Service Truck Kitbash

[PHPaul]

In this post, I asked some questions about building a service truck.

I ordered the AMT Paystar 5000 Dump Truck kit and in my usual impatient fashion, I have started on what was supposed to be a Winter project.  .

In order to design the service body, I had to build the basic frame and mock up the cab to see what I have to work with.

I'm a very visually-oriented person.  Fairly often, I have a mental picture of what I think I want, but when I actually build it, I find several things I'd do differently.  That's particularly true in this case as the entire focus of the project is the service body.  Build, re-think, rebuild is the path to satisfactory results, but that gets expensive in styrene, so I did a couple of mockups out of poster board.  As is often the case, Plan A was unsatisfactory.

Plan B is much closer to what I want, and with a little tweaking will likely be the way I go.  I dropped it down over the frame, and made it longer.  The extra length will require a frame extension and the drop will require removing the second fuel tank or moving it to the other side.  I'm thinking it's too tall as a 6 foot man standing on the ground wouldn't be able to reach anything in the top of the side boxes.  I'll probably shorten it to at least the top of the cab.  

The next step will be to fab up the inside partitions and wheel well (also out of poster board) and make some final decisions on design before hacking up some styrene.

Comments/suggestions/criticisms welcome.

[yh70]

1 hour ago, PHPaul said:

In this post, I asked some questions about building a service truck.

I ordered the AMT Paystar 5000 Dump Truck kit and in my usual impatient fashion, I have started on what was supposed to be a Winter project.  .

In order to design the service body, I had to build the basic frame and mock up the cab to see what I have to work with.

I'm a very visually-oriented person.  Fairly often, I have a mental picture of what I think I want, but when I actually build it, I find several things I'd do differently.  That's particularly true in this case as the entire focus of the project is the service body.  Build, re-think, rebuild is the path to satisfactory results, but that gets expensive in styrene, so I did a couple of mockups out of poster board.  As is often the case, Plan A was unsatisfactory.

Plan B is much closer to what I want, and with a little tweaking will likely be the way I go.  I dropped it down over the frame, and made it longer.  The extra length will require a frame extension and the drop will require removing the second fuel tank or moving it to the other side.  I'm thinking it's too tall as a 6 foot man standing on the ground wouldn't be able to reach anything in the top of the side boxes.  I'll probably shorten it to at least the top of the cab.  

The next step will be to fab up the inside partitions and wheel well (also out of poster board) and make some final decisions on design before hacking up some styrene.

Comments/suggestions/criticisms welcome.

off to a good start, but i do agree its way to tall..here is a couple pictures for height.

[PHPaul]

@yh70  I agree, that's much better.  Thanks for the picture, I haven't had much luck finding 10 wheel service trucks.  I'm even planning on painting it red!

[Gary Chastain]

The local logging company has a similar truck, using a Kenworth. The bed comes midway to the back window, with a small crane, compressor and welder mounted on top of the bed. There is also a set of torch bottles inside the bed. Like where this is going, will be following this build. 

[Biggu]

This is really cool. There is a local fellow who has his own service truck, its a s/a Cornbinder and is set up almost as Gary says his local one is but our local guy’s truck is a 4x4 which looks pretty neat. It also has the compressor and welding gear as well as the crane. Also has a vise mounted on the rear bumper. 
I like this build a lot

Jeff

[PHPaul]

I cut down the poster board template and I think that's going to work.  Just need to lay out the side doors.  Probably one full height at the rear, two at the front and one over the wheel well.

Also pictured is some of the stuff I've printed for the "load".  Bumper vise (there'll be a diamond plate bumper full width of the rear) compressor with hose, welder and oxy/acetylene tanks.

I want to do a crane and the one posted by @yh70 in the original thread is perfect, but it appears to be configured to be printed by a resin printer.  If someone can confirm that and/or is willing to print it and send it to me (for a fee, of course) I'd love to use it.

