Hi Chris. Sorry for the delayed reply. I've been busy preparing for a show next weekend (QMHE). Yes, any Hobby Design chain set can be used, on any bike. When I cut some out I keep the excess in case I might need it to extend a chain on a future build. A #11 blade will work fine. Use the heel of the blade and gently rock it back and forth with a little pressure until it goes through. This should reduce any distortion from pressing too hard. I also cut opposing sides in different places (offset links, if that makes sense) so they overlap, which helps retain a little bit of strength during assembly. The handlebar mounts are thick styrene sheet drilled and shaped. You can add extra layers of different thicknesses to make them any size and shape you want. It's then just a matter of shaping with a blade, a file, and fine sandpaper. You can also use aluminium tube to make risers for added height and bring. I hope this helps give you ideas, and encouragement to try different things and experiment with new ways of creating things. Can you tell I love scratch building? 🤣

Oops, that should be "bling" not bring 🤦‍♂️

@@davidchitham9101 thanks so so very much for all of your help & support!!!!!!! I’ll be in touch & hope 2 start this bike soon!!!!

@c.d.scalemodels9198 Hi Chris. Thanks for your comments and questions. I'm happy to help if I can. You are correct in guessing that the hose clamps are Detail Master and 1/25th scale. I really like the Hobby Design chain, and it's quite easy to assemble. I haven't yet tried the Top Studio working chain (and I have 4 stashed away). As for the weld lines, I can't for the life of me remember who produced them. When I get the opportunity to go digging through my supplies, I try to find out where they are from, and I'll get back to you. If you find any photo etched weld lines for sale, I'd buy them. If they are too small, just run 2 lines side by side. Hope this is helpful 🤞

@@davidchitham9101 morning, it is very helpful actually!!!!! I know top studio makes the weld lines, I’m trying to see if the 1:24 or 1:12 scale are the ones to use on the oil tank. I reached out to them specifically…… thanks much & and I will reach out soon if I need to!!!!

Thanks Jarrod. Good luck with your MC mate. It takes a looong time and a lot of practice to feel comfortable and get the hang of how it works. Every opportunity you get to practice reversing, do it. It's the only way to learn. Don't rush things, take your time. When reversing, go slow, and don't oversteer. Not everyone can do this but I tell people to try to imagine lines on the ground where you want your trailers to go when reversing, and follow them. Some can and some can't. Just a suggestion, that's all. Main thing is don't stress and worry, stay calm. All the best mate.

Tahnks mate, appreciate the advice

I guess it's a matter of what you get used to over a long period of time. I've been doing it all my life so it has become second nature to me. I don't even have to think about it, it just happens while I sit there and watch.

@fiatfiorino964 , Yes mate, they do have a sound all their own, and nothing else has that same sound.

Hello Shocker. I'm not in New Zealand, I'm in Australia 🇦🇺 We have a lot of different trucks here with a lot of different engines and gearboxes. This Volvo gearbox is a synchro, not like the old Roadranger boxes where you either doubled the clutch or didn't use the clutch at all.

Thankyou Joseph. I really enjoyed building this model. I have plans to build more but haven't made time to do it yet.

Yes, it's just like driving a car.

Hi Jeff. No, this is the Hobby Design chain. If you want the moving/ working chain you will need the Top Studio set. They both have different chains for different bikes, but it really doesn't matter which one you get. The only difference is the colour. You just make the chain the right length to suit whichever bike you're putting it on. Hope this helps.

you dont lol

Tristan, yes a nice one alright. I'd say they are the next best thing to the Spicer SST14.

😆 Yes, the hidden meaning. If it was out on the road it would be done correctly, but for rolling onto a weigh bridge I think it's more gentle for the platform (and the truck) to roll on slowly than to lift off upon entering.

Thank you Marcin. The little gold things on the fenders are brass pins used for sewing/ dressmaking. I drilled holes for them to fit into and the cut all pinheads off before glueing them in place. The chain was produced by Hobby Design but are no longer available. Top Studio have chains but far more detailed than this one, and expensive. Most of my details and modifications are hand made, not purchased (I collect wires from old computers and cables). The handlebars are made from aluminium welding rod. Hope this helps you.

Thank You David, You helped me a lot. One more question - do You use HIPS, or other plastic mass to strengthen the motorcycle model frame? Thank You - Marcin.

And what material are the brake discs made of? P.S. As far as my eyes are concerned, the more detailed chain is probably, (propably) not possible...

