AMT Ford LN-8000 Bucket Truck

1
March 18, 2023
Parts sorted. Cab, frame, and powertrain parts in the box. The decals and van body will be cast into the parts box for another time.
2
March 18, 2023
Gratuitous chrome, meet Purple Power!
3
March 20, 2023
Parts washed and on the dryer
4
March 28, 2023
Thinking about drilling here for the hood hinge. The hinge arms are from the parts box, originally belonging to the FLD-120 hood.
5
March 30, 2023
Shortened the chassis in two places. Two crossmembers will be cast out as well.
6
April 7, 2023
A much more manageable frame length
7
April 17, 2023
This hinge should have better clearance as it swings around the front bumper
8
April 17, 2023
Cab mocked up on the shortened chassis
9
April 17, 2023
I'm thinking it'll go about here once it's finished.
10
April 17, 2023
...or maybe here
11
May 8, 2023
Back on parts prep, in particular, the power plant. This truck will be built up as a later model year, and one of the differences will be to build this engine up as a Cat 3208. Fortunately, the hardware is more or less the same between the 3208 and the Ford V225 (which was actually a Cat 1160); the biggest changes will be painting it yellow and slapping a Caterpillar badge on each rocker cover.
12
May 10, 2023
Very minor modification to the fuel pump, going from the in-line style from the 1160 to the v-style for the 3208
13
May 10, 2023
Plumbing nearly done. Fuel injection lines, fuel supply and return, crankcase vent hoses, oil cooler hoses, air compressor inlet and outlet, air compressor coolant supply and return, starter motor wiring... am I forgetting anything?
14
June 14, 2023
Blending the parting lines on the hood and taking the badges off
15
June 14, 2023
Not bad for 5 minutes of drawing
16
June 14, 2023
Round holes plugged!
17
June 19, 2023
Drilling out the opening on the air intake
18
June 19, 2023
Much better!
19
June 19, 2023
Gaps around the intake filled, round two of filler on the headlights, hopefully that does it
20
July 6, 2023
Hood is looking the part
21
July 6, 2023
Just pretend the lights are straight
22
July 6, 2023
Chassis plumbing is done, next stop: paint booth!
23
August 1, 2023
Shading for rust and weathered paint is added in underneath the final color
24
August 1, 2023
The effect is very subtle, but adds some interesting variations in the paintwork. Don't mind the trash in the topcoat, that will pick up some of the drybrushing and add to the weathering. Another happy accident.
25
August 1, 2023
More weathering to come, once I get the major subassemblies glued together
26
August 21, 2023
Applying some home printed decal
27
August 21, 2023
The mud is a mixture of Tamiya products... putty, paint, and soil effect
28
August 21, 2023
Engine in place... more weathering to come, in order to blend it all together
29
August 21, 2023
Cab and hood ready to receive additional weathering
30
August 21, 2023
Briefly questioned my sanity while cutting the mask for the windshield wipers... but it turns out to be correct!
31
August 21, 2023
Sitting pretty. Next I'll start work on the utility body and bucket boom.
32
August 21, 2023
33
August 21, 2023
I'll be 3D printing many of these parts in the interest of time - hoping to have this build done before the big truck show up north!
34
September 5, 2023
Cheating a bit with the utility body. 3D printed supports are a quick and cheap way to set the dimensions and keep things square...ish
35
September 5, 2023
Parts for the boom in various stages of prep. Pins still need to be turned from some styrene and aluminum stock
36
September 5, 2023
Saturdays are for the Boys! Construction crew reporting for duty.
37
September 5, 2023
Yet more cheating - CAD rendered templates to expedite forming the styrene panels for the utility body.
38
September 5, 2023
Mocked up in place. Getting a little crowded, we'll see if the wire spools need to be moved around a bit.
39
September 5, 2023
"Pre-weathering" complete - here's a mockup of the body and boom more or less in their final positions.
40
September 5, 2023
Airbrushed and natural sponge textures directly over the primer coat...
41
September 5, 2023
...and here's what it looks like with the topcoat over it
42
September 5, 2023
Just about done... a bit more weathering/blending needed, and I'll have to mix some more mud to match what's already on the chassis and cab.
43
September 5, 2023
The support legs are loose in their cylinders right now - these won't be cemented into place until this truck goes on the dio base permanently.
44
September 5, 2023
Likewise for the boom - fully articulated at the moment. I'll freeze all of the pins once a final position is decided on the dio.
45
September 5, 2023
And unfortunately, due to time constraints, I won't be finishing the hinge for the hood. This was my last free weekend to work on this build before the show, and I fear the required adjustments are a bigger job than I can manage in the evenings after work this coming week.
46
September 5, 2023
Meanwhile, the crew is nearly done being outfitted for the job
47
September 8, 2023
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September 8, 2023
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September 8, 2023
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September 8, 2023
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September 8, 2023
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September 8, 2023
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September 8, 2023
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September 8, 2023
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September 8, 2023
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September 8, 2023
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September 8, 2023
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September 8, 2023
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September 8, 2023

