Knight Krawler
 

Its been awhile since I've built a kit but here goes. It will be a slow build due to time, funds and the lack of tooling (working on that). I'm going with a mid roof, a bit of a stretch, big pipes and any thing else i think of as i go. Here's a couple pictures after I laid every thing out. I started doin' a concept layout so I could get an idea of how long the rails need to be.

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...7/100_1463.jpg
http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...7/100_1465.jpg

Re: Knight Krawler
 

That's cool. Knight Krawler though? Going crawling with it, or just playing with night crawlers? :D

Re: Knight Krawler
 

Looking good so far!
Scott

Re: Knight Krawler
 

Thanks ESPEEFAN, There was one more picture that didn't make it out of the camera showing my work area and my crawler. I chose the name because the crawler migt donate its guts to the Knight before the build is done.

Thanks, Scott

The only update is the rails got drilled and I threw some X-mbrs in it last night. I still need to drill and tap the frame flanges but dont have that size drill and tap, and our local tool supply doesn't carry metric bits.:(

Re: Knight Krawler
 

Nice concept, a hybrid as such, but not in an economical sense. My favourite kind! Could be an off road logger type of setup. Best of luck with the design and build

Re: Knight Krawler
 

Cant wait to see this rig come together!

Re: Knight Krawler
 

Thanks for the comments guys. :) I found the drill bits and taps I needed at of all places our local hardware store :rolleyes: Time to get busy!

Re: Knight Krawler
 

Funny how that works huh? My local hardware store couldn't get me 3mm hardware for my build, but they had the drill and tap for it. weird!:confused:

Re: Knight Krawler
 

Well with Christmas over and just finishing working 46 1/2 hours at triple time during holiday shutdown(?!), its time to get back to work on this project. I did manage to hide out and do a few things over Christmas weekend.:rolleyes:

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...7/IMG_1105.jpg

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...aker57/042.jpg

Thanks for lookin'
Kent

Re: Knight Krawler
 

hide out some more! that skeleton is looking sweet so far!

Re: Knight Krawler
 

Got the suspensions done. Mounted the tires. The rear suspension, at the moment is not fastened to the frame so I can slide it around until I get everything layed out. I still need to get another set of fuel tanks and a set of running board step/box mounts so it all flows with out gaps to fill.:p

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...7/IMG_1107.jpg

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...7/IMG_1108.jpg

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...7/IMG_1109.jpg

Thanks for looking;)
Kent

Re: Knight Krawler
 

Yeah now that's what i'm talking about! Looking mean.

Re: Knight Krawler
 

This build has taken a couple different turns lately. Every time I set down at the bench a new idea and direction comes along!:rolleyes: I'd like to thank everyone doing brass out there and posting their projects, I really wanted to try a small project so I decided to make a couple of simple rails, well one thing led to another and its turned out to be a whole frame. Its not pretty but when it's done you won't see it unless it's upside down in the ditch.:eek: I've also bought the brass to solder up a headache rack. I messed up and got 40/60 acid core solder which I ended up using hopefully it won't cause problems later.:confused:

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...IMG_1103-1.jpg

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...7/IMG_1102.jpg

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...7/IMG_1101.jpg

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...7/IMG_1112.jpg

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...7/IMG_1121.jpg

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...7/IMG_1122.jpg

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...7/IMG_1120.jpg

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...7/IMG_1119.jpg

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...7/IMG_1118.jpg

This next set of pictures are mock ups of the new direction I'm going. It will be a tri-axle, I have most of the parts for the axle or need to make them. The deck plate will go all the way to the cab with a headache rack (not made yet). The cab will be a mid-roof, two tone blue, there's a lot of blue Knight Haulers out here but I get a lot of greif from my daughter because everything I buy (1:1) is always some shade of red. Her favorite color is blue. I've got 2 pole trailers one is a donor for the truck and to modify the second one, I'm going to try to do a bridge beam hauler. But as with the truck that can change.;) Stay tuned and thanks for looking and keep up the awesome builds out there, I spend more time reading the great builds on this forum than posting or building my own!:rolleyes:

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...IMG_1108-1.jpg
http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...IMG_1107-1.jpg

Re: Knight Krawler
 

Great Job. That's a really neat Idea to have the deck over the wheels. Looks really good.

Re: Knight Krawler
 

Thanks John, It will have two sets of pole/log racks, both removable. It will be able to pull a standard trailer or a pole trailer. It can be used as a stand alone truck or tractor.