No Macin, I don't strengthen the frame on 1:12th scale, but larger scales I would consider if I thought that the weight would be a problem. I have started to build a custom chopper in 1:6th scale using thick aluminium welding rod as the frame. I will use aluminium tube for the forks, polished to look like chrome.

For the brake discs I usually put "bare metal foil" on them, then glue them on a toothpick so I can spin them on fine sandpaper to get fine scratches of the pads.

Hello mate. The downshifting isn't that bad really, once you get used to it. I found it rather easy to pick up the revs just enough to match the gear ratios and road speed. Everything has to happen a little slowly and gently so that it all comes together smoothly. No problems. But I think not everyone would be able to make it happen this way. You have to get a feel for it and treat it gently, but at the same time get the power to the ground with no delay.

@@davidchitham9101 But anyway, you sad "pick up revs". You meant, you press and hold gas enough to road speed and after that gently engage clutch. Have I correctly understood your "pick up"?

@@АлександрКоловрат-и1н yes, correct 👍. Not tap to rev up quickly as this might rev up to much or not enough. But gently press and hold so revs come up to match gear and speed. While holding accelerator on, let clutch out gently just in case it's not quite perfect, then take foot off accelerator pedal to slow down. After doing this many times you develop feel for it and it becomes easier and smoother. 😁👍

Same applies for downshifting to climb hills but you put power on instead of slowing. Much smoother.

@@davidchitham9101 I understood. Yes, I acted almost the same. I really feel bad because there is no one video on all youtube where camera shows pedals and shifter on synchro semi truck. Also oficial manuals of mercedes, volvo, scania and etc do not give iinstruction about downshifting. Everything they tell is "slowly release clutch". I would like to ask someone from volvo engineers, what they advice - press and hold, tap, or firstly release clutch fully... I fully agree with your method if rpm are not too high. But if my road speed is adequate to 1500 rpm, I think I should tap and press gas again, simultaniously releasing clutch.

Thank you BOAB. A few practice runs with the paint to get it right before applying to this wheel. I was very happy with the way it turned out. I'm not sure I want to do it again. Like the old saying "quit while you're ahead". 😁👍

Thanks Neil. A case of being in the right place at the right time. Just happened to be standing on top of my load hooking up the chains for the crane when I saw it coming.

yeah but a bit of natural talent too mate. Love it.

Thank you Paul for your comment. Been doing this for over 40 years now, and it ain't like it used to be. These Volvo 14 speed syncromesh gearboxes are just like driving a large car, but you can't shift without using the clutch. Not many manuals around any more, and I just hate automatic transmissions in trucks. I used to love the old 13 and 15 speed Roadrangers , but I must say my favourite was the Spicer SST 14. Four moves of the stick for 14 gears, and no need for the clutch, lovely box.

David Chitham not a problem love watching a professional at work I’ve got an auto daf might ask for a 16 speed manual next time stay safe 👍🏼

George Jackson no double clutCh if your going manual but you can’t get any manual from Volvo anymore

@@joshcook8586 Yeah, which is a good thing. Manuals are ancient junk. I'm glad they are getting rid of them in cars too.

Social Justice Warrior I’m happy Volvo has automatics as I want one and they’re amazing. I have thought about learning how to drive a manual truck.

Yeah, that's cool. Could you please send me a link so I can check it out once you've done it?

Elston, yes it is a Volvo. The same FH540 you see me driving in the other videos.

@@davidchitham9101 oh so it's being used as a triple road train?

@@elstondias9172, well it's not really a triple road train. It's called a "B-triple", as it has 2 "A" trailers and a "B". An "A" trailer has a turntable (or 5th wheel) at the back where the wheels are. If you look closely as it's turning you will see each trailer is connected directly to the other. A triple road train has a dolly between each trailer connecting them together. If you check out my other video "Overtaking a triple road train" you will see the difference between my 3 trailers and his 3 trailers. The Volvo I am driving in this video is identical to the one that is following me. They are twins.

@@davidchitham9101ok I get it I'm assuming it's a 16ltr motor then with 2500nm of torque

@@elstondias9172, it's actually a 13 ltr. The 16 ltr engines here are now putting out 750 hp. Not sure on the nm's. Modern technology is something I don't like in trucks so I haven't kept up with all the technical data on these things. I'm really into the old school trucks from the '60's, '70's, and '80's. And some from the '90's but this is when everything went far too computerized for my liking. I would much prefer to drive a nice truck from the early 80's.

