2023 BRGB International 9670 cabover

[tractoraholic]

Here is a few pictures of the kit I am planning to build over the year. I am going to replicate a Schneider National cabover. The KFS kit is very nice, nice parts, and casting. I am using the Freightliner FLC as a donor chassis. Will be adding some aftermarket parts from CTM and fuel tanks from Auslowe. Decals are from Modeltruckin. Hope everyone enjoys watching this build, comments and suggestions are always welcomed.

[Dutzie]

Looks like a fun build. I’ll be watching. 

[tractoraholic]

Started on the truck today, spent some time scrubbing the resin parts with dish soap, warm water, and a toothbrush. Usually I soak resin parts in bleach white overnight, but I opted to follow the directions for cleaning that are in the instructions, as I don't see to many of these 9760 kits out there so I didn't want to take a chance with damaging the kit, although I doubt Westley's would of harmed it 

 

I also started on the chassis by sanding off some of the frame detail, (power steering reservoir and filter bracket) as the springs are moved back to accommodate a cabover. Also sanded off the moulded fuel filter on the engine and I will make my own from round stock. I plan on doing a semi detailed engine such as adding fuel lines, oil returns, and turbo oil supply line.

Edited February 5, 2023 by tractoraholic

[Dutzie]

Great start! 

[Pete68]

Nice looking resin piece 

[tbill]

Another must watch build! Pretty cool subject, can’t wait to watch this progress.

[tractoraholic]

13 hours ago, Pete68 said:

Nice looking resin piece 

It is, I have other resin kits from different manufacturers, but I have to say Kit Form is probably the best resin kit I've delt with for trucks along with Auslowe. Not thick, better than a plastic cab, very clean and crisp lines, nice crisp interior detail, such as door panels, sleeper walls, head liner, and little to no flashing to clean up. The downside is under the sleeper bed is all solid resin except where the dog house is molded out and is heavy. Wondering if a plastic chassis will stand the test of time.

[tractoraholic]

Small update, Murphy's Law. So in the beginning of my thread, I talked about cleaning the resin and following the kit directions, cleaning with warm soapy water, toothbrush and I followed up with Ajax surb with a toothbrush. Thursday night I went to shoot a primer coat on the cab, Duplicolor Gray Primer. Shot a light mist coat inside the interior and it immediately fish eyed in a couple spots. Now it was a mist coat, so a little lacquer thinner on a brush removed the primer. So I opted for what I know works, took a risk and  put the cab in bleach white overnight, found out it does not harm kit form resin, cleaned it up good, scrubbed it with dawn and warm water and let it dry. Went to shoot primer again and it's fisheyeing in the same spots, so the mold release is being real stubborn. Any advice from you guys that use resin, I was thinking denatured alcohol or 90 percent rubbing alcohol, I want to stay away from purple power on resin, don't ask me how I know lol, what do you guys use for stubborn mold release spots?

[tractoraholic]

A quick mock-up, I shortened the chassis to make a 196" wheel base, I know Schneider used shorter wheelbases than that as they wanted the gap between cab and trailer narrow for fuel economy reasons with their set back front axle 9670 tractors. On mine the step to get into the cab is between front axle and fuel tank vs in front of steer axle like the set back axle model. I made sure there was clearance for that step and I also wanted to leave room between fuel tank and rear quarter fender for a step to get up on the catwalk to hook up the gladhands. So I think the little longer wheel base will work out well. 

Edited February 18, 2023 by tractoraholic

[tractoraholic]

8 hours ago, tractoraholic said:

Small update, Murphy's Law. So in the beginning of my thread, I talked about cleaning the resin and following the kit directions, cleaning with warm soapy water, toothbrush and I followed up with Ajax surb with a toothbrush. Thursday night I went to shoot a primer coat on the cab, Duplicolor Gray Primer. Shot a light mist coat inside the interior and it immediately fish eyed in a couple spots. Now it was a mist coat, so a little lacquer thinner on a brush removed the primer. So I opted for what I know works, took a risk and  put the cab in bleach white overnight, found out it does not harm kit form resin, cleaned it up good, scrubbed it with dawn and warm water and let it dry. Went to shoot primer again and it's fisheyeing in the same spots, so the mold release is being real stubborn. Any advice from you guys that use resin, I was thinking denatured alcohol or 90 percent rubbing alcohol, I want to stay away from purple power on resin, don't ask me how I know lol, what do you guys use for stubborn mold release spots?

I finally got a coat of primer on the interior of the cab. The only issue I can think of was I used Palmolive dish soap instead of dawn, it was what the wife had. I went out and bought Dawn and rewashed everything, shot some primer though the airbrush and no issues. 1st coat.

