Bruner Semi RC Conversion

[Greatscott]

I am starting with a Bruner 1/16 scale semi and trailer (bought used). As in all things toy and RC, scale is an "ish", and these rigs scale relative to Tamiya 1/14 scale.

Here is what I am starting with...
323287457_495578819377454_3923301728709539497_n by Scott O, on Flickr
(the earth mover is a RC)

324254558_3367726133440645_6527265119380371334_n by Scott O, on Flickr

I am starting with the trailer, it is the easiest and less expensive build.
I had thoughts of trying to use the existing wheels, but the trailer is too low to work properly with my King Hauler, and the wheels sound like an angry animal caught in a trap. So, I gutted wheels and associated mounts from the trailer, and have started building my own.

I had a number of ideas of how to make the suspension, but in the end, I just went with a REALLY simple setup. Also, it was really hard to find wheels an axles the right size and length to keep this trailing a tri-axle, so I just went with two axles.

The axles shown in the pictures below are too wide for what I am wanting, I have narrow sets on order. Once I get the new axles I will be able to mount everything to the trailer. I am planning on designing and printing guides for the axles to help keep them in line.

Untitled by Scott O, on Flickr

Untitled by Scott O, on Flickr

Untitled by Scott O, on Flickr

Of course, this is still in the mock-up stage. I do enjoy projects like these, but I find the continual assembly and disassembly of parts and pieces to be a bit annoying.

For the semi, I think I have settled on a King Hauler chassis with a TLT-1 front axle.

[ferp420]

thats a nice looking rig the patina is just right your off to a great start i like the suspention simple and it looks like it might have a little give to articulate just enuff to keep it from dumping the load
these convertions are some of my favorite builds working around whats there is always more of a chalange than just building a kit and slapping a body on it

[Greatscott]

I have nearly completed the trailer... Here is a short video...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYru7KZ2HiY&t

[ferp420]

Is that the same trailer it looks so differnt

[Greatscott]

Originally Posted by ferp420

Is that the same trailer it looks so differnt

Yup, the same one, here are some pictures.

Untitled by Scott O, on Flickr

Untitled by Scott O, on Flickr

Untitled by Scott O, on Flickr

I have a couple of videos I am uploading to YouTube, I post them soon. One shows the offloading and on-loading of equipment, and really highlights my lack of driving skills with skid-steer rigs.

I also need to give a GIANT hat-tip to Hey'OK. Al modified a one of his controllers along with making me a custom light controller for this rig.

Got the videos done...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ky1tqcpE5J8&t

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBx3CoXzNw0

[ferp420]

It looks good great job on the ramps thats a nice touch

[high plains drifter]

I don't think I'd be successful at loading/ unloading both the excavator and the mover. Really nice trailer transformation and great video.

[Greatscott]

Originally Posted by high plains drifter

I don't think I'd be successful at loading/ unloading both the excavator and the mover. Really nice trailer transformation and great video.

I haven't practiced much, so skills are pretty much fail video fodder.

[Greatscott]

I am turning my attentions towards the cab. It will be a little bit before I have a chassis to mount this on, and there are a lot of unknown regarding the drive train. I do not want the Tamiya semi transmission, it was great 40 years ago, but RC engineering as progress just a tiny bit, and I think I can find something less complicated and better performing. There is a chance it'll be a 2-speed. Also, I am thinking about putting in a LTL1 front axle to make it a 6x6.

For now I am getting in, gutting what I don't want, and doing what I can. Lights are first on the list and keeping it fairly simple. It will have headlights, tail lights, and clearance lights that will all come on with the ESC (likely a HW1080); one set of work lights will get turned on and off with the remote with a Hey'OK lighting controller.

Here is what I have so far...

Untitled by Scott O, on Flickr

Untitled by Scott O, on Flickr

Given that I had to blind-drill the holes for the LEDs, I am fairly satisfied with how they turned out.

[Greatscott]

I'll have a bunch of pictures, and some video shortly...

I almost have this thing completed, but not quite done. The internally wiring needs a bit of rework, but the whole mess works the way it should. I just got done with designing and printing the battery box.

Untitled by Scott O, on Flickr

[Greatscott]

As always, a couple more odds and ends to finish up, but the conversion is just about complete...

Before:

323287457_495578819377454_3923301728709539497_n by Scott O, on Flickr

After:

Untitled by Scott O, on Flickr