This off-road seismic vibrator truck, "Thumper," was completely scratchbuilt by John Ross except for the wheels/tires and a Ralph Ratcliffe Detroit Diesel 8V-71 engine. John started with the engine and wheels and tires from a toy then built everything to fit. The bridge device is a hydraulic drive with an accumulator to pressure the vibrating device, which is the vertical part in the middle. The seismic vibrations are recorded then downloaded and processed through a computer to map depths and geologic formations for potential oil drilling sites. John's model was prompted Ralph Ratcliffe's prime mover featured in Photo Galleries 581 and 585. On display again at the 2014 East Coast Meet in W. Springfield, MA.

Posted February 13, 2014