Pete 359 tanker with trailer

[Pete68]

Looks very good Jürgen 

[Jürgen M.]

It's hard for me not to go on with the trailer but I just don't know where to put it. I designed the showcase though and shortly I will purchase the materials so I can begin building it! 

It will create space for about 4 complete rigs and about 10 tractors which will give me some space in my workshop where a bunch of them are standing in a row.

Some have their own shelf in the next room and in here.

In total I have 30 American trucks and 3 European ones. 

As soon as the showcase is finished I'll post some pics and then I'll start printing the trailer parts! 

Edited December 8, 2024 by Jürgen M.

[Rockford]

Great looking rig Jürgen, on the floats situation, you often see rubber extension lips on the front fenders when they run them because of the width issue. You don't have to add them to make that truck look good though! Well done. You can see that you're getting more adventurous with the 3D printing. 

[Jürgen M.]

Thank you Steve!

I'm sure they would look pretty good on that truck but I'll keep that Idea for a later project!

I'm always open for new ideas and a lot of you guys have so much trucking experience that you can share lots of ideas concerning the customizing of trucks which I'm always thankful for!

Concerning the 3D printing you may be right. I do spend a lot of time practising design skills. 

My next build will show that I do approach some challenges in a new way. Hopefully no more printing lines or at least very much reduced! But I won't tell you yet what it'll be! Just that it's gonna be another rare one! 

First comes the showcase! 😉

[Rockford]

18 minutes ago, Jürgen M. said:

Thank you Steve!

I'm sure they would look pretty good on that truck but I'll keep that Idea for a later project!

I'm always open for new ideas and a lot of you guys have so much trucking experience that you can share lots of ideas concerning the customizing of trucks which I'm always thankful for!

Concerning the 3D printing you may be right. I do spend a lot of time practising design skills. 

My next build will show that I do approach some challenges in a new way. Hopefully no more printing lines or at least very much reduced! But I won't tell you yet what it'll be! Just that it's gonna be another rare one! 

First comes the showcase! 😉

Your fleet looks great too! 

[Jürgen M.]

Thanks, I'm quite satisfied with it! 😊

[BK9300]

Well, after your showcase is finished, looking forward to the trailer build!

[Jürgen M.]

Thanks! So am I! 😊

[gotnitro?]

Cant wait! 

[BK9300]

So, Jürgen, does ‘no more printing lines’ mean you’re making the leap to resin printing?  Bet you’d be good at it!

[Jürgen M.]

No, Not really! It Just means that I won't print cabs in one piece anymore! The horizontal printing lines are too hard to hide. What I meant was, I will print cabs broken down. Front, rear wall, doors and roof will be designed and printed seperately and virtually mocked up to see if everything fits! 

The parts will then be printed lying down flat which will give them only a slight structure which will be easier to cover up by just painting them!

My next project will be the first one to be designed and printed that way and I hope it works out the way I expect!

I'll introduce it sometime in January. 

[Jürgen M.]

I admit it, I just couldn't pause so long!

I printed a few more parts of the trailer telling myself that the whole rig would look good for a while standing in the workbench till the showcase is finished! 🙈 

Also I thought about how to make the tank for the trailer.

The one on the truck isn't quite as I expected it so I thought of something else. I designed a structure around which I would wrap a styrene sheet. 

That way I would created a smooth surface.

Then I found something even better than styrene sheet. 0.5 mm aluminium sheet.

I cut it to size and drilled holes to be able to screws it onto the structure so it won't slip away while wrapping it around.

I also screwed it on the sides to keep it in place. Unfortunately I made some dents into the sheet. Made me a bit upset at first but then I thought it doesn't matter. It's supposed to be an old rig in everyday use so why not have some traces of that?

The screw heads will be the marker lights. I'll just put colored lenses on them.

The front end will be covered by a piece of styrene sheet which will be painted blue together with the rear cover, just like the truck tank.

I might try to polish it so it gets a chrome like surface. 

[Biggu]

Truly spectacular idea and amazing results! This is quickly becoming a show stopper. Really cool idea , execution and result! This is way better than printing the tank and trying to make it smooth. This is a brilliant idea. This is coming together with great results. Lookin good bud. Should look sharp behind the Pete an all decalled up. Looking forward to that.. great job !

[Jürgen M.]

Thank you Jeff!

I'm sure it won't matter if the trailer tank looks different than the one on the truck!

Of course I could also just put chrome spray on it to make it look alike!

I'll have to think about that! 

[Gary Chastain]

Gonna be an outstanding build, like the polish idea, hope that works for you. 

[BK9300]

Very good idea to use the aluminum sheet - just like formed plate on the real trailer!

[Jürgen M.]

Thanks guys. Glad you like the idea! Wasn't sure at First If it's the right way to go!

[Pete68]

Great looking collection Jürgen I really enjoy looking at you Model trucks they never get boring. That trailer is going to look awesome. Last night I dug out some old 1/43 tank bodies I’ve had for many years thinking of a plan for a set of 1/43 double Tankers. I’ll be following along when your ready to finish the trailer and maybe give me some pointers. 

[Jürgen M.]

31 minutes ago, Pete68 said:

Great looking collection Jürgen I really enjoy looking at you Model trucks they never get boring. That trailer is going to look awesome. Last night I dug out some old 1/43 tank bodies I’ve had for many years thinking of a plan for a set of 1/43 double Tankers. I’ll be following along when your ready to finish the trailer and maybe give me some pointers. 

Thanks!

That sounds like a good plan! 👍 

I'd be glad to give you pointers eventhough I'm not a specialist for tankers, I just did some research and tried to copy it!

Edited December 14, 2024 by Jürgen M.

[Jürgen M.]

OK, manual polishing won't work. I'd have to apply more pressure and my electric polishing machine is too big.

Maybe I should try to build a smaller one for modelling.

Should be an excenter polisher though to avoid hologramms! 

I'm thinking of putting a primer on the whole thing and then the chrome spray! That should look pretty nice!

And it would look more like the truck tank!

 

[Rockford]

Your usual "outside the box" thinking on the trailer mate, very clever and resourceful. Chassis looks excellent! Well done.

[Jürgen M.]

Thank you Steve!

Unfortunately the rear crash guard broke off! Nothing I can't fix though!

I just painted the chassis and the tank with primer. When it's dry it'll be painted the same blue as the truck. Then, when that's completely dry,  the tank ends will be masked and I'll put the chrome on! I think that will lead to the best result! Same procedure as last time!

No turning back now anyway!

Edited December 15, 2024 by Jürgen M.

[BK9300]

Going to be a terrific truck and trailer combo, Jürgen - fun following your progress!

[Jürgen M.]

I added a support frame and a front module where the air lines will be attached.

I screwed it onto the tank to stabilize it and made a cover to hide the screws.

It's not after a real trailer, just my own idea! 

[Jürgen M.]

Now it's blue:

Next will be masking the ends and the underneath frame! Then chrome!