Merc 4x4
 

I bought this off of ebay last year, it came with an MFU fitted and a semi flat bed.
Attachment 1765
I stripped it down and made it look like this:
Attachment 1767
Attachment 1769
Gearbox fitted:
Attachment 1768
I fitted a TLT up front and its sitting on F350 springs.
More updates soon.
Thanks for looking
Stu

Re: Merc 4x4
 

looks good :)

Re: Merc 4x4
 

yup got to agree there looks good

Re: Merc 4x4
 

Bummer pics don't show up on my iPad.

--Dan

Re: Merc 4x4
 

Thanks for the comments guys, a few small updates:
Ditched the 3spd and fitted a R2 2spd with disconnect:
Attachment 1783
Not sure what you call this bit that fits to the shift rod:confused:, so I made one:
Attachment 1784
Made a bigger mech deck from some 5mm styrene I had lying around:
Attachment 1785
Rear bumper made and fitted, I cut down the original merc rear lights and drilled the bumper ready for led's:
Attachment 1786
Attachment 1787
I've also fitted Hummer wheels and bigger tyres
Thats all folks:)

Re: Merc 4x4
 

Is this better?
http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/...4/IMG_1685.jpg

http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/...4/IMG_1750.jpg

http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/...4/IMG_1751.jpg

http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/...4/IMG_2028.jpg

http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/...4/IMG_2033.jpg

http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/...4/IMG_2038.jpg

Stu

Re: Merc 4x4
 

Chopped up a flat bed to fit the merc:

http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/...4/IMG_2039.jpg

http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/...4/IMG_2040.jpg

Cab is now in primer:

http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/...4/IMG_2042.jpg

http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/...4/IMG_2041.jpg

The paint arrived today so should get the cab painted over the weekend.
Thanks for looking
Stu

Re: Merc 4x4
 

i like that merc cab. i was going to get one but have enough irons in the fire for now. was wondering about those tires can you give any info on them.

Re: Merc 4x4
 

Great ideas! Taking an otherwise boring kit and making it much more appealing and trucker friendly! :D

It's got me thinking ... ;) Thanks for the pictures!


~ Jeff

Re: Merc 4x4
 

I really like what you've done with the truck.;):) Great job so far, and keep the pic's coming.:D

Big John

Re: Merc 4x4 (cab now painted)
 

They are 1/10th scale 1.9 crawler tyres which I found on ebay, 95mm high, 36mm wide with foam inserts.

Thanks for the comments, much appreciated:)

More pics, cab is now painted and mainly back together:

http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/...4/IMG_2048.jpg

http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/...4/IMG_2049.jpg

A few outdoor pics, as the sun is shining:)

http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/...4/IMG_2052.jpg

http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/...4/IMG_2051.jpg

Not sure whether to paint the wheels or not, any thoughts???

I think its now time to strip back down and paint the chassis:(

Thanks for looking
Stu

Re: Merc 4x4
 

I like the black wheels..!....

Re: Merc 4x4
 

Thanks for tire info. the wheels and tires look natural on this rig i dont think you need to paint them. F350 springs are good idea. i have them on my current build they come in handy.

Re: Merc 4x4
 

I like the look of the wheels too, although its nice to have other peoples views:)
I will leave them as they are for now until its finished.

Yes the F350 leafs work well, they give you that extra flex which is ideal for a truck like this, although I may find them a little soft on the rear when loaded, will have to wait and see when the shocks are on.

Thanks for looking
Stu

Re: Merc 4x4
 

Hi all, these arrived yesterday:

http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/...4/IMG_2111.jpg

A few hours and some head scratching later:

http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/...4/IMG_2117.jpg

http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/...4/IMG_2116.jpg

http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/...4/IMG_2115.jpg

Almost ready to paint:)

Stu

http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/...4/IMG_2113.jpg

Re: Merc 4x4
 

chassis looks great , have you made any more progress?

Re: Merc 4x4
 

Thanks, no further forward at the mo, been so busy with work and other stuff around the house I havn't had much spare time.

Hopefully will get back to it in a couple of weeks.

Stu

Re: Merc 4x4
 

Its been a while but have made some progress on the Merc, chassis is now painted, 3rd time lucky! I had a few issues with the etch primer:mad:

I think its turned out ok now though:)

Slowly going back together:

http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/...scamera578.jpg

http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/...scamera579.jpg

As you can see I have fitted some new boots, will wait to see how they look when its all finished.

Thanks for looking
Stu

Re: Merc 4x4
 

if the rear leaf springs are to soft when you load it up ,think about a set of overload
springs that go on top of the spring pack you have
they are shorter and bigger and have there own pads on the frame but do not touch
when unloaded but sit down on there peaches when loaded
older trucks had them
will post pictures if you need them

Re: Merc 4x4
 

Thanks for the input, will wait and see when its loaded, some pics would be good though.

Stu

Re: Merc 4x4
 

here are a couple

Re: Merc 4x4
 

Thanks for the pics, will wait and see how it performs.

