Semi Trailer Mechanic

What's goin' on... This is good news! I'll definitly be looking forward to getting a few of these tanks! Finally a trailer for this one ......

What's goin' on... As previously mentioned freezing the model does work and so does the CSC degreaser. I've learned this in process of stripping paint. Using solvent cement works as well. For example brushing on Tenex7R will soften the glued joint enabling it to be taken apart. Good Luck

What's goin' on... COOL!!!

What's goin' on... Very Cool!!! Well Done!!!

What's goin' on... Bill Well Done!!!

What's goin' on... Looks like I can fill out the repair order turn it in and park it on the yard it's done!!! I started out w/ the early 90's AMT Fruehauf dump trailer kit. As everyone who's built this kit knows the suspension lacks detail and the leaf springs aren't all the exact size. I decided to scratch build (8-leaf) the springs and u-bolts(somewhat crude as this was my first shot at this). Next I cut off the spring hangers and relocated them as needed. As seen here.... Next I added axle spindles and the spiders (foundation for the brake shoe anchor pins and s-cam) Also shown here the gate latch (lock) assembly was made. Along w/ those mods addition work was done to the dolly assembly by making sand shoes,k-bracing,diagnal supports, and the portion of the legs that extend and retract. Underneath the slack adjusters were trimmed down and the brake chambers were made from several chambers from other kits in the parts box. On the chambers fine styrene round stock was used to make the chamber actuator rods (attatched to the top of the slack adjuster(s)The s-cams are just aluminum rod. 1:1 s-cams new are this color. Because the "s" portion of the cams would be obscure I left that detail off. The s-cam bushings are made from rectangular stock and round stock (in the spiders) The rims (Dayton Hubs) Are a combination of those found in the Fruehauf's kit and those found in the AMT Loadcraft step deck kit. I cut off the Pro-Par style hub caps from the rims in the Fruehauf kit and glued them to the rims from the Loadcraft kit and painted them Tamiya field Gray. New these hub caps (1:1) were clear plastic but after a while the gear oil tarnishes them close to this color. The hubs were painted w/ Tamiya Matte Black andthe rims are painted Model Master Aggressor Gray. The bolts that hold the drums to the back of the hubs were painted Model Master Steel and so are the wedges/lugs. The drums were made from the drums in the Fruehauf kit. They might look unproportioned but I've worked on a few (1:1) trailers where they used "mountain brakes" basically over sized shoes and drums. FYI Out of the 17 years I've been a mechanic I've seen two trailers w/ these brakes on them. I painted these Testors Rust on the outside and Model Master Steel for the machined surfaces. Yes I have to get the finger print of the frame!!! To give this a different look I wanted the gate to be a two-way gate. The barndoor hinges were scratchbuilt like those on a 1:1 and a vice style sludge lock. Also added was the chain hold back (the driver uses when the gate is open and the trailer is being dumped.Shown here I was going to make a Mountain Tarp (Roll-Over tarp) so the bows are seen. On the bulkhead a crows nest was scratchbuilt and a couple steps, and the hydraulic hose/screw fitting. In the center a access(covering the opening in the bed to get to the bleed screw at the top of the cylinder) flap was made. The header boards are basswood strips stained w/ Minwax walnut and the mounting plates are Plastruct 1/100 diamond plate. The lights are craft store gems (red/amber) The chassis is painted Tamiya Semi Gloss Black and the body is Tamiya Bare Metal Silver. The mud flaps are sheet styrene w/ some logos I found online,croped and printed on BMF decal paper. That about sums up the details here's the following pictures. THANKS FOR LOOKING!!!

