Improving the mirrors on AMT's "Mack R685ST" - kit parts + some scratch building = greater realism
The "standard" mirrors in AMT's Mack R685ST kit are actually quite accurate in their overall parts breakdown.
0:21 Assembled, the main drawbacks are oversize mounting points for mirror heads...
1:03...and mounting holes located a little too far forward on cab side. With these holes filled, new ones can be drilled to accept .040" styrene rod, which is used to make more realistic mirror brackets.
1:24 .040" styrene rod solves the problem of cleaning parting lines on kit mirror brackets, and is easy to flatten on ends like the real truck mirrors.
1:36 Smooth jaw pliers work well for flattening ends.
1:44 Using kit parts as a pattern, install two pieces of .040" rod in cab shell and temporarily glue in place with white glue or yellow carpenters glue.
2:00 Top bracket is installed first because it is easiest to align and get straight.
2:14 One drawback to styrene rod is the difficulty of getting a true 90 degree bend because of the inherent springiness of the material.
2:31 Simple jigs made from styrene sheet and strip are used...
3:21...to hold the rod in exact shape desired...
3:31...so a heat gun can be used to "set" the bends.
3:52 Another simple jig is made to mark mirror bracket for flattening, and cut to proper length.
4:32 With ends flattened...
4:46...the "U"-shaped piece is glued to top bracket already in place on cab.
5:11 Two more pieces of .040" rod are installed to complete bottom bracket. These are also glued into cab shell with white glue or carpenters glue.
5:27 Exact length of the mirror bracket pieces is not critical as excess can project into cab for now.
5:38 At this stage excess material is cut off flush with inside of cab shell. This makes it easy to reinstall mirror assembly in accurate location later in the process. For now, remove mirror...
5:50...and use vernier caliper to transfer hole locations to .015" x .060" styrene strip. Drill holes to match ones in cab. Length of strip is not crucial as ends will be trimmed off later.
6:05 Slide these onto mirror brackets...
6:19...and reinstall mirrors, setting ends of .040" styrene rod flush with inside of cab shell. Tack glue the strips in place with small amount of medium gel CA so they don't end up glued to cab shell.
6:43 Make diagonal brace from .040" styrene rod with ends flattened and glue in place. Solvent cement can be used for this step if carefully applied.
7:02 Mirror must still be removable for the next step...
7:12...which is final gluing and removal of excess length on flat strips. Round these off and blend into styrene rod. These strips are intended to represent flattened portion of mirror bracket which bolts to cab door.
7:33 .020" brass wire and Micro Mark O scale decal rivets represent fasteners.
7:49 Kit mirror heads are good, they just need chrome removed...
8:03...ejector pin marks cleaned up and oversize mounting points taken off to be replaced with .020" brass wire.
8:27 Make a metal template (.016" sheet copper used here) for cutting reflective material.
8:41 .005" shim brass is cut .060" wide and bent around .040" styrene rod to create mounting tabs for mirror heads.
9:21 As with the U shaped bracket, simple styrene jigs are used to drill the mounting pin hole for mirror heads with 1/32" square brass spacer...
9:38...and 3/32" brass strip for cutting guide.
9:48 Finished mounting tabs are snapped onto mirror bracket...
9:59...and mirror head mounting pins fed into hole, clamped with fine point tweezers, and glued with small drop of CA.
10:14 This model is based on a truck with black painted "fleet spec" mirrors. If they were stainless, Alclad chrome over gloss black base would be the ideal finish. Reflective self adhesive Mylar mirror surface is cut and installed.
10:37 Mirrors are easily installed/removed as needed for test fit and mock up purposes. Although drilling mirror brackets into cab and using styrene strip to simulate flattened area where they bolt to cab on 1:1 truck is not 100% accurate it is a good compromise for scale modeling purposes.
11:01 Convex spot mirrors are covered in a separate video • Scratch build convex s...
11:35 Completed mirror on finished model. Combining kit parts with some scratch built items is a win-win and worth trying out on your next model truck project. It may be a little extra work up front to create the needed jigs however those will always be on hand making it easier to make more realistic mirrors on the next model.
#scalemodeltrucks
#modeltrucks
#scalemodelling
Пікірлер: 17
A complete model kit in itself. And it completely changes the look of the completed truck. The bar has been raised….again!👍
@THROTTLEPOWER
6 ай бұрын
So true!
Nice video to improve the mirrors!
@brsnorthernhorsejourney3579
6 ай бұрын
Thank you, mirrors are one of the items on a model truck kit that can be, to be fair to the kit manufacturers, somewhat difficult to replicate accurately and maintain scale size. Mirrors on some kits, like the AMT Mack R685 "deluxe" option and the "snap" KW Aerodyne and Pete 359, are close to scale but very one dimensional (lacking some of the triangular sections of the brackets). It is technically possible to mould these parts to scale size however that brings up the problem of strength, I have seen numerous reviews in Fine Scale Modeller of 1/35 scale vehicles where every component is scale size and therefore very delicate, delicate enough to make them prone to breaking even when cutting free from sprue tree or removing parting lines. Combining kit parts with basic scratch building supplies works well enough for me and is part of the fun of model building!
@THROTTLEPOWER
6 ай бұрын
@@brsnorthernhorsejourney3579 So true
Excellent tutorial.
Your videos on these truck modeling tips are greatly appreciated! I Thank You so very, very much for sharing with Us out here in tubeland. Your truck driving experience makes the tips even more of a modeling enhancement! Looking forward to more videos! Later
Excellent detail video on mirrors thank you
These look great!!
Like the jig idea. I've always just built the mirrors onto the cab before painting then carefully painted them after. They just didn't have the small details.
Hi, I model 1/48 scale die cast trucks. I am in the process of trying to upgrade the side mirrors and just came across your video. Perfect timing! The main problem I am having is trying to figure out how to tap the hard die cast material to drill pilot holes. At such a small scale, accurate drilling is crucial. Any advice on how to accurately tap the hard diecast is greatly appreciated!!!
@brsnorthernhorsejourney3579
6 ай бұрын
For working with die cast metal the same number series twist drills (many hobby sets have a range of sizes from 80 which is .0135" up to 61which is .039", one example shown here www.micromark.com/The-Rogers-Drill-Bit-Set-61-80-Set-of-20?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAsburBhCIARIsAExmsu6Va3ouLl5ZlZtYubVFG79a0ky3GVtTRiQzHJ_214LEpbYXfQJ8cyoaAuZLEALw_wcB ) can be used, drilling metal is best done with a motor tool instead of by hand. I use a drill chuck on my motor tool like this one. www.rona.ca/en/product/dremel-keyless-chuck-quick-change-steel-4486-03-1916172?viewStore=82642&cq_src=google_ads&cq_cmp=19601858526&cq_con=&cq_term=&cq_med=pla&cq_plac=&cq_net=x&cq_pos=&cq_plt=gp&&cm_mmc=paid_search-_-google-_-aw_pmax_generic_Tools-_-&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAsburBhCIARIsAExmsu47Nid8cDz1WPhQI_fcDt7xxuvK_3IwbFhM01zFdziBracBz1Xo07MaAlDPEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds A small, fine pointed punch such as this Starrett prick punch www.amazon.ca/Starrett-816A-Length-Tapered-Diameter/dp/B0006J4OUW used with tack hammer is good for creating centre punch mark to start drilled hole. In 1/48 scale, .020" would be a good scale size for mirror arms. I used that size brass wire for mirror arms on this 1/43 scale Peterbilt 351. kzread.info/dash/bejne/oauckrminrG-ebA.html .020" styrene rod is another material choice and ends can be flattened/glued in the same way the larger scale ones were done. 1/48 die cast opens up a whole range of possibilities with a great variety of prototypes to choose from!
Im curious. What are the benefits of using carpenters glue during mock up? Im guessing because of easy removal, clean up and you can actually see it? Ive never tried it before. Ty.
@brsnorthernhorsejourney3579
3 ай бұрын
Household white glue can also be used, advantages of white glue or carpenters glue are primarily as you describe - easy removal and clean up as both types of glue readily scrape off non-porous surfaces. Some carpenters glue, like the Lepage "Express" quick dry version I prefer to use, have a faster drying time of around 10 minutes. Not quite as fast as CA aka "super glue" but faster than 30 minutes + for most white glues.
Wow...they look great. Time to back to my Mack DM800 and build some mirrors!!
@brsnorthernhorsejourney3579
6 ай бұрын
Thank you - with the offset cab, DM800 mirrors are quite different side with driver side mirror being more like a cabover mirror and extra bracing on longer passenger side mirror arms. A couple images found on line, driver side (.060" styrene angle can be used to make the L shaped sections which bolt to door): www.lectura-specs.com/en/model/transportation/trucks-rigid-chassis-mack/dm-800st-ca492-cummins-ntc-300-6x4-11727520 Passenger side: cdn.ironpla.net/i/13455/416/74f4c135-8380-4907-9935-15f6b3646fc9.jpg