Bus 3D model project, help request

[plfking]

Originally Posted by Native

Please tell me where that clliff is located so I can avoid it on my travels!

If you were a virtual wingsuiter, that would be a great place for a BASE jump.

[Native]

Originally Posted by Dummiesman

Do you know if it's open or limited slip? I did a bunch of searching this morning and didn't find anything on that, though I did see a sort of cutaway and it looked like limited slip.

About all I can find out about it is that it is a Meritor RS21145FNN338557 and the Meritor website shows it as non-locking. It does not mention limited slip nor open.

[Artor]

Originally Posted by Native

Please tell me where that clliff is located so I can avoid it on my travels!

Just DON'T take that left at Albuquerque!

[banman]

Originally Posted by Dummiesman

Do you know if it's open or limited slip? I did a bunch of searching this morning and didn't find anything on that, though I did see a sort of cutaway and it looked like limited slip.

Mine has a very similar Meritor International axle (my ratio's 5.13).
Previously the company was called Rockwell.

These are open diff axles. Although I'm sure lockers are available...
And apparently the FS-60 & 70 series trucks did come in 4x4...

[Dummiesman]

Originally Posted by banman

These are open diff axles.

Damn. Guess I'll have to keep getting stuck while off-roading in BeamNG :P

[brokedown]

My Vista had posi but I got it stuck on flat ground when the grass was wet.

[banman]

Originally Posted by Dummiesman

Damn. Guess I'll have to keep getting stuck while off-roading in BeamNG :P

Not at all -- I'm sure some were ordered with detroit lockers for snowy or dirt road rural areas...

Tires will make the biggest difference to where and how you do or don't get stuck...

The Michelin XDE's my bus came to me with (from a R.I school district) specifically say "M/S" on the sidewall meaning 'mud/snow'. They are an open-block shoulder design tire. They are a compromise between hwy and traction.
Plenty of other truck tires that are even more aggressive.

[Dummiesman]

Originally Posted by banman

Not at all -- I'm sure some were ordered with detroit lockers for snowy or dirt road rural areas...

Tires will make the biggest difference to where and how you do or don't get stuck...

The Michelin XDE's my bus came to me with (from a R.I school district) specifically say "M/S" on the sidewall meaning 'mud/snow'. They are an open-block shoulder design tire. They are a compromise between hwy and traction.
Plenty of other truck tires that are even more aggressive.

I wish I remembered more about the buses we had up here. I rode on an FS-65 for about 10 years, never noticed tire changes but also never looked.

I only remember getting stuck in the winter once on nearly flat ground, at the end of a no exit street, so maybe the buses that were ordered up here are open too.

[Dummiesman]

Hey, me again! :P

I just remembered something that I meant to model ages ago! Do any of you have mudflaps on your FS-65? I'm mainly just looking to see how these are attached to the vehicle.

Also an update on how the model is coming. Starting to look really good :

[Native]

Looking VERY good!


Yes, we have mud flaps. They attach to the wheel wells. I *may* have a couple of pictures. I'll look. If not, I will take a couple tomorrow during the day.

[banman]

If you enlarge it you can even read "Thomas" on the mudflap.

The mudflap is bolted to a piece of angle iron attached to the floor's sub-frame.
It'll be gray here all week, but if I can get a detailed pic I'll post it.

[Native]

You can see in the photos that they are attached via bolts through a strap and the rbber which is attached to the end of the wheel well.

[musigenesis]

Originally Posted by Native

You can see in the photos that they are attached via bolts through a strap and the rbber which is attached to the end of the wheel well.

That's an interesting design as compared to my International. On mine the wheel well proper stops at the steel floor inside and does not continue downwards like yours, and the mudflap was hung from the stiffener on the underside behind the well. At least I think that's how it was - there wasn't much of that part left when I got the bus.

Yours seems more sensible, since it provides a continuous barrier to stuff getting splashed up on the underside.

[Dummiesman]

Does this look about right? Chose to attach it on the body because that's easier to do.

[Native]

Looks good. As far as the model is concerned, it would not really mater if they were there or not, but it looks so much better with them.

[Dummiesman]

I just noticed the actual mudflap piece is square in dimensions. @banman since this is done the same way as yours. What's put in this orange area here to extend the mudflap?

[banman]

Maybe easier to see with my mudflaps being painted...
The metal above the mudflap angles towards the wheel well at about a 70° angle.


[ATTACH][/ATTACH]

[Dummiesman]

Hm, I see now. It was also confusing because the body I modeled this after has extra height on it, and instead of the mudflap hanging down, it hides behind the extra height on the body. (see this listing for a good high-res rear quarter pic of this body style)

Also recently noticed the wheelwell is shaped weirdly and the inner support 'ribbing' on the body stops about ~6" before the wheelwell. So if I want to make this properly that all has to be reworked

[plfking]

Originally Posted by Dummiesman

So if I want to make this properly that all has to be reworked

Hey......nobody said manufacturing your own bus from scratch was gonna be easy.

[Native]

Originally Posted by banman

Maybe easier to see with my mudflaps being painted...
The metal above the mudflap angles towards the wheel well at about a 70° angle.


[ATTACH]Attachment 41162[/ATTACH]

Yup, same setup as our FS-65! That strap provides stability for the back of the wheel well. The metal that the mud flap is attached to is the wheel well. I do know this for a fact as I have rebuilt the driver side wheel well.