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Everything posted by Rockford
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Scratchbuilt flatbed
Rockford replied to Rockford's topic in WIP: Model Trucks: Big Rigs and Heavy Equipment
Thanks for the comments and the ideas gents. I'll be trying your suggestions over the next few weeks. I'll let you know what I settle on. -
Nice clean job!
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Great looking rendition of a great car. Thirty years? You've made me feel positively industrious!
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Everything on this trailer is scratch built except for the wheels and tyres and the sand shoes on the landing legs. I wanted a flatbed to go with my assortment of 1/32 tractors but at this scale there's only dry vans, reefers and the fuel tanker. My only option was to modify a diecast unit or build my own. Looking at the die cast stuff I could see it really wasn't suitable, the suspension detail was dire so I chose the "build" path. I bought various plastic profiles from a hobby shop and set to work copying the construction of the real thing. I modelled it on some Trailmobile trailers on auction websites. The rear tandems slide and the landing legs operate. The paint is Post Office Red over red oxide primer. I modified the AMT 1/32 chrome wheels to look like 2 hole Budds. I made my own decals for the mudflaps using Microsoft Paint and reduced some Trailmobile badges for the front and back. This has been one of the most satisfying models I have ever built. I'm over the moon with it and am now wondering what I could build next, despite having 4 projects on the go already. I'm thinking of a removable goose neck trailer. ?
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Scratchbuilt flatbed
Rockford replied to Rockford's topic in WIP: Model Trucks: Big Rigs and Heavy Equipment
Thanks gents, very kind of you. Well I'm just about done on this build. All that was left was the Trailmobile insignia on the frame and the mudflaps. I'm ok with the wooden bed as it is. I can't think of any way to treat it. I know in real life it would be treated for longevity but it would be left fairly rough to make a good, non slippery surface. As I've said before I'd like to weather it a little bit don't know how. I might try a few things over the next few months. For now, it's done. Can't quite believe I've done it, or finished something for once. -
Scratchbuilt flatbed
Rockford replied to Rockford's topic in WIP: Model Trucks: Big Rigs and Heavy Equipment
Today it all went together. I painted the hubs and the wheel nuts with Tamiya red. Painted the air lines from the chassis to the tandems. Left the lines to the brake chambers red because we never bothered masking the hoses when we sprayed a trailer. Fitted the sliding bogie and lubed it with some dishwashing liquid. Made my mudflaps out of white electrical tape. Painted the rear lights and markers with silver, then used clear red or orange or red as required. I also downloaded some insignia and reduced them. Here they are on white decal paper. I'll clear them to seal the ink. I simply cannot believe I actually built this. It looks like a trailer, not a shapeless twisted blob. The tandems still slide. The wheels look right, not too far apart. -
Scratchbuilt flatbed
Rockford replied to Rockford's topic in WIP: Model Trucks: Big Rigs and Heavy Equipment
True answer Dan, I really don't know. I'm wondering whether I should rethink the deck but I really don't know what I could use as an alternative. Also, I'm wondering whether I should weather the deck somehow. Thanks for the kind words gents. -
Peterbilt 359 Daycab
Rockford replied to 4silverado's topic in WIP: Model Trucks: Big Rigs and Heavy Equipment
Great work so far. As for the wet kit, PTO etc... it's all on the interwebs mate. I used to work on tippers, tankers etc... so saw all sorts of set-ups but it's 30 years ago so I use truck sales sites and the like to remind me. -
1954 Ford C 800
Rockford replied to leafsprings's topic in WIP: Model Trucks: Big Rigs and Heavy Equipment
Oh that IS nice. -
R model Mack garbage truck Finished
Rockford replied to gotnitro?'s topic in WIP: Model Trucks: Big Rigs and Heavy Equipment
Very inventive. Looking forward to following this. -
Mack superliner crew cab wrecker.
