ANMT Freightliner Argosy - WIP
Told ya I was still a truck modeler... Here's the next major project: an Aussie-spec Argosy cabover with yet another Detroit motor.
Starting off with washing all of the resin parts.
The powertrain will be donated, at least in part, by another Actros kit. The modifications will be a little more extensive this time - I'll be converting the Euro OM471 into a Detroit DD15 (circa 2012~2013). Technically, this block will be too short for the larger displacement engine I'm trying to recreate, but I'm counting on that being hard to spot after all of the other mods it will receive haha
Even though it's going into a cabover, this engine will not mount from the side of the block like the Euro version. I'll be removing the side mounts again and printing up a front mount instead.
Air compressor intake resonator will be removed, like last time.
The fuel and oil filter modules will receive some additional detailing. Also, I'll need to fab or print the high pressure fuel pump assembly again, as it's missing from the Actros kit.
Crankcase spinner will need some extra detailing too.
The air compressor will be again reduced to a single cylinder, like I did with the DD13.
And you know how much I hate styrene belts... this will be cut apart and detailed properly
As before, although the compressor side of the turbocharger is adequate, the turbine side will need some work. I'll also be adding an APT behind the turbo, along with the associated heat shields
Another major change, appearance-wise, will be the EGR cooler. I'll be cutting away part of this one-piece EGR cooler/water manifold (used on the OM471 and DD13 only) to replace it with a steel EGR cooler (used on all other displacements for this engine platform)
The EGR hot pipe will probably need modification too, to match up with the new cooler
The EGR and coolant crossover pipes will be reworked
And the cold charge pipe will need slight rework too - the Euro version angles downward, but I'll need one that comes straight out. It will still be a cast intake pipe rather than the ribbed thermoplastic pipe I used for the DD13 build. This may end up being printed instead, nonetheless.
The included engine mounts could use some improvement.
These parts from the Actros kit will not be used.
I'll probably go with a non-ducted 6 blade fan in place of this one.
I also won't be using the G281 automatic transmission that comes with this engine. An Eaton automatic would be more accurate for this truck. (Technically, I should've used an Eaton for the Coronado as well, but I really wanted to build up a DT12 transmission at that time.)
Plastic oil pan will replaced with an aluminum pan... (not like actually made of aluminum... but mimicking what would actually be built for this truck)
Ugh, I hate styrene hoses too... I'll be replacing these with wire or tubing, where applicable.
And now for a look at the A&N kit... I went all out here, purchasing the cab kit, accompanying chassis kit, and some accessories, including the big Aussie style bumper pictured to the left. The castings are free from flaws for the most part, and very detailed.
Lots of photoetch with this one! This will be my first fully photoetched chassis.... we'll see how it goes....
Resin components for the chassis - lots and lots of parts to build the fully detailed suspension and fuel tanks
This resin Eaton transmission was included in the resin kit. Seems a tad small when looking at it on the bench. I'll confirm the scale and see if I can use it.
This fan was included... not really what I'm looking for either
Other cab/exterior parts. The level of detail provided by A&N continues here.
Not totally sure what I'll do for the exhaust. A bit more research needed regarding the timeline for Australian emissions standards, but I'll likely sub in a stack with a DOC+DPF combo in place of this straight pipe.
Some of the accessories I mentioned. Classic Aussie style wheel arches.
Wheels and tires will come from the Freightliner FLD kit that donated its frame for the Coronado build.
I'll need to cut the centers out of them, as the kit axles come with their own hubs.... times like these make me glad I bought a small lathe
And of course there's sh*tload of parts for the interior too. Fully detailed dash and bunk.
Painted photoetch proved for the dash detail, as well as the mud flaps
CNC scored flat stock for the side windows, and a vacu-formed front windshield... a bit of manual work needed here, but with care, a nice result can be achieved
Cast clear parts for all of the exterior lights. Crystal clear!
And finally, dozens of these nifty resin bolts for detailing the frame and cab mounts. Place your bets, the over/under on number of bolts lost forever to the rug is 15...
Cleaned up the frame rails and crossmembers with 800 grit paper then bent everything along the etched score lines
A lot of work will be going in to the engine, so it'll be important to ensure everything still fits within the frame rails at each step along the way
Here are those resin bolts that A&N included in the kit
Frame finished for now!
Kommentare
7 22 February, 12:50
Brandon HTime for another "big" project. Another cabover to go next to the International, I think.
22 February, 13:29
Brandon HWould've loved to get started on the engine right away, but to avoid some potentially tragic rework later on, I'm starting with the basic frame components first. This way I can continually check fitment as build up the powertrain.
4 March, 12:49
Nigel ChapmanWow Brandon it's all or nothing! How are you finding the photo etch? I guess it will take the weight
4 March, 15:31
Brandon HSmoothest experience I've ever had with photoetch, at least thus far. Granted, the bar is low haha
Seems like a sturdy frame so far, though there's a LOT of resin that'll go on it
5 March, 00:05
BozzerOh Brandon! You can't display a Euro, next to a stunning American, classic cabover! No, no, no, my friend! That's a crime against humanity itself!
You have to start a new shelf now, and build others too!
Jokes aside, that chassis looks bloody amazing!
I can see the fine work, already, and fair play to you, for holding back on the engine, it makes total sense to me. In my experience with Euros, you need to be careful with the cab mountings? They're very fragile, and I recommend that you fit them, right at the last minute, before you finally mount the cab. Don't be tempted to fit them beforehand. On my Scania, the cab is quite heavy, and that's just a stock cab, without any fancy additions? I was also disappointed to find out, that the cab only raised slightly, so you couldn't see the work that had gone into the engine, etc? Granted, it looks good on the shelf though. Those bloody decals took forever!
5 March, 02:31
BozzerNow Martin, our friend Peter would declare a KW or even a Western Star, an Aussie, compared to our Cabovers. But in all honesty, I've never seen a cabover, more sexier, than a K100 Aerodyne? A woman magnet, of great proportions 🙂
5 March, 10:44
Brandon HIt's definitely not a Euro... in a way, it's actually the LAST American cabover, built in Cleveland (North Carolina, not Ohio) through 2020. Complete trucks were built for export only after 2006, though you could still buy it as a cab or a glider in the US and Canada. They're very rare around here these days but I do see them from time to time.
Importantly, at its heart is a motor built right here in Redford... that's why it's going on the shelf next to the International!
5 March, 13:01
BozzerDuring my visit to the Mack Museum, they had a picture of the Magnum. Obviously, I had to ask questions? What I found out, amazed me. Because Mack was taken over by Renault, they released a Mack Magnum. Nothing on it was made by Mack, but it was assembled in the Mack factory, and basically they stuck the Mack badge on the front. As most know, Mack is now owned by Volvo, so I plan on taking another trip out there, to see if they've added more modern Cabovers, to their list? I'm actually more curious about what's actually made by Mack, that's in whatever they've got? That's something that I hope to find out, and share with you guys.
5 March, 15:18
Nigel Chapman@Bozzer nowadays everyone owns everyone else!
Scania and Navistar (International) are part of the VW-MAN group
Mercedes own Freightliner , Western Star and Detroit diesel
Paccar group own Kenworth, Peterbilt and DAF.
Volvo Trucks is fairly independent with their own US subsidiary
Iveco has always been Fiat owned
Renault own Mack
Back in the day Foden were Paccar ownedAnd ERF were badged as International and Western Star in New Zealand / Australia.
Lesson over
5 March, 17:55
