But what do you need in order to realize a vehicle? First I wanted to get me for the individual components of the technical drawings of the originals. So I got in contact with MAN in Munich and for semi-trailer and dolly with the company in Werlte crown.
Chassis
Now it could finally start. I decided to start the three-axle chassis, which I wanted to build their own. The matching U-profiles I found Fechtner, the crossbars at BaMaTech, the heavy end at Traverse Oswald model and the necessary screws, I was receiving from the company Knupfer. In particular, I placed great value on originality.
As a die-cast front axle is manufactured from the house WEDICO. However, I could not convince the supplied tie rod, so I replaced it with a 2-millimeter threaded rod. So visually it looks a little better, I have it done by a suitably tailored brass tube. At both ends I attached ball joints and bolted the bar afterwards with the knuckle of the front axle. Front axle springs and blocks are also of Oswald model. This show is practically and optically perfect.
The drive is a three-speed gearbox of the company Veroma. This was thanks to the compact dimensions ideal for my project. Before installation in the chassis had only arm and bellows (both of ScaleART) to the drive axle set-up can be mounted. To ensure a reliable progress, I decided not to install a propeller shaft of BaMaTech exactly fitting. This has a length compensation, which retained the drive even when the vehicle deflects times too low.
Assembly
Since all parts of the chassis were available, I was able to begin construction of three-axle. It has taken measure and cut the U-shaped rods to length of 630 millimeters. After several holes, the profiles were associated with the cross beams with 2-mm screws.
Well, that was found on the last page of the instructions of the cab ScaleART a template. Here, all holes were located for the tilting mechanism, which the attachment of front and rear axle much easier. The templates had to be previously cut out and fixed with a glue stick to the U-profiles. Now the difficulty was no more accurate drilling.
Now it was about time to start thinking about the tag axle and the inclusion of the steering and shift servos. Here I chose products from robbe, with whom I have already had good experiences. A strong steering servo and two for the more compact gearbox and the trailing axle on the motor car. The bracket for steering and gear change is made from a 3-millimeter stainless steel plate. Into the matching holes were laser cut and then four screws á mounted model 3 millimeters on the chassis of the front axle. Since the drag axis servo well into a truss bracket would fit on BaMaTech, there were no problems then when anchoring.
Dolly and axes
The drawings by Dolly were helpful, but I had some problems that make many necessary parts. Since I do not have a lathe or milling machine, I sat down with the company in connection BaMaTech who supported me well. For instance, the dolly on a telescopic pole that can be shifted depending on the length of use. Very important to me was that the chassis has been faithfully implemented with a double T frame. The frame width of the dolly is now 80 millimeters. The saddle plate is a product of ScaleART that the original company Jost is very close. And the right wing, I could order from Wend shear model. Finally I found the correct drawbar Tokle.
Superstructures and trailers
After some consideration as to whether I should be manufactured the tractor and trailer bodies for themselves, gave me the tip MM model, but to use the bodies of Tamiya / Carson. So I ordered two kits out of hand. From one of the building was used for the towing vehicle, the other in addition to the complete framework for the trailer (or in my case the trailer). Since using Tamiya / Carson and ScaleART two different scales, MM model helped me to make the parts fit.
The structure and the frame of the trailer remained in the length of 980 millimeters. The length of the structure of the towing vehicle is 500 millimeters. Under the structure of the tractor was on the left and right nor a carrier frame with 450 × 20 × 3 mm (length × width × height). The material of the longitudinal member is aluminum. These two frames were recorded with a spacing of 60 millimeters width screwed up on the bottom, so that they could then be bolted flush to the chassis with twelve additional brackets. The construction of the trailer was attached at the connection points given by Carson.
Finally, all parts have been given away to the plastic coating. Dolly and the frame of the trailer received a traffic red (RAL 3020), the superstructure a gentian blue (RAL 5010). The fender of the dolly and trailer hitch drawbar and were coated in black satin. I reflected with white powder coating the rear bumper and rear underrun protection of the trailer. The advantage of this method is that the paint does not flake off even under extreme loads.