Re: Knight Krawler
 

Now that's useing the ol' noggin'.:D I like where this is going. Keep it up, and I can't wait to see more pic's.:D:cool::)

Big John

Re: Knight Krawler
 

Wow, i'm impressed! Well done for taking the leap, this is quite original. With all of the builds going on here, i'm amazed how people keep coming up with something that has not been done before.

Re: Knight Krawler
 

Nice loking job!
Don't think you will have any problems with the solder so long as you give it all a good wash in soapy water when you have finished to kill off any flux.

Turn table rings look really neat.

Re: Knight Krawler
 

Thanks Big John, now that I'm getting some intrest in the build, I'm more moltivated to spend more time on it.

Thanks SWAGGER, You wouldn't belive how many directions I've thought to take this build only to find that someones done it or is doing it.

I'm going to pitch the solder i've got and get some solid core lead free in a thinner strand before I start the headache rack. Thanks for looking!

Now is all I need to do is pry myself away from the forum and the computer and get to work!:o:D

Re: Knight Krawler
 

Hi all,
I've got a few small things done, like mud flap brackets made and the rear bumper mounts modified. Got the 5th wheel mounted through the deck, I'll post those pictures later, still got some details to work out like building and mounting the log bunks. I also started the headache rack. Its kind of raw right now and I still need to cut and build the mounts for it, but its coming along.:)

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...7/IMG_1130.jpg

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...7/IMG_1132.jpg

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...7/IMG_1133.jpg

Thanks for looking, more later!:D

Re: Knight Krawler
 

Darn nice work on the soldering! The headache rack is looking pretty nice already, and it's not even done yet. I'd say the frame work for your chassis turned out nice too. I have never soldered any brass but you seem to have it down. The joints look pretty good, from what I can tell. Are you using a torch to heat everything up? The fenders turned out nice as well. I never thought about using the pole trailer kit to make something like that. Are they chromed plastic, or metal? This is turning into a great build. I know what you mean about prying yourself off the forum to actually get something done on your truck! I have that problem a lot. Right now, actually!

Re: Knight Krawler
 

Hi Nathan, Thanks for the encouraging comments. I am definitely learning as I go, I've changed the type and size of my solder 3 times. Still trying to figure out the best way to clean it up when I'm done, but thats what it's all about, if it came out perfect the first time it wouldn't be any fun. I'm using a small butane torch, .062, 60/40 rosin core solder. The deck Plates/fenders are plastic, they're painted aluminum(?) as received in the kit. I purchased 2 deck plates from Tamiya/USA besides the 2 trailer kits I've got.

Here's some more pictures from things I got done last night. After getting the bunks done and mounted I need to shim the the front bunk up so there isn't as much of a forward slope on the load. I new it was going to be there with the back bunk up on the wheel but wasn't sure how much.:rolleyes:


http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...7/IMG_0005.jpg
The headache rack is just laying against the cab, still need to build the mounts:o

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...7/IMG_0006.jpg

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...7/IMG_0007.jpg

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...7/IMG_0001.jpg

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...7/IMG_0002.jpg

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...7/IMG_0004.jpg
Had to go pick up the headache mount stanchion material.:eek::p

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...7/IMG_0003.jpg
Big load shows the height differance in the bunks! (Will be fixed).

Thats all for now, time to hang with the family:p, watch the race and get back to work!
Thanks for Lookin' Kent:D

Re: Knight Krawler
 

Headache rack and soldering look very neat and tidy,I'm beginning to understand where you are going with the build, looks like a good use for a pole trailer ,or two, Great imagination!

Re: Knight Krawler
 

Looking goog I'm really liking where this is headed. Definitely a different build

--Dan

Re: Knight Krawler
 

Thank you for the words of support on soldering, it helps! The more I go at this I forsee a third traler maybe. I sent you 2 PM's today.

Thanks Dan I hope it turns out the way I planned!

Re: Knight Krawler
 

Got a quick update. The shop foreman stopped by to see how the building progress was coming. ;) After we made him happy and got him out of the way:p:p, I proceeded to fix the height difference in the log/pole bunks and finally took the dive into the cab.:eek: I decided to layer the roof to get the height I wanted vs. cutting up a perfectly good raised roof cap.:rolleyes: Now I need to figure out the best way to remove the excess plastic.:confused:


Shop foreman, build inspection
http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...7/IMG_0145.jpg
http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...7/IMG_0146.jpg

Passed inspection:D On with the build!
http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...7/IMG_0008.jpg
http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...7/IMG_0009.jpg
http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...7/IMG_0011.jpg

Thanks for looking, Later!
Kent

Re: Knight Krawler
 

Hey Kent, don't cut the top! So are you going to sand and file the cab roof profile to give that rounded look?

