Mack CL700 Custom (Resin Conversion)

Well here I go again with another big rig. This time I hope to do some subtle alterations ie: alloy fuel tanks, wheels, extra lockers and the like so here is the story so far.

The resin conversion

I also scratch built a right hand drive dash and kept a mould of it.

This is how the first cast turned out .

I based the truck on the Italari 1/24th generic chassie using a Western Star Constellation as the base and slightly modified the chassie and spring mount points to accept the bumper and hood assembly as I,m installing the kit engine.






I also removed the daycab rear panel and replaced it with the sleeper access panel and added two battery boxes from a Mack Superliner kit I had in the spares box.



The extra tool lockers on chassie . Any one interested in the measurement I used to modify the chassie I will be putting them in the review section after I have completed the model as the conversion comes with no instructions and is available at p+p vintagekits for $80 plus p+p  the photo etch grill is a extra $10.
                                                                                           

Cool model conversion Tony. As a "big truck" guy, I will be watching this build. I like the resin conversion kits, and have several.

The wheels and the fuel tanks look great, and are obviously not from the kit. They look like some of the aluminum ones I have purchased from KFS in England. Please let us know where these great parts were found!

Is that the Western Star sleeper? Or from another kit?

Pete

Really cool, I'm glad there's resin conversion parts for the truck market too! A builder was looking for a specific "aero look" body and there didn't seem to br one, so he would have to do his own conversion. Thanx for showing how one of these is done. Let us know how interior and other areas fit or need modification, as this is interesting!

Interesting conversion! I like your approach on this and the castings you have done are looking good. Keep it up and keep us posted.

Some good modeling going on here. I have never built a big rig, so know very little about them. I like what you have going on this one.

Impressive !!
001 

pete s wrote:Cool model conversion Tony. As a "big truck" guy, I will be watching this build. I like the resin conversion kits, and have several.

The wheels and the fuel tanks look great, and are obviously not from the kit. They look like some of the aluminum ones I have purchased from KFS in England. Please let us know where these great parts were found!

Is that the Western Star sleeper? Or from another kit?

Pete

Pete the fuel tanks are the ones KFS had but since Howard stopped stocking them you can get them direct from MCA (Mike Cherry) Don,t know what the turn around will be to the USA but I normaly get the stuff I need in 3-4 days depending as Mike still works full time in engineering and the small scale is a hobby. I will find his direct email address if you want it for future use. The sleeper is the Western Star one and believe it or not they are the kit wheels stripped of chrome with Fairy Powerspray then Alclad black base then Alclad Chrome. (I was kinda WOW when they dried too).

Thanks for all the kind comments from all on the forum.

Now back to the build. As the kit has no Visor or door cards I,ve been playing and made my own.





                                                                                                                          Tony.

Well we are back in the game (as they say). Got laptop back so updates on the build can commence.

I'm not into big rigs Tony but this is looking good. Nice work.

Those tanks look fabulous.

Now I have the cab sitting a bit better I have done some more work and added a bit of paint to the frame plus the rear mudguard hangers.


I also fitted some injector fuel lines.

Nice. The chassis and engine looks perfect.

Cool wiring on the engine. One of the things a lot of car builders are stumped on is truck engine detailing, nice work!

Just don't add spark plug wires .... LOL.     

Well here,s just for you Pete. 1 or 2 more wires, air lines to brake chambers and the lines to the air bags.    Spark plugs  .













That,s all for the moment be back once I get some work on the cab and hood done.

Looks great!!!

I still can't believe how great those wheels look with Alcad. Very nice job. No spark plug wires, but the chassis airing looks spot on!!

This is coming along nicely Tony. Can't wait to see the cab and hood!

No spark plugs what I,ve tried to do is simulate the injectors and diesel lines from the diesel pump to the injector as the engine is the Cummins N14 seemingly the standard kit item used by Itallari on there kits. I do have a Mack E7 engine in resin but need it for another kit plus I need to make a new mould from it as the original is bust. Just I ain,t got time at the moment (to busy at work) so having to squeeze everything around that at present. Got the hood painted and the photo etch parts in place
Cab may be done tonight can,t say for certain.
The secret with the alclad chrome wheels is I use Humbrol gloss black for the base (allow to dry for 12-24 hours) then 2-3 coats depending of alclad polished aluminium let dry for 24 hours at room temp bring to a deep shine using 100% cotton balls ( the ones her in doors has for removing make up)   Then give them 3-4 coats of Humbrol clear poly top coat then leave for another 24 hours at room temp then give another shine with a new cotton ball. Time consuming but worth it in the end I think.

Tony, thanks for the hints on the wheel finishing. I use Alcad Polished Aluminum, but over Modelmaster gloss black. But I have not tried the polishing, and then adding the clear, and then polishing again. I will have to try your technique. It sure does look real nice!

Just kidding about the spark plug wires!! As trivia, it is interesting that CAT did have a spark plug on their 2007 emissions rated engines! It was in the exhaust just aft of the two sequential turbos, where they injected some fuel to clean up the exhaust. Weird system, and had poor reliability. A few years after that, CAT decided to get out of the highway truck engine business. Good thing, as their newer engines were not received well by the customers!

To tell the truth Pete. I don,t think there new Industrial engines are as cracked up as the ones in the past back when I was 20. I worked on a Opencast (Mine) and the 777,s ran as sweet as a nut. But now some 24 years later I drive the biggest heap of ........ I,ve ever layed eyes on yet it,s made by the same company but It,s a loading shovel. It spend more time in the repair bay than working. It,s like I,ve said for years. A engine never needed a computer to run in the 70,s so why does it need one now. These LEZ regulations and Euro 6 reg,s are all just a con to make quick cash.

WoW ! Everything looks great. nice detailing !!!

That chassis is very nice. Excellent looking detail.  

Started to brave putting the decals on Tuesday night and got the hood done. Only another 3 mile of pinstripe to go now.

 3 miles ain't so bad.  

Zbuckster wrote: 3 miles ain't so bad.  

   Still got a few month till IPMS show in June so she,s just steady away Buck. I don,t want to make a hash of it this far down the line. Before you ask those pinstripes are a pain in the butt to apply.

Cheers Bruce.