Dolly and trailer are spring-loaded by spring air of mock ScaleART. These bellows are very close to the original. The inside of the bellows has an adjustable spring in hardness. This provides for the immersion of the air suspension when driving from deceptively authentic. The bellows had then only to the appropriate axes and bolted to the frame of Dolly and trailer attached. The overall drop bracket and axles for trailers have been manufactured and Dolly BaMaTech after my drawings at the company.
Light and Sound
When it comes to light and sound should pounce my Gigaliners something. Shall have this not only through the usual features such as turn signal lights, floor-standing, low beam and high beam. Also, a rear fog light, hazard lights and cornering lights, I had thought. But what was missing was an illuminated business sign on the cab, and parking light rings, the so-called Angel Eyes. The latter I found at MM model. From there also comes the sound module. This includes the purchase and Auslassgeräusch the engine, reversing alarm and a really great horn.
The illuminated signboard I from 2-mm polystyrene have made. Rear panel and side panels were recorded on the material and then cut with a cutter. I have connected with superglue the parts and after smoothing with a 1.5 mm drilled hole for cable entry into the rear wall of the company's label. Made of aluminum strips with a width of 2 millimeters, I made the mounts of the company's label. For the lighting I resorted to six 12-volt LED from Conrad. I had that fixed with adhesive tape and connected to each other. The disc consists of illumination 3 millimeters thick, blue acrylic glass. Finally, I've painted the name plate and fixed with 1.2-mm screws on the cab roof.
Even a light bar under the bumper I would not do without. This was made from a 6 mm aluminum tube with a bending device appropriately bent by hand and polished to a shine. For the seven position lights I drilled holes with a size of 2 millimeters in the aluminum. It was connected to the lighting board of MM model.
To complete the Gigaliners could not be missing side marker lights. A total of 26 units were built. Unfortunately I did not have the appropriate lighting in stores, but again I could help the company BaMaTech with a custom-made. As a suitable glasses proved by the way the turn signals of the MAN TGA / TGX ScaleART.
Interior decoration
Remained the interior remain. Here I wanted the company to implement the concept Moti, develops system solutions for long-haul cabs. Refrigerator, microwave, sink and toilet and kitchen had to be so on board. All this is in two modules located behind the seats in the cab. On top is the bed that can be lowered when in use.
Modules were fabricated and base plate for my cab from 2 millimeters thick polystyrene. I drew the shapes and cut them out with a jigsaw. After gluing the individual elements of everything was sanded, painted with silver-gray textured paint, and then only once thoroughly dried. Now I could obstruct drawers, faucet and interior lights on the modules, also, I placed another small laptop in the cab. The original seats were replaced with a pair of shear-Applicable Model.
The last work was the making of polystyrene with DanBoxen which are storage compartments on the side wall of the towing vehicle. The thickness of the material here is 3 millimeters. All four side walls of the boxes were re-recorded on the polystyrene and then sawed with a circular saw. After bonding with glue and paint in gentian blue (RAL 5010) I built the boxes on each of four L-profile angles to the chassis. For the handles with lock, I used photo-etched parts of FineLine model.
My new Truck XXL
When all the parts were finished and painted, I could install the electronics into the gigaliners. This took place on the tractor and trailer set aside for their place. See no cables, made of wood or another loading area for each tractor and trailer were made. Andy gave me two cargo crates to measure, could disappear where all electronic components such as cruise control, sound module and the battery underneath. Now that everything was assembled, I started the first test drive. I must say the truck alone makes the length of which ago. Gave a final touch's on the grille of the TGX. This would be replaced with a machined and polished aluminum plate to which I have deliberately omitted MAN logo.
The project MAN TGX Gigaliners made me much joy, it was an experience to see how the car is growing slowly, even when recorded at setbacks here and there. But of this you should not let the model is known to hold.
