Old tired wrecker
 

I'm going to try and do my first ever build thread. I usually never bother to take pictures until I'm done with a build, but this time I'm going to try and do an actual thread. I've always liked the looks of the GMC Crackerbox, guess I go for the underdog, as a model railroader I prefer Alco locomotives. When I saw the start Kent has going on his Crackerbox and looked again a the square lines of the cab I figured this would be a good first attempt at scratchbuilding a cab. During the process of searching for reference pictures, I stumbled on the perfect subject for my build.

http://i1378.photobucket.com/albums/...psexxzkldx.jpg

Re: Old tired wrecker
 

The wrecker I drove back in the early 80's was only a 550 Holmes on a 50 series Chevy chassis, but it was every bit as worn as this one and planted the bug for tow trucks. I'll be starting with my daycab Globe Liner as the base truck. Once the wrecker body is complete, I'll move into the cab.

Re: Old tired wrecker
 

Got a pretty good start today, here the day cab with headache rack and 5th wheel stripped.
http://i1378.photobucket.com/albums/...pscgxx2yvm.jpg
Had a pretty good side view of the wrecker so I worked with the print size until the wheels matched the size of the Tamiya wheels.

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http://i1378.photobucket.com/albums/...psllkxuctl.jpg
Created this full size template and was pleasantly surprised to discover the wheel base of the Globe Liner matched within roughly half a millimeter. Close enough!

Re: Old tired wrecker
 

http://i1378.photobucket.com/albums/...pseopdilr3.jpg

After cutting the photo up into a side template, I began cutting the sides from .060 sheet. Added a deck and now a trial fit on the chassis. The spacing from wrecker body to the back of the cab is just right with Globe Liner Cab and it measures the same front to back as the Crackerbox will. Next up is to begin work on the booms. These will be aluminum and brass with styrene for the skirting.

Re: Old tired wrecker
 

I like this so far

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great work on the cab weathering. this is going to be awesome.

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That's gonna be wild looking! I like it.

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Thanks guys!
I hope to have an update this weekend. Been down in the shop making pulleys, blocks and getting started on the booms.

Re: Old tired wrecker
 

http://i1378.photobucket.com/albums/...pse3oojfwf.jpg

Got the bed mounted and a start on the supports for the booms. The booms pictured are just temporary to figure length. Was going to build the lattice booms from brass tube but got concerned about flex so I had to order solid stock. Been busy making pulleys and such. After all the boom supports are done I'll cover the deck with diamond plate, also need to build the skirting for the uprights that the prototype has. Need to find a couple small crawler winches to mount and design the two manual crank winches that control boom height. Those were always a finger pincher to use in real life, I think I only changed the boom height on the Holmes I drove once in 4-5 years!

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That's one cool looking truck!!

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When I see a cabover wrecker I think of Terminator 2, it didn't end well for that one!

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LOL! That's for sure.
I actually had planed at one time to build a model of the Terminator wrecker. Wound up using the chassis on another project.

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Yee Haw!!!
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fksZkzM2Pg..._170Pyxurz.jpg

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NICE!!!
I love that chase scene. A flying Freightliner!!!!!!!

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Got a few more bits made and installed for the rear mast braces and started on the front shrouding and fuel tank. Have to make a decision on material for the angle iron stringers on the booms, brass or plastic. Since the booms will be brass, I'm leaning toward K&S brass for the stringers. More expensive but stronger in case I decide to latch onto something bigger than the wrecker.
http://i1378.photobucket.com/albums/...psrsol84sa.jpg
http://i1378.photobucket.com/albums/...psy6hhjbpw.jpg

Re: Old tired wrecker
 

Looks promising!

Kerst

Re: Old tired wrecker
 

Looks good Dennis, have you started the cab yet?

Re: Old tired wrecker
 

Thanks guys!

Haven't started cutting plastic on the cab yet Kent. I'm in the process of getting a new printer hooked up to my PC. (Darn HP's - Going Cannon this trip!) Once it's going I can start getting templates ready. I want to wrap up a couple more items on the bed (Booms, sling and final decision on winch selection) before I switch mental gears and move to the cab.

Re: Old tired wrecker
 

I hope you cut the grille and head light area on the mill. Mine is all hand cut with a knife and it took an easy square cab build south real quick.

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Thanks for the tip, mill it is then. Will got my printer going this morning so I've been working on templates. Think I have a set that will work really well. Made a mistake on brand in my last post. Cannon Ecotank!!!!! Love it so far, blows HP away.

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I thought you were going to keep the Globe cab on there, it looks good to me!

