discussion 1/35 Mirror Models Diamond T dump truck.

[outrunner]

Nice progress, often think fitting sequences are strange.

Thanks John, I have noticed this on other models.

Looking good Andy. I agree that construction sequences are sometimes strange. Surely the most logical build sequence is that which would follow the build of the real vehicle.

Thanks Tim, as long as it looks right at the end it does not matter if you change the order of things.................................mostly.

Andy.

 

[Jim R]

Hi Andy
Nice start. I think once you get into dealing with the many small parts things will get easier.
Jim

 

[outrunner]

I gave the engine a bit of paint and a dirty up, probably a waste of time as unless I can figure out how to make the bonnet openable no one will see it.
View attachment 408905
View attachment 408906
View attachment 408907
While waiting for some other bits to set fully I decided to have a play with the PE.
View attachment 408908
A few months ago I iinvested in a small PE bender, a pair of Tamiya PE pliers and a diamond file which at the time I thought was a bit of a waste but today I was pleased I had them. Now all I have to do is stick it all together properly, that will be fun I reckon.

Andy.

 

[outrunner]

Well, that is time I will never get back but it seemed to go quite well for someone with very little PE experience.
View attachment 408949
View attachment 408950
Sorry for the picture quality, or lack of it but the camera battery was running down and it shows I really do need a better light for the bench.

Andy.

 

[Tim Marlow]

Looking good Andy. Don’t worry about the time, you can never get any of it back, so you might as well do this as anything else!

 

[outrunner]

The build is moving along nicely and almost ready to fit the axles.
View attachment 409012
I know it does not look much but there is a lot work with fiddly bits in there.
While waiting for the springs to set fully I thought I might start on the cab, this is where it goes from fiddly to downright fragile. first thing to stick on are the handbrake and 3 gear levers like those shown below.
View attachment 409013
View attachment 409014
In the absence of a razor saw which is still in the post somewhere I manged to make a tool using a very fine piercing saw blade, it wasn't easy and it took a while but I got there with two parts before calling it a night.
View attachment 409015
View attachment 409016
You can see by the blade just how thin these things are. I am sure I have mentioned before that Mirror Models have a lot of detail but they are not for the faint hearted.

Andy.

 

[Guest]

Think Determined should be your middle name Andy.There is nothing more nerve racking than cutting fragile pieces. You just wait for the snap !
Good going to cut those parts of the sprue like that .

 

[outrunner]

Think Determined should be your middle name Andy.There is nothing more nerve racking than cutting fragile pieces. You just wait for the snap !
Good going to cut those parts of the sprue like that .

Thanks John, I was sweating a bit when cutting them as the piercing blade is hard to keep in line, I might wait untill my razor saw arrives before I break something.

Andy.

 

[outrunner]

Well I was going to show you the almost complete chassis including the obligatory mistake but the memory card in my camera seems to have locked itself and the tab is missing so I could not take any pics. I did a little work on the cab floor including those pesky levers and found something not right about the kit. The sprues contain a few parts that are obviously for the wrecker model, but no front bumper for the dump truck, the bumper that is there is for the wrecker which is different but I have a bit in the spares box that will do as the bumper is just a length of c section, nothing fancy so not a big deal. A trip to the shops tommorow for a new SD card should see things OK for my next report.

Andy.

 

[outrunner]

Nearly there with the chassis, engine just dry fitted to check all was lined up.
View attachment 409246
There is a lot of time consuming work in there.
View attachment 409247
View attachment 409248
No doubt you will have spotted the mistake, but by the time I noticed it it was too late to do anything about it as the diff drive on the top of the axle is so thin that even flooding it with TET trying to remove it would have been fatal, anyway, that's what universal joints are for. :smiling5:
Started work on the cab floor, that lever set is very fragile and took ages to remove from the sprues and quite a while to clean them up and fix in position.
View attachment 409249
As a distraction from throwing plastic around I cut up the colour scheme picture to match up the grey tipper body to the red cab, the top one in the photo and I think it looks good, opinions welcome.
View attachment 409250
Thats all for today, I need a rest.

Andy

 

[Mini Me]

Hi Andy, all red is my "fave", but paint it the way you like it.........the frame looks good and those levers look eggshell fragile.....don't breathe on them too heavily or you might melt one.

 

[Lee Drennen]

Andy. Looking quite well. Is that a Hercules or a continental engine? I would say you have to paint it either red or dark green Diamond T love these colors

 

[outrunner]

Andy. Looking quite well. Is that a Hercules or a continental engine? I would say you have to paint it either red or dark green Diamond T love these colors

Lee, it looks like a Hercules engine but if I build it with closed bonnett halves no one will know.

Andy.

 

[adt70hk]

Andy,

Great work so far!

ATB.

Andrew

 

[Tim Marlow]

Looks fantastic Andy. I too prefer the all red....but you go with what you want, it’s your model!

 

[outrunner]

Thanks for the kind comments guys but I have decided to go with the red cab/wheels and the grey tipper.

Andy.

 

[Jim R]

Hi Andy
You're doing a great job with this. Neat PE work - it does take time and often there are parts on a PE fret which add nothing or are so small they're impossible to use so deciding what to use needs thought.
Jim

 

[Graeme C.]

Andy, there's a lot of detail & fiddly stuff in this build, but you're doing a good job of it.

 

[scottie3158]

Andy,
this is a great build I feel your pain I built their Diamond T wrecker a while a go. but it is worth it as they build up to great kits.

 

[outrunner]

Many thanks for the comments chaps, makes me feel I am getting there with this modelling stuff. I built up part of the cab internals tonight, a slow job as most of the bits needed a bit of fettling.



I was going for a slightly worn and dusty look but I am not sure if it OK but once the cab is built up no one will see it. The back wall is just dry fitted for the picture and now I notice the handbrake lever is on backwards as the brass coloured release handle should face the rear but as those things a so delicate it will be staying that way.

Andy.