Re: Knight Krawler
 

Thanks Nathan, I'll try to remember that!;) I have had a bad head cold all week and it was the first time I felt like getting in the shop. I had styrene all over the place and thought the way my week was going I'd probably cut the center out of all the plates and it was my last sheet big enough for the roof.:o
Yes I'm going to carve the roof to the correct proflle to the best of my ability. I'm just not sure how I'm going to do it yet! :confused: Filing and sanding will probably be my best bet.:D Keep watching to see how it goes!

Re: Knight Krawler
 

Filing and sanding sounds the way to go with plenty of eyeball to check the profile.
Its looking a nice job so far. Guess the cat is keeping a close eye on the job :)

Re: Knight Krawler
 

I think so, just wating to feel better so I dont mess it up!
The cat likes to hang out where ever I am and if I wasn't talking to him when the picutre was taken he would have been in the middle of the bench!:p:p:rolleyes::D

Re: Knight Krawler
 

To bad you can't just take a router and cut the profile into the roof with that! That or a shaper. What might be handy to get the profile close all the way around, would be to make a styrene template with the radius in it. Then as you file and sand, you could check the radius by placing the template over the edge, if that makes sense? Later on, the same template could be used to spread any filler.

Re: Knight Krawler
 

Great thinking!

Re: Knight Krawler
 

I'm not going to get to crazy with it, just try to make it flow nice, I do like the template idea, Thanks Nathan:cool:. That also gave me an idea of how to get the correct radius in the template;), I'll get back to you on that.:D Thanks again for helping out, hopefully I get time in the workshop this weekend to get some more done. :)

Re: Knight Krawler
 

Nice Build, this will be awesome when finished!

Re: Nightcrawler
 

[I am definitely learning as I go, I've changed the type and size of my solder 3 times. Still trying to figure out the best way to clean it up when I'm done, but that's what it's all about, if it came out perfect the first time it wouldn't be any fun. I'm using a small butane torch, .062, 60/40 rosin core solder]


on your solder try a 50/50 with no rosin ,and use a paste rosin and i think you will like it
if you are careful with the paste, the solder will only flow were you brush it on and that helps clean up ,
50/50 solder is the trick that the old timers used to fix radiators back when they were all metal
should find it in the plumbing section of your local hardware store

looking good so far

Re: Knight Krawler
 

One word, WOW. Super nice looking rig! Thanks for sharing.

Re: Knight Krawler
 

I was just throwing some ideas around. More like thinking out loud, but I still like the router bit idea best, cause it uses power tools! :D Ha. I'm sure you'll get it looking good. You've gotten this far, and it's great.

Re: Knight Krawler
 

Thank you for the compliment, I'm getting there slowly!:p

Grumpygrady have you seen 50/50 in a small diameter? What I didn't like about the stuff I had was the diameter was to big and it would deposit way more solder than I needed for the joint which made clean up much worse. I used some 1mm 60/40 from our electronics lab at work and it was great! No problems with the joints holding and you can get away with alot less heat. Thanks for the help and compliments, keep watching, more soldering to come!:D

Thanks MoRockN, lots more work to come, and I still got trailers to build yet!:rolleyes:

LMAO:p:p:p You sound to much like me with the power tool thing,:D:D why do you think its taking me so long to start this part, I'm trying to figure out what power tools I have to make it go quicker, (I don't own a router:() so i'm using my dremel with a coarse sanding drum to carve it into shape! Its actually working pretty well so far. Definitely keep throwing those ideas around, especially the power tool ones:p:p:D and thanks!

Re: Knight Krawler
 

Heres an update on the cab. I got it sanded to the shape I'm going with for now. The picture shows it sanded to 320 grit.

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...7/IMG_0012.jpg

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...7/IMG_0013.jpg

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...7/IMG_0014.jpg

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...7/IMG_0015.jpg

Thanks for looking!

Re: Knight Krawler
 

That looks really nice, and i think its a first! Keep up the great work, i cant wait to see more!