Classy Shak

[kaptain Jack]

I do a lot of R.C. boat building, at least half of them use flexi shaft for rudder steering, I'm sorry, I can't upload pictures,for some reason it never works from my computer,but if you have access to rc boats, you'll see right away how simple it is.
P.S. Love your build.

[Cossett]

Mike I just used a simple push rod made similar to what Swagger was talking about with a ball joint on the other end and a few other bends to get thought the turn table base plate and covered in black heat shrink connected to a micro servo...

[Dreamweaver]

Originally Posted by SWAGGER

Dreamweaver, I used to build RC planes, many years ago. Things may have changed, but I used to get delron or PVC flexi tubes in RC plane shops. This was able to take a decent curve. I would run from cockpit to tail, down inside the fuselage. I would then get a thin flexi rod to feed through the tube and then you would have screw on "horns" hand screwed onto the ends of the rods and they would snap to the servo horn on one end and the control surface (rudder, aileron or elevator etc). I am sure that this would work for you and there are choices of design and finish on the horns available.

You can also make "hard" push rods. See video below, he uses the plastic horns I mentioned, you can also get alloy ones.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3raUcsSjvhs

Thanks Swagger I'll see if I can find some and see if it will work.

Originally Posted by kaptain Jack

I do a lot of R.C. boat building, at least half of them use flexi shaft for rudder steering, I'm sorry, I can't upload pictures,for some reason it never works from my computer,but if you have access to rc boats, you'll see right away how simple it is.
P.S. Love your build.

Thanks Kaptain Jack. I have no access to boats, I'll try and find something on youtube or something.

Originally Posted by Cossett

Mike I just used a simple push rod made similar to what Swagger was talking about with a ball joint on the other end and a few other bends to get thought the turn table base plate and covered in black heat shrink connected to a micro servo...

Tracey got some pictures of what your talking about. The thing is to do it as I want it needs to be pretty flexible. I want the cable to come through the mounting base for the fifth wheel and then forward to the fifth wheel lock. Then I want it to go under the deck plate and up through the sleeper floor to the servo in the sleeper.





I was thinking hooking it to the bolt that the spring is on there so that the servo pulls to open.

[Brian in PA]

Looks good Mike! the tank straps are off the hook!!

[Cossett]

Mike here is a couple of quick pic's till I can get her opened up , but the push rod has two Z on ether end one has a ball join going thought the turn table base plate to the locking arm and then the other end with a z on it goes thought a servo horn ( note the push rod runs under the cross member/s not through them), the micro servo is running parallel to the chassis with a adaptor plate I made to suit the location of the mount.. (I have my servo under the sleeper to keep the back nice and clean)

[Dreamweaver]

Originally Posted by Brian in PA

Looks good Mike! the tank straps are off the hook!!

Thanks Brian. I got the other straps the other day just have not been home to finish them.

Originally Posted by Cossett

Mike here is a couple of quick pic's till I can get her opened up , but the push rod has two Z on ether end one has a ball join going thought the turn table base plate to the locking arm and then the other end with a z on it goes thought a servo horn ( note the push rod runs under the cross member/s not through them), the micro servo is running parallel to the chassis with a adaptor plate I made to suit the location of the mount.. (I have my servo under the sleeper to keep the back nice and clean)

Thanks Tracy.. I was driving along today and just out of the blue the idea came to me. I will be doing something similar. I figured what I could do is make something similar to the bell crank they make for the steering on the scania's. I can make it out of brass and solder the outer tube into the fifth wheel mount then it would just be a little push rod from the bell crank to the jaws. Move the ball on the jaws from the stock location to where the spring mounts. Then run a push rod from the under side of the bell crank forward to the servo shaft sticking down through the sleeper floor.

Think that will work?

[spudd]

Mike that thing just gets better looking all the time!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[TRUCKMAKER]

Dreamweaver try this link, if the first three items don't work for you keep searching the site and I beleive they have 3 other sites. Just google Du-bro. I understand what you want and you should be able to find it on this site.
http://shop.dubro.com/products/categ...161.5186.0.0.0

I buillt a lot of RC planes.

