RELIANCE MERCURY 8001

[dadandlad]

Well i joined the forum a couple of days back and thought i would share my project with you.
I worked for a company in England for six years building Aircraft and Dock service vehicles until it closed down a few years ago.
I had always wanted to build a working scale model of my favourite vehicle the 8001 push back tractor,which we built five in total shipping them to Ogden Aviation at schipol airport,Aer-lingus at Hethrow,RAF at RAF Brize Norton and the last two to China
The original spec
Overall length 8156mm
Overall Height 1725mm
Overall width 3025mm
wheelbase 3575mm
Ground clearance 190mm
Engine Aircooled Deutz BF10L513 394 Bhp 15.95 Litre
ZF powershift transmission
Kessler twin steer drive axles

My aim is to produce a accurate working scale model of the 8001 and the inspiration came when i purchased a Tamiya TLT and realised the axles are a very good match for the originals.
I have spent around 6 months so far producing what you see,the main chassis is 5mm alluminium plate with he same material used for the bulkheads.
The bodywork and cab are all made from various thickness's of brass sheet.
The square box with the brass gear you see in one of the pics is a combined Hydraulic tank and pump to power the onboard jacks and cab elevate ram and the block with the fittings in is the three station manifold to control the above features.
The drive gearbox is a cross between a TLT and a electric plane reduction gearbox although this may change if i can lay my hands on a Tamiya 3 speed unit
All the service hatch lids will be hinged to allow access to the radio gear,pump etc.
The cab has hinged doors just for the **** of it nd will be trimmed out with carpet as per the original.
I still have a lot to do and expect to spend at least another 6-12 months before it is finished.

I have had the pleasure of driving one of these on a pushback at Heathrow Airport where she pushed a fully laden Air India 747 backwards on little more than tickover,it really is rarther daunting to look up through the cab roof and realise the nose of the plane is stretched to the rear of the truck {we pushed it out from the front of our vehicle} and the look out to the side making the tightest turn and realise just how tortured the tyres and landing gear of the plane are.

Anyway im sorry i didn't find you guys earlier and you have missed quite a lot of my build but any questions i wil try to answer and bring you up to date.

[dadandlad]

More

[dadandlad]

And more

[dadandlad]

Some pictures of the real thing which i have waited 3 years for it to come back into the country.Most of the build was done from memory.
Hmmm could only upload 2 pics,looks like i will have to resize the rest.

A bit more of a insight into the real thing

4 wheel drive 4 wheel steer
4 steering modes,2 wheel front,2 wheel rear,4 wheel steer and crab
Top speed 30mph


Chassis assembled from 100mm plate in 3 sections each section weighing 7 tons,the sections where assembled on steel blocks approx 400mm off the floor,bolted,pinned and finally welded together.
Cab bucket added and rear 4 ton ballast weight
Engine,gearbox and axles added
Cab fitted
All air valves,pipes and electrics added
Wings fitted approx 2 tons each
Side ballast weights added 5 each side 1 ton each
Fuel and hydraulic tanks fitted along with all hydraulic hoses
Engine covers etc added
Time to build start to finish in assembly shop 6 weeks,that is 2 fitters and a sparky

I really loved my job and still consider these trucks as my babies

[grumpygrady]

sure glad to see this here
did you try the ice to bend the exhaust pipe

[Dreamweaver]

WOW your brass work is truly amazing.

[dadandlad]

Thank you boys.
Pictures now resized so lots more for you to look at

[dadandlad]

More

[dadandlad]

And more

[fhhhstix]

Here you go.

http://www.rctruckandconstruction.co...ead.php?t=1050

Travis

[russisloud]

i really don't even know what to say? but WOW!

[rcman]

wow! your brazing skills are awesome! looking really good so far. welcome to the board. now you have to build a 747 to push around!

[Izzy]

Very nice build..... Impressive project scope....

[dadandlad]

Well after much thoght the original brass build was scrapped due to major weight issues but started again in plasticard

[crazy4yachts]

That is one cool looking model nice work, I work for a major Airline is that the Push back tug for the 747 and 777 aircraft it looks for familiar?

[dabears]

WOW i thought the brass version was killer looking then i read you scrapped it to do styrene and im speachless with the results! You have some really good talent on custom builds!! Great job!

[dadandlad]

Thanks for your kind comments boys

I work for a major Airline is that the Push back tug for the 747 and 777 aircraft it looks for familiar

Yes you are correct it was originally designed for the 747 or wide bodied aircraft

[Finster]

Very unique build and I'm really surprised you started completely over with the body. Both versions look awesome. Looks like this would also be a good start for an APC from the movie "Aliens". http://fireballtim.com/wp-content/up...11/12/APC1.jpg

[dadandlad]

Cheers Finster
You are correct it would be a good start for the Aliens APC,the APC was built from a de-ballasted ex British Airways Douglas DC12 air tug.
They removed approx 35 tons from the tug and the power station where the filming was done had to have the floor reinforced to carry the weight as it still weighed approx 35 ton
Douglas was one of our main competitors at the the time and later on we merged into one big group.

[Espeefan]

I completely over looked this build. It's really nice to see something like this! Totally different, and unique. I like it a lot. I can't believe you scrapped the brass body. I would think the weight would be ideal for a model like this. The heavier the better. The more it would be a brute of a puller. I can't see the weight taxing the drivetrain either. Those TLT-1 axles should handle it just fine. The internals are tough too. Shame you didn't stick with the brass body! Nothing looks like metal, as well as brass does, when it's painted up.