I am waiting to hear Animal have a convulsion about anything, I don't think it can happen.
Thanks guys for all your b***chin' good things to say! I have to say ya'll have given me some awesome support and confidence and it means a lot to me! No-one ever gave a lick about my modeling until I came to this site and showed it off a little. It really feels good! I would love to hear from Animal on this one 'cause he has really gotten me into guntrucks and this one will be a real doozy if it comes out half as good as I hope.

Thanks again guys and back I go to the bench!
Cuhail

I have been in a blue funk for a few weeks now. I am coming out of it slowly. After meeting with all my old comrades at the reunion I haven't been myself. I have been very tired. But, I like what you have done so far. the attention to detail has increased with the added details to the firewall and all. I am very anxious to see the truck take shape. Keep up the good work and keep us posted.

Animal, first off, good to hear from ya, it's been a little while and we missed ya!
Second, thanks for the good word!
Three...hang out and have a beer

or more.....

I'll be breaking up some "clover" since'n I don't partake in liquid refreshment of the alcoholic persuasion!
O.k., maybe a near beer
Cuhail

Well, I did a little work on my other 'puter today and came up with a digital display on the driver's side dash. The main grey square at the bottom is where the steering column will come out.
It will be printed on clear acetate and back lit by Miller Engineering's incredible light sheeting once I route a path for wires and the plug.



Hopefully that worked!

Cuhail

Wow, I can't wait to see that dash. It's gonna look great with all those lights.

As we speak, I am designing the cockpit floorplan to assist in the scratchbuilding process. I'll post it as soon as it's ready.

Cuhail

And here we have the proposed Interior, The yellow bar won't be yellow on the model, it tells me that will be brass rod.
The driver"s seat is what the Nav/Gunner's seat will look like, I left it out for clarity.
The tan boxes are the computer system with a hard drive on the center hump, flat screen moniter on the bar, and keyboard extended to the Navigator. The Weapons will all be controlled from here.
Most of the material will be plastic and a little brass or copper for cables.

He He He
Cuhail

I'm still having problems with the steering shaft route between or around the headers, I'm thinking about a gear and chain setup that tranfers power through a shaft along the frameline, but, I have NEVER seen this kind of thing before! I'll do a mockup on the puter and show it to ya if ya like.
Just Rambling on a bit while trying to ponder this stinker.

Cuhail

Eh.... It's Possible....... Not as reliable as a shaft drive steering. I did a search and there are some Vedicles that have it allthough they're light duty..... Lawnmowers trikes..... that kind of thing.......

Yeah Matt, I know. I am gonna try to make a U-Jointed shaft under the headers to the steering box on the axle.
It's all hypothetical, so, I have no prototype to follow anyway. It's just not coming quickly like most of my problem-solving attempts normally do.
Do you have to heat brass to enable it to be glued easier? I was having a problem CAing it to plastic on the firewall. Any thoughts?

Thanks for the help.
Cuhail

Could you make a hydraulic steering system with a pump and steering rams?

Animal has a great idea, or if not hydrolics, you can make up your own electronic "steer by wire" system, just make some kind of reciever with some wires on the steering box and there you go!

The brass has to be very clean. I rub mine with steel wool soaked in metholated spirits or for stubbon pieces I soak in a little bit of acetone. This gives the glue a 'key' to grip to.

Glueing Brass is like soldering copper.... CLEAN is Key!! Just like Cliff says

Thanks guys for the Brass Q&A, Clean is GOOD!!! Got it.
Animal, Hydraulic w/ steering rams? I'm a carpenter who's car runs on instinct and dumb Irish luck! I have never seen anything like this. Will it work on a heavy duty 4X4? I do like the sound of it though! I wonder if I could mix hydraulic and electronic? I need some refs though if anybody has some.

Cuhail

Well, I watched a T.V. show yesterday that helped. On the Spike channel (Comcast Cable) there is a show called "Trucks" and yesterday they installed a new steering box and components to a 4X4 rebuild. It has shown me the way! Prepare for progress and pix to prove T.V. is good!

Cuhail