Tanker truck from the movie Duel.

[cobraman]

Never been a big fan of the rusty crusty model builds but after seeing such nice work by some of the members here I am starting to rethink my position on that. I am thinking I might like to try a grungy looking model. I was thinking the truck from Duel could be fun. I believe I saw one done in one of the model books a while back. Question is.......... is there a kit of whatever tractor that was in the movie to start with or would you have to heavily modify one that may be close ?

[mackinac359]

The truck was a Peterbilt model 281, no kit has been made. The closest was the later year model 359 with the wide nose. The resin market has had several model 351/281 narrow nose conversions over the years. They still pop up from time to time.

Tim

[Jim B]

Check with Eric over at P&P Resin Works. He has a 358 hood, the Little Window cab, & lift axle you'll need.

[Chuck Most]

I'd be more worried about the tanker trailer! I've never seen anything close to it in kit form.

[bandit1]

I'd be more worried about the tanker trailer! I've never seen anything close to it in kit form.

For the trailer you would almost have to scratch the entire thing!

As of no kit of that trailer exist!...You could probably use a Fruehauf tanker as a starting point i think?

[cdnmodman]

I remember there was a fellow from Germany who built the rig a few years ago, here some pics:

http://pxrxaa.blu.livefilestore.com/y1ptY1TD8PHnsb_cHExIFx85GEL4JdxRHo8WRDUxJmcQCQ50ysBvToQzLhM6YU3sOfWBEgloIb-i1jd5_j-ukFt5w/100_1823.jpg

http://blufiles.storage.live.com/y1p_Jh6hRNwOtfNkVaK9lDMhCabg6mSRNNCtVlEfnljJ_Rv15dBWtbcZvfZAyWi0ZXa

http://blufiles.storage.live.com/y1pLtcMYAEB1-hVzzhRr76fOaO3594QTiqZz7tWX4JJuPMVsnOuKCu6yz-W0KL3D5uB

http://pxrxaa.blu.livefilestore.com/y1pK8hfDM8SLhMWCTlbWS4WG6Ul8h6sjP6BPT__VDG1omk93R_9T2Ff6WQQcIG8WkeJVMQbd6wEL0VNGnZdCNFZEw/100_1856.jpg

[cdnmodman]

Heres the link to the finished model:

http://public.fotki.com/Twist67/modelbuilding/finished-models/trucks/peterbilt-trucks/the-duell-truck-and/

[mackinac359]

The resin 358 hood is sort of close.. a tilt hood rather than a butterfly hood and the grille shell is wider than the fixed radiator of the 351/281.

If (deleted) hadn't of ruined my masters for the 351, Eric would have it - it had hood, radiator, fenders and bumper - perfect for a Duel truck.

Tim

[cobraman]

Wow ! That finished model looks great. I know there is a couple of tankers out there but now I realize they are not very close to what I would need to make something that looks right.

[Jim B]

Here, this might help: http://public.fotki.com/modeltrucks25thscale/model_magazine_articles/fine_scale_modeller/fsm_1984_09-10_sep-okt/

[Fat Brian]

For the trailer you might could start with the IMC tanker Lindberg reissued and add the side ribs and skirts.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lindberg-1966-Dodge-L-700-cab-with-Tanker-Skelly-model-kit-1-24-/221116226624?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item337b8ddc40

[cdnmodman]

_{Some good reference pics over on Brads Trucks as he has the last 1:1 from the movie:}

_{http://www.bradsclassictrucks.com/DuelPage.htm}

_Rick

[skysoldier46]

this trailer is what I'm working on now. I have the forms cut for the trailer shape and waiting for 24" lengths of Evergreen to come in now to start on the tank. but the undercarriage is what I need pics of also.

[Fat Brian]

Check out this thread from the under glass section, it shows the underside of a similar trailer that you may be able to borrow some ideas from.

http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=62719

[hooknladderno1]

You may want to try using the 1/32 scale Mack R kit for with the trailer that has been out for the ablut a year. It may involve sectioning the trailer to make it 1/24 scale. The basic front shape is there. Just a suggestion.

Edited November 10, 2012 by hooknladderno1

[Austin T]

I saw where someone used a shampoo bottle as the base to the trailer to get the oval shape that the real one had.

[lapazleo]

The trailer supposedly is a 1948 Fruehauf 5 compartment 7000 gallon model 33 feet in length with a Page and Page 60/40 suspension.

[skysoldier46]

I've got the issue of Fine Scale where Jim Stephens talks about replacing the air ride suspension with leaf springs and walking beam suspension on the frame. I don't know what much about trucks or undercarriages so if any of you who do know or drive big rigs can help me I'd appreciate it. What does that look like? I couldn't tell much from images I got off Google and the ones that did look good were so small I couldn't make heads nor tails out of it. I'm still going slow on the Duel truck and trailer. UPS where is my Evergreen?

