Post by arnd on Jun 3, 2012 14:49:30 GMT -8
1953 GMC heavy Logger
Hi Guys
This project was started some years ago as a single axel tractor and then put back in a box. After I looked over some real impressive logging pictures I decided to start up with a mid 50´es logging truck. Loggers are in my opinion that type of trucks that are a symbol for strong iron, power and hard work.
The facts:
1953 GMC DW 970
Heavy duty Eaton front axel
Heavy duty Rockwell tandem rear axel
Front and rear full operating air brakes
Handbrake drum brake on rear of the transmission
Engine: Detroit Diesel 8V-71
Transmission: Fuller 5speed main and 4 speed auxiliary
Front heavy duty grill guard
Cab guard with fuel tank and water tank for the brakes
And now the parts that will be used for that project
Cab, hood and fenders from AITM
Frame and front axel from Italerie
Rear axel, rims, engine and the transmission from AMT
The tires are from Revel
The logging equipment will be scratch build
The resin cab from AIT is a grate kit of a nice truck. The cab and the fenders are of a very high quality. The only thing that made me a lot of work was the hood. As you can see after I cut out the two parts of the hood I remarked how thick the material is. Those parts needed a lot of sanding until they had the shape they had to have. I think if they will make the cab and the hood out of two parts it will be much easier to hinge it.
After the hood was cut out I started to rework the front so that the radiator fits in to his place. The front was cut out, and allows now a clear view to the radiator thought the front grill. The fenders were glued to the front part. The lights were added and the marker lights were reworked to fit with some clear parts from Revel to become more realistic. The door handles were sanded and reworked to have a realistic look. Then I added the push button o each side. Then the two parts of the hood were added and hinged. Because of the all high mileage and the hard work of the truck, the parts of that truck are crooked and old. I think it is much easier to put the parts straight together than to make that crooked and to give that an old and stretched look.
Now I start with the frame. It is a standard Italeri frame with the front springs and axel. The frame was shorted on the back for 20 mm and I added a part of 15 mm to the front so that the cab and the fenders fit well with the tires. As far as the frame was for a single axel truck it had to be starched. I just took some frame parts from the spare box and glued it together. Some more sanding and some cross members are needed and the frame is ready for the rear axel.
The rims are from the AMT International Paystar dump truck and fit grate to the axel. The tires from Revell are grate for that rims and give the truck an impressive hard working look.
The front ones and the rear ones ready reworked to have a more realistic look.
To give the tires the real look I had to use different parts from different truck and cars from AMT until the result was ok for me. The next photo shows the difference between my reworked rims and the standard AMT rims, the tires were too close to each other.
The rear axel will be from the AMT Autocar and can be used with out any problems on the Italeri frame. The only thing I have to do is to rework the rims to fit with the metal axels. The next step will be to look for the right cross members and glue them into the frame.
Here some pics to see how much work it was to rework the hood and to make it moveable. As you see the hood was very thick and how much resin I had to sand away.
Here you can see the firewall which is from the Chevrolet pickup and has to be reworked a bit to close the wholes in the resin cab.
And here you can see the interior. It is the original one from the cab.
I reworked the front bumper and mounted it to the frame.
The door handle were reworked to make them more realistic.
Then I started the frame. I decide to change it to a so called “double taper”. Or better said nearly one. As a pattern I used some photos from trucks which were used in Alaska for that job. And tried to realize the 5 inch from the end to the middle of the rear axel. It is just around 4.8 inch but I think it looks like it has to. After the parts were fixed and glued together everything was sanded and the hole for the pintle hook was made.
The frame now is ready. All the cross members are installed and I added some rivets to make it more realistic. The footsteps under the doors are already glued too the frame.
The interior is reworked and I started to build up the doghouse.
On the rear axel I added the plumbing for the air brakes and the brake drum cooling system. The truck will have wedge style brakes on the front and on the rear. I think they were quiet popular for such trucks. The parking brake will be a drum brake on the drive shaft.
Here some pics from the engine, a DD 8V-71 with the two transmission cases.
The truck will have 10 feet wide bunks, that means 12,2 cm in 1/25 and it looks impressive.
The cab protector. It is nearly finished, I just have to sand it a bit on the right side and then it is ready to be installed to the truck. The fuel tank is ready too, and glued to the frame.
Here one more photo from the filling unit for the water tank.
The next step will be the brake system. I have a maintenance manual for the model 620 thru 980. There is a lot of information about the hydraulic brake system but less for the air brakes. That’s the reason for some questions up to you.
Did such trucks have a hand brake valve for the trailer?
Did the trailer have only one air hose or two? Or was it probably original with one but during the years it was changed to a two hose system?
Were the trailer brakes water cooled too?
