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January 2012
1/8 '32 Ford "Big Deuce"

Building a 1/16 Peterbilt 395

Part 2 :- Axle build & cab prep construction

 SECTION 3 :- Front axle build build

At this point I fitted the front leaf springs & power streering box & let them set. Then I fitted the front axle & brakes, steering link arms & power steering links then the cab mounting & cross bar. All of these were then sprayed black. The leaf springs & bolts painted with a mix of Gun metal & matt dark grey, which to me is a very similar colour to the actual coating on the leaf springs I used to fit. I then fitted the shock absorbers & wheels. When all of this had set I mounted the engine in place ready to fit the rear axle & prop shafts.

SECTION 4 :- Rear axle build

Both rear axles were built & sanded, then the rear hubs & airbrakes. I sprayed them the same black as the chassis & put to one side. I then made the air suspension bags, sanded these & painted them in "Satin Black" as they are made from rubber & have have a slight sheen to them & are not usually painted when on a chassis. I then fitted the air bags & rear suspension, let it set then as in the previous section painted the leaf springs. Then the rear shock absorbers were fitted & the rearmost axle then left to set.
While this was setting I made the battery boxes/steps painted both aluminium, painted the rear walking panel in "Dirty Steel" & the fifth wheel mounting then painted the prop shafts in black. When dry the linking prop shaft remaining rear axle & large propshaft fitted. The rear air tanks & wheels were fitted. I then turned the chassis the right way up & fitted the battery boxes, rear walkway & fifth wheel mouting plate & there you have a rolling chassis ready for the cab to be built & fitted.

SECTION 5 :- Cab preperation

The cab for this kit is large & I was looking forward to building & spraying it but it it took a lot of work to get it right. I started with the "sleep over" unit as that is where the problems started. When test fitting I noticed that the two main panels were warped & would leave large gaps so I glued the whole unit but allowing the imperfections to make sure the unit was level & straight so to the fixing the "Box".
On the rear panel of the unit it had small gaps at the top & RHS that could be filled & sanded but it was the other side that was to take a lot of time. One side was completly out of shape & had a 1mm gap so I put some plastic strip in to start with to fill the worst of the gap (to see the size I marked it in green pen to show you). All the joints were then filled , sanded, filled & sanded again so at last it looked right & smooth ready for painting.

COMING NEXT:-

Part 3 will be the cab interior & painting the cab exterior & grill preperation. This is now online :- click here