Comments

53 18 March 2023, 17:48

Brandon H
Time to add another truck to the dio! Starting, as usual, with a bath in degreaser for the obnoxious chrome parts.

18 March 2023, 17:51

Bozzer
Yes!!
You're fuelling my plastic taste buds already.

18 March 2023, 18:11

Brandon H
Welcome aboard Bozzer, rest assured that I do not intend to leave well enough alone with this one!

20 March 2023, 18:42

Treehugger
Haha re. photo #3, looks like I can maybe use my secondary mushroom dryer for drying my newly painted parts (using Vallejo waster based paints). 🙂 Interesting idea.

20 March 2023, 18:58

Nigel Chapman
I've got a similar dryer system for drying painted items which works well.
I just cut the tray centers out with the dremel to create a bigger space.
Watching your build with interest.

20 March 2023, 20:45

Bozzer
I'm actually getting excited, with the amount of truck builds, that I'm seeing on here! I respect the fact, that they take up a lot of space, but the actual weight of the finished kit, gives it a feeling of power? And who doesn't love all those big wheels, and huge engine? I must admit though, I like the idea of a paint dryer? I don't have much of a problem, in my temp controlled Mancave, especially as I tend to use a lot of acrylics, but I wouldn't mind speeding up the enamel drying process? Definitely a thought for the future.

20 March 2023, 21:42

Nigel Chapman
Bozzer, I just bought the cheapest food dehydrator I could find on Amazon, recommened by a chap I spoke to at the Telford show.

21 March 2023, 06:06

Bozzer
I'll have a look Nigel, thanks brother. I unfortunately missed Telford, and they cancelled Leeds. Was it busy down there? Bolton didn't seem so packed, this year? The vendors seemed to have scaled down.

21 March 2023, 06:44

Treehugger
A chrome pen might work well btw, but only if you are careful because the enamel dries quickly and one doesn't have much time to goof around if one wants a nicely chrome surface. Also, chrome surface effect is easily damaged by simple touch of a finger tip, presumably the layer of chrome is very, very thin. It starts "liquidly" then dries to a thin chrome color. At least one can remove the chrome and start again if one isn't happy with the first attempt at using this stuff.

21 March 2023, 09:32

Bozzer
@Treehugger.
I found that, if you allow the chrome to dry, then cover it with klear/future floor polish, it retains its shiny, and allows you to touch it. Alclad 2 also works, for you airbrushing guys 😉

21 March 2023, 12:40

István Szücs
Your building are always interesting, I take my eyes on it!

24 March 2023, 10:06

Brandon H
Thanks István, glad to hear it!

27 March 2023, 11:07

Brandon H
I'll begin with the frame mods. Shortening the chassis and adding a hinge for the hood.

28 March 2023, 16:34

Bozzer
Would it be wiser to build the chassis, then figure out the hinges? Ideally, you want to centre the front axle, with the centre of the wheel arch, of the hood?

28 March 2023, 16:38

Brandon H
I'll probably work it from both ends to converge on the final design... I can add or remove material from the mating surface of the hinge arms to adjust the hood position longitudinally. Lining up that surface with the end of the rails should get me close enough to start

28 March 2023, 17:03

Bozzer
Just remember to clear the front bumper, buddy. I've been bit by that mistake myself, in the past 🙁

28 March 2023, 17:05

Brandon H
Indeed, I'm hoping the the shape of the hinge arms I picked will help me out there.

