A radio control modeller in the States is currently constructing a 1:10 scale working model of the Doodlebug production series. The detail and craftsmanship are absolutely jaw-dropping!
Back to Business
In June 2023, I began writing another blog for the Classics Museum, documenting two extraordinary Bugatti builds that spanned a decade. Now that the two cars have been completed and unveiled, I am once again focused on our plan to record each stage of the new Texaco Doodlebug build.
I have really missed writing on this site, and Steve and I are more than ready to get the project moving. We have made progress on the wheels and tyres, which I will share in a few weeks.
Steve has been busy over the past two years with several existing projects. I mentioned a couple of years ago that he had these other project commitments to work through, and I can now report that further vehicles have been added to the list!
A New Friendship
Nine months ago, we were contacted through this website by an engineer in the States who was reaching out for any information we could help with in regard to the Doodlebug. Nick explained he was in the process of building a 1:10 scale working radio control model of the truck and wanted to find as many details as possible to replicate the 1933 Diamond T Texaco Special.
What ensued was an exchange of photos, information, and ideas that quickly transformed into a friendship. It immediately became apparent that Nick shared the same passion as us, and his research skills and eye for detail were next level.
I have no doubt whatsoever that if Rich were still with us, he and Nick would be in regular contact and would be the best of friends.
Nick has identified the locations where most of the production model trucks were in service in the late thirties/early forties. He has uncovered further material and has compiled significant research notes on many of the known photos. Nick explained his motivation behind the research.
“I got frustrated with all the “orphan” pictures I was finding. They were nice pictures, but when and where were they taken? No context. So I started trying to link photos together and provide some context for each one. That led to the huge project of researching all the historical leads I could find, which is still ongoing. I’ve had just as much fun doing the research as I have had building the model. It is amazing what a journey this little tanker has taken me on.”
Nick is originally from the UK. He began building radio-controlled models as a child, and his love of constructing mechanical creations was the catalyst behind him becoming an engineer. For the past 17 years, he has worked as an independent freelance engineer doing work for various types of industries. His childhood interest has remained with him throughout, and over the years, Nick has built radio-controlled models of just about every type of moving vehicle – land, sea, and air.
Nick saw a photo of the Doodlebug in 2023 and within a few weeks had purchased a model of the infamous truck. Those two actions were all it took for Nick to join others around the world who are infatuated with the unique 1933 tanker.
After deciding to add the Texaco Doodlebug to his list of builds, Nick began work on a 1:10 scale model – not just a static model but a fully working radio-controlled truck.
His project is being documented on the Scale Builders Guild, an internet forum for people who build detailed radio-controlled models. With Nick’s permission, the following images have been taken from that site.
The 1:10 Scale Doodlebug Model
Nick began the project in 2023 by creating a CAD drawing using historical dimensions and details. He designed a 3D wireframe model of the truck before creating cross-sections and ribs to form the frame that would ultimately assist with the formation of the body shell.
Nick’s CAD model of the body frame.
The lengths that Nick is going to with this build are extraordinary. The first point of difference is the material he is using. Rather than creating the model out of plastic, which is typically used by RC modellers, Nick decided to build it with 0.030″ steel.
His first step of the build was to get all the ‘skeleton’ parts laser cut from 0.060″ steel.
The individual laser cut frame pieces.
Nick then brazed the frame sections together to create a buck for the skin fabrication.
The next task was to fold up the tank section of the truck, replicating the curve of the original tanker.
The fabricated tank section.
Using an English wheel, Nick formed the cab and rear tail sections. What is extraordinary here is that Nick wanted to develop more skills in metal shaping.
“Forming complex curves in sheet metal is something that has always interested me, but something I have almost no experience with. This project will give me a chance to learn some new skills in that area.”
The craftsmanship you are about to see is more aligned with an experienced fabricator, which just makes this build so much more amazing!
The truck cab.
The rear tail section.
Nick welded the cab and rear tailpiece to the centre tank section. After filing down the weld and trimming the wheel openings, Nick had skilfully formed the Doodlebug body shell.
The front and rear views of the Doodlebug body.
The scaled dimensions of this build are approximately 31″ long x 9.2″ wide x 8″ tall (the metric equivalent is 787mm x 234mm x 203mm).
To complete the body, Nick built up the front and rear bumpers from three pieces of steel and then welded and silver soldered them together.
The larger holes on each side of the two bumpers were formed to mount over posts that would be attached to the chassis rails.
The next task was the wheel arches. Nick made up a steel former to shape the metal over and then fabricated the arches.
The wheel arches.
To address the top of the model, Nick formed the catwalk and placed it in position. The front bumper and wheel arches can be seen fitted to the body in the following photo.
The catwalk was clamped in place.
The rear tail section of the Doodlebug had a tongue-shaped piece in the centre at the back that could be opened and raised up to service the engine in the rear. Nick formed this to scale and fitted it to the tail section.
The access door to the engine is mounted in the rear.
Continuing on with the finer details, Nick cut the window and front emblem holes in the cab.
The unique features of the Diamond T Texaco Special were beginning to take shape.
The iconic Diamond T emblem that sat proudly at the front of the Doodlebug was, in fact, a means of ventilating the cab. Nick created four miniature pieces to form the diamond-shaped emblem and then silver-soldered them together.
The Diamond T emblem.
Nick created even smaller, more intricate pieces to replicate the headlights and cab marker lights.
