits on the Merc, I fitted a sliding 5th wheel to allow hitching other trailers than the tipper, and replaced all the JIS head screws I could with hex head M3 bolts.





I think did some 'graffiti' on a broken Huina exe as a trailer load, having sold the wheel loader as someone was interested in it.

[Rich]

Next on the block: Finish the dry van.

Made up a better rear under-run bar, with reinforcing tubing to prevent the bar squashing





Mockup with the rear door assembly



After that, I started adding the rest of the lights to the framework.





The rear doors I wasn't really sure what I wanted to do with, until I remembered I was given a load of dimpled alloy sheet. That could work...



Final light test after assembly..





And finally, finished with the DOT conspicuity tape.

[Rich]

Next!

Ford fell apart gain.



I wanted to replace the lights on the bottom of the first fuel tanks, the colour was wrong and I wanted lights on both tanks. I was sorted out with these light bar sets, which do the job nicely enough.



I kinda saw this as an opportunity to do a few other mods I'd wanted to for a while, namely the headlight LED colour and the black masking around the headlamp bezels as well as a blackout panel behind the grille.



From cold, icy xenon blue to a warm sealed-beam white.





With that done and the wiring modified to have less... wiring (taking advantage of Beier's common positive rather than running 6 positives, one for each LED) I moved on to the bumper which had always been held on with VHB and frequently fell off (when I bumped into things)
I liked the clean look, but if anyone picked it up without knowing the bumper was just taped on and used it as a hand hold, it's bye bye Ford.



So out with the M2 hex head bolts. I also repurposed some of the little lamp holders under the front slab as chicken lights (with the right colour LED in this time)



Moving on to even more things I wanted to alter, the dash being RHD was one. The truck had been built as an Aussie lorry, which isn't my thing, so conversion to LHD underway. Utilising a poorly painted King dash I had kicking about, I grafted it into the Ford bulkhead. Holes?



Ah yes, my mediocre attempt at making it light up. Dash isn't really accurate but the layout of the controls is as close as I could do with the square panels.



Re-used the Ford steering wheel as it was nicer. Made a new gear lever, and in the driver went. He's had a few to drink, he's legless.



I did also rewire the identification lamps on the cab roof from 12 to 2 wires (yea, I dunno either) but no pics of that. I added some period cab reading material and map sheets and that was that, back on it went.






And there we go. Maybe. I have a few more of the torpedo ident lamps so temped to put some on the top sides of the sleeper. I'll sleep on it and see. Pun. 

[skinnylew]

the detail in these is phenomenal! Wow!