Frame shortened and assembled, next I can start mocking up the cab and hood positions.

30 March 2023, 10:58

bmod
pulling up a seat to this one 🙂

3 April 2023, 13:23

Brandon H
Welcome bmod!

Frame is mocked up now. Next, I'll try to get the cab and hood in place to see what I'm dealing with here.

7 April 2023, 17:49

Brandon H
I think this hinge might just work out. Cab and hood roughly mocked up in place on the frame.

17 April 2023, 14:25

Brandon H
Working my way through getting all parts to a ready-to-paint status. So far, I've completed the part groups that will become gray, yellow, or some metallic shade.

8 May 2023, 11:54

Bozzer
Brandon. Sorry mate, my head has been up my rectum recently. Just back tracking a little....
The chassis on the Short Hauler, is it longer than the chassis on the Snow Plow kit?
I assume yes, but it saves me from opening a kit that I don't need to build, just yet?

8 May 2023, 17:57

Michael Kohl
I'll grab a seat too.

8 May 2023, 18:18

Brandon H
Welcome Michael!

Bozzer, the rails are considerably longer (although I couldn't tell you by how much), and have holes for just the single axle suspension.

9 May 2023, 10:48

Brandon H
Almost have the engine where I want it. Once detailing is done, I'll set it aside and move on to sanding/prepping all of the suspension and axle parts.

10 May 2023, 12:37

Bozzer
Thanks for the info mate. My short hauler was originally bought just for the box on the back, but I've since discovered that it looks nothing like what I wanted, so that's another scratchbuilding exercise, when I get round to it. That long frame though, definitely puts more ideas in my head.

11 May 2023, 12:16

Kyle DeHart
Lovely looking powerplant.

11 May 2023, 12:30

Brandon H
Thanks Kyle!

11 May 2023, 18:27

Brandon H
Still chipping away at this between sprints on my 1:1 projects... getting into some of the updates for the hood and grille now

14 June 2023, 13:43

Bozzer
I'm gonna be toying with my hood soon. Those silly stubs, just don't work for me. I have some spare hinges myself, in the parts tub. Obviously, I have the snow plow on the front, so I will have to take that into consideration.

14 June 2023, 17:05

Michael Kohl
I knew this will be interesting. 🙂

14 June 2023, 19:09

Brandon H
More progress on the hood. I'll probably paint the cab/chassis/powertrain parts before I start building the utility body... I'm starting to miss my airbrush!

19 June 2023, 15:26

Nigel Chapman
No photo etch parts for the air intake?

19 June 2023, 16:15

Brandon H
I'll actually be throwing some mesh in there, but that'll be after paint. Haha does anyone even make a PE set for the L8000?

20 June 2023, 11:34

Bozzer
I toyed with that idea, on my snow plow. In fairness, the little things that we change, definitely make a difference. As for a PE set, I'm not aware of anything yet? I did manage, however, to pick up some fine mesh, from work, that would be perfect for that! So, it's definitely out there, we just need to look at different things, to find it? Mine came out of a pack of submarine joints, for steel wire armoured cable? I know, I always find a use for things 100%

20 June 2023, 16:29

Robert Barkoski
Lovely fuel lines. What kind of wire did you use?

20 June 2023, 16:51

Brandon H
Thanks Robert. I like to keep a decent stock of 0.015" and 0.020" music wire on hand.

As for the mesh, I found a seller on eBay that sells stainless wire mesh in just about every size you can imagine, so I have a wide range of sizes covered in scale

20 June 2023, 19:34

Brandon H
Some progress here as well - paint and weathering steps are finally coming along.

1 August 2023, 15:57

István Szücs
This is the most interesting part of the painting, I'm curious!