Yeah that's ok. All good with the credits and such. I'm trying to track down the footage from the car that was following. If I get it I will put it on here.

@@davidchitham9101 alright, thank you

Kaos Riders, yeah ok. Can you tell me how I can find it on your channel so I can see what you have?

Thanks man. I can message you here with the link once I have the compilation up.

@@svenhvr I know, here in Europe all trucks have syncromeshed gearbox. I've never driven a north american truck with the eaton fuller so I don't know the feelings or pros and cons but I can say that here the driving is really comfortable and there's no stress for the knees because clutch pedals are soft and easy to press. You can't grind a gear.

@@svenhvr yeah, I know what floating gears is, in the USA they shift gears always this way.

@@svenhvr Nope, syncromesh is better. a duel clutch automatic is better than both actually, but if we are just talking about manuals, synchro is the way to go.

@@svenhvr What does my name have to do with manual transmissions? are you a brain dead moron?

@@svenhvr So they are better only because fewer people know how to shift them? Does that make logical sense to you? Explain to me how granny shifting up and down 18 gears up a hill and grinding or missing the gears in the process... is superior to a dual clutch automatic truck transmission that: - shifts faster than even the best human shifter in the world, - that never misses or grinds a single gear at any time, -and causes way less strain on the drive-train compared to "floating gears" on a non synchro mesh. Even synchro is better than non synchro. Perhaps you are clinging to non synchro because for some reason you think only an elite few can learn to shift such an inefficient transmission?

Yes Adrian, it is rigid. The inner row of links is one piece like the plastic kit chain. I have superglued all the pins into one half (or side) and then I laid the other half on top of the pins and glued that into place. All the pins are now fixed in position between the 2 sides and they all protrude out far enough to put the outer layer of links on. With the inner layer being silver and the outer lay gold there is a very nice colour contrast that highlights the chain when it's in position on the bike. This is a non-working HobbyDesign chain which looks very similar to the working Top Studio chain. I have 4 Top Studio chains but haven't assembled one yet. When I do I will put up a video of it. The HD chains are a discontinued line and very hard to find now.

Dr Dave thankyou. Did you crimp the pins in the end or just let the superglue do the work?

I just let the superglue do the work. As it's not a working chain the pins didn't need to be crimped like they do in the working version. When I video my working chain assembly I'll try to cover any aspects that might be missing from any similar videos.

FH520 kevin. Last of the manual transmissions.

@@davidchitham9101 how much could this thing pull max in terms of Tons?

@@elstondias9172 ,the maximum it would be allowed to pull under our laws here is about 160 tonnes. It is capable of pulling more but you would be breaking the law.

No. I was with DanTrans then. That was loading out of Adbri masonary at Yatala.

It's easy Paul. It's a basic 3 speed patern with a range change button on the front of the stick and a splitter switch on the side of the stick. Split the 3 low range gears gives you 6, split the 3 high range gears gives you another 6, plus 2 crawler gears gives you a total of 14. Then you also have 4 reverse gears by using the low/high range and splitter. The shift pattern looks like a 5 speed with no reverse.

Rhangga Putra kzbin.info/www/bejne/hZCxmIhndr6Ze8U

I think there is a working chain available for the pinnagalli by top studio I thought these in the video were working but I need the top studio

Thanks Ian. It was a nice truck to drive. The company sold it a couple of years ago and I still miss it.

No Troy. Finished up a week ago. Just started a new job today. Less hours more $. Gotta be better than before. 👍

This is a 2006 model. The only truck left in the fleet with a manual transmission.

Thanks S J. I did enjoy driving that one. I totally agree with you on the roundabouts issue. Stupid thing didn't have a clew what to do. The scary thing is that the man from Volvo told me they've gone to autos so that clowns who don't know how to drive can now drive a truck. And yes, it most certainly is the end of an era. So many truck drivers of today have no idea about Roadrangers, Spicers, ZF........ let alone 2 sticks.

@@davidchitham9101 I only had a chance to drive manuals without a splitter (Mercedes 8 Speed - terrible gear box), but I like shifting manually so much over this auto-crap that I see the guy buying the trucks in my company as often as possible to tell him, that I want - no: need - a new truck with a manual transmission. May I ask you if it is possible to split the Volvo gears without using the clutch by just lifting the accelerator?