BIG RIG RAT

[TRM]

Great looking suspension Scott!! Nice scratchin'!! Do I see some Tichy in there?? Keep it coming!!!

 

[Junkie]

Thanks guys. I'll have another update later on. The front suspension is pretty much done now. I had left the radius rods setup nice and solid overnight, and check in on them quick this morning - it's all good to go. Only thing I might have to revisit are the upper shock mounts. Should be a nice tight front end.

hooter...that is Tichy Train stuff. Styrene rivets, bolt heads etc... lovely stuff for this kinda building.
http://tichytraingroup.com/index.php?page=view_category.php&category=NBW+%26+Rivets&offset=0

 

[Junkie]

Here's a bit of an update from last night's work. Sorry, but it's tricky to photo this..it's not glued up and really isn't a friction fit either.

I made the radius rods. Heat, evergreen. Once hot enough my son held a round file and we used that as a 'tool' to make the bends equal.

Also have the front end shocks sorted out, with the connection points. It's all snug when put together but needs to be glued up. You can also see the connection points for the radius rods in this photo (next to spring tie in, and again below the axle) - and no they aren't accurate, should be 90° with a bolt tie into the end of the rod, but will work for a model.

So with that the front suspension is built. I think the rear end will be a bit simpler, a few less components and I made extra wishbones for that already.

 

[adampolo13]

Holy Smokes! That is some very clean scratch building. Nice work all around.

 

[The Nylon Gag]

Very cool project Bossman

Very clean scratching sir.

Gag

 

[noname]

Everything is nice and clean. The radius rods came out perfect.

 

[Junkie]

Thanks for the comments guys. I really do appreciate it. Feed on it really.

So, I decided to glue up the front suspension. Too difficult to work on the rear end with this all falling apart with each move. I did not tie in the rods though...I can bend em out a bit and get paint in there. You might notice my sloppy weld bead job...not the best but under the blanket of weathering should do.

I also made so coil springs for the rear end. I tried a few methods of getting the wire wrap...then I walked by some screws and instantly saw how I could make em. Nice part is that when the wire is in the screw you can 'pinch' the top coil shut without collapsing the entire thing. Easy to make 100 identical units too. Thank you Lord for that one.

Working on getting that setup. Hopefully a rolling chassis with 24hrs.

 

[Chris S]

Front end looks sweet ,The welds look good from where Im sitting . and thats a clever Idea for making springs !! ,shocks are excellent ;D

Chris.

 

[noname]

I've used the screw trick myself. It's a pain without them. Trying to keep the coils evenly spaced that is. :

That front end and frame is looking good. Heavy duty which is what you'd need to support that big mill.

 

[CTspeedshop]

Looks awesome Scott! I'm really diggin it.

 

[hooterville75]

I also made so coil springs for the rear end. I tried a few methods of getting the wire wrap...then I walked by some screws and instantly saw how I could make em. Nice part is that when the wire is in the screw you can 'pinch' the top coil shut without collapsing the entire thing. Easy to make 100 identical units too. Thank you Lord for that one.

Scott, once you wrapped the wire around the screw, did you pull the wire off the screw and insert into the styrene OR did you cut the screw off, file flat on the ends and place the styrene caps on each end ? Either way its awesome. Am really getting educated by this thread/build on scratch building and taking many many notes along the way ha ha. Keep it coming, great stuff, excellent build as always. Awesome to hear your son is involved in this build with you as well.

 

[JohnSimmons]

I can almost see that lightbulb above your head when you saw that screw

 

[geegad]

well screw me why did i never think of that idea..and some real nice scratch building buddy

 

[Junkie]

Thanks guys. It's almost rollin'

Hooter - I pinched the ends tight in place on the screw, then I unscrewed it and gently filed the ends flat. Then I place it on my 2 part styrene piston/shock.

 

[adampolo13]

Most excellent work so far! Have you thought about paint yet? Just curious where you're going to take this.

 

[Junkie]

Thanks Adam.

Paint. Not sure. I don't think these truck cabs rusted...aluminum or something.

Feel free to make suggestions guys. It's a Rat Rod though....very ratty.

 

[adampolo13]

I think you're pretty accurate in "non-rust" most of the picutres I've see of Big Rig Rat's show very clean bodies. The only rusty rats I've seen so far are cars and pick up trucks.

It may sound a little "Plane Jane" but what about a real nice pearl white? Something very polished and clean.

 

[Junkie]

True...

Sorry, but this aint no hot rod. That will be another build.

Corroded aluminum perhaps, but nothing pretty on this guy. Frame will be rusted out too.

 

[adampolo13]

Oh man, your starting to sound like TRM. He can't touch styrene withough adding some rust to it. hahaha

If your paint turns out half as nice as your scratch building skills this thing will be a jaw dropper. Keep up the good work.

 

[Junkie]

Thanks. Let's hope.

I will build a nice shiny big rig hot rod at some point, but this one, well she's gonna be a pig.