1 August 2023, 18:45

Ard S.
I love to see how all the technic comes together in this building. Very curious how this will look when it is finished

1 August 2023, 19:29

Spanjaard
Wow

1 August 2023, 19:35

Rui S
Looking good 👍 great details

1 August 2023, 20:15

Bozzer
Definitely coming together now mate. I can see some of your ideas, falling into place now. My thoughts for a couple of dioramas, will take place, as my stash slowly depletes. I plan to use the space, where the kits once lived, to display them. I can't really see my stash getting much bigger in the future, because I won't be able to build everything? Currently, the cave has stalled due to work. However, once the inside has been completed and painted, I can start moving in the kits and benches. Then it's all systems go! I have some exciting ideas for my dioramas, but let's see what happens when I get my kits on the shelves first? Lol, I hope that I don't need to add another extension? 🙂

2 August 2023, 01:27

Bill Newcomer
I have thought about the rectangular headlight. Nice printed grille. I used a PE set on my racecar hauler as I wanted more flash and less work truck look.

4 August 2023, 05:29

István Szücs
Wonderfull!

21 August 2023, 16:22

Brandon H
Thanks everyone!

More progress - the chassis and cab are mostly done at this point.

21 August 2023, 16:28

Nigel Chapman
Wow Brandon great job with getting it so dirty (what a weird thing to say!)
Does the cab have a slight lean to it or is it just the angle of the picture. No criticism just making sure my eyesight isn't getting worse!!

21 August 2023, 19:31

Bozzer
Nige, I see where you're coming from, about that cab. It looks to me, like the rear of the cab is slightly lower? I'm not sure if that's the design, but I'm definitely loving all that mud! I'm really keen to see this coming together now! I see a show winner, in the making! 100%

21 August 2023, 20:15

Kyle DeHart
Excellent.

21 August 2023, 22:09

Brandon H
Thanks guys!

Indeed the rear of the cab is slightly lower - likely not the final position, I'll probably correct that when the utility body is ready to drop onto the frame.

22 August 2023, 10:45

Nigel Chapman
Thank goodness at least it's not my eyesight

22 August 2023, 13:34

Bozzer
Brandon. I don't know if this helps, but I had a similar issue with my Mack DM800. If you look at the instructions, there's a picture of the model, with the issue that I encountered. It's not the natural stance, and after very careful inspection, I found it to be the interior tub? It was sitting high at the front, because the tub was touching the door glass. I had to shave the sides of the tub, to make it fit correctly?
I'm not saying that this is the answer to your issue, but I'd certainly take a look at it? Unfortunately, I can't get to mine, at the moment, but I'll try to get to it tomorrow for you, and see if I can help you in any way?

22 August 2023, 21:37

Brandon H
Thanks Bozzer. Tub is sitting in the right spot, maybe I just got too much mud on the cab mounts. Either way, should be easy enough to fix it.

23 August 2023, 10:46

Brandon H
A productive holiday weekend. This build is more or less done, save a few small tasks here and there. Better photos coming soon!

5 September 2023, 15:39

Bozzer
Boom! Looks like it's due a wash and a service 🙂 Saying that, so do I!!!
Awesome work, mate. The weathering looks amazing, and those decals are just perfect. Now I need to look very hard, to see anything else that I may have missed? 😉

5 September 2023, 16:05

Nigel Chapman
Looks great. Is it based on a real vehicle?

5 September 2023, 17:39

István Szücs
Incredible!

5 September 2023, 18:04

Alexander Grivonev
Fantastic work! 👍

5 September 2023, 18:25

Brandon H
Thanks everyone!!

No single real vehicle used as a reference, just lots of online for sale/auction listings.

5 September 2023, 22:10

Bozzer
If you can put a semi naked girl, mud wrestling, in the Dio, I'll come and personally give you the winners trophy, myself! 😉
Awesome work, my friend! 100% 👍

6 September 2023, 00:19

Kyle DeHart
Looking outstanding!

6 September 2023, 01:42

Brandon H
Thanks Kyle!

Bozzer, I'll see what I can do. Any chance you'll make it to some of the upcoming shows in Michigan and volunteer to judge??

6 September 2023, 12:53

Bozzer
Brandon, I touch down on US soil on the 23 Oct. I have a date with the courthouse the very next day, then the following week, I'll be up in front of the judge, to be officially married. However, it's my every intention, to get to do as much as possible, while I'm there. I am slowly heading west, from PA, to complete as many states as possible, before I have to start flying to them? Michigan is on that list.

6 September 2023, 15:19

Brandon H
Well I'm not sure what your timeline is, but we've got a world class model car show happening in early November that I can't recommend highly enough... I'll try to get you some details later tonight

6 September 2023, 17:18