Hitachi EX-8000 Mining Shovel parts being cut out by Don Campbell .

Hitachi EX-8000 Mining Shovel parts being cut out by Don Campbell ., originally uploaded by Don Campbell Models.

Hitachi EX-8000 Parts- Todays picture shows me duplicating some of the first parts for the shovel bucket. First I trace the patterns out on the steel, then I use the nibbler to get a rough shape, then I use the hand shear to get a closer cut, then I use the hand sander to finish each shape in the sheetmetal. You can see the parts I am holding are done being shaped but some of the parts on the workbench still need more shaping. The first two weeks things go pretty slow and it doesn’t seem like much progress is getting done. Then when I get to see the first few three dimensional parts it gets exciting to me.
FORTY NINE DAYS OF RUNNING – Today I headed out the door to run my morning 5K run around Gaylord. It was very windy and rainy but I know the weather is going to get much worse than this in Nov.
Tomorrow is the big day for me to hit 50 days of running 5K’s.
Four months ago I could not run two blocks.
My secret is I am enjoying the morning runs with no expectations of time , I don’t care how long it takes me , I rarely even look at the clock before I leave the house. It is pure running enjoyment for me and as I get thinner it even gets more fun. It’s really hard to believe this old body can do this. If I was thirty or forty , running 50 5K’s in less than 60 days would be no big deal, but in my 50’s I think it is probably less common to begin running at this level. Even a couple times a week would be more common but for me to run 50 5K’s in 56 days as I will have done tomorrow morning , that is pretty cool for me.
Deb is still training every morning too while I am running, she is going her own pace and I pass her and then come back and we finish walking three extra blocks after the run together.
CAT 797 MONSTER MINING TRUCK- It is looking like my next large model project I may build starting after Christmas could be a Cat 797 Mining Truck. I built the Cat789C so this will be fun to make a 797. Not sure what model number yet, depends on the info available.
ONE WEEK WITH NEW FUEL PUMP- Today it has been one week now since I replaced my fuel pump and all the problems are solved.
All the fancy machines the mechanics have today and they kept jerking me around charging me hundreds of dollars. I kept telling them I thought it might be the fuel pump and they kept charging me for all kinds of stupid stuff that did not fix it. I am so glad I read on the internet the dozens of people who have had so many fuel pump problems. I guess mechanics should read those posts, but then they wouldn’t get to keep charging people for all the other parts.
I took my truck in several times , waited hours and hours only to get charged and drive it home still not running right. They would keep saying ” just drive it a couple days and it should be fine” What a bunch of crooks !!
Anyway today I am very happy that a dummy like me was smarter than them, ha,ha.
Have a great Sat. !!!!

Hitachi EX-8000 Mining Shovel Parts in 1/12th scale being cut out by Don Campbell .

Hitachi EX-8000 Mining Shovel Parts in 1/12th scale being cut out by Don Campbell ., originally uploaded by Don Campbell Models.

Hitachi EX-8000 Mining Shovel- Todays picture shows the very first progress and one of the very first parts being cut out on my hand shear . I use 18 ga. sheet metal for those of you who were curious. It is easy to cut and very sturdy. I did try 20 ga. but it was just too flimsy and weak and also tricky to weld.
RIMPULL – This morning I got the cab interior parts painted and the wheels mounted to the tractor and the windows put in the cab. I also got the radiator , side tanks , exhaust stacks , front bumper top deck and railings all mounted. I have to wait a few more days for the yellow trailer paint to dry well enough to tape them off to paint the green sides.
RUNNERS WORLD- Today I ran my 48th time of my 5K route around Gaylord. It was lightly raining but 55 degrees. So I wore lighter clothes and it was a real strong run. I am still just running to get in shape at this stage and not running yet for time. Everything I have read in the last few months says the best running is when you are relaxed. Worrying about my time would just be stressful to me.
I talked to the fellow at the running store yesterday and he said he has not been able to run in four months. He said he went out to run a 10K and was totally stressed and he just pushed himself the whole race and ruined his knee. He said he should have never ran that day being so stressed. So many injuries runners get from pushing too hard and trying to beat their old records. Deb , Nicole and I have always joked I am the ( turtle ). Seems my whole life everyone around me has worked circles around me . But in no time they are gone on to something else. I have just slowly plugged away for the last 20 years plowing snow and doing landscaping and lawncare and making a toy here and there along the way.
I am very content just being the turtle, ha,ha.
Even if I come in last at a race I am still ahead of all those folks that will have to get up and lose weight eventually . (:>).
Have a Great Friday !!!

1996 GMC Z-71 shortbox regular cab with 25,000 one owner miles of Don Campbell’s.

1996 GMC Z-71 shortbox regular cab with 25,000 one owner miles of Don Campbell’s., originally uploaded by Don Campbell Models.

Low Mileage Used trucks- Todays picture is one Deb just took of me in the driveway next to my old beater pickup. For a 96 it is in near mint condition. It’s always been garage kept and driven in the salt limited days. I bought two of these trucks that looked almost alike and this one was not used much. It has never been wrecked or dented , it is all orginal. It just turned over 25,000 miles. And now that I put a new Delphi fuel pump in it last week it runs like a brand new truck. In fact, people tell me this old truck is a better truck than the new ones. I think the new ones look so plain !! This is still a nice looking old truck. I looked on the internet and couldn’t find any other 1996 Z-71’s with 25,000 miles. We have looked at new trucks but they just look very cheap and very plain. So for now we will just enjoy this old beater . (:>). This truck has never been through a drive through car wash and rarely even a hand car wash. It has been washed at home with a bucket and sponge and it shines ten times more than it did when it was new and it had the factory orange peel.
I do have a Fisher Snowplow for it but you can imagine it has hardly been used either. The last two winters I never hooked it on at all. I never believed these light duty trucks were built for plowing heavy snow. Many of my snowplow friends have proved that many times, ha,ha.
PHILLY STEAK SANDWICHES- Deb is cooking up some fresh philly , steak ,mushroom and cheese sandwiches, YUM !!
PAINT DRYING DAY – Today Deb and I drove to Traverse City and had a fun day goofing off. My workshop is full of fresh painted parts but tomorrow I will move them aside to continue drying and cut out the first parts for the Hitachi Mining Shovel.
HITACHI EX-8000- Tonight I will work more on the 1/12th scale designs and get them done.
RUNNERS WORLD- 47 days of running my morning 5K’s. Just three more days to my next goal of 50 5K’s !!! I am very excited to think I actually become a runner. Of course a mere 50 5k’s doesn’t make me a real runner, it does tell me this old body still has a little life left in it, ha,ha. I still absolutely love running every morning. Maybe entering races won’t be my thing , sounds like over 50% of runners damage their legs, knees , etc. by pushing too hard in events. I have read it is the stress on race day that often causes this.
My 47 morning 5K jogs have been stress free . We will still enter the Florida 5K and the Cherry Blossom Festival in D.C. in the spring but after that maybe just run for the pure enjoyment of running.
The best advantage of all is Deb and I are starting to get thin again and that is all GOOD !! (:>).
The picture below this one shows another angle of my truck.
Have a great Thurs.

1996 Z-71 one owner Stepside pickup 25,000 miles of Don Campbell’s

1996 Z-71 one owner Stepside pickup 25,000 miles of Don Campbell’s, originally uploaded by Don Campbell Models.

1996 GMC Z-71 shortbox regular cab – Here is a picture Deb took of me today next to my old pickup. It’s never been wrecked or abused. For a Northern Michigan daily driver truck it is in mint condition.
I bought two of these trucks that looked very similar and this one pretty much stayed in the garage .