Scaleart - assembling an Arocs 8x8 roll on roll off kipper

[Rakthi]

OK guys, I'll admit, I'm flattered, but I wouldn't nominate for "build" of the year though ... "assembly thread" would be more appropriate since I didn't really "build" this one.

[Rakthi]

Quick update. The 2 pieces to attach the hook mechanism to the frame arrived yesterday. So can now replace the ones I messed up when I had to drill out the screws after I broke of the head.



I had also ordered a complete set of street tires a) to see how the truck behaves with those and b) because I am partial to the look of them.



While I replace the tires I will also adjust the track rods of the rear axle. The wheel is not nicely centred in the fender like the other one.

First rear axle, ± centred



Last one too far back and the tire hits the fender sometimes. Think I will have to shorten the track rod about 1.5 to 2mm. While I have the fenders off I can at the same time paint those stainless screw heads black too.



Cheers

Stephan

[Tp_hofmann]

Looking forward to see the street gear mounted

And you should get a bonus from scaleart, since your assembly story inspired me to get a "Baustoffmulde" as well

[cosworth34677]

The detail of this truck is crazy. This is why I love scaleart!

[Rakthi]

Hi Tom, wish I could show you pictures, but every time I think of starting on the Arocs something comes up.
Hopefully I can get to it later this week.
Congrats on getting the "Baustoffmulde"!
It will be a great addition to your Palfinger equipped truck!
Green with envy over that one,

====================

Hi Cosworth, yup the detailing is excellent.

Have a look at this cast piece! A part of my next truck



My fingers are itching to start on this one, but first the Arocs and all the stuff I have been putting off.
(or as my wife puts it, first the things you've been putting off, then your toys)

[Cossett]

Hi stephan , where are the spider from and what type of rim are they designed to go in as they are the cleanest ones Ive seen ?

Cheers Tracy

[Rakthi]

Hi Tracy, it is from the Trilex series from Scaleart. They have the 6-hole version (which I ordered) and the more modern 10-hole version. Both are metal casts.

https://scaleart-shop.de/en/Drive-Technology/Wheels/

The pictures in their webshop don't really show the detail. I was pleasantly surprised when I unpacked this one.

Couldn't find the 6-hole version for the front axle. Turned out that you have to order the front axle with them so they are under rear axles (no wonder I had a hard time finding them )

https://scaleart-shop.de/en/Drive-Te...es/Rear-Axles/

[Rakthi]

Hi all, a couple of days ago I noticed that Christian (Newcomer_2) posted the pictures of the updated cross brace ScaleART released for the container on a German site. Rather than giving you the link to the site it would be nice if he would post them here.

So I took the liberty to ask him if he would be so kind as to do that. Looking forward to him posting when he has the time.

So by the time he has updated us on the fix I will hopefully have sorted out some of the stuff that is temporarily keeping me from messing around with the truck.

[Newcomer_2]

Hi Stephan,

thank you for inviting me to post some pictures of the updated cross brace for the container in your thread.

Let´s start! - In the following picture you can see an extract of the manual, the new cross brace (= the black parts) an the old version (the red part on right side):




And here you can have a closer look on the updated parts and the first step of the assembling:






The next step is to mount it on the container. Because of the contersunk holes on the longitudinal profile of the carriage, I swapped the round head screws of the manual against countersunk screws and bolted them from the outside inwards. The screw head I simply painted black with a waterproof pen.








The new cross brace has passed the function test. It can slide under the hooks of the roll-on/-off-mechanism and is held securely. The small scratches prove a secure hold.






It also fits to the trailor:








I'm glad because of the supporting of ScaleART in such cases. If there is a problem, they're always searching for a solution.

Stephan, now it´s your turn to go on. But first of all do all the the other things around you! Then you can much more enjoy the assembling.

[Rakthi]

Thank you Christian! If we had to wait till I receive the updated parts and find the time to install it, would have taken forever

Interesting to see how it fits/hooks to the trailer too! Always wondered about that.

[Rakthi]

Today appointments got cancelled and it rained so no painting the front door ... meaning I could do some stuff to the Arocs.

First replace the bits I mucked up drilling out the screws. A bit of a fiddle with all the hydraulic lines installed, but all in all doable. Good thing I re-ordered the screws because seriously messed up the head of the countersunk screw due to the loctite used. Should have heated the screw with a soldering iron to loosen the loctite.



Replaced them one side at the time.

Here the worst one with the replacement. Replacement is gloss and looks better finished.





Had to take the fenders of to do this repair. Painted the screws holding them together black - something I picked up from Christian. Looks much better this way.



Then had to adjust the tracking rods on the rear axle. In the manual they indicated about 50mm, so shortened them to 48.5 mm. Not so easy to get those track rods off. Good thing I have a flexible screw driver.





Then replace the off-road tires to street tires.





Could have shortened the tracking rod a bit more, but still better than before.



And everything back in place and working.





That's it.

[Tp_hofmann]

Looks neat! And curious about your new project as well

Br,
Thomas

[Rakthi]

The next truck is sitting here in the box

It's a MAN TGX/XL 6x6 tractor - with some changes to the standard package to keep things interesting - and a halfpipe trailer. Should keep me busy for a while.

[sneff]

Beautiful truck. I would think for the money they charge for those kits they would include hex hardware instead of phillips.

[Rakthi]

Yes, you are right, it would have been nice to have more if not all hex fasteners. But since the phillips screws are predominantly in areas not normally visible it is not such a big deal (personal opinion). Like most companies it is a delicate balance between profit (survival) and quality.

Considering this stuff is 100% made in Germany, not known for low wages / taxes, ScaleART probably make less of a profit than the Chinese competitors who sell their stuff at half the cost.

[sneff]

Originally Posted by Rakthi

Yes, you are right, it would have been nice to have more if not all hex fasteners. But since the phillips screws are predominantly in areas not normally visible it is not such a big deal (personal opinion). Like most companies it is a delicate balance between profit (survival) and quality.

Considering this stuff is 100% made in Germany, not known for low wages / taxes, ScaleART probably make less of a profit than the Chinese competitors who sell their stuff at half the cost.

Agreed. As long as they are hidden.

[Rakthi]

Hi Sneff, during the build I thought of replacing some of the philips with model nuts, but never got around to it. Too difficult to source them here in Malaysia.

I'm stopping on the Arocs for a bit. Ordered an SM3 sound module for it. I'm going to start on the MAN and will get back to the Arocs when I do the wiring on the new one.

Pretty happy with the Arocs at the moment and not too bothered with the sound and lights that aren't working. I also decided not to bother with replacing the cross brace with the updated one.

Here a quick pic of the frame rails of the MAN 6x6 tractor in relation to the 8x8.

Longer than I thought it would be.




Cheers!

[Prop Shaft]

Thought Id show you my budget Arocs. Lol

[Stuff]

Lego is amazing to! I have a rolloff lego truck but its too small for our scale.

[Rakthi]

I have one of those on my "to do" list ...