Thread: Slow build of a half track

Originally Posted by htl

..... Them fellows must have done a lot a drinking..... LOL

Dalboy, As htl said... no wonder your post is getting me anxious. This is also my current "major" project... Unfortunately all I have managed so far are the wheels as I keep digressing on other time devouring incidental projects.

I really do appreciate it moreso, as your pictures can only make life easier for me....

Many thanks, Alex

Alexkara
Member


We want to see the wheels!!!
Start us a post and lets see some wheels, you know how much I love them.

Originally Posted by htl

We want to see the wheels!!!
Start us a post and lets see some wheels, you know how much I love them.

Hey htl (cannot call you #4 here as on this site you may get relegated to #1). Won't start a post, as I keep getting interrupted. Got about this far, but still debating the colour scheme (ebonised for normal and maple for "highlights").
Been playing with MDF samples,
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but stagnated here,
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Wheels look good Alexkara.

First job today was to finish the front grill by sanding it and tidying it up, all I need to do to that is make the front lights to attack to it. Once that was done I got around to assembling the front roller assembly and in the process managed to damage on of the pins so a quick trip to the lathe and 5 minutes later a new pin.

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I thought that it seemed a good idea to start the window surrounds . I applied the dark wood around the top followed by the lighter wood around the window this brought me to what you see. Once the glue has dried fully I will sand the top back flush with the frame and also the little I left sticking out this makes sure that everything is a nice tidy finish.


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Unfortunately this is all that got done as I had a surprise visitor another woodworker I had not seen for a year so the rest of the day was talking about woodworking so nothing else got done.

Great progess going Derek. Much better than my truck is doing. I see nothing wrong with your pencil I have handfuls of those size around the shop for some reason they don't disappear like their fullsize brethren.

Bret

I should have taken these yesterday showing the roller attached to the front.

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Started by spending 1/2 - 3/4hour cleaning up the front windows now that the glue has had a good time to set this included filling any small gaps like along the bottom window member. The first one is what it looked like yesterday and the second after the clean up

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As well as installing the centre upright, not being happy with the but joint of the centre piece as it is only 1/16" thick I added a 1/16" square section behind so that it covered the join. I think it looks like it should have been there

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The next job was to make the front opening protection shield this I decided to have in the open position this took quite a bit of time due to the tiny size of the hinge.

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Next I cut out the side window protection panels and the step for either side.

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The rest of the photo's I took just for fun and taking some from different angles

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Looking absolutely great.... Can't wait for the tracks!

Alex I'll second that!!

The day started well with the gluing of the front grill to the main engine bay. As can be seen from the first photo's not a perfect fit but only along the top so now is a good time to show the before and after photo's and to explain how I deal with this without getting glue stains on the wood.
How I deal with this is not by mixing glue and sawdust in the normal way as I find this tends to leave a slightly darker repair.
When the two parts have dried enough to be handled I spread a very fine layer of glue along the repair and wipe off the excess and again while this is still wet give everything across the repair a good sanding this prevents the glue soaking into the wood but allows the glue to stay in the small crack and the fine sawdust from the sanding is pushed into the glue. This I find leaves a near invisible join except in this case as the woods are slightly different colours but still no obvious crack showing. The first two photo's are before and the third and fourth after.

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As some know from previous posts the step and mudguards I had already made and stored now was the time to fit these, first the step and let this dry enough to handle this now gives me a reference for the mudguards even though these where made as per the plans I always find that a little fettling is needed to get a good fit. This took a little time.

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Onto making some of the bits for the model OK who forgot to get the glue yes you guessed it the wife but only because I forgot to ask her too
Well at least I get to cut as many pieces as I can so looks like plenty of glueing on Sunday as I am at my woodturning club tomorrow.
The last picture you can see all the little sub assemblies, by doing it this way it makes it easier to work on smaller units that a larger whole unit this will also make it easier to apply a finish when it comes to it.

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Looking through the plans it will not be too long before I do the tracks which I am leaving until the last job but it is all the little fiddly bits that seem to take the time.
I can hear some cheering that this is nearly finished.

Cheers of delight at your wonderful workmanship Derek

Regards

Keith

""I can hear some cheering that this is nearly finished.""

I don't want it to end I just want to see the finish project.

You just can't win the game and still keep on playing me thinks. lol
I hope that came out right???

Originally Posted by htl

""I can hear some cheering that this is nearly finished.""

Not Cheering so much I will be glad to see the finished Half Track but at the same time miss making it.

Yesterday there was no work done on the half track as I went to the woodturning club I belong to. Had a great day listening to a demonstration and entered two pieces into two separate classes of our monthly competition. Got a first in one and a second in another, and to top it all off I won the raffle what a great day I had.

Anyway back to the build today started by making three tools a axe, a shovel and a hammer. I made all the heads first and then moved onto the handles which I used dowelling. All of these I made a tenon on the dowel to fir into the heads.

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Next on the agenda was some side boxes only to discover that I made a left and right but only needed one.

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Moving on to the lights I decided to add some highlights by putting a darker wood as the light and keeping the surround the same colour as the main body. The larger ones were not to bad as they are 1/2" diameter but the little lights are only 3/16" diameter so the insert was under 1/8" which can be seen in one of the photo's.

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I have included a photo of the light assemblies with the lights nearly ready to be glued together.

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Now to cut out the parts for the jerry can holders and start assembling those, they can sit overnight to dry fully before any more work on them.

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I took the opportunity to glue the side box and the tools to the cab side.

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Nearly forgot to add that I cut all the squares which are to represent hinges not in any photo.

Does not look very much but a lot of it was very small bits, it does not help when you keep dropping the centre of the lights right in the pile of shavings from the lathe.

Indeed the work of a super skilled craftsman. Beautiful work Derek.

Regards

Keith

Originally Posted by Dalboy

Not Cheering so much I will be glad to see the finished Half Track but at the same time miss making it.

Dalboy, no need to pine... when you're finished you can build the other half.

Great job on the "bling"...