1950 Kenworth Needlenose

[Claus]

Wow, that steering is awesome. Really like the way you hollowed out your front bumper too, that must have taken some time.

[petermoblin]

The detail you are putting into this truck is amazing! Can't wait to see more.

[Diesel Demond]

your just toying with us now!! unbelievable work and craftsmanship. be cool to see video of it working when your done

[plow jockey]

Great craftsmanship on every step of this build. Great job!!!

[Espeefan]

Originally Posted by doodlebug

I like how you have set the front end up!!!
Cheer's, Neil.

Thanks Neil. I'm really happy with the way it turned out too.

Originally Posted by tracksntreadslou

Wow nathan im Impressed ..Steering looks bulletproof ..Cab Mounts Very well thought out ..sometimes it takes a few sleepless nights to come up with a plan and a design and this one looks very clean ..Good work ..I could imagine the fun you would have with a CNC ..your very creative

Thank you Lou! I'd love to try some CNC machining someday. I guess there are a few retro-fit CNC kits out there for my mini-mill, but I think I'd probably invest in a CNC Bridgeport, if I could afford it. That's probably years away though! I definitely agree on the sleepless nights!

Originally Posted by Claus

Wow, that steering is awesome. Really like the way you hollowed out your front bumper too, that must have taken some time.

Thanks Craig. I had to hollow out the bumper for some tire clearance. With the axle pushed forward and the arc the wheels swing in, I needed just a little clearance for them, and as long as I was hollowing it out, I kept going, knowing the LEDs would need to fit in there too.

Originally Posted by petermoblin

The detail you are putting into this truck is amazing! Can't wait to see more.

Thanks Petermoblin.

Originally Posted by Diesel Demond

your just toying with us now!! unbelievable work and craftsmanship. be cool to see video of it working when your done

Thanks Diesel Demond. I don't have a video camera, but I'd like to get one. Any recommendations? Go Pro?

Originally Posted by plow jockey

Great craftsmanship on every step of this build. Great job!!!

Thank you Plow Jockey!

[Espeefan]

I know the updates have fallen off pace a little, but with summer here, I've been busy doing a lot of other things outside. I think everyone's builds have experienced the same problem, but I have been working on my truck at night, or when it's to hot outside! Here is the latest...





I decided to make a cross brace for my stack mounts, to make them more rigid. The stacks are pretty tall, and I thought it would be a good idea to tie them into the chassis at more then just one point. While I was at it, I also machined a deck plate. It was the most time consuming thing I've done so far, I think! I lost count after 315 holes, but it looks cool. Cheese grater and all.... It also hides the screws that hold my planetary gearbox to the chassis, so it kills two birds with one stone.



Honestly, there isn't a ton of machining left to do with this truck. Some small things, but it's getting ever closer to completion, which amazes me! Kind of. Next up, I've got to work on my 5th wheel plate, some cab details, and some mounting plates for the electronics. Hopefully those parts will go a little faster, as long as I don't have to drill to many holes! Whew...

[RCP57]

Bout time we had an update....Looking real good!...but hurry up would you!

[Bigrigger]

Looking great Nathan! I really like your deck-plate! This thing is unbelievable! Keep up the updates! Are the seats going to be machined too? Might not be very comfy for your driver...

[Tamiya Cowboy]

Wow truly a work of art Nate fabulous work my friend.

[dirthalr]

Wow Nate!
Love the deck plate. That would have been a good thing for the cnc. Like how the stack mounts turned out also. Not sure how you find time to work on it during the summer. Keep the surprises coming.

[doodlebug]

I like the "Stack Rack", truly original
Cheer's, Neil.

[Espeefan]

Originally Posted by RCP57

Bout time we had an update....Looking real good!...but hurry up would you!

Thanks Reg! I'm tryin' boss, I'm tryin'! No one can match your speed though!

Originally Posted by Bigrigger

Looking great Nathan! I really like your deck-plate! This thing is unbelievable! Keep up the updates! Are the seats going to be machined too? Might not be very comfy for your driver...

Thanks Bigrigger. No seats in the cab for this one! I'm afraid I'm going to need all the space I can get for the electronics. A speaker, Servonaut M20+, Servoanut SMX sound unit, infrared transmitter for wireless trailer lights, a battery pack, and my radio receiver!

Originally Posted by Tamiya Cowboy

Wow truly a work of art Nate fabulous work my friend.

Thanks Paul! I appreciate you checking my thread out.

Originally Posted by dirthalr

Wow Nate!
Love the deck plate. That would have been a good thing for the cnc. Like how the stack mounts turned out also. Not sure how you find time to work on it during the summer. Keep the surprises coming.

Jimmy, thanks! I wish I had a CNC machine. I would have definitely used it for the deck plate. I drilled the holes over the course of three days. I just got tired of drilling them, after an hour or two of doing it, so then I'd go do something else and come back the next day.

Originally Posted by doodlebug

I like the "Stack Rack", truly original
Cheer's, Neil.

Stack rack! I like that! I'm going to call it that from now on. Thanks Neil.

[sneaky-pete]

The suspense is killing me
Every detail is beautiful.

[toniolillo]

no comment ...... awesome, when you get to leave it as the original, awesome

[Espeefan]

Originally Posted by sneaky-pete

The suspense is killing me
Every detail is beautiful.

Thanks Troy! I'm going as fast as I can. Hang in there. If it turns out as nice as your KW Model A, I'll be thrilled!

Originally Posted by toniolillo

no comment ...... awesome, when you get to leave it as the original, awesome

Thank you Toniolillo. I appreciate your compliment!

[Espeefan]

Happy 4th of July everybody. Hope you all enjoyed the holiday. I didn't watch any fireworks this year. Instead I spent the day baling hay with my dad, and then afterward, a little time in the workshop, working on the Kenworth build. I managed to get my 5th wheel plate mounted to the truck.



I machined up a plate that bolts to chassis and doesn't interfere at all with my rear cross member. Originally I planned to use a Wedico 5th wheel, but I later changed my mind, wanting something more scale that fit better. For a while I thought I'd try and design a way to slide the 5th wheel, but after thinking about it, drawing plans, and measuring things I decided against it. It would have been fun for the cool factor, but in reality I just didn't see myself moving the 5th wheel anyway. Making it permanent allowed me to have a slimmer low profile look, which is exactly what I was after.







Here's a photo of the Wedico 5th wheel, compared to the Scale Art Jost 5th wheel I went with. I thought something looked a little 'off' about the Wedico 5th wheel. The height bothered me too. It's a lot taller then the Scale Art 5th wheel and there is no way to lower it down. I could gone lower on the Scale Art, but left it a little bit higher for more articulation.





The Scale Art 5th wheel has a lot finer detail, and I'm glad I decided to purchase it. I think it looks great sitting on the chassis. At least now the truck will be able to pull something! Thanks for looking.

[RCP57]

Looking good Nate! Those pipes are HUGE!!!!

[Claus]

Wow Nathan!! I haven't tuned in lately, I missed the past few updates but they were huge updates, it's really coming together now. Love the deck plate, keep it up.

[Espeefan]

Originally Posted by RCP57

Looking good Nate! Those pipes are HUGE!!!!

Thanks Reg! The bigger the better, right?

Originally Posted by Claus

Wow Nathan!! I haven't tuned in lately, I missed the past few updates but they were huge updates, it's really coming together now. Love the deck plate, keep it up.

Thank you Craig! I'm glad you checked in. It's always nice to hear what you think of the latest updates.

[doodlebug]

Hey Nathan, the 5th wheel is a nice touch! Keep up the great work!
Cheer's, Neil.