Rockford replied to The Brush's topic in WIP: Model Trucks: Big Rigs and Heavy Equipment
As usual, your work is unbelievable! Such quality and insight. Fantastic. -
Scratchbuilt flatbed
Rockford replied to Rockford's topic in WIP: Model Trucks: Big Rigs and Heavy Equipment
I DID IT! I GOT IT PAINTED AND IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE I USED A STICK! In Liverpool today all the planets aligned to allow me to paint the trailer. 1) I had red primer and Post Office Red topcoat. 2) It was sunny, warm and not too humid. 3) I had the afternoon off. 4) I'd washed the trailer during the week and given it a quick going over with a Scotchbrite pad. 5) My darling wife wanted to do her own thing. I got the car out of the garage, set up my painting table and put the trailer on a turntable. I need to have the job facing the light because of my cataract, otherwise I can't see where I'm painting or if I'm spraying too wet/dry. I sprayed the lower surfaces first, let it flash off for 15 minutes then turned it over and shot the top. Two coats each of primer and then 2x topcoat so it took a few hours. Got the deck chair out and had a good read while I waited. There was still some topcoat left after two coats but it looked so good I was scared of ruining it with a third, so I left it there. I'm stunned by the results. The stress is now to leave it alone for a least a week. If I start fiddling around and moving it I'll damage it so I've got to be strong. I still couldn't resist sitting the wheels alongside it to see what it looks like. I know it doesn't bear comparison to some of the scratch building that you see on this site but it's put a smile on my face. I've never enjoyed doing anything as much as this. Thanks everyone for your kind comments. Now if you don't mind, I'm going to look at my trailer again.... -
Scratchbuilt flatbed
Rockford replied to Rockford's topic in WIP: Model Trucks: Big Rigs and Heavy Equipment
Brush painted the wheels with Tamiya gloss white. They look ok from most angles and the strip I added around the inner rim does the job appearance wise, making them look like pressed steel dishes. I haven't done the hubs yet because these wheels are going to be on and off so many times during the paint process. Supposed to be hot and dry this week so you never know, might get it finished! -
Scratchbuilt flatbed
Rockford replied to Rockford's topic in WIP: Model Trucks: Big Rigs and Heavy Equipment
I was hoping to get some paint on the trailer this weekend but I decided to do something with the awful AMT wheels. They're featureless, toylike pieces that irritate me. They're a flat rim, probably posing as split-ring tubed-tyre wheels but there's no hub in the middle and I wanted two hole Budds, not ten hole. I do have to say, the tyres are excellent though. Little masterpieces. In order not to inundate the wheel nuts with putty I filled six holes on each wheel from the back, making sure it was proud of the hole in the dish. Then I used my motor tool to run the remaining holes together. A butchered sanding stick was used to rub the putty down smooth. I also cut 2mm strips of styrene sheet, chamfered at the edge and fitted it into the dish to make them look more like tubeless wheels. I had to trim the end of these just enough so that they butted together and made a slight interference fit into the wheel, that way they pushed themselves round with no gaps. I also drilled a hole in the middle of the wheel dish to form the hole for the hub assembly. Two axles from Ali tube poke through as would the real thing. Was it worth an afternoon's work? I think so. Makes me feel better about the model. Now, I can get paint on it, weather permitting. -
I've just had to grin and bear the tyre situation here in the UK because of the cost of the alternatives from the USA but if you're over that side there may be a few options from the aftermarket. I take the separation line off and then shoot a coat of matt black. AMT did 1/32 snap kits and the tyres on them were really good except that they're way too small and make your truck look like a skateboard. In all honesty, once they're fitted you don't really notice them because they're dark and generally shrouded. The people who designed these kits must have stood them on a shelf and thought about where they had to put detail and where they could leave it out. This just shows me how boring I am in that I can talk for so long on plastic tyres. Forgive my verbosity. I have to say you're doing a great job, thinking about what you can do to add detail
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1/32 scale 1978 Kenworth K-100 Aerodyne
Rockford replied to Pete68's topic in WIP: Model Trucks: Big Rigs and Heavy Equipment
Great colour combination and the stripes fit right in. These were really good kits when you think about it, especially for kids starting to build, they could have a finished rig in a few hours if they wanted. Then too, someone experienced like yourself can really bring the thing to life. They're so much better engineered than the AMT Snap-fits. Shame they didn't keep on them and develop the theme. Looking forward to seeing the finished product. -
1/32 scale 1978 Kenworth K-100 Aerodyne
Rockford replied to Pete68's topic in WIP: Model Trucks: Big Rigs and Heavy Equipment
I'm curious, silver sided van or white? The Aerodyne K100 is a very accurate cab rendition I find. That will be a great looking rig, looking forward to seeing the finished rig. -
1/32 scale 1978 Kenworth K-100 Aerodyne
Rockford replied to Pete68's topic in WIP: Model Trucks: Big Rigs and Heavy Equipment
The stripes will go well with the Aerodyne shape and the paint colour. Any plans for a trailer? That would look great with the Fruehauf van trailer. -
Scratchbuilt flatbed
Rockford replied to Rockford's topic in WIP: Model Trucks: Big Rigs and Heavy Equipment
I'm almost at the paint stage now. Did a little detailing of the slider locking mechanism, used a carburettor of the Revell Z28 kit as a brake relay valve and plumbed in my brake chambers, adding the hoses that move with the sliding bogie. I made some spacers for the hoses by drilling a piece of scrap strip and then carefully cut the two lines to the right length so that they dangle right in the forward or aft position. I'm going with red as a chassis colour, so you can see some of the detail I've built. Post Office Red over red oxide primer, so it'll be a little darker hopefully. -
This is really just a pairing of the Kenworth T600 and the Fruehauf dry van from the old Monogram Snaptite range. I've built both of these kits separately, WIPs are on this forum somewhere, I'm sure if you search my profile it should bring them up. At present I'm working on a 352 Peterbilt which should be nearby on the page. They're really just basic display models with generic chassis, lacking detail and not manufacturer specific. The trailer outshines the tractors for detail TBH. I spend a long time on each of mine filling rear axles, adding brake chambers and piping, chassis detail etc...to give them some credibility. I enjoy it as it tests my skills and brings back memories of when I worked on trucks here in GB, but to you it may be a waste of time. I have little room for models so the smaller scale is better for me. Having said that, they do build into fairly presentable shelf models as they come so as the lads say, enjoy making something of it.