[Fat Brian]

I'm going to assume you are talking about the truck suspension for this reply. The AMT Pete kits come with Pete style air ride for the rear axles but for the older truck in Duel a walking beam suspension would be more appropriate. The suspension you need is in just about every other older AMT kit except the Freightliner. You can find a Hendrickson walking beam setup in the Diamond Reo, White Western Star, White Road Boss, International 4300, and a few others. If you are going to switch to a walking beam I would go with the Diamond Reo or White Western Star, both are out now and can be had for cheap with a Hobby Lobby or Micheals coupon. You will need to use the whole rear end out the donor kit because the axles have mounts on them specific to the beam suspension. The only old AMT Pete I have is the recent reissue of the Pete tow truck and in it there are four tabs that stick down from the rear of the frame, these are where the air ride system will mount. You will need to remove those tabs so you can add the donor parts. Also, you will need to decide if you want to replicate the truck with the tag axle or not, if so you will need to modify the rear axle to match the undriven tag axle and remove the driveshaft dimple in the first rear axle.

Here is a diagram of a Pete rear suspension similar to what is in the AMT kit

Here is a Hendrickson walking beam setup

[skysoldier46]

I'm going to assume you are talking about the truck suspension for this reply. The AMT Pete kits come with Pete style air ride for the rear axles but for the older truck in Duel a walking beam suspension would be more appropriate. The suspension you need is in just about every other older AMT kit except the Freightliner. You can find a Hendrickson walking beam setup in the Diamond Reo, White Western Star, White Road Boss, International 4300, and a few others. If you are going to switch to a walking beam I would go with the Diamond Reo or White Western Star, both are out now and can be had for cheap with a Hobby Lobby or Micheals coupon. You will need to use the whole rear end out the donor kit because the axles have mounts on them specific to the beam suspension. The only old AMT Pete I have is the recent reissue of the Pete tow truck and in it there are four tabs that stick down from the rear of the frame, these are where the air ride system will mount. You will need to remove those tabs so you can add the donor parts. Also, you will need to decide if you want to replicate the truck with the tag axle or not, if so you will need to modify the rear axle to match the undriven tag axle and remove the driveshaft dimple in the first rear axle.

Here is a diagram of a Pete rear suspension similar to what is in the AMT kit

Here is a Hendrickson walking beam setup

I'm going to assume you are talking about the truck suspension for this reply. The AMT Pete kits come with Pete style air ride for the rear axles but for the older truck in Duel a walking beam suspension would be more appropriate. The suspension you need is in just about every other older AMT kit except the Freightliner. You can find a Hendrickson walking beam setup in the Diamond Reo, White Western Star, White Road Boss, International 4300, and a few others. If you are going to switch to a walking beam I would go with the Diamond Reo or White Western Star, both are out now and can be had for cheap with a Hobby Lobby or Micheals coupon. You will need to use the whole rear end out the donor kit because the axles have mounts on them specific to the beam suspension. The only old AMT Pete I have is the recent reissue of the Pete tow truck and in it there are four tabs that stick down from the rear of the frame, these are where the air ride system will mount. You will need to remove those tabs so you can add the donor parts. Also, you will need to decide if you want to replicate the truck with the tag axle or not, if so you will need to modify the rear axle to match the undriven tag axle and remove the driveshaft dimple in the first rear axle.

Here is a diagram of a Pete rear suspension similar to what is in the AMT kit

Here is a Hendrickson walking beam setup

Fat Brian, how do I go about replicating the tag axle? I assume it is located behind the drive axle, right? Pics I've seen of tag axles only show a round bar with no gear box. Thank you for your reply too.

Edited November 15, 2012 by skysoldier46

[Fat Brian]

That is what a tag axle is, a tag along axle that is undriven but helps increase the overall weight capacity of the truck. The axle closest to the cab is driven like normal but the last axle is like a trailer axle in that it is not connected to the drivetrain. A tag axle is different from a lift axle in that the tag axle is on the ground all of time and is connected to the main suspension of the truck while a lift axle can be raised and lowered as needed. The tag axle was probably initially a cost saving feature to have the capacity of a tandem axle but only one driven axle to wear and break parts in but trucks with this setup tend to get stuck easily on uneven ground or going into steep drives or entrances where the weight can come off of the driven axle enough so that the wheels spin.

[skysoldier46]

Thanks for the info, building that tag axle today. it is also round right? that's what I've been seeing on Google so mine will be round.

This is a copy I made from the IMC tanker model kit.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y153/Skysoldier46/DSC05369.jpg

Edited November 16, 2012 by skysoldier46

[Fat Brian]

Round should be fine, I haven't seen a pic of the existing Duel truck to say otherwise.

[skysoldier46]

I haven't either. the only pics you see are side views, front views and rear views, but in the movie where the truck went over the cliff I did catch a glimpse of the undercarriage of the trailer and it does not look like any of the models of Duel trucks I've seen. that one does have framing underneath. So I will do an undercarriage of the trailer. I still need to finish the tag axle and mount air bags and shocks to it then attach that to the frame of the truck.

[skysoldier46]

I bought some Evergreen sheet stock 12"x24" and finished covering the ribs today, I had to buy an AMT T-500 kit off ebay which was not cheap either to do the cab. will be working on that after I do the boxes and axles for the trailer.