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Posted

Thanks Gary!

Hope the cab arrives soon. I can't do anything at the time.

The reefer should arrive Wednesday. Then at least I can work on something and create the decals! 

  • Like 1
Posted

Finally I have something to do on this build again!

Not what I hoped because the cabs Bren printed for me haven't arrived yet but the trailer did!

I purchased this AMT Watkins reefer not wanting to print the side walls, roof and floor in several pieces. That would be a waste of time and filament!

IMG_20250625_121414_010.jpg.b8782026d820cd0170c6da2b0c30dbf6.jpg

I purchased it on eBay for 40€ plus shipping which was a good deal. Shipping isn't that expensive so it was cheaper than buying a cheaper one from further away.

Of course there's quite some pre-work to do.

The side wall notches don't really fit the floor pins so I used 90° styrene rails to enable a solid attachment and more stability!

The pins will be removed before assembly!

IMG_20250625_145300_3562.jpg.a89ebddd50b450481a44af064719ea36.jpg

IMG_20250625_145002_2702.jpg.196f80ef6327bc6d33c3ee33c171d121.jpg

I also designed the trailer decals which I will first print on paper to make sure the size is OK.

The plate is not the original as in the movie since that is not legible at any point. I just got a short but blurry glance at it and saw that it was white!

Trailerdecals.jpg.da4072095748832d65a8af85102cded8.jpg

TrailerDecals02.jpg.87d0eaba798ef4f2af05dedcfe2391c5.jpg

Of course I'll have to print the side wall decals in two pieces a side but that's not a problem!

Next step will be the removing of the floor pins and assembly of the chassis and its attachment to the floor so I can paint it in one piece!

  • Like 2
Posted

Waiting is a pain, but, from the pics we’ve seen, it will be worth it to finally have your cab(s)!

  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1
Posted

Great idea on the trailer walls.  You are so right that the alignment pins don’t fit. I will have to maybe “ borrow” your idea and get my regular trailer built.  I can't wait till those cabs arrive and how this comes out , its going to be a great addition to the fleet. 

Posted

Thanks Jeff! 

I also hope they'll arrive soon! Don't know why it's taking so long! 

At least now I can do something again! 

  • Like 1
Posted

It's a typical AMT kit! Lots of cutting, sanding, ....!

Two of the brake chambers broke. Have to fix them! Why do they make these parts in chrome? For a trailer?? 🙈

That makes it even harder to detach them. 

I'm tempted to print new ones that are not so fragile!

  • Like 1
Posted

I managed to fix the brake chambers and completed the chassis and under body of the trailer!

IMG_20250626_053458_7742.jpg.98a31f235045c25407d890c55a44b93e.jpg

The sliding of the chassis works pretty well!

The brake lines will be attached after painting.

The crank cross shaft was already broken in the box so I used a piece of 1mm brass rod!

Now the painting can begin!

  • Like 4
Posted

I managed to mask the trailer parts hoping to find time to paint today!

IMG_20250627_062600_1182.jpg.9af1a5657913676bbf097389f7d57dec.jpg

First coat and on most parts the final one too will be a flat light gray! Revell no. 76.

The roof will then get a silvery, sort of aluminium touch. For that I'll use the no name dull chrome spray I used for the fuel tanks!

  • Like 2
Posted

What would we do without a lunch break?

I actually got the trailer parts painted!

IMG_20250627_125004_2602.jpg.7a408329fe1912d149b380e6c874e865.jpg

I also exchanged the support wheels and attached printed  flat supports I had designed for the trailers of my "Big Nasty" build.

I designed and printed a spare wheel holder. I saw that there was one on the passenger side and I added a "u" shaped brass rod to the air hose bracket so the hoses can be just slipped on instead of trying to glue them in place!

As a spare I'm using an AMT rim I had in the box!

IMG_20250627_125750_3682.jpg.331c6c17bc4ca7a8b029358b8ca59657.jpg

 

  • Like 3
Posted

Coming together nicely, Jürgen.  I admit it is different to see you building from an actual kit - since I’ve been on the forum, you’ve built mostly your own creations!

  • Like 1
Posted

That's true, Brian. But as I said, a lot of filament would be needed and I'd have to split the long parts at least into 3 pieces each. 

I also wanted to build a kit again after such a long time! 

  • Like 1
Posted (edited)

Some progress on the trailer!