[TRUCKMAKER]

By the way Dreamweaver thanks for rattling the brain now I know how I'm going to set up my 5th wheel latch and lift axle control!!

Thanks again,
Kent

[Espeefan]

Mike, I had to drag this back up! I hadn't been keeping up with your latest updates, but the truck is looking super fantastic! The grille is perfect. I love the Pete oval style material you have behind it, and in the air cleaners. I was going to do some trading with Steve, for a set of his air breathers. The whole truck is awesome. Think you're going to sand off the ribs on the hood and put some new ones on to fix the off center problem? Also, I don't know if I missed it, but I was wondering what you've got going with the brass rod, running along the sleeper, ahem, I mean shack floor? Looks like a servo actuating rod for the 5th wheel release, or something?

[Dreamweaver]

Originally Posted by Espeefan

Mike, I had to drag this back up! I hadn't been keeping up with your latest updates, but the truck is looking super fantastic! The grille is perfect. I love the Pete oval style material you have behind it, and in the air cleaners. Mind if I ask where you found that material? I was just curious. I was going to do some trading with Steve, for a set of his air breathers. The whole truck is awesome. Think you're going to sand off the ribs on the hood and put some new ones on to fix the off center problem?

Thanks Nate. I have not made up my mind on fixing the center section yet.

Originally Posted by Espeefan

Also, I don't know if I missed it, but I was wondering what you've got going with the brass rod, running along the sleeper, ahem, I mean shack floor? Looks like a servo actuating rod for the 5th wheel release, or something?

Do you mean the rod in this picture.




If so. This is the release levers for the sleeper so that I can get into the electronics. If you look in the picture below you will see the rod where it comes out the back of the sleeper. You pull on that and it moves four dogs that hold the sleeper shell on for access.

[Espeefan]

Cool, Mike. I understand the linkage now. Genius.

[dabears]

WOW this build is Fantastic!!! Ill be interested in learning how you wire up all the lights!!! Your building skills are top notch!!! Whats your turn radius going to be on it? I love the way you make a release for the sleeper (i mean mini condo) what size brass rods are those? I cant wait to see this thing with some color on it!

[Dreamweaver]

Originally Posted by dabears

WOW this build is Fantastic!!! Ill be interested in learning how you wire up all the lights!!! Your building skills are top notch!!! Whats your turn radius going to be on it? I love the way you make a release for the sleeper (i mean mini condo) what size brass rods are those? I cant wait to see this thing with some color on it!

Thanks.

Lights will be in series of five. I don't know but it's HUGE. the rod is .072

[Mrfish55]

Wow and I thought I was going overboard with details on mine, have you given any thought to fiber optic for all the lights? Might be easier than installing that many LEDs

[Dreamweaver]

Originally Posted by Mrfish55

Wow and I thought I was going overboad with details on mine, have you given any thought to fiber optic for all the lights? Might be easier than installing that many LEDs

Yes I have, to get the size light I need the fiber would have to be to big to big to bend in the space provided. and second I would not get the light pattern because the light would go straight out.

I have used fiber extensively for the head lights on my trains and I was able to put a slight bevel on the smaller fiber which helped a little but not much.

I am after the look of a 3" glass watermelon lens which I can easily achieve with the LED's.

[Dairyland Trucker]

Can't wait till move in day that bunk is bigger than my first house LOL!!!!!

[SWAGGER]

So Dreamweaver, how is the most epic build of all time coming on?

[Dreamweaver]

Originally Posted by SWAGGER

So Dreamweaver, how is the most epic build of all time coming on?

SLOW... it's spring time which equals "NO TIME"

[DuelTruckDriver]

Mike, just like SWAGGER said this is truly an epic build! My hats off to you for making all the working pieces on this build. Man all the many many hours of fab. work has really paid off it looks amazing. >Marty<