spannermonkey

Been a while since I worked on this, sort of lost my drive with it. Second set of side rails and tool box made and fitted, bed plate pulled and drilled for pin location, underside primed and a dark grey paint applied, wheels masked and everything primed. Ramps got some colour. As did the ramp stays. Plenty of details to add but now the base is on and drying it's a step in the right direction.

Rainy day gave me chance to finish up a few bits. Few decals added and the rest of the chrome fitted. still needs wipers, forgot to prime them. NeNew New rims fitted to the front. Waiting on the tyres before I do the rears. Really happy with how it's coming along. Bruder will get some attention now while I wait on parts. Hmm looks like room for one more.

Bit more done over the last couple of days. Rear wing and light touched up and fitted. Seats fitted, electronics roughed in and in the background front grille fitted to cab. Windows in the sleeper, few chrome bits fitted. Really not sure I like the way the rear cab deflectors mount with all the screws on show hence no stickers on them. Might take them off and find a way to mount without fixings on show. This is how it stands now. Still waiting on tyres and I have new rims to fit. Need to get on and finish the Bruder too.

Pulled the masking and brought the cab indoors to fully harden. Be rude not to test it on the chassis. Few finger prints showing up on the picture but the paint finish is very good to say it's out of a rattle can.

Early finish from work today so manger to get the cab into colour.

Bit more rebuilt today. Rear axles back under and steps fitted. Gone are the pink shocks. Standard chrome ones left over from the Grand Hauler build. Fitted springs to help cope with the weight. Tanks fitted complete with vinyl straps. Photo bombed by a random crochet Easter item. Cab plate and 5th wheel back on, along with standard wheels for now. I have some ally rims but I'm waiting for some tyres to arrive. They are Lesu copies so no idea what the quality will be like but worth a try for the price. p Thought I saw this lurking in the background.

Mr posty was kind today even if the weather wasn't. Shiny new ally servo mount and front axle delivered. So it was out with this rather disappointing item. And in with this, including the heavy duty servo saver. New axle built up with no slop. I wanted a GPM item but since Scottybabe did his piece on his YouTube channel about them everywhere seems out of stock. This is a RC Jaz item, first time I've used them but won't hesitate to use them again. Genuine Tamiya mount and this axle shipped from China in 5 days for the cost of just the mount from Modelsport. All fitted and roughly tracked up. Lots more lock on this due to the design. First thing to foul is the track bar mounts on the springs. Very impressed for about 8 quid.

Busy day getting shelf up ready for this to sit on but took advantage of the dry weather to get the cab prep finished and a couple of coats of primer on.

Made some of them a place to live.

My pair of nutters. Velcro the black sprocker loves to play in boxes and thought it was great when model sport used such a big box to send the Knight hauler. Willow is a true English Springer spaniel and as mad as they come but wouldn't swap either of the for diamonds.

This build is starting to test my patients. New paint purchased, small part keyed up and test painted. Massive reaction, paint literally blistered and fell off. So everything has been taken back to bare plastic, washed, primed and two coats of paint applied. Noticed a load of dust on the chassis rails now so more flatting needed. Did manage to get this done. And these. Even the seats needs 4 coats of paint. Cab also got a coat of satin black inside before assembly and filling.

Lovely day and a greenhouse sitting at 34 degrees meant a second coat of paint and some clear coat was possible today. Rear of cab got a fault finding coat of primer. Started to prep some of the cab too, first job removing these moulding lines. After a good bit of flatting down. nice of Tamiya to give you all these extra bits to test paint. This is the new paint too and it's rubbish. Shopping trip after work tomorrow, more primer and some decent paint needed. Also found the servo mount is cracked through one of the unused screw holes. Not very impressed as it has only been driven to test everything works. Ordered an aluminium replacement and a new front axle set up while I was at it, the stock one is very sloppy and the GPM ones get good reviews.

First coat of paint on some of the bits today, must say I'm disappointed with the new brand of paint I tried, very thin and will need a couple more coats. Pictures don't show it but you can really see the primer through it. Back to Halfords paints for me. Back of the cab filled. Needs to settle for a few days then I will stopper it and a few other marks I've noticed on the cab before giving it a dust of primer and full wet sand to show any imperfections.

Managed to get it all pulled apart and the first batch of parts preped and primed. Lovely bit of sun helped it dry nicely in the greenhouse.

Bumper and sun visor fitted. 5th wheel built and fitted, few other odds and ends tidied up. Test couple to the Bruder trailer. Pleased with look of it. Time to pull it to pieces again ready for paint. Fair bit of prep work to do but hopefully the weather is going to dry for a few days and I will get some of it in primer by the end of the week.

Return of killer back ache stopped me doing much today but still managed something. Electronics deck fitted. Rear lights and mud flaps built up and fitted Dropped the cab on just for an idea of the finished look. Cab needs a bit of filling to get it to where I'm happy but it's not too bad. Scania sneaking in the back ground on the Bruder.

Not had a great deal of time to work on my projects so made the most of a spare hour today. Gearbox built in record time and my cheap 80t fitted. Temporary wheels fitted. Test electronics fitted. The 80t is perfect with the stock pinion. Nice controllable speed, set up to half speed on reverse will make parking and coupling much easier. Rest day tomorrow so hopefully get some more done.

My money would go on a Honda Accord touring, did over 150,000 miles in my old one without a problem. When I sold it there was 201,344 miles on the clock, even the clutch was original. Got a civic tourer now and that's every bit as good but don't think there is much chance of getting one for your budget.

Everyone else out at work and pouring rain meant I got an hour to work on this. All the parts are having a basic clean up as this is a dry build then it will be pulled apart for prep and paint. Diffs built and fitted into the axle cases, all with nice bearings in place of the bushings. Links, intermediate drive shaft and shocks fitted. I have a set of aluminium links that I think will go on this, purchased for the Grand Hauler but you really can't see them on that. First bit of bling on. This goes together so much easier than the Scania did. Rear lockers on and wings. Gearbox is next up but want fresh eyes for that.

Didn't know that the Japanese regarded pink in a similar way to the Chinese regard red, either way there not quite my cup of tea and will be going. Anodising is an option but I think I still have a full set of chrome friction shocks from the Grand Hauler as I upgraded those to oil shocks and due to the weight of the load it will be pulling I may have to limit travel with a bit of fuel tube. Also got a nice 80t motor for it, should give loads of torque and a nice controlled speed.

Nothing a coat of paint won't cure. This is destined for a full paint job like the Scania. No need to get you coat OHO I'm not shocked by the comment.

They do drift well on damp decking.

So it's time to start my 3rd Tamiya truck build. The Knight hauler was going to be my second build but the Scania came up first. I have a paint scheme in mind for this one, the Bruder low loader will be painted to match. Love opening a new kit, this one took a battering in transit so the box is heading for the bin. Just why ? I mean pink, of all colours. Servo set up done and front axle fitted, much prefer the American style trucks to build over the Euro trucks. View from underneath, complete with tower pro clone servos. See how they hold up, mainly be a shelf queen so saved a few quid putting these in.