1950s-1960s Ragtop Trailer

[RoninUtah]

Back to the classics! This build was inspired by my mentor, Tim Ahlborn, who built a very similar one a few years ago. It's the "Big Rig" 36' van trailer, originally done by IMC in 1965, (which is period-appropriate in its own right), later released by Testors and a few others; currently by Round 2 under the AMT brand. Based on Tim's build, I lowered the suspension and kingpin position and cut wheel openings on the bottom, and added "arches" at the top shaped from old sprues. The "canvas" top is masking tape, sprayed flat black; the grommets are small tacks and the cables are ordinary sewing thread. Shown here with a variety of '50s and '60s tractors, all of which are AITM conversions on various donor chassis, except for the White Freightliner, which is the AMT Dual Drive kit, backdated to the mid-60s. Let's go back to the old days!

              

 

[leafsprings]

Great collection of classic old school big rigs, not only do older tractors have so much more character and soul, the trailers of the era also have this with their tarped tops and wheel cut outs. Excellent job on all the tractors, especially like the KW and westcoaster would love to see them available again, and the cool looking trailer, all are great match ups. My signature says it best, "old trucks are the future of modeling"

[DRIPTROIT 71]

Great looking fleet!! Awesome idea with the trailer! I may have to use that idea myself! Excellent work on all!!

That first Freightliner looks very similar to build by former member that went by “Old Buckaroo.” I always liked that truck as well! 

[yh70]

all looks great.

[RoninUtah]

A couple more shots- showing the roof, with the "canvas" stretched across the bows. Now the trailer is being pulled by a Crackerbox Jimmy, its 2-stroke 6-71 screaming away.  

[The Brush]

The good old days are back. A great looking trailer well done & nice collection of classics.

Edited October 8, 2024 by The Brush

[Jim B]

Great job on the trailer. It looks just right with those tractors. Very well done. 

[trick my mixer]

Nice looking trucks. Thank you for taking us back in time when thing were good.!!

[RoninUtah]

1 hour ago, trick my mixer said:

Thank you for taking us back in time when thing were good.!!

Thanks! Although I don't know how good things really were back then- that Crackerbox Jimmy, for example: Minimal heat/ sound insulation (those 2-stroke Detroit Diesels were LOUD), no power anything, 2-stick transmission, a kidney-busting ride, and best of all, trying to sleep in that 24" bunk! It took a real gear jammer to drive that rig!

[PappyD340]

Very nice!

[1959scudetto]

Good-looking trailer  - fits perfectly behind those great old trucking classics !

[slusher]

Great looking trailer with all your trucks..