Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

wow lots to do yet..eh...i know the feeling :rolleyes:

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Yeah theres always something left to do.
Need to apply the chrome wrap to the side panels of the trailer still too. Thats gonna be a painful exercise.

Then theres a mk2 body to do since im not entirely happy with this one.

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

that looks awesome, my last tractor was a black triaxle lit up with blue air cleaners, back of cab and under fenders and frame rails, looks hot at night

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Well i just applied the chrome vinyl to the side panels for the trailer, and am really unhappy with the result. Just a bit uneven, too many little defects, and given the size of the panels and grooves i dont think i can get it any neater.

Now i need to come up with another way of getting them mirror polished shiny.

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/...h/SSPX2537.jpghey bob it can be done ...trust me it takes time and patience,when i did this one it took 3 days ..lots of patience oh yea and a few swear words also..i said some i didn't even know i knew ,but the end result is here what you see...don't give up :cop:

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

I have a feeling it was partly due to the thickness of the vinyl I used. Was difficult to get it into the little ridges of the styrene.

I actually found a local place that does that awesome multi part spray on spectra chrome. Gonna call them tomorrow, see what they charge.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBNfMd0Plec

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

So i was doing some googling looking for alternate ways to chrome the side panels, and was looking at the multi-part spectra chrome paint. Expensive, but not impossible. Doing some reading it mentioned that you need a smooth gloss black basecoat, to apply the chrome over.

I have some chrome paint i've used on clear polycarbonate RC car bodies, so i thought i'd give it a test.

Sprayed a few different blacks i have to see which gives me the glossiest finish, then applied some of the chrome over it. A good old spray can of gloss black came out the smoothest. I was tempted to polish it, but not sure what effect the residues of the polish will have on the chrome adhesion finish.

It came out more like a shiny stainless steel than chrome, but still mighty shiny, and i'm actually quite happy with it. (chrome left, black right).
http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/prime/148.JPG

I'm going to polish some of the black, and see if it makes a difference.

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Sweet! That's all I have to say about that! :D

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Here we go, this shows the reflection. Not mirror shiny, closer to stainless steel, but works for me. Good for paint!

http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/prime/149.JPG

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

While painting the side panels that shiny chrome in the post above, I ran out.
And as was pointed out to me, some of my mishaps on this build can be traced to my method of running out of something, so substituting something else.

In this case i stopped immediately, and ordered more of the same paint. Got it in today, so with a little luck, this weekend the trailer should be looking pretty close to done.

STILL waiting on my reefer unit though.

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Some minor progress this weekend, I got both side panels painted up and ready to install. Also made the silver strip to go on the side, as well as making the red/white reflective strips for the sides.

I had to re-make the upper frame sides for the trailer, the position for a couple of the LEDs conflicted with screws i'd already mounted. They're all cut, drilled, and primed, ready for blue paint tomorrow.

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

cool!!! waiting to see it done and complete :bounce:

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Its close! I have the materials for the rear doors, and the reefer finally arrived so have to paint that.

I do still have to make some legs for the trailer though. Because i lowered it slightly i cant use the kit ones.

The end is in sight! I ordered the King Hauler for this project exactly 12 months ago, and started the build at christmas. So i want to have it finished by then! A 1 year build!

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

you are lucky mine will be at the 2 year mark feb 2014 ,i am still working on my trailer ,but added a few extra builds too so i have been juggling all of them....whew!!!.i keep the positive like you...the end is near..:lol:

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Got the frames painted drilled and mounted to the trailer floor and roof. Made all the LED looms, just need to solder them into a board for power.

The blue trailer lights will have their own power and a switch on the trailer, because i'm pretty sure the light controller in the truck wont be able to power an extra 80 or so LED's. The brake lights/reverse/indicators will run from the truck though.

Also, i hate trying to keep finger prints off the stainless steel!

http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/prime/161.JPG

http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/prime/162.JPG

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

I can't wait to see this baby pulling that sweet trailer. Looking great Bob.

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Bob What gage wire are you using?? That is going to be a well lit wagon...


Wayne

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

It is actually very thin wire, just happens to have thick plastic on it. Pretty sure its about 32awg.

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Looks great so far with the wiring!

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

What im really dreading, is bolting together the front end, having to reach in all the way from the back!

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Yea that will suck! is there a way to glue the nuts in place so you don't have to reach in and tighten?

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Superglue wont have much resistance to shearing forces, so screwing in a screw would likely loosen them.

Im thinking I might have to cut a large hole in the front panel to get my fingers through, and cover it with the reefer unit. Of coure then I have to find a way to bolt the reefer on lol.

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

well It was worth a shot anyways lol

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

ok stretch armstrong...:lol:nice work so far yet again my friend:D

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Woot!
I got december build of the month! Thanks all :)

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Very well deserved!!

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Right, life has been stupid busy lately. I work for the Fire and Emergency Services here in Western Australia, and being summer its fire season, so we've been a bit busy! Far too many on call callouts recently so have barely done any work at all on my builds.

BUT, i have a little bit of time now, so am back at it!

I'd been contemplating building a new leg setup for the trailer, so it can fold like the real thing, but being time poor I decided to just use the trailer kit legs. But because i lowered the trailer by about 12mm i needed to shorten the legs. Not wanting to hack them up, i had a play with them and found an easy way.