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The Globe cab is intended to stay until the wrecker body is finished and proven out and I get the Crackerbox cab built to where I'm happy with it. Getting my first ever scratchbuilt cab done to suit me - - well, that old Globe cab could be there for a while yet. That's a feature of the prototype that attracted me, the little center section will allow easy changeover between two cabs with no mods to the wrecker body.

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It's not a Crackerbox but looks close to your globe!

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...psjedlamcm.jpg

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Check out this Crackerbox!

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com...8345824e0a.jpg

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A couple of interesting prototypes!

The wrecker body on the Freightliner looks odd for a Holmes, wish there was more detail on it.

A Crackerbox on steroids, very cool! If the first cab comes out good, you never know.

Re: Old tired wrecker
 

Got a little more done on the wrecker over the weekend. I replaced the square booms from a previous start with more "Holmes Like" lattice style booms. The new brass in bright light makes good pictures hard to take but you'll get the idea. From having drove one I know the angle iron bracing gets all bent up after a while (the inner sets really take a beating) so no attempt was made to keep the K&S angle perfectly straight. A lot of clean up work to do on them yet but I think after paint they'll look pretty good. Next up is to build the sling assembly for the rear.


http://i1378.photobucket.com/albums/...psudberk3b.jpg

Re: Old tired wrecker
 

Looking good! I would keep that Globe cab, sure looks the part. Looks like a retired road truck put into wrecker service.

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I really like the direction this is going. While I like the Globe cab on the truck, I know you really want the crackerbox cab on it. Good luck with the build.

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Wrecker body is looking good, Have you started anything on the cab?

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Thanks guys!

The booms were a bit of a pain but I'm really happy with what they do for the looks of the wrecker. The sling and it's mount are next on the list to tackle. By the time it's done a box should arrive from Shapeways. What's in it and how well I like it will determine the direction for the cab. Either way though, it will be a Crackerbox.

Re: Old tired wrecker
 

Well, time to let the cat, er, crackerbox out of the bag. I had cut a couple of the cab parts from sheet styrene and was surfing for more reference material when I stumbled on the fact that Shapeways had a 1/14 Crackerbox cab available. In fact, they offer 4 styles! Big sleeper, single sleeper (my real favorite), no sleeper w/solid back wall and no sleeper with back window. I couldn't resist ordering one and it came today. All I can say is WOW! This is my first experience with 3D printing and I'm quite impressed with the level of detail. Panel lines, door seams and handles, even the handles on the nose to tilt the cab with. Here is the cab straight out of the box and mocked up on the chassis.

http://i1378.photobucket.com/albums/...psgqvyg8id.jpg

http://i1378.photobucket.com/albums/...psgiojdr3r.jpg

It's going to require moving the axle forward slightly to get cab and chassis to line up but other than that it scales out nicely.
I was very impressed with Shapeways customer service and their commitment to customer satisfaction. SLS plastic can suffer discoloration from oxidation during cooling due to the size of a truck cab. I was contacted prior to shipment, sent almost a dozen detailed photos of the discoloration and asked if I was happy with this cab or wanted another one built. As paint will cover the slight yellowing and the oxidation will not bleed I accepted the cab. In person I really can't detect any yellowing, but their concern was refreshing in this day and age.
All in all I am very happy with my decision to go 3D printed, and I can always do the single sleeper version with the parts I have cut. Now to move the axle, fabricate a floor and hinge the body.

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Wow, that was a lucky break! The cab looks really good. :cool:

Amazing how the hobby has evolved from 20yrs ago. It's great to know there's virtually no limitations nowadays to build whatever you want. :)

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Yes, I'm really pleased with how well the cab is done.
Shapeways has stepped up to help fill a void in available US style cabs. Until I found the crackerboxes I thought only of Mack cabs when thinking of 3D printing. If you search their site with COE in the search all sorts of things pop up, Freightliner cabovers, a Ford F700 style, IH Transtar and a smaller mid size IH. Some really cool items.
Now if Tamiya would just sell a bare chassis, single or tandem axle?

Re: Old tired wrecker
 

That is very cool! the old wrecker is going to be awesome

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CHEAT! I've been waiting to see what you came up with scratch building and you go and have one printed, looks good! I've been on Shapeways since I started mine and never seen these, I guess I don't know how to search.

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That looks.awesome!

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Thanks guys!

Guilty as charged Kent. LOL! I found that printed cab and I had to go for it. There is so darn much stuff on Shapeways and it's listed in different ways, I just got lucky. Here's how I found it;
https://www.shapeways.com/search?q=1%2F14+COE&type=

Re: Old tired wrecker
 

Thanks for the link Dennis, I got so much time in mine I'm going to finish it, but I seen a few things that might spark new ideas.

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You're welcome Kent
I know what you mean, I'm thinking that mid size IH would look pretty cool as a dump truck.