1/32 DAF CF 6x2

[Stabliofarmer]

As you may have seen in Alex's Oakley Farms topic he has recently purchased 3 DAF CF's with matching Bulker trailers. This is the build diary for the trucks.

There is very little available in 1/32 regarding DAF's other than the NEWRAY XF which is possibly the worst model they make. There is however an R/C Euro 6 shape DAF XF , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qq7BBtFt2JA and we disscussed using this as a base for making a CF but it proved impossible to find for sale and would require as much work as scratch building to make into a CF. Therefore it was decided they would be scratch built.

Daf's website is superb with blueprints of most of there cab variations available

http://www.dafbbi.com/en/new-cf-and-xf/cab-grid-drawings#

These proved essential in making the cab and allowed me to make neater more accurate cuts by hand, as I no longer have access to a laser cutter which would have been the ideal tool for this build.

Work started with the sides and front of the cab

A little primer highlights the details, and where a bit more filler and sanding is required!

Parts starting to come together into what resembles a cab.

 

 

 

[Stabliofarmer]

Next stage was to paint the cab. With Alex requiring three trucks I decided to resin cast the cabs. Therefore the cab became the master and was painted up in white. In the photos below it is rested on a Welly MAN chassis which would make a suitable donor chassis, though in this build it will be scratch built.

This photo shows the smaller cab parts that are cast separately to the main part to reduce the risk of loosing detail due to air bubbles, it also makes painting easier. The random bits of plastic rod stuck to them are where the resin will be poured and air escape from in the Silicone mould.

I thought I had taken pictures of the cab before pouring the resin but it seems I didn't, these snaps show the silicone being poured to make the mould though.

[Stabliofarmer]

Next was the nerve raking part, pouring the first cast, and luckily they came out well with no need for alterations to the mould.

Side steps next the the pattern master.

And then there was three, much faster and accurate than having to build them all

I am still far from being a master at casting, and could really do to invest in a pressure pot to degas the resin next, as there is alot of minute air bubbles in the casts. Therefore there was generous portions of filler primer and Revell Plasto filler required.

But after a good few cycles of priming, filling, waiting to dry and sanding I was happy with the finish and the top coats where applied, a deep grey metallic that really does look the part.

 

[Stabliofarmer]

Attention now turned to the chassis, constructed mainly from plastruct sections it was only the Mudguards that where going to prove a real issue. I've never had much luck with making mudguards before, the most complex I'd previously attempted being some Scania 143 ones that I was never too pleased with and had the help of a laser cutter to make them. No such help this time round but my model making has really progressed this last year and I eventually had a pair of mudguards I was happy with, these where then resin cast as there was no way I was making 12 of them.

The next part now that the chassis where ready for paint was the decals on the cab, with Alex's input these were nice and simple to make once a suitable digital colour match to the paint was established.

Then the interior could go in

[Stabliofarmer]

With the interiors painted and detailed the glazing was added, I made the curved front windscreens by creating a former the shape of the windscreen, heating up some 0.5mm clear plasticard with a lighter and bending and pulling it round the former, like a crude way of vacuum forming. Chassis where also painted at this point and the fuel tanks added.

 

Attention now turned to the other new aspect of these builds, a smoothsider Fruehauf bulker. Important due to the decal work that was to go on the sides of them, again a pleasurable set of decals to make thanks to Alex's input.

[Stabliofarmer]

With the trucks near enough complete now the only other mention able bit was the light bars that were requested for the trucks. These were square type kelsa lights with orange beacons. These builds where my first foray into clear resin casting, along with making the lights for the unit. It is a much slower process but with the addition of coloured pigments etc the results are very pleasing.

The bars mocked up onto of a truck, also showing the cast lights in the roof.

[Stabliofarmer]

And finally there was just the minor dealing left to go. Painting door handles, mirrors, lights, suzies and the like.

Eventually though they were complete and ready to hand over to the post gods, along with the necessary goat sacrifices to ensure safe passage..

 

[Stabliofarmer]

Thanks for looking through, I hope you like it

James

[FendtFarmer]

Amazing work james, thanks for sharing  

[Tractorman810]

Nice work , next job is a colour coded low laoder for alex i recon, hes got some big kit to move  over a larger area afterall 

any older  stuff planned ?? Nice single axel leyland constructor day can with alloy drop side grain body on the back maybe ? 

[844john]

Absolutely fantastic James, they look every bit as good as any model from the major manufacturers, you should be very proud of your talent

[The Tractor Twitcher]

Amazing models that are going to look great on Alex's layout. Fantastic builds.

 

[mb86]

Stunning work,  if those photos had been taken with a bit of scenery behind I bet none of us on here would be able to tell they were models. As good if not better than anything made by a large scale model manufacturer. 

[Stabliofarmer]

Thanks guys, a good few hours and late nights locked away in the shed but I'm pleased with the final result.

Next up build wise there's a Renault T cab for a customer. Classics wise I must get back to jmd as he has a nice little build planned.

[Jdeere6910]

Absolutely fantastic work James, they are a stunning piece of workmanship! 

[jmd]

fantastic james your definatly the master of truck builds

[CX820Joe]

I can only echo what everyone else has said.  They look magnificent , what great work.  Well done. 

[Stabliofarmer]

Cheers guys!

[0025]

Hats off mate, there extremely accurate!

[Blue man]

The best 1:32 scale trucks I've ever seen hands down. The quality of your work is unreal 

[Valley Axe Man]

Great work James, Super job  

[JEP]

Only just picked up on this.... Wow!!! Brilliant building, and really interesting to see  a detailed "behind the scenes" progress of the build. Credit where it is due, that really is quality work.

Would love to see you do some classics, a nice ford d1000 maybe?

[Stabliofarmer]

Thanks JEP, I like doing the step by steps as it can be hard to see with the trucks where a donor model ends and scratch building starts, although in this case there was no donor models.

I suppose it depends on what you class as classic. I have done Scania 143's a Volvo F12 and Ford Transco for customers which can be seen in the trucks topics here.  

[Fenside MF]

I can only echoe everyone else's comments,they are top notch models James,like the start of your Renault unit too.

[Jordan_coe2012]

Wow!! I've been away from here for a long time now but boy have you come on a long way James. Fantastic models you've made, a real credit to you hope your very proud of your self with these spectacular builds!!