On the inside where the spring attached to the lower part of the leg, there is a screw holding a plastic ring in place to keep the spring from slipping. I noticed that the release lever would brush against this screw when extending/retracting the legs. So i replaced the screw with a larger socket head one, put it on a couple of spacers, and now the lever will catch on it and rest quite happily on the screw instead. This lowers the trailer when the legs are extended by just about the right amount.
I do need to add a little bit of styrene to the feet to make it just right, but was a nice simple, low effort fix!

Next up are mounting the trailer sides. I've found that the plastic side panels I painted have curled slightly as the paint has cured. So i've got some aluminium sheet which i'll cut to size, and mount the styrene to it with double sided tape. Should keep it flat.

Aiming to have the side on this weekend!

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Bob Can you post some pictures of the leg mod...


Wayne

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

im a huge optimus prime fan i can't wait to see this whole thing done truck and trailer the truck looks amazing and if i didn't know it was a king hauler modded id of swore it was optimus prime good work dude.

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Basically i just replaced this screw:
http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/prime/164.JPG
With a larger cap head screw, on a couple of washers so it sticks out further.

The release arm can then use the screw as its catch.
http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/prime/163.JPG

Make sense?

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

I cant wait either! But the trailer sides are giving me some grief. The plastic sheet can curled somewhat after painting. I used double sided tape to put it on a sheet of aluminium to hold it flat, but it comes off the tape and still curls.

I considered using a hair dryer to soften the plastic so it will flatten, but thats likely to damage the chrome paint.

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Yes it dose...

Wayne

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Right, lets get this sucker finished!

So the plastic sheet for the trailer side panels didnt really work out. Even after being taped to a sheet of ali, it came loose, curled, and just looked all wrong. Plus the bloody great big seam where i had to join 2 sheets was annoying me.

I decided to go looking for a metal solution, either ali or stainless. I knew it existed, and even the company who makes it, but no-one had any locally. So after countless emails, phone calls, and web searches, one of the companies actually suggested a place to try. And lo and behold, they had some! They do elevator interiors! Not the type of place i'd even remotely thought of, but they use the stuff i was after, and even had offcuts that were the right size, finish, pattern, everything! And they were actually nice to deal with!

Picked the sheets up yesterday, and have begun drilling the many, many, many holes to mount them to the frame and put LEDs through.

I specifically checked that they had more just in case i balls it up :D

So fingers crossed, wont be long until the trailer is done, especially with the easter long weekend, hopefully i can get it done! Woot!

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Quick snap under bad lights...

The side panels are attached to the roof, but not the base of the trailer yet. need to wire up the LEDs first.

http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/prime/165.JPG

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Hey all, i'm back!

Been a hectic few months for me work-wise and just havent had time to do anything to the truck. But i've actually had some free time this week, and given how close the trailer is to being finished, i'm on a roll getting bits done so I can finish it off and declare the whole project done!

The trailer in the pic above is still like that, buit actually screwed together now, basically just the front and rear to do. Last weekend i made up the wiring for the rear end (brakes, reversing, indicators), and ran it through to the front panel. I then took the truck apart because i needed to wire in some cables to pass the signals to the trailer. Only using 6 wires, ground, brake, reverse, left, right, and one for the running lights, so its easy to hookup.

Or so i thought. Checked it all, went over the wiring, all correct, but the **** thing wouldnt work! Then i realised i used a 4 pole plug in a 3 pole socket, they werent connecting properly! Relaced the plug, and re-tested, still nothing!

Went back to basics, got the multimeter out, and started testing from the lighting unit... and it turns out the **** thing is common positive, not common ground. Darn thing is a$$ backwards! Will re-wire it tomorrow, and put it all back together.

With a little luck, i can have the trailer done before the end of trhe weekend! Thats my aim anyway!

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

OK, well i blew my target of having the trailer done by the end of today. Mostly because i need to dismantle the trailer to cut 5mm off the front of each of the side panels. I forgot to account for the rounded front corners so they're in the way.

Wired in the hookups between the truck and trailer. Stainless base panel with an aluminium support for the cables. I found some small 2.5mm 4 pole headphone style plugs so using them to hookup to the trailer.

Also got the rear end mostly done, just needs doors now. Though of all the things to misplace i've lost one of the plastic pieces that the 2 door bolts slot into. Put one at the top, but cant find the other one!

The reefer is done too, the pic makes it look more sparkly/glittery than it is. Just lighting.

http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/prime/171.JPG

http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/prime/172.JPG

http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/prime/173.JPG

http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/prime/174.JPG

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

looking good bud she'll be done soon i wish i had the talent u do so i could build an optimuse prime.

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

He's getting there. I think i've finally found a way to do the rear doors to my satisfaction too.

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

OK, the rear end is done! I embossed some aluminium sheet to get the quilted look. Its not exactly the same sort of quilted texture as the real thing, but its a passable facsimile i think. About as good as i can get any way.
http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/prime/175.JPG


Had to make a new front end sheet. The one i had was sized for when i was using plastic side panels, and ended up being about 3-4mm too short now its all together. Test fitted with reefer, now i just need to make and paint a couple of blue strips for top and bottom.
http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/prime/176.JPG
http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/prime/177.JPG

Then its just the side strips to go!