DAF FTD 95XF.430 8x4 with Nooteboom ballast trailer

It was back in 1997 when I built my last DAF. Some times people asked me why I didn't build DAFs, the Dutch national proud. My opinion was the new 95XF series was too difficult to build. A few years ago I updated an old 95 cab to the new 95XF version. I wasn't quite enthusiastic after seeing the result. Until someone else created a very well looking LEGO model of a DAF 95XF. Because of requests of others and the model I saw I eventually started to build my own DAF 95XF. These chimeras actually already started in 2000, before Evert built his DAF. I got a picture of a four axle XF of a heavy lift company, called 'De Kil' (member of the Sarens group in Belgium). If I would build an XF it definitely should be this one. I've chosen for the vehicle because it's a special truck and the color scheme . The colors are just like the ones of the LEGO pieces.

The LEGO-model So how do you get started? In '98 I built an old 95 and because certain componentes have close comparisons with the new XF you can copy them clearly. Although, that's what it looked like, but I started to build a complete new truck. The '97 DAF was as far as the design and details goes very outdated. That's why I didn't copy anything. The driver's cab was too square and underneath the cab the finishing touch was very poor. The other guy's tractor came closer to my expectations. Especially the front bumper was very well shaped. I liked it so much I copied it. Because everyone some times copy thing from others I thought it should be able to, isn't it? Although, there still was one problem: I didn't had any transparent quarter round pieces in my collection. My brother has some of them. After buying a party of second hand LEGO I thought I would never use those parts so I gave them to my brother without thinking. You will understand I fed up with that. Fortunate there's Bricklink so I bought some of those pieces in two 'shops'. For the chassis I need a drawing and because I didn't had one, I asked Piet van Urk to make a scale drawing for me. The truck manufacturers not always give drawings (it depends who deals with your demand). So via this way I got a drawing with all dimensions I needed. Moreover Piet sent me some detailed pictures of the real DAF of the De Kil. The other builder also supplied me with some pictures. The chassis is eight studs wide at the back and nine at the front. With plate hinges I created this broadening. To take care of the necessary stiffness I used a plate as a catwalk. Under the tiltable cab there's the engine. The engine block is very well succeed I think. On a transport trade show in 2002 I saw a 12 litre DAF engine block on the DAF stand. I could make pictures of every side of the engine so I didn't need any brochure. I also made some pictures of a truck at a DAF dealer. There was a tractor for repair and I was allowed to make pictures of the underside of the truck (it was placed on the bridge). The front and side parts of the cab are different than on the other model. The mudguards are ticker than the real one, but to put sloped bricks vertically you can create nice effects. The centre part of the back of the cab is sloping. For the lettering I contacted the company which also supplies the lettering for the real vehicles of De Kil. I think it looks more professional and I can't make such lettering myself. The trailer is a product of Nooteboom (type OVB-102-06). Many of you now are asking themselves: what serves this vehicle? Well, these trucks are used for hauling the ballast and other components of heavy mobile cranes. The DAF transports the pieces of a 400 tonnes Liebherr LTM1400 mobile crane. So a crane can't operate without the ballast truck. The crane itself can't haul the pieces because of its maximum axle pressure which is enforce by the legislator. The trailer has four steered axles: the last three and front axle. The back axles a connected together and have a so called 'mill steering'. The axles are fitted to the platform with a turntable. The axles all have another wheel outcome. The platform of the trailer is about 120 cm in length. The frame of the trailer has several traverse beams. On the traverse beams I placed the hardwood floor. The trailer itself is supplied with a spare wheel behind a hatch and support beams. On the floor several supports are attached to anchor the crane parts. Anyway, I haven't built the mobile crane. Other data Length: 150 cm Width: 19.2 cm Height: 25.4 cm Wheelbase: 29.0 cm Construction: a lot of time Date: November 2001 - April 2002

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