Hi there

More work done tonight for one of my commercial campaign but not going to make xmas deadling for any paintwork or detailing hoses etc. I will have to write my brother that promisary note after all.

Started on the mini skips and made four

Still got the lugs to make for lifting chains to hitch to

Mini skips would make a nice addition to a modern military scene too and are dead easy to make

I forgot to take all necessary sizes on the loading arms so set this jig up to check by eye against photos and for operation

Got the sizes and angles first time with no hitch

arm sits nicely in over the middle of the skips

Making up the loader hydraulic arms was next with BARVS heating and moulding process (it worked) to make the pivot points and to make a tighter fit on the pistons

The plastic from used cotton buds (minus ear wax) was used a lot for piston rams. pivots and chain bar

Arm hinge points added and allowed to set well

Even without hydraulic arms the load arm sits nicely but moves easily

Skips sit nicely on frame



Truck is really taking shape now


Hope you like


All the best
Nige

Nice work Nige, I like this a lot.
Will you finish it as a 'typical' Mini skip lorry? Beat up and rusty, with a copy of the Daily Sport on the dash...

Cheers
Henk

Hi Henk

I think it might start off in nice clean paintwork as it is for my brother who has bought over the business and now has a new Nissan Cabstar. The skips will be varied condition and cleanliness as with the the ones he has at the moment.

I hope to eventually put it in a wee dio for him with a mixture of domestic rubbish (old couches, brick a brack from say a house clearance) and or earth and building materials from pick up from DIY and smaller construction site.

Lots of scope from this little truck and can freely get ideas by taking a day out with Gary in his Truck. I did this with the Volvo F6.10 Truck with box body that I built my brother when he worked in Holand for Veenman. That truck was an article in early issue of Truck Model World.

Thanks for the positive comments

Nige

Nice one Nige!!-----
aye
BARV
(GOSMG)

Hi BARV

This has been very good practice for me before I take on the DROPS hydraulics. It is great trying out your techniques on the smaller scale as I actually see the process as a simpler one that I can truely handle. Before I saw yours, this was the area of the scratch that scared the bejesus out of me and I was really dreading.

It doesn't worry me now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please don't scratch it off my list of "want to see how done" though as I am sure I will see how I can perfect the technique a bit better!

Thanks for your help and support BARV.

Merry Xmas

Nige

Great scratchbuilding Nige. Very interesting to follow this project!

Paul

Excellent Nige. That's coming on really well!

Hi there

Time to test fit the Hydraulic Arms

Reach of loading arms is just right

Arms should be centre of skip for loading up


Thanks for the nice comments all

Merry Xmas Brother, Ursula and Melissa

You will get this once it is complete. You might still have to prise it out of my hands though!!! Getting very attached to this wee build.

Nige

Very impressive work Nige. Love the subject.

Thanks Jesper

Comments greatly appreciated

Nige