I really enjoyed Mont Switzer’s article on how to model a 1950s semi-truck. I believe that modeling trucks is an important part of model railroading because trains and trucks go hand in hand. Almost all industries which use rail service also use trucks in one way or another. And of course putting truck trailers onto trains is a major part of railroading. Trains and trucks are two of my favorite items to model.
I just want to thank MR for publishing an article on trucks and wish that they would have a lot more articles on trucking in the future, and not just how build a model but also cover subjects like intermodal operations and rail to truck transfer facilities, etc.
Your thoughts?
There is a huge group of modelers out there that specialize in 1/87 scale truck models.
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They refuse to call their work HO scale.
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I would welcome more of these articles. 1/87 truck modeling is fascinating.
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-Kevin
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IIRC, there is a Kalmbach book entirely devoted to trucks & the trucking industry and its relationship to the railroads.
Tom
Wonder if there is a “Model Trucker” mag out there…
I perused the Kalmback HobbyStore and this is the book I was referring to. However, it may not address what you’re desiring in your original post:
There is also this one, FWIW:
Tom
If one build a ISL then trucks is far more important then trees or automobiles in the overall role if believability…
A trailer drop lot tells volumes about the rail served and non rail severed industries and the overall size of the industrial area including the unseen off layout industries…
The now defunct “Mainline Modeler” and “Model Railroading” magazines of the 1980-2005 timeframe quite often ran articles on trucks. Mont Switzer who had close ties to trucking in Indiana authored many of MMs trucking pieces. MRRG occasionaly devoted a mini-magazine within the main magazine to vehicles. Back issues of Mainline Modeler have taken on the status of a defacto currency while Model Railroading is supposed to be available at www.trainlife.com. Both magazines used to have very detailed listing of the contents of their back issues in their current issue for the use of those looking to fill out their collections. If you can find one of these back issue listings, it would narrow and, speed up your quest for those containing truck articles.
Lone Wolf & Santa Fe,
If You are interested, I subscribe to a quarterly publication, that was designed and put together by Union Truckers of well known Fallen Flag Trucking Companys. All 1/87 scale models from just about every Mfg’er out there and then some. I have even graced the pages of some of the publications. I am getting together 8 new models that I have assembled in the past couple months, from the 50’s/60’s what their paint schemes were then and type of equipment they were using.
I will post a thread of them soon.
The link to the publication:
Should You need any help, feel free to PM Me…I have spoke with Bob Sundstrom a number of times…the creator of the publication.
A teaser pic’ of two being built. A Sylvan modified kit and a Don Mills kit…Don’s is the ICX tractor:
Take Care! [:D]
Frank
Here, here for more truck articles. I hope similar articles discuss inter-modal operaitons and how to model them on various size layouts. Kuds to those who model them.
The 1:87 vehicle club always shows at the Amhearst Train Show in W. Springfield, MA every year and the work some of these guys do is incredible! http://www.1-87vehicles.org/index.php
I could spend hours looking at their displays, they’re really great. Some line up their vehicles, others do a scene like a fire station, truck service center and more. Very inspiring.
Neal
There is also this book from Kalmbach
One of the finest truck modelers in HO and an avid photographer of prototype trucks, was the late Bill Bedell. Google “Bill Bedell truck photos” and you’ll find a lot of stuff.
This is just a small sample. I do not know who has all of his truck models but he was a craftsman and is much missed.
http://www.hankstruckpictures.com/bill_bedell.htm
Dave Nelson
I could make the same request about buses. A Flxible Clipper… way cool. Though they weren’t tied to the railroad biz as much as the trucking industry was. Today there are connections, yesterday, well, I have walked from Port Authority to Penn, to catch a LIRR train.
Thank you for all of your input. I think articles on busses and cars would great also.
I used to buy Model Railroading at the LHS back in the day and always enjoyed the articles on trucks.
I’m a big Piggy Back modeler, in the early days, 1953/54, so trucks are big part of my layout.
Always interested in more info about the interaction of trucks and trains, and on truck modeling.
Sheldon
I know the thread is a bit old now, but my copy of this MR issue has since been relegated to the “reading room”, and yesterday I had “time” (TMI) to study the issue in depth. I guess the author just grabbed a McClean trailer from his stash for the opening image, as the truck and trailer seem to be posed on an open road (not a lot or parking area) with the trailer landing gear fully extended (almost touching the groud, as it would if parked and disconnected). One good bump and that gear is getting damaged. I recall some trailer kits came with different sized landing gear - retracted or extended (the Athearn container chassis maybe?) so you can use the proper “length” for modeling either parked or in-transit trailers. Not sure how many trailer models came with this option, as oppossed to get out the knife and styrene and DIY.
I noticed the landing gear too. But I looked the other way because I don’t want to be too picky about models. If I looked through my own collection I might find I have the same problem.
The newer Athearn Ready to Roll trailers have two options for the landing gear so you can make it the proper height for trailers that are parked or being pulled. I still need to add weathering to the ones in the picture. The older blue box kits don’t have the option but you can easily cut them to the correct height and glue the feet or wheels back on.
On a personal note: I like to have at least one truck or trailer at every one of my industries. I feel that they are a necessary part of the scene because they help identify the type of industry. I also like to have some on my roads.
When I was a kid I used to love to build large scale model trucks (1:25 1:48). When I started modeling in HO I found a serious lack of trucks. Now a days there are several nice models available but back in the old days truck models were hard to find. One source I did find was the toy aisle in department stores. Some trucks with brand names like Road Champs were HO scale. I had to cut off their Hot Wheels and replace them with scale rims and tires and add other details.
