It is almost summertime, time for orange barrels

[mackinac359]

With warm weather the highways will be infested with orange barrels and orange trucks...

After 16 days of not having anything on my workbench, I got some inspiration while following a road crew painting the lines on the highways .

No, not the painting truck but the truck shadowing the workers with the big crash attenuator hanging off the back.

I got the idea last Saturday morning and as soon as I got home I dug out an AMT Ford Stake Truck and sifted through the parts boxes to find a tandem axle suspension (from an IH Paystar), then scratchbuilt the attenuator using various photos that I Googled.. and then scratchbuilt the arrow sign from plastic.

I stripped all the chrome from the kit except on the mirror heads, headlamps, turnsignals and roof lights. I also shaved off the FORD and badge from the front to allow for a smooth surface for the black chevrons.

I need to clean my reference marks off the bumper.. (oops).

Back in the mid 70's I remember seeing road maint. trucks in Wisconsin with the multiple stripes emblazoned on the front of the cabs. I've always wanted to try the all stripes look.

I really took artistic liberties on the crash attenuator and the arrow sign

The little Ford kit builds nicely, however, I always have a problem with mounting the engine. The instructions are very vague on the proper mounting.

This is the third version of this kit I have built

I converted one kit to a Mack N series COE, another into a tandem axle tractor with a sleeper-and some fancy trim, and now the "shadow" truck.

More photos on www.timstrucks.com

Thanks for looking!

Tim

PS: You'll note I had to sneak a Peterbilt into the photos..

[mse op]

great dio,very impressive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Old Albion]

These little dioramas really do add something special to the trucks. Helps to bring them to life. I always look forward to seeing the photo's of your next build and this is no exception. Its great to see the ideas and what you have achieved with a simple kit and some pieces of plastic from the scrap box.

Great Work Tim!!

[SpreadAxle]

Cool idea Tim. Goes great with the road const scene.