Using a lathe, Nick turned the Doodlebug headlights from solid steel. The attention to detail on these is fascinating.
“They are drilled for bulbs and have a recess to hold the glass lens. There will be a chrome ring to finish it off at a later date.”
Three marker lights were positioned above the front windows at the top of the Doodlebug cab. Nick fabricated these out of 3/16 steel tubing for the 1:10 scale model.
The marker lights are in position.
The final detail across the front of the cab was the Texaco lettering. Nick had this laser cut out as one piece.
The laser-cut Texaco logo.
Nick fitted each of the small elements to the Doodlebug cab to replicate the original Diamond T tanker.
Working towards the back of the truck, Nick drew up the Texaco logo that sat across each side of the tank section and had it laser cut out.
The top lettering was a spacer set that Nick created to pin to the body and identify where to drill the rivet holes.
“The spacer has all the rivet holes lasered in, but the individual letters only have two holes each. This is because everything gets a gentle curve to fit the body, and if the holes were laser cut and matched up when the parts were flat, they wouldn’t match up when bent. So the best way is to bend them to fit and drill the remaining holes in the formed state. Seemed to work well.
Once all the holes were drilled, I cut each spacer off from the linking tabs and mounted the letters on top of them. Exactly the same procedure for the other side.”
The end result was a logo raised off the body just as it was on the original tanker. Nick achieved absolute perfection!
At the rear of the Doodlebug production models, on each side, were 6 louvres. Nick once again drew these up and had them cut as one piece to assist with the placement and alignment.
After shaping the set of louvres to the rear tail section and pinning them in place, Nick transfer-drilled all the rivet holes.
He cut all the pieces free and shaped them with a file. Nick then riveted them in place using 1/16″ flathead rivets before filing to get the rivet heads flush.
To power the model, Nick sourced a circa 1912 Knapp electric motor that was used in motorised children’s toys of that era.
The motor is a little bigger than what would normally be used in a standard RC model, measuring around 3″ in diameter and 4″ in length.
“The housing is cast iron. Brushes are exposed at the rear and will need some work before this thing runs again. I have tested the windings and they all seem good, so I think with some cleaning up and a bit of rewiring, it can be revived.
There is also a drum switch for reversing the motor direction. This motor is not a permanent magnet type – it has a field winding instead. So that means if I used a standard ESC (Electronic Speed Control), there would be no electric braking and no reversing. I had already decided on manual brakes for this model, so no problem there. As for reversing, I might use the original drum switch (if it can be brought back to service) or use a modern DPDT switch operated by a servo.”
Nick will follow the original Doodlebug build and mount the engine in the rear to drive a rear-mounted transmission. The model will have the drive shaft passing under and forward to the rear axle and differential.
Recently, Nick fabricated the chassis using the patent drawings as a guide. He duplicated the double drop frame and x-shaped cross member that were detailed in the original patent and even captured the cutout Diamond T logo in the rear crossmember.
The double-drop Diamond T chassis and the crossmember with the cutout logo.
He is currently working through the chassis components, taking the utmost care to replicate each piece as per the original build.
The truck will have operable lights and possibly functioning windscreen wipers. Nick explained to me his plans for the transmitter for the RC model.
“Normally an R/C transmitter has a wheel for steering and a trigger for throttle/brake. I plan to make my own transmitter that has a wheel with 6 turns lock-to-lock (rather than 1/3 turn normally) and separate triggers for throttle and brake, with the brake trigger operating actual drum brakes on the rear. I may do a gear selector too, but I’m not sure about that yet.”
Our thanks to Nick for sharing the progress to date on his build. This 1:10 scale model will be incredible once finished and will signify the extraordinary commitment Nick has made both in time and research.
To continue following this remarkable journey, visit Nick’s page on the Scale Builders Guild site.
https://scalebuildersguild.com/forum/threads/1933-diamond-t-texaco-special-aka-doodlebug.33091/
Subscriber Update Notification Emails
It came to our attention early last year that some of the subscriber emails sent out to notify of new updates were not being received. This may have affected the last three or four posts that were published. After investigating further, we found that a section of the alphabet was being omitted from the mailouts.
With Mitch’s help, I have switched across to a new email plugin that will solve the problem. My apologies to those who may be wondering why we are up to the 50th update! Possibly some catch-up reading might be required…
Marcin
Even the jack stands are in scale!
Sue Keys
Nick’s attention to detail is amazing. Thanks Marcin.
Michel Heijligers
Nick does absolutely amazing work !!
Sue Keys
Thanks Michel. He sure does!
William Crockett
Awesome work. 😍😎👍🏻
Sue Keys
Nick will see your comment. Thanks William.
Steve Medley
I’m really happy to see the new project underway and to start seeing your emails in my inbox again. It’s going to be a lot of fun following your new project.
Sue Keys
Great to hear from you Steve. We can’t wait to get things underway properly.
John Campbell
I wish I had the skills with metal that Nick has, Furniture manufacturing was my forte, so I relied very much on assistance from family members to complete a 24 year restoration of the only 1949 Willys/Overland Jeepster in N.Z. My wife Patricia and I together with our family own Jeeps from each of the five manufacturers who made them, from 1941 to 2014, so the Jeepster will be in good hands.
Sue Keys
Nick is very talented for sure. Your Jeepster sounds like it has been a fabulous project. Thanks John.