Oldmopars Posted November 20, 2021 Posted November 20, 2021 I am not an expert on Mack trucks, I do know that the R cab could be had with a steel hood, but not sure if it would look exactly like this. I am taking a DM800 by MPC and putting a cab from an AMT R685ST on it and reworking the nose to fit. I never liked the offset DM cab. I hated how long the metal hood looked on the DM800, the fenders seemed to stick out way too far and give it a strange look. I have removed 3/4in or 18 3/4 scale inches out of the front. I moved the radiator back, and shortened the frame. I also had to move the engine back a bit and relocate the front mounts and make new rear mounts. I have a plan for this, I will be adding a 20ft shippin container to the back and making it into a "camper". The wjole thing will have a post-apocalyptic feel. After a major SHTF event this truck was cobbled together out of what parts could be found. I am currently cutting up the plastic hood parts to make them fit, but then I plan to cut them out of some .015 brass sheet. I can then add some light damage to them. I may also do the same to the fenders or use thin aluminum. Here is where it is at right now.
Oldmopars Posted November 21, 2021 Author Posted November 21, 2021 This is the inspiration for this build. I would have used a military truck, but I have not found one in 1/24-1/25 scale. https://www.motor1.com/news/396473/military-vehicle-tiny-home-conversion/
Oldmopars Posted November 21, 2021 Author Posted November 21, 2021 (edited) I have worked a bit more on the R800. More hood fitting, made a hole for the air cleaner. Redid the exhaust so it fits. added dechromed tanks from the DM800. I had to shorten the fron axle as the tires stuck out 1/4in on each side. I ireworked all the steering linkage and cut down the steering shaft and made a hole in the fender for it. I had to cut down the R685ST air cleaner to fit over the fender. Made new fuel tank brackets. When I first had this idea, I thought I could just swap the DM cab wih the R cab. No, way more work than that. In some ways I think I would have been better off puting the steel hood on the R685ST So, if the cab is an R, and the engine is a 865, would this be a R865? Edited November 21, 2021 by Oldmopars
DRIPTROIT 71 Posted November 22, 2021 Posted November 22, 2021 Looks like a cool project! Great start!
Oldmopars Posted December 12, 2021 Author Posted December 12, 2021 I have been dividing my limited time between 3-4 projects. I was able to get some time on this one today. I got the interior finished up. Nothing crazy, just a basic interior, I will dust it up later to give it a warn and dirty feel. The frame is painted, engine painted, and body parts in primer. I will be painting the wheels, but until I decide for sure on a body color, they are black. Here is another mock up to show progress.
Mopar - D Posted December 13, 2021 Posted December 13, 2021 Wow there’s a lot of little details with converting the DM to a R type. I believe your right that it may of been easier to start with the R first.
Oldmopars Posted December 17, 2021 Author Posted December 17, 2021 I just placed my order for the 20ft shipping container that will make the "Camper" on the rear. Will not arrive till after Christmas, but its on the way. I am thinking about converting this to a 6x6. Any suggestions where to get a driven front axle and transfer case? Maybe some bigger front and rear wheels/tires?
stavanzer Posted December 20, 2021 Posted December 20, 2021 For the front axle, you might look into a resin 1/24 scale URAL Truck. Only idea I have.
Oldmopars Posted December 28, 2021 Author Posted December 28, 2021 I finally got the Shipping container kit in the mail. I spent the day cutting and modifing it to fit the truck. I have some new wheels on/tires on the way and will be making a driven Rockwell for the front. I used the hold down clamps used on the trailers to make a frame to hold the box to the truck. This allows me to get it set in place, and then pull it off to do the paint and detils. It also replicates how it would be held down in real life. More to come.
Oldmopars Posted December 30, 2021 Author Posted December 30, 2021 I remade the hood in brass, made a transfer case, new springs for the new driven axle. I added a brass door to the camper.
Oldmopars Posted January 9, 2022 Author Posted January 9, 2022 More work on the truck today. I was able to get some paint on the cab and some work on the box. I added a chimney for a wood stove inside. Window, door. I also got my tires and wheels in the mail. I painted the door on the right side a different color and one of the hood sides tan. Sme dents in the fenders will add to the worn look I want. I was also able to gett he front axle cut to size and I made new springs to get the axle under it.
gotnitro? Posted January 9, 2022 Posted January 9, 2022 @Oldmopars your phantom camper looks fantastic! Has that cobbled together parts look that really sells the theme. Funny thing a few days ago we watched a show where companies showed how to convert shipping containers into log cabins or workshops
kuhnj Posted January 10, 2022 Posted January 10, 2022 Looks amazing! Agree with Jeff, the multi-color scheme really adds to it.
DRIPTROIT 71 Posted January 11, 2022 Posted January 11, 2022 This is so cool!! I really like the dents in the door!
Mopar - D Posted January 14, 2022 Posted January 14, 2022 Very interesting build Scott looking forward to seeing what you do next on this one.
Oldmopars Posted January 17, 2022 Author Posted January 17, 2022 I've been able to get more done on the truck. I am almost done with the weathering on the truck part, and I have just started on the camper portion. I have made some 55 gallon drums out of aluminum. These will get weathered and stuck on the rack above the cab. I am adding a rack to the roof from wood, this will get various things stuffed under a tarp. I had the decals on both sides, but the tape ulled off one side. I figure I will just make that part of the weathering./damage.
vincen47 Posted January 17, 2022 Posted January 17, 2022 Yeah, this one is coming along great. Don’t worry about the decals. Happy accidents are great with builds like this one. Containers are always getting damaged in shipment and patched up. Make some weld scars and use a slightly different shade of green on the patch and it’ll look awesome.
Oldmopars Posted January 17, 2022 Author Posted January 17, 2022 33 minutes ago, vincen47 said: Yeah, this one is coming along great. Don’t worry about the decals. Happy accidents are great with builds like this one. Containers are always getting damaged in shipment and patched up. Make some weld scars and use a slightly different shade of green on the patch and it’ll look awesome. Good suggestion, I will have to do that.
DRIPTROIT 71 Posted January 17, 2022 Posted January 17, 2022 Man that looks Awesome! This is a really cool project! What is your height going to be with added roof rack?
Mopar - D Posted January 17, 2022 Posted January 17, 2022 Nice progress Scott it’s just getting better with each update.
Oldmopars Posted January 17, 2022 Author Posted January 17, 2022 1 hour ago, DRIPTROIT 71 said: Man that looks Awesome! This is a really cool project! What is your height going to be with added roof rack? I am not sure on overall height. I have thought about it and still need to measure it. I know it will be close to the limit.
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