Post by 78kw on Sept 18, 2016 4:51:12 GMT -8
I haven't finished a build in about a year, so I dug 2 kits out of the stash to get back into the swing of things. I used the 2002 re-issues of the International Paystar and amt's Loadcraft lowboy, I started this build. Originally it was just going to be an almost box stock build but I added a few things since.
I converted the dump truck kit into a tractor. I used the extra rear cross member included in the kit and added the ramps that came from a Freightliner FLD 120 kit after removing the tabs from the rear of the frame rails.
I moved the rear suspension forward a bit. To do this I ground off the locator pins, filled in the holes on the frame, and using a set of wheels as a guide, slid the entire suspension forward a little.
I also took the brake drums on the steer axle and ground them thinner. Since Ertl's steer axles push the wheels too far out to the side. Doing so does draw the wheels closer to the frame.
I didn't use the kit tires as I hate the plastic 2 piece tires that are included with the Paystar kits. Instead, I went with amt/ERTL 11:20 tires and spoke wheels from other ERTL kits. I also scratchbuilt this winch tower. Using K and S brass, sprue, and parts from an amt Pete wrecker kit including the winch.
A little experiment I tried. As many of you know, the steer axle on Ertl's International kits is molded too wide and must be narrowed. I would imagine the Paystar's axle has the same issue. I wanted to see if this would work. First, I should mention that the kit's front brake drums aren't being used. I don't like the tires that come with the Paystar kits, so amt and Ertl 20" tires are being swapped in. The front brake drums are from another Ertl International kit. I took a DREMEL attachment that slips inside nicely. The raised area in the center of the inner wheel/drum was ground down. When you install these onto the steer axle, it brings the wheel in a little closer. I figured I would try this before narrowing the axle in case I screwed up. It does draw the wheels closer to the frame.
I replaced the simulated wooden deck pieces in the kit with real wood. The planks are just laying in place for now.
This is how it looks at the moment.
The colors are RUSTOLEUM gloss black on the fenders and the yellow is from RUSTOLEUM's farm/ag equipment line. It's called Construction Yellow.
I converted the dump truck kit into a tractor. I used the extra rear cross member included in the kit and added the ramps that came from a Freightliner FLD 120 kit after removing the tabs from the rear of the frame rails.
I moved the rear suspension forward a bit. To do this I ground off the locator pins, filled in the holes on the frame, and using a set of wheels as a guide, slid the entire suspension forward a little.
I also took the brake drums on the steer axle and ground them thinner. Since Ertl's steer axles push the wheels too far out to the side. Doing so does draw the wheels closer to the frame.
I didn't use the kit tires as I hate the plastic 2 piece tires that are included with the Paystar kits. Instead, I went with amt/ERTL 11:20 tires and spoke wheels from other ERTL kits. I also scratchbuilt this winch tower. Using K and S brass, sprue, and parts from an amt Pete wrecker kit including the winch.
A little experiment I tried. As many of you know, the steer axle on Ertl's International kits is molded too wide and must be narrowed. I would imagine the Paystar's axle has the same issue. I wanted to see if this would work. First, I should mention that the kit's front brake drums aren't being used. I don't like the tires that come with the Paystar kits, so amt and Ertl 20" tires are being swapped in. The front brake drums are from another Ertl International kit. I took a DREMEL attachment that slips inside nicely. The raised area in the center of the inner wheel/drum was ground down. When you install these onto the steer axle, it brings the wheel in a little closer. I figured I would try this before narrowing the axle in case I screwed up. It does draw the wheels closer to the frame.
I replaced the simulated wooden deck pieces in the kit with real wood. The planks are just laying in place for now.
This is how it looks at the moment.
The colors are RUSTOLEUM gloss black on the fenders and the yellow is from RUSTOLEUM's farm/ag equipment line. It's called Construction Yellow.