[PHPaul]

Cancel that request for a crane print.  I figured out a way to build one with a combination of scratch building and 3D printing that should be quite realistic.  We'll see how that goes.

[yh70]

4 hours ago, PHPaul said:

@yh70  I agree, that's much better.  Thanks for the picture, I haven't had much luck finding 10 wheel service trucks.  I'm even planning on painting it red!

You Welcome Paul....yes it is resin. i can order you one but it will be next month before i make my order.  the crane even telescopes. here is a picture. i have not un bagged it all yet but i can and send you pictures of the parts if you like. also i can send you the pictures on the file. just send me a message.. also the bed looks way better now since you cut it down..

Edited October 11, 2024 by yh70

[PHPaul]

First pass at the service crane.  Version 2 of the base is printing now to allow more lift angle on the boom and provide a mount for the lift cylinder.  Telescoping booms are Plastruct shapes, the brown stuff (boom stops, base, winch) are 3D printed.

With some detailing such as hydraulic motor for the winch, lift cylinder and hoses, hook mounts on the booms, block on the end etc. I think it will do nicely.

[Gary Chastain]

Very cool, fun to watch this come together. 

[PHPaul]

Final layout of body.  Transferring to styrene now.

Edited October 13, 2024 by PHPaul

[Biggu]

Oh , that looks really good. I think you got the height right on now …. This is a very interesting build,,,,

Jeff

[PHPaul]

Thanks Jeff, that's high praise coming from this group!

In between scoring sessions on the body sides (old, arthritic hands... ) I've been printing details for the service crane.  The hinge pins are (obviously...) temporary to check articulation.  Once I'm happy it'll come back apart for paint.

[Biggu]

Very precise, Paul, this will be great !

[BK9300]

Going to be a very good looking truck!

[Gary Chastain]

Oh, I am liking this build, crane looks really good. 

[PHPaul]

2 hours ago, Biggu said:

Very precise, Paul, this will be great !

"Precise" he sez...  My work(usually) gets a little better with each project but I'm not sure "precise" is an applicable term just yet...

2 hours ago, BK9300 said:

Going to be a very good looking truck!

Thanks, again very kind, the standards here are very high and I'm essentially a beginner.

1 hour ago, Gary Chastain said:

Oh, I am liking this build, crane looks really good. 

Thanks Gary, it's coming along.  Not sure why the method didn't occur to me earlier.

[Jürgen M.]

This is going to be a great build! Keep going Paul!

I like the crane! Reminds me of how I printed the two cranes for my ACX! It's a great Feeling when you put it together and it works! 

[PHPaul]

Thanks, @Jürgen M.  I'm liking your day cab.  Designing from scratch is a ways out of my skill set for sure!

[Jürgen M.]

Thanks Paul. Didn't you say you printed the crane parts? Did you get the files from the internet? 

I've also downloaded one or the other file but I enjoy designing too. 

Anyway, your build is coming along great and I'll keep watching with big interest!

[PHPaul]

24 minutes ago, Jürgen M. said:

Thanks Paul. Didn't you say you printed the crane parts? Did you get the files from the internet? 

I've also downloaded one or the other file but I enjoy designing too. 

Anyway, your build is coming along great and I'll keep watching with big interest!

I created the files for the printed parts in TinkerCAD.  The telescoping booms are just standard Plastruct shapes, I can get you the part numbers if you like.  When I'm sure I'm done with the crane prints, I'll post them to Thingiverse and put a link here.

[Jürgen M.]

That would be great, Paul! Thanks! I've never worked with TinkerCAD before. Is it easy to use?

I work with Autodesk Fusion360. Quite easy to learn!

[PHPaul]

If you can use Fusion360 (I tried, learning curve too steep) then TinkerCAD is a breeze.  Also free, just sign up on-line.

[PHPaul]

Crane print files on Thingiverse

I posted the print files for the crane, feel free to download and use them if interested.

[Jürgen M.]

Thanks Paul! Very nice of you! 

I'll have a look at them. Maybe I'll find a use! I'm always looking for new interesting projects!