TM2201A

Buffalo Mk3 Tractor to complete the set of the later cab (leaving aside the extra short wheelbase Bear tipper for now).

I decided to tweak the Bison Mk3 cab a little, the cab sat a little higher on the chassis/mudguards than the original Ergomatics (a legacy of having to make space for the ill starred Leyland 500 Engine).

The 31' tanker has been on the workbench. The chassis is running and bogies sorted. The tank body, fittings and securing parts consumed rather a lot of paint. Body and chassis temporarily together.

Lovely stuff, various Commer chassis were used a lot by smaller brigades in the UK and other exports.

Finally finished the Coles Argus crane.

Cheers! Yeah the Bison is proving problematic, Mk1 Bison (with yet another cab variation) seems to have the rear axles set quite far forward whilst MK2/3 they're quite far back and neither look especially right once you add a body or tanker. There's fun to be had detailing the Bison with all the extra gubbins hanging off the back of the cab; air filter, battery box & exhaust to really bring out the bargain basement/garden shed design of the real thing. Anyway, yes there is a sliced up model of the Mk3 cab, though at the moment I can't remember where I've got to with the indicators for it.

Yes, the wheels are my own prints.

My detailing up of various vintage Dinky Toys has met the need for some vehicles but I wanted something a smidge bigger like a Leyland Octopus. Having less time available at the workbench but some at the computer has seen my 3D printing thread get a bit active with trials and tribulations of getting something that looks right on screen to looks right in the hand. Anyway a few pictures of the results; Leyland Octopus Tipper (1964-1968), Seddon 16/4 Tractor Unit (1965-1972)and a painted up development mule for the Leyland Bison MK2/MK3 cab (1977)

Proof of concept I think on the Leyland Ergo Cab

Well that print was a chore, anyway on cab off and fitted to the tipper.

Spring has finally sprung, at least with a relatively warm evening, time to fire up the swear box and the resin printer.

Seddon take two; the panels below the windscreen seemed a little flat so they've been reworked to improve definition and curved to match that of the windscreen, much better.

Seddon 16/4 Tractor alongside the rather ungainly Bison2 Chassis.

Fresh off the FDM printer proving, the Seddon 16/4 (Motor Panels Type 1) Cab has come out out well.

I do like the Coles Hydra, always looks like it's begging to be detailed and given some proper outriggers.

Too cold for resin printing so finished off some CAD work. Something small and manageable from Seddon and something ungainly from AEC.

Frustration in progress on a smaller tractor unit.

Brake levers are quite a challenge as they can't usually be drawn using the basic 3 planes that the CAD system initially presents you with and you've got the fun of forcing the Loft/Sweep/Variable Section sweep system to create solid parts reliably (oh the fun we had with Ideas and ProEngineer). I'd start off getting solid bodies on to known planes ( in this case vertical) so that's the drive boss at the v hanger end and the handle end of the lever. Then create further reference planes (constrained by centre lines or dimensions from the solid bodies) into which centre lines for thin features or sweep/loft paths and profiles can be drawn. Once the basic 3D bent bar has been created then go through and do cutting operations to get any tapered profile, Morton cam details, etc. Finally add rounds/fillets, chamfers and any drafting required to make the part look cosmetically correct/improve printability.

The Bison tanker has made it off the printer.

Meanwhile another lurking project on the CAD machine

I think I'll call it done on CAD work on Ergomatic variations for now.

Whilst the location of the windscreen wipers and mounting of the rear view mirrors on to the windscreen pillars may have been a good idea in the drawing office at Joseph Sankey they're a pig to recreate in model form so some compromise is in order for parts that are under 1mm thick.

The MK3 Ergomatic 1976 Bison/Buffalo cab has made if off the printer. Posed and fitting rather well on the Octopus development model.

A bit more work on the Bison. A not so quick trial of the tanker body was run off on the printer and sat on the Octopus chassis to see what it looks like.

About an hour's work and the Octopus chassis assembly is together. I couldn't resist gently posing the cab and tipper body on the chassis.