Thanks a lot for your efforts.
So long Arnd
Hi Guys
This project was started some years ago as a single axel tractor and then put back in a box. After I looked over some real impressive logging pictures I decided to start up with a mid 50´es logging truck. Loggers are in my opinion that type of trucks that are a symbol for strong iron, power and hard work.
The facts:
1953 GMC DW 970
Heavy duty Eaton front axel
Heavy duty Rockwell tandem rear axel
Front and rear full operating air brakes
Handbrake drum brake on rear of the transmission
Engine: Detroit Diesel 8V-71
Transmission: Fuller 5speed main and 4 speed auxiliary
Front heavy duty grill guard
Cab guard with fuel tank and water tank for the brakes
And now the parts that will be used for that project
Cab, hood and fenders from AITM
Frame and front axel from Italerie
Rear axel, rims, engine and the transmission from AMT
The tires are from Revel
The logging equipment will be scratch build
The resin cab from AIT is a grate kit of a nice truck. The cab and the fenders are of a very high quality. The only thing that made me a lot of work was the hood. As you can see after I cut out the two parts of the hood I remarked how thick the material is. Those parts needed a lot of sanding until they had the shape they had to have. I think if they will make the cab and the hood out of two parts it will be much easier to hinge it.
After the hood was cut out I started to rework the front so that the radiator fits in to his place. The front was cut out, and allows now a clear view to the radiator thought the front grill. The fenders were glued to the front part. The lights were added and the marker lights were reworked to fit with some clear parts from Revel to become more realistic. The door handles were sanded and reworked to have a realistic look. Then I added the push button o each side. Then the two parts of the hood were added and hinged. Because of the all high mileage and the hard work of the truck, the parts of that truck are crooked and old. I think it is much easier to put the parts straight together than to make that crooked and to give that an old and stretched look.
Now I start with the frame. It is a standard Italeri frame with the front springs and axel. The frame was shorted on the back for 20 mm and I added a part of 15 mm to the front so that the cab and the fenders fit well with the tires. As far as the frame was for a single axel truck it had to be starched. I just took some frame parts from the spare box and glued it together. Some more sanding and some cross members are needed and the frame is ready for the rear axel.
The rims are from the AMT International Paystar dump truck and fit grate to the axel. The tires from Revell are grate for that rims and give the truck an impressive hard working look.
The front ones and the rear ones ready reworked to have a more realistic look.
To give the tires the real look I had to use different parts from different truck and cars from AMT until the result was ok for me. The next photo shows the difference between my reworked rims and the standard AMT rims, the tires were too close to each other.
The rear axel will be from the AMT Autocar and can be used with out any problems on the Italeri frame. The only thing I have to do is to rework the rims to fit with the metal axels. The next step will be to look for the right cross members and glue them into the frame.
Here some pics to see how much work it was to rework the hood and to make it moveable. As you see the hood was very thick and how much resin I had to sand away.
Here you can see the firewall which is from the Chevrolet pickup and has to be reworked a bit to close the wholes in the resin cab.
And here you can see the interior. It is the original one from the cab.
I reworked the front bumper and mounted it to the frame.
The door handle were reworked to make them more realistic.
Then I started the frame. I decide to change it to a so called “double taper”. Or better said nearly one. As a pattern I used some photos from trucks which were used in Alaska for that job. And tried to realize the 5 inch from the end to the middle of the rear axel. It is just around 4.8 inch but I think it looks like it has to. After the parts were fixed and glued together everything was sanded and the hole for the pintle hook was made.
The frame now is ready. All the cross members are installed and I added some rivets to make it more realistic. The footsteps under the doors are already glued too the frame.
The interior is reworked and I started to build up the doghouse.
On the rear axel I added the plumbing for the air brakes and the brake drum cooling system. The truck will have wedge style brakes on the front and on the rear. I think they were quiet popular for such trucks. The parking brake will be a drum brake on the drive shaft.
Here some pics from the engine, a DD 8V-71 with the two transmission cases.
The truck will have 10 feet wide bunks, that means 12,2 cm in 1/25 and it looks impressive.
The cab protector. It is nearly finished, I just have to sand it a bit on the right side and then it is ready to be installed to the truck. The fuel tank is ready too, and glued to the frame.
Here one more photo from the filling unit for the water tank.
The next step will be the brake system. I have a maintenance manual for the model 620 thru 980. There is a lot of information about the hydraulic brake system but less for the air brakes. That’s the reason for some questions up to you.
Did such trucks have a hand brake valve for the trailer?
Did the trailer have only one air hose or two? Or was it probably original with one but during the years it was changed to a two hose system?
Were the trailer brakes water cooled too?
Thanks a lot for your efforts.
So long Arnd
? What do you all think? 
