Ironhide TopKick C4500

[Serioga]

Well, let's open new project in new year!

I wanted to start it 10 years ago.







I recently bought front bumper and 6,6 Duramax engine at Trailertrash Kustoms. Here is the bumper set. It has 2 variants of fog light lenses.



With white fog lights



Reverse side has some cavities, but nothing, that can't be fixed.



Unfortunatelly bumper is too narrow, even for 1/25. It should be 96 mm, but it is only 89 mm.



I will build 1/24. Here is the engine set. It has two variant of valve heads and 3 small cilindrical pieces in front. One is alternator (but I can't identify - which) and two others - I don't know.



Two part pulley/belt set is tied by masking tape, so you don't mistake they relative position



And here are billets for the frame



It unused frame from Revell's Peterbilt Can Do wrecker. Now I'm not sure: if I use this frame and cut & fill all the brackets or use stright KFS or brass tube frame...

[Serioga]

I decided to ask here: I need brake set like this:



which brake set (from Hiroboy range) should I use to reflect this?
I've choose some:
1. https://www.hiroboy.com/124_CSD_Ulti...ct--10793.html
2. https://www.hiroboy.com/124_Ferrari_...uct--5685.html
3. https://www.hiroboy.com/124_AP_Racin...ct--12762.html
4. https://www.hiroboy.com/124_AP_Racin...ct--12761.html
5. https://www.hiroboy.com/125_Corvette...ct--11106.html

[Serioga]

Can anyone tell me the diametr of brakes in links: 1, 3, 4?

[360spider]

I would email Steve, see if he could tell you.

[Serioga]

For now - some progres. A little work with frame spars.

I've lived small rear spring bracket rudiments and made a plate from brass. Front bracket of rear spring is made of Evergreen profile.


Later I've complicated brass part.



Now I've got brake discs.

If someone need dimensios - here are they:


Here I started to make crossmembers and second of rear springs.



All I left to do are - rest of springs, suit some differentials and I ready for cab...

[Serioga]

Let's continue!
Rear springs

Front springs and brackets


Dry fit. Suspension parts are waiting for further work and some more parts.


Searching for axles in my boxes, gave me this.

Black parts are from Meng's Ford 1/24, red - are from GMC Sonoma 1/20. As you can see on photos above - rear axle should be square & rear part of reduction gear should be like Sonoma has.
Front axle reduction gear looks similar to GMC, but shifted wrong side. I shoul turn it 180 degrees.

[Serioga]

Let's continue:

Sonoma's rear axle back part was horrible. New one was made of acril bead & styrol.

I've casted Ford's rear axle, cut off the excess and added semi axles of profiles + steal spike.

Let's glue it togethher...

...add epoxy putty...

... and get TopKick rear axle.


It slightly longer, then must, but I will cut it after fit brakes and wheels.

[GvEman]

Great Build! It’s Hard with that type of scratch building! And you are doing a great Jobb! Keep it up! It’s cool that you are replicating that truck!

[360spider]

No worries for the reigning AFMOTY champion!
Terrific update Sergei.

[Serioga]

Thank you, guys!
Let's renew this dusty topic.

I understood why I haven't pick up the Truck for a long time. It was time to make fasteners for axles to springs, and this is a tedious job.


I worked on the front of the frame. It tapers to the bumper


Cut off the excess plastic, made the front crossbar and added styrene on top





The gearbox of the front axle was not quite correct, if you look at the photo from updates abowe. I cut it up and reversed the parts



however the front and rear of the gearbox did not quite match.


Made a spacer


I couldn't resist trying it all on


Now it's ready to attach the wheels and I can make up the cab. But while we're quarantined, I'll get another Pickup.

[360spider]

Lots of work done here! Is shaping up real nice.
Your attention to detail is terrific!

[stratos75]

Originally Posted by Serioga

Now it's ready to attach the wheels

You didn't say, where will you get the wheels.

[Scale-Master]

Nice work!

[Serioga]

Originally Posted by stratos75

You didn't say, where will you get the wheels.

Sorry! My mistake.
Michael aka stratos75 is kindly helping me to create and print first class wheels for this project!

Now I have copied the steering wheel, wheel column, side mirrors and passenger handle from Silverado kit



The first casting brings me some air bubbles So I will try again. I copied Silverado's tail lights too, with little change.

That's all for now. Thank you for attention!

[Serioga]

​
Hi, fellows!
Still walking around the model. It's time to make a body. ��
Have worked couple evenings in Corel Draw. Here are future decals for the project.


​