[The Creative Explorer]

I've finished the Trabant and got myself another Renault Magnum build kit, an older version, but that is ok. A fellow modeller offered me the kit, since I have literally no truck parts, as this is my first truck I am going to build (besides the Krupp, but that was a review).

I had some more thoughts on the 'Torpille', The nose is too long, as pictured above, so I studied the Scania Torpedo and tried to use those lines somewhat.

I also decided to make a different back end, and it will have a modern racehauler look to it.

A bit like this:

This is how the Magnum originally should look like

And somewhat of a crude rendering of what it is going to be

In this rendering, I extended the nose, a bit too mucht, but to get the idea (don't pay attention to the headlights)

And the work starts....

I extended the frame with roughly a inch and a half

A rough idea of the truck, the back end is only for imaginative purposes.

And I am going to lower the cabin, since it towers quite a lot. Together with the back, it would look silly

The original fender next to the shortened

I shortened the front

Which compares as follows with the original

 

[The Creative Explorer]

I've worked today a bit more on the frame, when I had it next to the mockup, it seemed a bit short on the back end, and the rear wheel would be too far forward.
So I cut the frame again and lengthened it with 6cm. That makes a total of 10cm or 4 inches of length extra.

Working on a truck is so much different than working with on a car. When I want to customize a car, I have to finish the body before I can do the rest, with a truck I need to finish the frame and everything else, before I can customize the cabin

Next to the mockup with the extra section

And enough clearance to the back

 

[The Creative Explorer]

Seen from the underside.

And completely painted in a light grey (for now, the chassis will end up gloss black)

It is new to me, to spray everything in the same color. But I think I will try a wash on it, when it has its final color.

And a combined view with the cabin. I think I have the dimensions correct...

 

[Volksron]

I've driven a Magnum....admittedly around a dealers yard, but they are huge.
And you have a monumental job ahead. Good Luck.
.....waiting for Mr.Voyager to add his advice, as he is a bit of a trucking nut.

 

[turbom]

Will be watching this, been looking a scania r series kit then all the extras like super single alloy wheels for the front etcetc got a real shock.A project for the winter

 

[The Creative Explorer]

thanks guys! We'll see what I can do with it

I've been able to work a tiny bit again, progress is slow, as everything has to be measured and made to fit. So it is basically one part at a time and hope it will work later on.

When dryfitting the engine, I noticed the Renault has a mid-engine as it is between the front and back axle. Where a Scania has the engine before the axle. As a result, the engine is still underneath the cabin.
I had to think about it for a bit, as I could go curbside and leave it as is. But where is the fun in that?
So I went on and go the extra mile, the engine is going to be placed in front of the front axle and the rest will be adjusted according so.

First, I started with cutting off the oilpan and reversed it.

Here are a few pictures of the old situation

And the new situation

Seen from the underside, it is obvious why the oilpan had to be removed and turned.

I added a second bracket for the cabin, it should be the right heigt, but will see that later on. For now, it gives me a good referencepoint.

And I added new enginemounts, they are still rough and not final at all.

 

[turbom]

Nice progress.
Do you have a mack v8 engine in your spares box?? as reno did fit then.

 

[voyager]

Not built a long nose but I would have thought it is more a case of moving the cab back, leaving the engine and front suspension as they are? Anyway, as you have gone so far, may as well keep on! Good idea to section the Magnum, ugly looking thing IMHO but not sure making it a T cab is going to make it any prettier

 

[Volksron]

Sorry Andrew, wrong choice of word. I should have said trucking expert, and not 'nut'.
Something said in conversation as a glib throw-away remark when written down and read a few days later can look bad, and it wasn't intended. My apologies.

Regards the Magnum..my thoughts were much the same, and moving the cab back on an extended chassis would be the way to go, but It looks like a very interesting project and I'm looking forward to the next instalment.

 

[voyager]

Ron, nut is much closer than expert!

 

[Volksron]