Any guess why someone doesn’t make a reasonably priced HO model or a trailer similar to these? They are some of the most common trucks on the road and found in many of the industries we model. I know I’d purchase a fleet if they were available.
Thanks!
Bill
You mean like this?
It’s going to be a while before I can get this uploaded to Shapeways. I’m working on it a bit at a time. There’s a lot of detail to it that’s time consuming. I’ve never uploades anything to Shapeways before so I have no idea what the cost will be.
I’m designing the main tank to be a separate piece with no details so that you can sand it smooth if needed.
Steve S
Yes. That’s cool. Keep us informed. I’m not certain what percent of the US truck fleet is comprised of variations of these trailers, but it has to be significant! Some are fairly plain. Others have all sorts of pipes and cyclones, top hatches, etc…
Thanks!
Bill
I cut the parts for the Trail King APB’s from from 2004-2008. Our three hopper version like pictured above were 1000 cu. ft and 1250 cu ft. The we had a four hopper model that was 1350 cu ft. We even did a 2000 cu ft. four hopper for a customer. That thing was huge. I am surprised no one has made an HO scale version of these since they do make a Trail King low boy, Kenworth, Cat set.
I needed at least 3 of them for my cement distribution facility, but the only commercially available model was $90 apiece - so I just scratchbuilt a few of them. They look ok from a 3-foot distance, works for me…
Those look really nice, Ken.
I’ve been working on the frame. I got a bit concerned when I stopped by Shapeways and saw that they recommend a minimum thickness of 2mm for all parts. A lot of the parts on this will be small than this. But there’s an N scale dry bulk truck there that has some pretty small parts, so an HO scale one should be okay.
ETA: I just saw over at Shapeways that Frosted Ultra Detail can go as thin as 0.3 to 0.5 mm for non-structural parts. So the 2mm value must be for another material.
Steve S
I have seen many of those unloading plastic pellets at the Pioneer Valley Railroad yard in Westfield, MA. They usually unload right from the car into the truck trailer.
I also see a place where the cars are spotted in a fenced off area behind the Jen Coat company which is right next to the yard.
Rich
Very good! Great progress!
Bill
I see the same process at the W&LE yard in Akron, OH. Three or four tracks with hoppers ( 9 or so) and almost always a truck there unloading.
B
Very nice.
There’s a trucking company just south of my home in a rural area of NE Ohio and they must have a fleet of 30-40 of these (counted them from a Google Earth photo).
Bill
Made a lot of progress last night and today. The model is nearly done. It would have gone even faster, but a few parts I had to rebuild several times for various reasons. I hope the ladder isn’t too delicate. The tire even has a tread pattern.
I plan to lay the parts out connected by a sprue, the way a plastic kit would be. The sprue will add to the cost but it should be a lot easier to paint things when they’re separate pieces, rather than having the entire model printed intact.
Steve S
I can only say…
WOW
PS: Chad wants!!!
Great! Count me in!
Bill
Very nice, I am impressed, I am looking for a few for a gluten plant I am modeling, they would bring in airslides full of flour, as well as these type of trailers. What was the place on line you saw them for $90?
I too would be interested though in buying the kit from you.
GUEGOLD did not mention the timeframe he is modeling or the type of product he is shipping
Sheepscott Scale Products came out with a bulk cement trailer kit about a year ago. The body is a resin casting and the frame is styrene. The truck shown (available separately) is 50s vintage but, a more modern truck can be used.
http://www.sheepscotscale.com/site/2011/01/22/bulk-cement-trailer
Lonestar has a grain trailer
http://www.lonestarmodelsinc.com/catalog/grain.php
Walthers has a Herpa grain truck & trailer arriving soon; they also have the Lonestar trailers
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/326-6429
They also list a Kibri Mercedes cement hopper German lettering- currently out of stock
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/405-14065
Steven S
I too would be interested in one of those beauties. Are you going to have them available for purchase & if so, do you have any idea what the cost would be?
I’ll be putting it up for sale at Shapeways.com. It’s a 3D printing service. This all assumes the result is up to snuff. Someone’s got an N scale bulk trailer at Shapeways and it looks pretty good, so an HO scale version should look even better. In case the finish is a little rough, I’m making the tank as a separate piece with no details on it so that you can give it a good sanding and priming without ruining any detail. The hatches and handrails will be separate objects to be added after.
I have no idea what the price will be because Shapeways sets a minimum price to cover their costs based on the amount of material used. The seller than adds some profit to that. I’m not going to be adding much. I’m not looking to get rich off this, just make a little something
Steve S
Ok…just let us know when its available…Thanks
Here’s a rendering of what it will hopefully look like. I left off the mud flaps because they would have to be too thick. I figure you could use something like the plastic from a sandwich bag. Spray it black and cut out a little rectangle.
Steve S.
This looks great! Can’t wait for it to appear! Good work.