Edited February 19, 2023 by tractoraholic

[tractoraholic]

Got a coat of primer on the cab. I bought these 1/24 scale air valves and I think I'm going to give it a go with doing all the airlines from the compressor to the  air dryer, supply/ reserve tanks,and to the brake cans. It will be my first time doing that to one of my builds. I also have this radiator mesh from CTM, and I am going to use it on the front of this radiator as there is no detail. 

[Jürgen M.]

On 2/1/2023 at 10:44 PM, tractoraholic said:

Here is a few pictures of the kit I am planning to build over the year. I am going to replicate a Schneider National cabover. The KFS kit is very nice, nice parts, and casting. I am using the Freightliner FLC as a donor chassis. Will be adding some aftermarket parts from CTM and fuel tanks from Auslowe. Decals are from Modeltruckin. Hope everyone enjoys watching this build, comments and suggestions are always welcomed.

Nice truck! I'll be watching too!

I'm looking for a White Road Commander! Anyone know where I can get one? 

3D printer or so?

Only need the cab and interior!

Still got a Box full of parts to complete it!

Thanks for any hints!

[tractoraholic]

17 minutes ago, Jürgen M. said:

Nice truck! I'll be watching too!

I'm looking for a White Road Commander! Anyone know where I can get one? 

3D printer or so?

Only need the cab and interior!

Still got a Box full of parts to complete it!

Thanks for any hints!

Thank you for your comment. You can buy the White Road Commander from ST Supply out of Canada, he has a couple in stock. I also have one of those in my stash, it's a nice kit also.

[Jürgen M.]

13 minutes ago, tractoraholic said:

Thank you for your comment. You can buy the White Road Commander from ST Supply out of Canada, he has a couple in stock. I also have one of those in my stash, it's a nice kit also.

Great!! Thanks very much! 

I'll contact them! ?

 

[Gary Chastain]

This is gonna be a cool build. 

[Pete68]

Looks good in primer  glad you got that Resin issue beat into submission. I hate when that happens sometimes the resin never cures and that’s when the real problems begins. I’ve had to freeze a cab one time to make the resin cure enough to get it into primer not fun. 

[tractoraholic]

2 hours ago, Pete68 said:

Looks good in primer  glad you got that Resin issue beat into submission. I hate when that happens sometimes the resin never cures and that’s when the real problems begins. I’ve had to freeze a cab one time to make the resin cure enough to get it into primer not fun. 

Thanks, yea the resin was getting frustrating but I persevered. So far it seems good, I let the primer dry for a few days and wet sanded the cab tonight and had no issues with the primer pulling away so I think I got it. I'm probably going to color coat the cab this week, as it's going to be a enamel paint, so it can sit for a few months to dry while I continue this build.

[tractoraholic]

More Work on the frame and engine. Started the tedious process of sanding and filling seam lines on engine block half's, transmission, intercooler, and rear drives. I'm about done with the frame, I took some .062 styrene rod, glued it in all the unused holes on the frame, then cut off the excess with sprue cutters, and now a little filler, sanding, and it will be a nice smooth holeless frame. I also added another styrene strip inside the frame up it the front to kinda beef up the frame rail attachment point for the cab as the resin cab is heavy.

Edited February 25, 2023 by tractoraholic

[Gary Chastain]

That’s a lot of serious detail work, nice work. 

[tractoraholic]

Added some mesh detail on the front of the radiator. 

[tractoraholic]

1 hour ago, Gary Chastain said:

That’s a lot of serious detail work, nice work. 

Thanks Gary, I am going a little more out of my "comfort zone" with the detail, but I want to try something new, just to see if I can do it. Right now I'm experimenting with some .08 solder wire for airlines, etc seems like it will work, I like the fact you can bend it into shapes and it tucks in nice in frame cross members and rails. You ever use it on your builds?

[tractoraholic]

What do you guys think about my interior colors? 1st picture is a real 1:1 cab, second picture is some colors I airbrushed on a plate.

[tractoraholic]

It's finally starting to look like something. I did some test fitting of the engine, installed the rear cab supports, battery support and stack support. 

[Gary Chastain]

2 hours ago, tractoraholic said:

Thanks Gary, I am going a little more out of my "comfort zone" with the detail, but I want to try something new, just to see if I can do it. Right now I'm experimenting with some .08 solder wire for airlines, etc seems like it will work, I like the fact you can bend it into shapes and it tucks in nice in frame cross members and rails. You ever use it on your builds?

Yes, I have several different craft wire diameters from hobby lobby. Also try to find small hollow rubber tubing as well. 

[DRIPTROIT 71]

Looks great so far!!