Rockford

Seeing as I've sorted out the AMT Trailmobile to my satisfaction I thought I'd better have a go at the Monogram Fruehauf van. My previous effort was a compromise and I'm not happy with it. The ride height is the main thing, it's far too high. Where is the issue? The slide rails etc... all look the right proportions, unlike the AMT so I had to do my homework. First thing, the separation lines on the slide rails are massive. Flattening all these lost 1mm straight away.

Couldn't leave it with no tractor, so I put it behind my Aerodyne I'm in the process of swapping the frame on, forgive me if it looks a little rough around the edges. Looks good to me. I like the tell-tale lights when it's hitched up.

Added a few details tonight. Two condensate drains dangling from the bottom of the unit. You can see the little silver fuel line too. I added a set of tell-tale lights that many units had but not all. The driver could check the status of the reefer just by glancing in the mirror but obviously some outfits relied on regular checks. I'm not sure if I'm going to keep them so I've just used blue tack for now and I'll see how I feel about them after a while. Fitted the fuel tank because I decided it would be the colour of the chassis anyway. With a bit of work this has been transformed into an excellent model. It's just a perfect representation of a late 70s trailer. Captures the look exactly. I think I prefer it to the Monogram Fruehauf van kit.

What a fascinating project, that could keep you busy for years with all the detail you could add.

Thanks. Tbh you can find out most stuff on the interwebs if you roam around. I used to be a truck mechanic so it's part of my DNA.

I suppose not but you have to remember it's a 1981 kit. It's old enough to have grandchildren now.

I don't know if it's all these kits but the plastic in the kit is so brittle. Both axles have snapped at each end, the stub axles have snapped too. When you drill anything the exit side of the hole is massive because the plastic spalls off. I've managed with it though, love the kit. Pictorial proof of fuel tank attached. ? I added a fuel filler to the tank.

Thanks for that.

Thanks a lot

It's a love-hate thing. It's a fantastic example of what AMT could do but so frustrating at the same time. I do love it though, even the box art.

Fuel tank is assembled and tidied up ready for installation. I cut the snap-fit location lugs off so it won't stay on until I finally glue it, and I don't want to attach it until it's painted aluminium, well spotted though, and good call n the condensate drains. I'm thinking of routing a fuel line from the tank to the reefer.

Wasn't going to do a WIP on this but here goes. Bought a few of these recently and was itching to build one. Took the enforced idleness of the holiday period as a signal to get stuck in. This typifies AMT kits in that it's brilliant and awful at the same time. Plenty to correct on these kits. First the ride height needs to be brought down by rebating the slide rails. Levelling up the horrendous rear subframe loses a few more crucial millimetres. Nothing is straight on this kit other than the van moulding, so a lot work filing, fitting etc... but end result is great. Narrowed the track of the rear axles and also the wheelbase. The tyres are too small and are 8mm apart if installed as per instructions, but slid them together slightly and the proportions look much better. Fabbed up the locking mechanism for the tandems. Usual mudlfaps from insulation tape, cut the kit ones away as they're like paving slabs. Boxed the rear end in to hide the terrible rail ends. Landing gear looks like it is made out of cake, so made my own out of square tube and some profiles for the sand shoes and axles. Took the opportunity to make them operable too, so it can stand on it's own two feet when uncoupled. Added basic air piping. Corrected the taper on the lower edge of the reefer unit. Moved the control panel up and built the casing around it. Built an exhaust pipe with a flapper on the top. Fabbed a battery box and starter cable. Added palm couplings and electrical socket. Also added marker lights. Just got to wait for decent weather for pain t now, roll on April!

Aoshima, that's what I was thinking of but I'm at that age. I once called a girl named Annabelle, "Doorbell" because that was how I remembered her name. It wasn't well received.

Interesting stuff, I always wondered when the dual rail steps came out, certainly didn't think it was as early as 1971! The research is half of the hobby for me, I love the minuteae of it all. I've always liked the look of that truck as does the sharp right out of the junction and starts climbing the hill in the opening credits.

I have no mirrors for this truck so I took a piece of aluminium sheet, cut it and bent it around a mirror head I'd shaped out of a piece of scrap. I use a black Sharpie marker as engineers blue. Filed the edges triangular and drilled a 0.9mm hole in each end, then slid a straightened paperclip through it. Drilled the door and fitted them. Look good. I want to triangulate the bracket but time has run out today.

Using a steel rule laid against the rails as a depth limiter as well as my measure, I cut my teeth as close to 1mm each as my eyes would allow. Then I put a tiny piece of wire in the runners. These engage in the cuts and keep the fifth wheel in the set place. Added stops at each end, a release handle on the fifth wheel and it was finished. Holds position well and gives me a good range of adjustment.

Are they the Fujimi accessory kit wheels and tyres? Look good.

Couldn't wait to get the slider fitted to the Bison so tonight I cut out the kit slider plate, fabbed some side rails and mounted it to the chassis. It gives quite a scope of movement fore and aft and looks tidy, credible. There's still a lot to do to it to finish but it looks good enough for me.

That's on another level mate. Brilliant.

Nice truck, paint looks good. I hate the paint stage so well done for persevering.

I was thinking of the AMT kits of old that had operative sliders. I'm really happy with what I've achieved and any truck I build from now on will have the same setup. The double sleeper Bison will have it's existing setup removed to be replaced with this unit.

Thanks. Looks right to me. I need things to look right.

I must admit I have been a bit envious of you 1/24 guys with your sliding fifth wheels. It means that you can position any trailer where it looks best on your tractor. I'm stuck with these awful fixed units on my 1/32 junk. As if in a vision, the idea came to me, I can make a slider of my own! Bit late after about 10 trucks built but it just never occurred to me! I cut out a baseplate, added the rails from 1mm square rod with a 1mm inset from the edge. Then built a slide frame out of C-section. I took a 5th wheel and added gudgeons from hollow tube, then put a companion piece on the slider frame. Quick mock-up and it looks great! The installed height is actually lower than the fixed units I've built by 0.5mm so I'm really chuffed with that. There's a lot of finessing to do but I'm really happy with it.

Thank you sir, and all the others that have kindly commented.

Very tidy looking work there mate. Well done.