I model the D&H in 1984 and have several 85’ and 89’ TTX flatcars that I want to equip with truck trailers. I have purchased some Athearn and Accurail 40’ and 45’ trailers to use. Though I understand that 53’ trailers wouldn’t be appropriate, I am not a rivet counter and don’t know much about trucks. I just want the flat cars to look good.
What are some simple details that can be added to the trailers besides weathering that would make them look better? I was thinking perhaps license plates, painting the wheel hubs, adding mud flaps, and perhaps painting or installing brake lights.
Can you suggest anything else? What colors should the wheels be painted? Are there any articles in MR that cover this sort of thing?
Jim Hediger’s Paint Shop in the July 1976 issue deals with trailers, painting and some detailing. Without meaning to step on any toes or irritate some sensitivities at MR, I think it is safe to say that Railroad Model Craftsman and some of the second and third tier (but nonetheless very good) model railroad magazines, such as Model Railroading, spent more time and space on detailing trailers and containers to prototype standards, particulaly 1980s vintage, than MR has done.
For example David Casdorph’s article in the March 1988 issue of RMC.
Does anyone have a couple of pictures showing some detailed models? I can see lots of prototype (real) pictures of trucks online, but pictures of models would be helpful.
A word about weathering… I flat refused to unload a 53’ trailer because it looked unsafe with rust on the floor by the rear doors…My boss concurred and decided manual unloading by the laborers was the safer course.
As the trailer was unloaded,more rust was reveled.
Which 40’ Athearn trailers do you have. The Fruehauf 40’ would have still been in use in 1984, although by then probably 45’ trailers would out number them.
If you have the Athearn blue box 40’ trailer, those reportely are based on an early 1960s Pacific Fruit Express trailer. I have had a hard time finding photos matching that model.
You could cut off the gussets extending down from the lower side sill next to the landing gear. Few, if any trailers had them.
Scratch, bash…redone built-ups, from Walthers, ConCor, CMW…kits Sylvan, Don Mills, Alloy Forms, Ulrich, Athearn, Lee Town, Walker Model service, Lonestar Most all have been modified/redone suspensions so they all roll with A-line tires/wheels, spoke, budd, so they match the type used for era. Mud flaps are black vinyl 005’’ to scale. Suspensions redone with K&S Brass tube, rod, c-channels, I-beams, all to scale sizes. Etched metal mirrors from A-line, Sylvan, Alloy forms. Many parts scratch-built out of brass. Take Your pick!
ZStripe, enjoyed your photos! Cool thing about tractor trailer trucks is that they can be realistically modeled to fit in more than one era. I plan on detailing and weathering the trailers below:
I also plan on acquiring a few 1950s era trucks/trailers as well. Saw plenty of them running around back in the 1970s.
On a side note: It used to amaze me at how attractive, yet very cramped the old GMC cabover trucks appeared.
I started to assembly my truck kits and I want to add mud flaps. I see some for sale but I figure it should be easy to make them myself out of plastic or paper painted black.
Can someone tell me how they made their own, perhaps with a picture or two of the underside portion of the trailer showing them? Thanks.
Years ago I used to use black construction paper by Crayola, but found a better alternative…ready made…don’t have to cut them out…hold their shape…if You hit them they don’t bend and stay that way, like paper will and have detail molded on them, like bolts and anti-sail bar. I use Zap Gel to hold in place on trailer underside floor bracing. Just mount about a scale ft. from rear of trailer to tires. Rail trailers had them mounted that way. They did not slide with the trailer tandems like the modern ones. A lot of rail trailers did not have sliding tandems anyway, especially in the early yrs of Piggyback.
Here is a link to what I use…enough for 8 trailers or tractors…some people may say they are too much money, but in the long run…they are worth it:
