Custom build of aMercedes Benz New Actros

[gismow]

Hi...

Today I'd like to show the creation of my custom build Mercedes Benz New Actros.

One day on the Highway I had a look back and I saw the front of a New Actros. From this time on I new, I want to have it as a RC model. The New Actros from Tamiya wasn't on the market yet, so the only way to get it was to build it on my own. The project started in October 2012 and ended in March 2013, a nice winter project.

This was my example

Mercedes Benz New Actros (http://www.theonecar.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/mercedes-benz-models-939.jpg)

The only pictures I had were a front view and a side view. I copied them on the size I needed for a Tamiya frame so I could take measures from them.

Front view (http://eblog.mercedes-benz-passion.com/wp-content/gallery/actros2011/1024_844530_1566504_3713_4961_11c469_02.jpg)

Side view (http://s1.cdn.autoevolution.com/images/news/gallery/orders-open-for-the-new-long-distance-mercedes-benz-actros_47.jpg)

[gismow]

So I started with the front grill. It's build of several single pieces.

Now after it's finished I'd create it from one single piece. Learning by doing ;)

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-9u-d81f.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-9v-13f9.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-9w-c5ff.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-9x-0138.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-9y-0bb4.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-a0-9de6.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-a1-efe9.jpg

The grill elements have round about 200 holes per strip.

[gismow]

After the lower element of the grill was made, the cabine was the next element

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-a2-371b.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-a3-138b.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-a5-82ce.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-a6-6c52.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-a7-fb7b.jpg

Now it was time for the upper grill element with another 400 holes...

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-a8-aa94.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-a9-c058.jpg

BTW: This is the working area all my models are build...

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-aa-e7b2.jpg

To get an interruption from all that plastic I stepped over to the saddle plate. I wanted to have a hidden solution with no visible mechanic elements.

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-ab-5272.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-ac-c3e8.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-ae-bac9.jpg

The next step was my first try with painting.

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-af-9be4.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-ag-5ef6.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-ah-0504.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-ai-cf00.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-aj-0c74.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-ak-d709.jpg

As you can see it was my first paint job with a very representative result.

Will be continued soon...

[4X44DAD]

very nice keep up the good work

[gismow]

Next step: The Backlights

The rear mud wings are bought (MAN), but the rear lights are custom build again.

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-al-41f1.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-am-24b1.jpg

After finalizing the rear lights, the module between the lights was the next part. It holds the distribution board for the rear lights.

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-ao-ad97.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-ap-f61d.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-aq-1429.jpg

After that, I had an absurd idea. I wanted to have a feature that no one other has. So I started to work on a curve light. If the stear is turned, the day lights beneeth the fog light turns into the same direction.

This was the first version

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-an-ffd5.jpg

In the middle a bowding cable was fixed and a servo placed in the cabine was mixed into the stear servo.

A few month ago I implemented Version 2 made of brass. It's placed inside the front grill and does not need any servo in the cabine anymore.

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-ar-d34a.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-as-8bf1.jpg

Will be continued....

[gismow]

Here's a short video shown the curve light (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaTYIueGogc).

And another one (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPllhV1Rw7Y)...

[gismow]

Some pictures about the making of the rear light

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-at-a02f.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-au-bca8.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-av-00ec.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-aw-4f6f.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-ax-beed.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-ay-0584.jpg

[gismow]

Some pictures about the creation of the handgrips

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-b0-dc91.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-b1-3946.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-b2-8efb.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-b4-c86a.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-b3-d9fc.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-b5-a01a.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-b6-5a4b.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-b7-f73b.jpg

[gismow]

Next item was the air intake andthe roof.

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-b8-70c6.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-bq-17d6.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-ba-1543.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-bb-f8c1.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-bc-e46d.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-bd-b7b1.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-be-352f.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-bf-18d8.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-bg-816b.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-bh-69cb.jpg

After the paint job for the roof was done, I decided to repaint the front.

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-bi-bbf9.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-bk-bbcb.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-bl-8cb2.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-bn-0d0f.jpg

[gismow]

Next item were the side trim panels. They were made of 2mm and 0.5mm styrene plates.

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-bm-f4f6.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-bo-a96b.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-bp-1068.jpg

and the fuel tanks and the holders for the side trim panels

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-bv-8fe0.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-bw-41ae.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-br-b922.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-bs-0deb.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-bt-6680.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-bu-42e7.jpg

And after another paint party...

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-bx-d1f2.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-by-7eac.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-c0-b6f0.jpg
Here you can see below the connector for the sound module and above the jumper to configure if the sound module should work with the connector or with the IR Diode.

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-c1-e0c6.jpg

[gismow]

The last greater sub project were wind deflectors and a roof spoiler with backfire lights.

After some tests I started the construction

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-4x-f7e6.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-4y-bf82.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-50-8216.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-51-38af.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-52-96da.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-53-8f85.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-54-8f53.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-55-0451.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-56-fc22.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-57-4c5b.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-58-cede.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-59-6cdd.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-5a-eecc.jpg

First test...

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-5b-9872.jpg

After the second was done, the spoiler followed...

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-5m-85d8.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-5n-0e65.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-5o-84d9.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-5p-3644.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-5r-854d.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-5s-e2c0.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-5f-cfec.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-5g-0aa1.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-5h-58a2.jpg

The holders for the side bars

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-5q-757b.jpg

[gismow]

Final result before the paint job started

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-5i-bd68.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-5l-084b.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-5j-a597.jpg

and after the paint job

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-5x-091d.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-5y-b1d1.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-60-6f3e.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-61-eb16.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-62-1534.jpg

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-63-979d.jpg

And a final video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZ2a9ifwA3k) of it...

[gismow]

Finally I'd like to give you an overview about the technical facts.

The truck is controlled via a spektrum DX8i and an AR8000 (8ch) receiver.

The speed controller is a Servonaut E20 (http://www.servonaut.de/shop/product_info.php?info=p27_servonaut-e20.html) with cruise control.

The motor is a Servonaut GM32U370 (http://www.servonaut.de/shop/product_info.php?info=p43_servonaut-gm32u370.html).

The sound module is a USM-RC-2 (http://www.beier-electronic.de/modellbau/produkte/usm-rc-2/usm-rc-2.php) from Beier Electronic

The cruise control is a very cool feature, but the change between forward and backwards is a bit complicated. The lever must be pulled down, after that it must be moved right (forward) or left (backward), back to center and upwards again to the middle. This is an annoying procedure, so I designed a small module based on an ATMEL ATMega328 to do this work for me.

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/knqp-4w-1ff8.jpg

The features:

A seperate channel is used changing the gears. It's a 3-Position switch representing forward, idle speed and backward.

If the gear channel is switched to idle speed, the speed is automatically reduced until the truck is standing still. This is measured by the sound signal the E20 is delivering. If the gear is switched to for- resp. backward, the module simulates the gear process defined by servonaut and after that the standard signal is send to the E20.

If the truck is in idle speed, you an play with the throttle, the sound module will receive the values to play the sounds, but the speed controller will recieve a "newtal" signal, it will not move.

Here's a video showing the procedure (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqtITUngrqE).

[gismow]

That's it at the moment.

There are two steps left to finalize the truck.

1. Windows
2. Driving mirrors

Mostly I just added pictures to the postings, because my english regarding RC is not very good. If there are any questions about pictures, details or anything else, please let me know and I will try to answer your questions as good and detailed as possible.

Good night ;)

[Stuff]

amazing!!

[Blender]

I love the integration of the leds into the styrene.

[Exclusive RC]

Beautiful work, looks stunning, I applaud your creativity

[gismow]

Thanx :)

[crisis time]

Perfect mate just perfect:jaw:
Very well done

[flatdeck]

Love all the custom touches, and the light just amazing......


Wayne

[RCKiwi]

Wow....very nice attention to detail. Looking ace!

[Actros4160]

Nicely done:)

[Exclusive RC]

Work is amazing my friend, you are one of the few talented ones on the forum, my question to you is, what made you want to scratch build a cab that is already in existence through tamiya?

[gismow]

Hi,

when I started it wasn't yet on the market. I started in October 2012 and Tamiya presented the Truck at the end of the year 2012 and I first saw it live at the Intermodellbau 2013 in Dortmund, Germany.

[BERNA]

Gismow Hello, very nice this Mercedes, fantastic construction and I like the LED has been