What's goin' on... Looks like I can fill out the repair order turn it in and park it on the yard it's done!!! I started out w/ the early 90's AMT Fruehauf dump trailer kit. As everyone who's built this kit knows the suspension lacks detail and the leaf springs aren't all the exact size. I decided to scratch build (8-leaf) the springs and u-bolts(somewhat crude as this was my first shot at this). Next I cut off the spring hangers and relocated them as needed. As seen here.... Next I added axle spindles and the spiders (foundation for the brake shoe anchor pins and s-cam) Also shown here the gate latch (lock) assembly was made. Along w/ those mods addition work was done to the dolly assembly by making sand shoes,k-bracing,diagnal supports, and the portion of the legs that extend and retract. Underneath the slack adjusters were trimmed down and the brake chambers were made from several chambers from other kits in the parts box. On the chambers fine styrene round stock was used to make the chamber actuator rods (attatched to the top of the slack adjuster(s)The s-cams are just aluminum rod. 1:1 s-cams new are this color. Because the "s" portion of the cams would be obscure I left that detail off. The s-cam bushings are made from rectangular stock and round stock (in the spiders) The rims (Dayton Hubs) Are a combination of those found in the Fruehauf's kit and those found in the AMT Loadcraft step deck kit. I cut off the Pro-Par style hub caps from the rims in the Fruehauf kit and glued them to the rims from the Loadcraft kit and painted them Tamiya field Gray. New these hub caps (1:1) were clear plastic but after a while the gear oil tarnishes them close to this color. The hubs were painted w/ Tamiya Matte Black andthe rims are painted Model Master Aggressor Gray. The bolts that hold the drums to the back of the hubs were painted Model Master Steel and so are the wedges/lugs. The drums were made from the drums in the Fruehauf kit. They might look unproportioned but I've worked on a few (1:1) trailers where they used "mountain brakes" basically over sized shoes and drums. FYI Out of the 17 years I've been a mechanic I've seen two trailers w/ these brakes on them. I painted these Testors Rust on the outside and Model Master Steel for the machined surfaces. Yes I have to get the finger print of the frame!!! To give this a different look I wanted the gate to be a two-way gate. The barndoor hinges were scratchbuilt like those on a 1:1 and a vice style sludge lock. Also added was the chain hold back (the driver uses when the gate is open and the trailer is being dumped.Shown here I was going to make a Mountain Tarp (Roll-Over tarp) so the bows are seen. On the bulkhead a crows nest was scratchbuilt and a couple steps, and the hydraulic hose/screw fitting. In the center a access(covering the opening in the bed to get to the bleed screw at the top of the cylinder) flap was made. The header boards are basswood strips stained w/ Minwax walnut and the mounting plates are Plastruct 1/100 diamond plate. The lights are craft store gems (red/amber) The chassis is painted Tamiya Semi Gloss Black and the body is Tamiya Bare Metal Silver. The mud flaps are sheet styrene w/ some logos I found online,croped and printed on BMF decal paper. That about sums up the details here's the following pictures. THANKS FOR LOOKING!!!

What's goin' on... Kevin Going on a sabbatical not knowing where you're goin' or how ya get back sounds a little exaggerated. There's no question about your sanity the fact that you question it by itself sayes you're just fine! When ya don't question it makes people worried! You don't have to stop all togather just cut back spend a little less time at the work bench. Instead of 5-7 hours a night try 1-2. Pay more attention to the other things in your life (family,friends,yourself,other interests, repairing your relationship w/ your ex or spend the effort on your next chick! Learn from your past mistakes!) If you've found yourself spending all your free time on your models you may be avoiding problems or issues! I've found myself at that crossroad before and I'm sure just about everyone here in this forum has or will sometime in thier life experience the same fate (beit related to this or something completely different) in one way or another! All you need to do is stay focused!

What's goin' on... Jonathan (DUB) Reminds me of when I pulled a fast one on the nuts/bolts supplier lady. I told her we (mechanics) needed 3/8 and 5/8 muffler bearings. She looked in her supplier catalog for 20 mins. until one of the truck mechanics told her there wasn't such a thing as a muffler bearing! Not sure what was funnier her looking in the cat. for over 20 mins. or her hitting me in the shoulder w/ the catalog! A 3 inch thick catalog!!! HA HAAAA By the way. Im under the impression you're in the parts industry. Do you stock a batteries for a HENWEIGH?

What's goin' on... Kinda like how I made this trailer an air ride suspension....

What's goin' on... My old ( 1:1 ) 49 Chevy pick-up "NEVER" looked as good as this!!! Well Done!!!

