SLARS

Following on from the sorcerer's apprentice concept build of the Tractor unit, taken to Blackpool and drivrn about there, here is my 1/12th scale build of the beast.

First thing needed was a rigid chassis.


This was followed by the main barrel that holds the engine and hydraulic compressor.



The two have been temporarily fixed together and the main pivots for the outer drive units added.



The recessed door was fabricated from 2mm styrene. The dished section was heat formed and glued into the outer ring and when hardened off given a coat of primer.



The drivers compartment has been fabricated using the same tubing from the body and styrene sheet.



The windows and door have been cut out and then given coats of primer and orange topcoat.



The drivers seat has been made and a much modified figure added to do the driving. This will sit on its pivot in the cabin later when the interior is finished.

Now have the main chassis for the trailer section of the SLARS made painted and the main pivots in place.



The track unit outriggers have been made and representations of the urethane road wheels produced.



These have been painted and assembled into two units and fitted onto the main pivots.




Idlers at each end fitted along with tracks taken from a 1/16th scale Tiger tank found at a car boot sale yesterday.

The main hollow support beam has been fabricated and the turntable bearing fitted.



The rotating carriage section has also been made and is ready to paint.



Fitted onto the rotating bearing.



The chassis for the tractor unit has also been made and fitted with the gearboxes from the Tiger tank along with new tracks. After testing I have now decided to change the gearboxes to a higher, 5:1, ratio set as the present 3:1 set give ample speed but not enough power to push the trailer when loaded with ballast without excessive track slippage. The tracks may also be replaced with the metal version when funds allow.

The new gearboxes have been fitted and the main items given a coat of blue paint. Here the rig is now put together in one piece for the first time.








Control systems on a double decker fitting that slides into the main barrel.



The drive batteries fit neatly in the lower decking



View of the whole rig!



Carriage rotated and extended in the recovery position.

Superb build, I love it looking forward to the video

you never cease to amaze me with your ingenuity mike..........another jaw dropping, gob smacking build.......

just brilliant.....hope we see it at Blackpool later this year.

tell you what though, the guy who designed the tractor unit must have been watching too many Blake's 7 Startreck and Dr Who editions all rolled into one.........it totally baffles my brain!!

My Apprentice (David) has been building in parallel with me and in fact his is a little further on than mine. This clip shows the rig runnig outdoors at about 90% finished. The last part of the clip shows the ram lifting his boat, a little slowly but that's the trade off between speed and power. More speed = less power to lift, less speed = more power to lift.

ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC MATE.............Pity that Fleetwood boat is kept afloat..............that is a work of art.........congratulate your son for me........bloody superb.

Hi Mike can you please tell me what size pipe you used for under the cab were you put the controls etc.

Thanks in advance John

zetec wrote:

Hi Mike can you please tell me what size pipe you used for under the cab were you put the controls etc.

Thanks in advance John

125mm ducting pipe from Toolstation.

https://www.toolstation.com/shop/Electrical/d190/Ducting/sd3083/125+Round+Pipe/p89189


It is only 1.85 mm under size for 1/12th scale!!

Thanks Mike I thought it was.

Thanks John