IMG_20250627_151237_139.jpg.8207bbd401c0d458311ec9c8cd1a7b5f.jpg

IMG_20250627_191935_2532.jpg.7ff6f72d8a6586dc1645bb4532a8a5fb.jpg

This is just a mock-up in order to enable first contact between truck and trailer:

IMG_20250627_192347_1902.jpg.cdffe4f0e82b70df12ec8fa560f72f67.jpg

And a decal mock-up:

IMG_20250627_213125_188.jpg.c19549c6117d8a52cea27653b5464a1d.jpg

IMG_20250627_213529_5042.jpg.afe440fadbfd779997feb1ef859f8a78.jpg

The decal print didn't come out that good. Luckily it's just paper. No harm done!

I'll give it one more try. If it still comes out like this I'll probably paint the stripes and just make decals of the writing.

Edited by Jürgen M.
  • Like 3
Posted

Printed the graphics in decal paper but the colors just doesn't come out even, especially the green!

So I began to draw lines in the trailer walls so I can paint it and then put the "Magnavox" decals on!

IMG_20250628_152435_886.jpg.082a20bcd94e87e5f502e91de2d99447.jpg

So now I have to stop with the coffee to keep my hand calm! 😉

  • Like 1
Posted

First step is done! 

IMG_20250629_102642_6892.jpg.cbb2b2e61ab0ae252d0ba47dc6b66753.jpgNot perfect yet but better than expected considering the trailer walls aren't smooth!

Now I'll mask for the blue stripes!

  • Like 3
Posted

That looks amazing ! How did you get the paint lines so sharp and no bleed through? It would have taken me a month to mask that tight and sharp and I still would have had bled through. Masking corrugated side walls is a huge challenge to get right. But you got it perfectly ! 

Posted (edited)

Thanks Jeff!

Actually it's not that hard!

I paint the whole area in a base color, in this case flat white!

When cured I mask the shapes I want. Then I use the same base color to close the gaps between the masking tape and the area to be painted. After that's dryed I paint the color that area is supposed to be!

When it's almost dry you pull off the masking tape really low and flat. If you wait till it's completely dry you risk pulling off more paint than you wish!

It's like painting a wall in your house in different colors. 

Of course it takes time but it works! 👍

Edited by Jürgen M.
  • Like 1
Posted

Got some more painting done yesterday:

IMG_20250630_121332_876.jpg.062deff52c46862b5118306e5c5fff10.jpg

The blue is still too dark eventhough I put in quite an amount of white.

I might just mix a new blue and try again. It should fit a bit better to the decals on the cab.

  • Like 1
Posted (edited)

That's better, I'd say!

IMG_20250630_140037_907.jpg.b76f9369aab55d1e847260d7012457c3.jpg

...and it fits the decal color! 

IMG_20250630_140522_5842.jpg.93b1afb71d351c0360933d198ae80940.jpg

Looks pretty nice! I think I'll leave it that way and go on with the other side! 

IMG_20250630_142154_091.jpg.b1504d910f99dca1631aa203a418396f.jpg

 

Edited by Jürgen M.
  • Like 3
Posted (edited)

I had another look at some scenes in the movie where this truck is seen. 

There I noticed that the lower part on the side of the trailer is actually white. In some scenes it looked a bit grey but it does seem to be white so I changed that on my trailer!

IMG_20250630_174120_5102.jpg.4b3893575944cf294dd898a9caba2b15.jpg

Looks better I think!

IMG_20250630_174130_5662.jpg.076cbde63cb6bc93c8727ff6aa497757.jpg

I also put the decals on the rear door (I printed that. It's a part I had also used for the pups on my "Big Nasty" build) and on the front wall.

Now I just have to paint the other side of the trailer and add markers lights and a few minor details!

The roof will be glued when the left side of the trailer is finished!

Hope the cabs will have arrived by the time I'm finished with the trailer.

Edited by Jürgen M.
  • Like 2
Posted

Boy, that sure didn’t take long , and it turned out beautifully!! Your painting and decals are great ! When the can gets there and painted it will be a great build ! I like this a lot. Good job buddy !

  • Thanks 1
Posted

Here's another view of the rear!

IMG_20250630_175626_1432.jpg.5c08e6b91c980e673619444308fea701.jpg

I tried to make it look used! 

And I chromed the bumper!

IMG_20250630_181810_858.jpg.9968d45824cbb645c622cb9d258e27d4.jpg

Since we have 39°C in the garage it cured very quickly!

  • Like 2
Posted

You are getting lots done while waiting for your cabs!  Nice touch with the scuffs and scratches on the rear door.

  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1

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