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1930's 1:25 scale model truck kits, do any actually exist ?


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I know you can buy thirties trucks as die cast models but did Revell, AMT, Monogram, Lindberg, or any of the others actually make 1:25 or 1:24 scale model truck kits. The closest i have seen is a"Mini Art" Bogie Drive Gaz AA. The Russian version of the Model AA truck. And while this is an excellent kit and the most detailed Model A kit i have ever seen, there is just one problem its 1:35 scale. This is a primarily a military kit and 1:35 scale is popular with military modellers but my guess is this kit would sell like hot cakes if it was released in 1:25 scale. The Lindberg 1:25 scale 1934 Pick up is an excellent kit and i know many modellers would regard this as a truck due to its stake bed and tow truck options, but being on a pick up chassis counts that out. My definition of a truck is a rigid ladder bar chassis with a wheel base any where from 131 to 157 inches. These were what the AA and BB Fords had. If the majors aren't releasing any 30's truck kits, are there any resin producers offering them? I know there are a few offering COE bodies and the like but i mean actual kits with the chassis, heavy duty suspension and five lug wheels needed for it to be a truck model. The thirties seems to be an overlooked era for model makers which is a shame considering this was the ERA of the birth of the proper big rigs. Look up "Fageol" which went onto become "Peterbilt" and you will seehow trucks were evolving into what are the prime movers of today. Anyway if any one has any feed back on where i might be able to get a 1:25 scale truck kit of any kind i would be very interested. I am not concerned with whether its a Ford, Mopar, Chrysler, GM or any other make i would just like to know if any exist ?

Fageol Truck Pictures.html

Edited by fractalign
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1/24 - 1/25 Scale? The Opel Blitz kit Jeff showed is it. Well, the Mack AC kits would qualify as that design carried over into the '30s (from the '20s).

But otherwise, no kits.

There were a couple of resin kits a long, long time ago ~ All American Models and Herb Deeks both marketed a '30-'31 Ford AA chassis that was viable through the early '50s (with minor modifications for the 40s and 50s). Unfortunately, those are long gone.

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Aaaah yes how can i forget the Opal Blitz, the German version of a GMC, as for the Krupp i am not so sure about that one.

Its a shame no one is doing anything other than these two but i am keen to get a project underway and i think i might have a way to do it. I know of a military museum near where i live and the museum contains over one hundred trucks. There are three in particular i am interested in checking out. They are a Ward Lafrance Wrecker, Diamond T Tank Transporter and Federal Tank Transporter all are all early WW2 so date back to the late thirties. The Federal in Particular is a very nice looking truck and would make a good project for the "On The Work Bench Forum" I think i might have to visit the museum and see if i can get some measurements from the the trucks.

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They offer the Opal in a Fuel Truck version as well. Emhar offered two Bedfords, one short Wheel base and one LWB. They are late 30's early 40's, I believe. I do know that they are OOP.

The good thing about the Opal kit is that its chassis and driveline could be used with other cabs as the Chevy/GMC trucks were pretty much a standardized item back then. I think you could get away with an engine swap if you wanted to model other makes of the same era.

Edited by Wagoneer81
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Apparently the Emhar Bedfords will be re-released soon.

See what the late Ted Taylor (it's still a wrench to have to write "late" in this sentence...) made of them here:

http://tedtaylor.hobbyvista.com/149-emhar-bedfords/page-149.html

I don't know if a 1939 Bedford is easy to convert to other GMC trucks, but you should be able to tell from these pics...

bestest,

M.

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They offer the Opal in a Fuel Truck version as well. Emhar offered two Bedfords, one short Wheel base and one LWB. They are late 30's early 40's, I believe. I do know that they are OOP.

The good thing about the Opal kit is that its chassis and driveline could be used with other cabs as the Chevy/GMC trucks were pretty much a standardized item back then. I think you could get away with an engine swap if you wanted to model other makes of the same era.

The chassis needs several alterations to be converted into a US spec GM truck, as they were not "standardized". Even between Chevrolet and GMC there are many differences, as GMC did not become a rebadged Chevrolet until about 1968.

The Opel frame does make for a good starting point, though, and would only be accurate until 1954.

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