I would very much like to do so, I mean sell those as kits, since offering already made model is not my thing. (it takes way to much of my spare time). but I need to find a way to make available all the cylinder parts easily. because the fuel tanks, the air filters and the bigger sections of the mufflers, are all hand turn on a mini lathe. Regarding the construction equipment, they do not have so much big cylinders involved, except the hydraulics shafts, which are all laser cut in two parts, the only fallback is the fact that they (the hydraulics shaft) can't move. There is always somethings that stops me from making those as kits when there are complex parts involved. (For sure I'm staying away of things that need decals...for my sanity:wideeyes I'll kept some future posts as to how my research goes. Maybe 3D printers will be a better solution then. Ben
Ben, I encourage you to further research means to more easily fabricate some of those parts that you have turned on your lathe. Perhaps making masters and then molds to produce cast resin pieces or something of that nature. You logging truck is timely and needed in this hobby as more folks would like to do logging modules, (me) and trucks are needed as well as the vehicles and machinery to support a logging industry. There is an answer to your dilemma, but it may be too costly. I'm hoping you can make this truck come to the masses without going bonkers.
Well, after a full year of R&D, I finally was able to make into production the truck I had designed. I had purchased a small CNC, had to learn again G-code (had learned it in college, but had never used it for the last 25 years) lost my job in October, I was working really hard in 2013 & 2014 to keep afloat the plant I was working at, didn't work so well. So last November I had time to set up my CNC and do some trial and error stuff, and at the same time sending some resume here and there. I’m very proud to have finally finished the processes needed to make those construction vehicles available as kits, yes! You can assemble those. So without delay, here's my latest kit, a Kenworth T800 tractor or dump truck. Compare to 3D printed models, I find those easier to paint, because most of the parts are separated, so it is easier to paint during assembly. This is a kit where you can work on it continuously non stop, by preparing aside all kinds of parts while other parts are waiting for the glue or the paint to dry. Here’s a pic showing the development process to create the kit, compare to houses, it took me no less than 8 versions where I had to do micro fine adjustments and all sort of tinkering on them. For houses, it usually take no more than 3 versions to create a final kit. This kit includes all the parts needed to assemble either a tractor model or a dump truck. buy two if you want both. the low boy trailer will probably be one of my next kit. I'll first finish my orders to Zscale stores, then I'll make available this truck on my web site. Other photo available here. https://picasaweb.google.com/112488631516994596395/KenworthT800 Thank you for looking!
Thanks for the encouragement comments guys. Yes, this little tank is on the back burner, I'm waiting for a real (From Austria cool tool) counter-shaft part that I've ordered a few weeks ago. Because all parts that are only being hold from the chuck, is unusable. Both My CNC and the mini lathe unit are from China. but one is average to ok, and the lathe is the most ridiculous crap copy I have ever seen, nothing compared the the real Unimat from Austria, and even the Unimat has some issues with their plastic parts and bearing, the plastic cracks from the oil coming from the bearing, although their parts are way better constructed. This is a photo of the unit I had modified to create the Fuel tank and muffler cylinders. So the filters cylinders that goes on the bigger KW log truck had to wait for my CNC to be improved. Boy! $80 just for a mini counter shaft. Once I have this new counter-shaft, I may do some trails on the little Stuart Tank canon later on. Ben
I've just uploaded a small video, showing the construction steps for the KW T800 kit. This is only Steps 1 of the manual, depending on the comments and suggestions, I'll see if I put more steps along the way. Maybe one step per week. [video=youtube;00wmo0fIjmY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00wmo0fIjmY[/video]
My comment?.....................excellent and wonderful for those who can't quite grasp written or visual instructrions on a sheet of paper. Beautiful work!
The video of Step 2 is now online. [video=youtube_share;EQ5qdW7aW1Y]http://youtu.be/EQ5qdW7aW1Y[/video]
Please keep posting the construction video's they are Great ! What is the tool you are using to put the glue on called ? And where can I get one?
Ah! yes, my handy tool to apply glue, it's only a Chinese chop stick, cut in half with a (ball point pin) inserted into it, then I took out the plastic ball from the pin. You can see more info here on this page: Tools page from my web page Thanks, I'll try to post one video per week. (During a Monday or Wednesday) Ben
Let me translate. Chop sticks (or any wooden dowel, etc.) Sewing needle (the kind that go in a machine, i.e. that can be treaded) ---> you can't cut the head off a standard pinning needle, they are *hardened* (but you can grind, my friend) Drill hole in end of wooden dowel (you choice of sourcing) Insert sewing need or pin. CA helps make sure. Lube it first, before inserting. :cute:
