Predator

[Gary Kulchock]

Oct 11, 2009 8:06:47 GMT -5 coopdad said:

Glad you are working on this one again, love the different techniques and media you are using. Speaking of, did you tell us before about the PE? I have been toying with making some but wonder if there is an easier way. Do you make your from start to finish or only do the art and have someone else do all the messy/smelly stuff?
John

I only do all the art work for both the top and bottom patterns. It's sent off to others to be etched. It's expensive stuff to do from start to finish for the average modeler. I've only done 1 complete sheet for myself, but I've tacked some of my own parts onto other clients jobs I do, to be etched.

[Gary Kulchock]

;D More fun today! ;D

The rear deck behind the seats was built up, leveled off and pinned in place for exact location.


The brass bar will be used for support for the shoulder harnesses.


.... and here it is with the seats installed.

[The Mad Modeller]

Lookin good. You bringing it to the meeting Tues? I have a new recruit that will go crazy over your stuff.

[Gary Kulchock]

I'll bring her. ;D

[Gary Kulchock]

So here's what I've been working on the last few days.

Years ago when I started this project, I thought I was doing a pretty good job with the details. After looking over the rear end, I decided to scrap the plastic unit I was going to use, and go custom brass.

Here is the original 10+ years ago unit.


I feel I have gotten better, so here is the start of the brass replacement. Those plates are not photo-etched. 4 squares of .012 thick brass were soldered together and those were drilled and hand formed together. I then reheated the assembly to break them apart. The other parts there are the start of the axle housing ends, and the start of the axles.


This strange thing-a-ma-jig, is a jig to hold the four-link rear end brackets to the housing tube for soldering. This assures all is square and in proper alignment while soldering.


Here's the axle housing with the four-link brackets soldered in place.


Next I'll cut the axle housing to length, and if I can get a little time on my lathe and mill, I'll get those housing ends and axle tubes machined down.

Later .......

FYI: Here's what I hope my final design will look like. (adjusted of course for my application).

[Nacho Z]

That is just CRAZY! By the way, I think the original plastic one was great.

[cecil]

Incredible

[Gary Kulchock]

Predator Update:

Got the housing ends machined down and drilled for the caliper mounting brackets over the weekend, and soldered them onto the axle housing tonight.

Also got a little machining started on the axles. I don't want to cut down the tubes yet and solder in the actual axle until I drill for the bolt circle. That bolt circle won't be determined until I find the wheels I'm going to be using. Yes, the wheels will bolt on.



The aluminum hats were patterned after Wilwood units, and machined and drilled on my lathe/mill.

The caliper mounting brackets, brake disks, and license plate where photo-etched. ;D

Next on the rear end should be adding in the Back Brace.

[Gary Kulchock]

Almost forgot.

I built up a new roll bar over the weekend. I felt the old bar was too thick and too rounded (humped to much at the top). The new bar sits little lower, is flatter on top, and conforms better with the shape of the front windshield.





Later ........ ;D

[coopdad]

I think we are all quiet about your build Gary because we are all jealous!!! You are doing an awesome job! Another prize winner for sure.
John

[The Mad Modeller]

You never cease to amaze me Gary. Truly awesome stuff.

[Gary Kulchock]

....... Sometimes, at the height of our revelries, when our joy is at it's zenith, when all is most right with the world, the most unthinkable disasters decend upon us ..... OK, it's not a disaster but it's how I'm feeling.

Yes, I've come to a stumbling block on the rear end, something I overlooked.

First off, I love the width of the rear tires, but by being so wide, I had to narrow the frame rail centerlines to approx. 16" to 18". When installing a 4 link suspension, this gives very little room for the rear end housing. The FAB9 rear end from Chassisworks will not fit within these numbers. Dang!

So what to do?

I've looked at Strange Units, very cool looking, but they require different 4 link brackets and would barely fit.

I'm considering a "quik-change" rear end, but I don't think it would handle the 1000+ horse power engine that's going in this thing. I did see in the Monogram Nascar (Nastruck) Goodwrench truck, that it uses a quick-change. ?

I can make a Ford 9" work, but it's pretty common looking.

Mark Williams units look neat also, but ... lots of rework. I'll save this setup for another build.


So, until I can come up with something that makes me drool, and work with what I've done so far, I'm off to the front suspension.

Any help and/or photos would be great! Thanks ....... G ;D

[sarge]

Gary, I am speechless. I wish I had half the talent as you. That is truly amazing work. Can't wait to take a closer look at some of your work in Atlanta.

[jeffc]

Yikes. You weren't kidding when you said you wanted to spend extra time on this one. Very nice and thanks for sharing ideas that we may be able to apply to our own ideas. You're nuts but thanks.

[hubcap]

Holy brass batman!!! Man Gary most of us would love to do that in plastic, yet you amaze us with your brass work. Truly a work of art. Each piece is a small model in itself. Thanks for taking time and showing us how you make such parts. It's pretty cool that you make alot of your own parts, but then to make your own creation for those parts is beyond me. Truly amazing. Fantastic job so far. Please keep us posted on how this one is going. Superb!!!

[Gary Kulchock]

Got the back brace soldered in. I'll be adding in the brass shock brackets next as well as a little bracing for them, then it's off to adding in the actual Ford 9"housing.

[radridesbydan]

Gary my friend.....I dont concider myself to be any slouch in model building but you are in your own category of builders that I hope one day to achieve.
Amazing work by all standards

[abedooley]

I.......JUST.........CAN'T.......WRAP..........MY.........MIND.........AROUND..........IT..........ALL.

HOW? WHY? WHERE? WITH WHAT? HOW MUCH? UHHHHHHHHHH? STUPIFIED RIGHT NOW. I'll comment when I get my jaw off the floor. If it will ever go back on? I just don't know what to say, ask, or look hard at.

I would, however, LOVE to see you do a full tutorial and items list for your Photo Etching?

[Gary Kulchock]

Sorry I have not been on here too much lately, but I'm on a mission. A mission to get the Predator finished for the NNL East this April 17. I figure I have 1 month to get all the scratch-building finished, and a month to paint and detail everything. Wish me luck.

So ..... here is the totally scratch-built radiator. I couldn't find one detailed enough to fit. That's my Detail Master Radiator face there. I wish the Radiator could have been bigger, but this is all I had room for. I did however make it thicker, nearly 3 1/2" thick. I'm working on one of my Detail Master electric fans now to keep everything cool.



The black items are inner heat shields that will be covered with Hiro heat shield material. The fire wall will also be covered with the same stuff from the white bar down. Felt it needed these due to the location of the headers exiting out the sids of the cowl. The Optima battery was also scratch-built.



Here's the Chevy big block installed, finally with the correct Predator valve covers. Did you catch the hood support?





Predator Logos have also been added to the seats.



Next on the list: Aluminum overflow bottle for the radiator, ignition system installed on the fire wall, and continuation of the brass front suspension.

Later guys .....

[The Mad Modeller]

Awesome work Gary.

[Nacho Z]

This is my favorite build of yours, glad to see it again. Keep on hitting us with those progress shots and updates. Love those Predator logos!

[Eddie]

Amazing stuff Gary, I hope you finish it in time!

[Gary Kulchock]

Sometimes the best thought out plans can come back and bite you in the .... rear.

Years ago when I did all the layout on the Predator, I failed to allow enough space in front of the motor for all the accessories. Radiator, fan, waterpump, pullys ..... etc....

Now just where am I going to put the belts?



So tonight I'm working on sliding the motor rearward 3mm. Doesn't sound like much but in scale this is almost 3". Problem is, not only does the motor need to slide back, the opening in the underbelly for the cooled oil pan needs to be modified, the openings in the body as well as the newly finished inner heat shields, need to be filled and redrilled. The exhaust exits from the bottom of the headers through the running boards needs filled and redrilled, and a really nice photo-etched part I had done for the carbs through the scoop will need to be re-etched. (That's the one that really hurts!)

The good news I had the extra room between the motor and the firewall.

Oh well, guess I know what's on my plate for the night.

Here's the room I picked up by sliding the motor back.



Time to get to work and make everything else fit. ..... Later guys.

P.S. The fan turned out nice at least. ;D

[Nacho Z]

There is the difference between you and me. I would have just curled up in the fetal position with my thumb in my mouth and cried for my mommy. I admire your tenacity!

[Eddie]

Why don't you slice 2 cylinders off and make a wild V6. Certainy would be a talking point.

[Gary Kulchock]

Sure. 48" of rubber in the rear powered by a V6. I think I'd get laughed out of every show I went to.

I'll stick with the big block. ;D

[fireguy14]

Lookin good! Very nice work!

[z24dude]

There are some nasty V6's out there, you would need a large enough turbo though, and I doubt you would have room for that in there. Looks like the V8 is barely going to fit. Awesome work Gary!!

[Gary Kulchock]

I've been working on this model every chance I get. That translates to about 40 hours this past week. I did get the engine moved back the 3mm, as well as fixing all the associated parts. A little problem I had was moving back the mufflers located under the running boards. By moving back the mufflers, it changed the angle of the exhaust exiting the back of the running boards. I had to cut off the old opening area and splice in a new section with the proper angle. I did get all the exhaust pipes built and plumbed in.

I also got the steering column installed as well as adding in a Detail Master tach.

Here are the wheelie bars attached to the recently finished rear end housing.



I also got the mounting points for the shocks install both on the rear end and in the body. I had to redo this area a bit. (not shown in these photos)



Those half circles of plastic and rod thru the rear end housing are just properly locating everything while I'm working on it.



This week I get to add in the axles, rear brakes, and get some wheels sized to fit. I'll also get the hinged license plate bracket installed.

[Nacho Z]

Can someone give me a hand finding my jaw? It just hit the floor!