A small update, I have painted the rear body and the truck is mainly back together, have given it a test run and love the new tyres, much better grip.
Pics:
http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/...4/IMG_2420.jpg

http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/...4/IMG_2419.jpg

http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/...4/IMG_2421.jpg

Got bored so started on the drag, maybe a bit long though!
http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/...4/IMG_2422.jpg

Now need to order some led's and decide on a sound/light unit etc
Thanks for looking
Stu

Re: Merc 4x4
 

Nice, I like it a lot. How about some shots of it with a load on and showing off its articulation?

Re: Merc 4x4
 

Looks great!!!
Is the trailer suspension staying where its at or are you going to push it back some? Just wondering if it was a look thing or functionalitly? Truck and trailer look awesome though either way!!

Re: Merc 4x4
 

Thanks dabears and good question! The trailer axles are slightly off centre to the rear of the trailer so as when loaded the weight on the hitch (nose weight) is positive but most off the weight is carried by the trailer and not on the rear of the towing vehicle. Hope this makes sense:)

Just for you Snochaser and thanks for the coments, the whiskey box weighs 2kg (4.4lbs in old money)

http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/...4/IMG_2426.jpg

http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/...4/IMG_2424.jpg

http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/...4/IMG_2427.jpg

Hitching a lift on the 48' spread axle (work in progress) pulled by my stretched Globe:

http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/...4/IMG_2431.jpg

http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/...4/IMG_2432.jpg

Thanks for looking

Stu

Re: Merc 4x4
 

Nice looking truck Stuart! I really like that color on it. What are you thinking for a load? :D

Re: Merc 4x4
 

Yep makes perfect sence! I figured it was for function of load carying.

Nice globe and trailer BTW.. :)

Re: Merc 4x4
 

Thanks for the pictures. Looks good. Time to get it dirty, a little mud and water action, get that cargo to the top of the mountain.

Ben

Re: Merc 4x4
 

Thanks, I think the colour suits it too:) Not sure on a load, any ideas? Generator maybe?

Thanks dabears, not as bling as yours though:p

No worries Ben, need to finish it first!

Stu

Sound and light module
 

The sound and light module has arrived

http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/...204x4/SLU1.jpg

http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/...204x4/SLU2.jpg

Have test run it on the bench and so far so good:) Especially without instructions:eek:

Re: Merc 4x4
 

The three speed is back! Complete with sensored brushless motor.
I'm using the R2 as a 2 spd transfer box:

http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/...ps21cc202d.jpg

http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/...ps85d77cfc.jpg

http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/...ps2c5bf205.jpg

Video to follow soon:)

Re: Merc 4x4
 

Looking good... Any info on the sound kit would be great I have one too and could use a little insight..

Re: Merc 4x4
 

wow its awesome man! im going to be building a 8x8 version of this truck soon. If you dont mind how much was the sound unit and was their english instructions with it?? i couldnt imagine figuring that thing out with out them lol..

Re: Merc 4x4
 

Thanks for the comments, I bought the SLU from buychina.com for 154usd including worldwide shipping, it took about 2 weeks to get here (France)
He also does a wireless lighting kit to connect to it, I will be getting one later.

There are no english instructions, I google translated the chinese ones into pigeon english and guessed the rest!

You only really need to know how to connect it up and calibrate it, pretty straight forward to do. You will need a speaker and esc.

I'm really pleased with it so far and good value for money imo, I've got the 3spd hooked up to the 3 pos switch and not running through the slu, as the gear change sound is naf and there is no difference in engine tone like the mfu, but apart from that it sounds great with a choice of 2 engine sounds, you get brake and air sounds as well as 2 sirens and of course all the lights, indicators, brake, side/tail, head lamps etc etc.

If you need any more info let me know, I will try to help and I will post a video soon, hopefully over the weekend if all goes well:)

Stu

Re: Merc 4x4
 

No worries, as far as I can tell its just the elevator channel that needs calibrating, there is a "chset" dip switch on the SLU, move that up, operate the elevator stick and the led goes green one way and red the other, switch off the SLU and return the chset switch to the original position, it worked for me!

A mixed load would be quite realistic I think and thanks for the comments.

Here's my first ever youtube video so go easy:o Just a bench test for now.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsWUi...ature=youtu.be

Re: Merc 4x4
 

New action vid:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ervPQ...ature=youtu.be

Stu

Re: Merc 4x4
 

Cool vid Stu!! Ive been waiting to see someone get one of these SLU units up and running right. Truck turned out great! Love your little course area

Re: Merc 4x4
 

very cool merc. loved the video too the sound unit sounds good. i have a couple of chinese girls that work with me if you email me the instructions i could ask them to trans into english. keith

Re: Merc 4x4
 

Thanks for the comments guys.

A proper human translation of the instructions for the SLU would be great, can I send it as an attachment in a PM?

Cheers
Stu

Re: Merc 4x4
 

Keith, the SLU manual can be downloaded here in chinese:

http://rchh.freeforums.org/download/file.php?id=5

Cheers,
Stu