Monogram 1/32 Mack R600 & Tank Trailer

[Jim B]

A very long time ago, I purchased the Monogram 1/32 Mack “R” Conventional & Fruehauf Tanker.

It’s a nicely detailed snap kit, and for the most part went together well. That’s an awful lot of tape, glue, & rubber bands for a snap kit.

The kit came with stickers to detail the tractor & trailer, so those had to go. I picked up some Chemical Leaman decals from Model Truckin’, & I was in business. Revell graciously provided the decal sets from their recent reissues of the Mack & tank trailer. The kit came with 10-hole disks all around, so I swapped them for spokes from the Mack C600 fire truck (Thanks, Greg.) & the Fruehauf reefer. I also bobbed the front bumper & corrected the fit of the rear mud flaps. Fleet Unit Number on the tractor is from Microscale, the Pennsylvania license plate on the tractor was downloaded from Rick Kretschmer’s License Plate Archive, and the Pennsylvania plate on the trailer is from The License Plate Shack. I also made the little bracket for the DOT hazmat placard on the rear of the trailer. I don’t know if Chemical Leaman ever hauled gasoline, or used this type of trailer, but they do now!  Color is Testors Dark Blue.

Here are some of my inspiration photos from Hank’s Truck Pictures (remember them?):

Here is the model. Enjoy!

Interior:

"Engine:

[Rockford]

Very nice. Like the cut down front bumper. I do miss Hank's Truck Pictures, I used to stare af that for hours. 

[Jim B]

Thanks, Steve.

I used to call Hank's Truck Pictures a "Black Hole of Time". ?

[ChrisR]

Very nice.

[Jim B]

Thanks, Chris.

[Warren D]

Looks good!

[Jim B]

Thanks, Warren. 

[PappyD340]

Very nice build there Jim, I have one of those in the stash and I actually know a fellow that used to drive for that company.

[Jim B]

Thanks, Larry.

That's pretty cool.  I wasn't even sure if they were still around.  I know they had a propensity for Macks, though.  A PA company working with a PA company.  Makes sense, I guess.

[Chariots of Fire]

What??  Nobody commented on the Big Boy sitting in the background in that second pic!  Are you a model railroader as well, Jim?

[Jim B]

2 hours ago, Chariots of Fire said:

What??  Nobody commented on the Big Boy sitting in the background in that second pic!  Are you a model railroader as well, Jim?

Not really, Charlie, but I do like the Big Boy.  I need to finish up the track before I call it done, though.

This thing is a beast.  Here it is next to a Mantua 0-4-0T & a Bachmann USRA 0-6-0:

[Bronzekeg]

nice build Jim!!

[Jim B]

25 minutes ago, Bronzekeg said:

nice build Jim!!

Thanks, Ken.  Oh, which one?

[Chariots of Fire]

That's cool, Jim.  I have a couple of those 0-6-0's kicking around as well.  So much action with those old steamers, especially with something as big and complicated as the Big Boy is.

[Jim B]

It's the Revell static HO kit. Went together quite well. I'd build another locomotive if I ever find the NYC Hudson.

[stavanzer]

Great Mack Truck build! The Blue is nice.

[Jim B]

Thanks, Alan.

[Chariots of Fire]

22 hours ago, Jim B said:

It's the Revell static HO kit. Went together quite well. I'd build another locomotive if I ever find the NYC Hudson.

Hey, Jim.  I've never looked into making a running conversion of this or any other locomotive kit.  Any thoughts on how much of a project that might become?  Motor and gearing for the drivers would be a problem of course but how about the valve gear and drive rods?

[Jim B]

1 hour ago, Chariots of Fire said:

Hey, Jim.  I've never looked into making a running conversion of this or any other locomotive kit.  Any thoughts on how much of a project that might become?  Motor and gearing for the drivers would be a problem of course but how about the valve gear and drive rods?

I'm sure it could be done, but I don't think it would be worth the effort.  The fit of the drive wheel axles is suspect at best, the linkages would be too weak, and the wheels don't roll very well.  You would probably spend more time, effort, & money trying to make this a runner than you would purchasing a new DCC Big Boy locomotive as just about every piece of running gear would have to be replaced, modified, & strengthened.

[Chariots of Fire]

I figured as much.  Especially for something as cumbersome as B-B.  HO engines that have DCC power these days are getting expensive.

[slusher]

Looks awesome!

[Jim B]

Thanks, Carl.

[Pete68]

On 8/10/2024 at 1:37 PM, Jim B said:

Not really, Charlie, but I do like the Big Boy.  I need to finish up the track before I call it done, though.

This thing is a beast.  Here it is next to a Mantua 0-4-0T & a Bachmann USRA 0-6-0:

I think he is and not telling. I’m a Model Railroader O scale and Ho Scale it’s ok Jim.  

[Pete68]

Great job on the combo Jim you beat me to the punch I still have my 1/32 scale Chemical Leaman decals. Guess I’ll have to make a chemical trailer or something. 

[DRIPTROIT 71]

Jim you did a very nice job on this one! The R-Model was always my favorite kit in this scale.