Rebirth of my King Hauler

[biggusditchus]

After a year of running it with all chrome blacked out and a dark blue colour scheme I fancied a change. This is how it looked



A few months back I stripped it all back to parts, and set out on changing things. I planned to get new chrome parts but that was really expensive and then I found a place near me that does this chroming technique that is close to a paint type application but has an amazing finish (you will see as soon as I get them all back.) I also got him to paint the cab and chassis for me in Kawasaki green (he is doing something special for me on the cab itself, more about that at a later date.

The chassis was lengthened by 6inch using an aluminium extension sourced from PMD (gardentrucking.com)


I painted the gearbox halves in silver as I think it looks better


The tanks, grille, front bumper and 5th wheel are all in aluminium.


Once all together this is how it is looking at the moment, its as much as I can do till I get cab and chrome back.

[1985 kenworth]

Wow..can't wait to see the updates and the finished product...nice build so far

[HillBillyBoy]

nice work are the extension working good? wonder if I will buy it to :P

[biggusditchus]

Yeh the extensions work fine, nice fit inside of chassis rails and once the supplied bolts are in place its solid.

[1985 kenworth]

I use them on most of my trucks... the key for me is i use permanent loctite on the bolts so they don't loosen up

[Tamiya Cowboy]

Awesome Rich old buddy glade to see you back at it and on the board cant wait to see some updates the color is great looking..

[biggusditchus]

Time is dragging on and still no cab back, nor any chrome . I have started collecting some more bits including aluminium to make steps instead of using the stock plastic ones. I did receive another King Hauler cab for the next project (yup thinking of another before even finishing this one LOL) so decided to mount it on chassis to see what it will look like, taped the aluminium grille on too.

[thercfreak2012]

ok it looks awesome hope progress procceesed soon or later rich your awesome for a true brit does your wife have any tamiya trucks

[biggusditchus]

Thankyou, she has 3 a Knight Hauler, Scania 470 and an Aeromax.

[thercfreak2012]

oh very cool do they all have mfc01 aka multi functional control unit

[Lmackattack]

Looking good.. Nice looooong stretch on it.....

[biggusditchus]

Still waiting for my chrome and paint but I have been threatened with the shell being ready tomorrow (heard that before though.)

Anyhow an update, a mate has a small Axminster lathe and I reckon he needed a few little projects to keep him busy so I purchased a few off cuts of 25mm aluminium rod and gave him that and a little design. He finished the first and has the 2nd to complete.

So from this



to this..



Took him hours to do just this one, so really glad I dont have to pay him LOL.

Also in process of making some aluminium steps they still need a polish and awaiting some aluminium stock for my mate Keith to make some air tanks

[biggusditchus]

At long last my cab and fenders are back and almost ready for build up, just got to leave them till tomorrow to let lacquer fully cure. And to say Im happy with the result is an understatement I guess it was worth the wait. Probably not to everybodies test but I love it.









Photos dont do it justice as Im struggling with getting photos from camera onto my new pc (linux which i have never used doesnt seem to like my SD card) so using my iphone.

[louie r/c nut]

Wow excellent paint job

[biggusditchus]

I should have added its not paint as such, the lacquer over the top and the green base coat are but the skulls are hydro dipped.

[louie r/c nut]

Still awesome

[RodneyO]

Like the skulls in the paint.I'm repainting my kh this weekend.Can't wait to see it finished.

[BRICKNICK]

That truck looks like the tractor that should be hauling the team grave digger race trailer.

[Espeefan]

Wow, that's a heck of a paint job! I've seen that hydro-dipping before. It's really amazing how it works. The rear fenders are great for playing tricks on the eyes! They don't look like they are actually there, in some of the photos. The black blends with the tires, and you just see the skulls!

[toniolillo]

really awesome paint job