What's goin' on... I'm going to do you a favor. I'll take that off your hands so you won't have to deal w/ it!!! Seriously ... Here's what you do.If the cab isn't repairable Look for a build up on ebay or from another builder of a White Western star,White Road Boss,Diamond Reo,or the Auto Car. All of these trucks share the same cab. (Known as the family cab if I remember right.) Get one of these build ups for a replacment. You may have to strip paint off of it. If so run down to the auto parts store and pick up a gallon of Castrol Super Clean degreaser and a bucket. Pour in enough CSC so the cab can be submerged. Let that soak overnight you may have to use an old tooth brush to scrub it but the paint should strip off fairly easily and rince it. For the glass you can use clear styrene (Evergreen Scale/Plastruct or clear plastic. The material used for clear report covers (using plastic bindings that holds the documents w/in) works well too. Measure the pieces you need to make windows. Paper works good for making templates. Good Luck!!!

What's goin' on... Looks Good!!! Any plans for a trailer?

What's goin' on... Bill Thanks for the step by step tutorial. Even though I'm a truck/trailer modeler I've learned "ALOT" of tips and tricks I can incorperate into my projects from you and others w/ your experience level! I've always used Elmer's Glue for flocking. Two things that I haven't done is... appling the flock a sq.inch at a time and the other appling it thru a strainer! The next time I use flocking I'll try those techniques!!! Here's a picture of the bunk for my Kenworth T600 I used used flocking for the interior.

What's goin' on... Here's how I stretched the chassis on the T600 (still a WIP) NOTE the flat stock styrene used to re enforce the splice.

What's goin' on... Very Cool!

What's goin' on... Welcome to the group. Got any projects in the works?

What's goin' on... This won't be going togather anytime soon. I still have an AMT 72 Nova in the works(got burnt out on it quick), an AMT Fruehauf dump trailer,R/G W900 Kenworth,AMT T600 Kenworth. I want to get these finished up and in the display case. I'm actually getting the itch to build another dump trailer using just the dump body from a Fruehauf dump trailer kit scratchbuilding the frame rails,crossmembers,suspension, ect setting it up to sit on top of six axles (Michigan Style!!!) Or a spring shop parts delivery pick up truck.

What's goin' on... Rob I'll be 36 in August. I understand about not feeling that old!!! Except...... *when my knees sound like sand paper when I climb steps, *the stray gray hairs in my goatee, *the lines around my eyes, *my back hurting when I stand in place too long, *the joints in my hands/wrists hurting after work, * I'm starting to see my scalp when the girl that cuts my hair has me look at a mirror at a mirror! *these days I actually like being home on the weekends and not being out completely s**tfaced drunk! *when the day drags on if I get less than two hours of sleep Other than this ... I don't feel my age at all!!! almost the same as when I was a power (weight) lifter in high school in mid to late 1980something!!! Heck I may just grow my hair long and break out the old Iron Maiden and WASP T-Shirts and ripped up 501's and the Reebok high tops w/ the tounges sticking out of course like back then! I do believe I'm rambling on here ........

What's goin' on... What's goin' on... Look what I found today at a LHS. This was a complete surprise I wasn't expecting this kit to be out just yet. This kit doesn't have the CF decals. Just an F.Y.I. I took a picture of the decals in this kit. "TAKE NOTE" The decals aren't blurry at all. What happened here I didn't want you all to be jealous of my photography skills so I moved the cam as I took the picture. HA HAAAA.

What's goin' on... Tim BOOOOOO

What's goin' on... This was the laaaaaaast one on the shelf!!! AND IT"S MINE!!! ALL MINE !!!

What's goin' on... Yesterday I pulled the R/G W900 back off the back burner. While attempting to remove the mirror brackets from the spur they BROKE. So it's not like I can go pick one of these up at the LHS for a kit to bash for parts. Using Evergreen Scale .020 I scratchbuilt a new assembly and painted it w/ "steel". Here's how it turned out.

What's goin' on... 35 here.

What's goin' on... Yes The hood does open to show a Caterpiller 3406.