Semi-Trailer and/or Tractor Details N Scale

Flash Blackman Oct 24, 2007

  1. Flash Blackman

    Flash Blackman TrainBoard Member

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    This is a pup I found in some bogies given to me by Chuck Short (founder of Ultimate N Scale) several years ago. I just touched it up and added mud flaps.
    [​IMG]

    Chuck did not care for the double axle pups, so he cast a piece that would fit these old Atlas trailers and use only one axle. Here is the pup on the side. You can clearly see the Ultimate N Scale casting. Not a bad solution, eh?
    [​IMG]

    I think this was unique. I am not sure that this part was ever sold by Ultimate N Scale.

    BTW, Chuck Short won a bunch of awards at the recent Portland N Scale Convention.
     
  2. Nick Lorusso

    Nick Lorusso TrainBoard Member

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    Flash the trailer looks great.
     
  3. Flash Blackman

    Flash Blackman TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks, Nick. I have to credit Chuck Short. I just added the mud flaps.
     
  4. ns737

    ns737 TrainBoard Supporter

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    hi here is some of my trucks i am working on
     

    Attached Files:

  5. SecretWeapon

    SecretWeapon Passed away January 23, 2024 In Memoriam

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    Nice job on the Pete.:thumbs_up:
     
  6. Flash Blackman

    Flash Blackman TrainBoard Member

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    Very nice. I just got some of those in a GHQ kit. The loboy trailer, at least.

    Did you add a front bumper to the Atlas Ford 9000?

    How do you guys paint the stripes? Do you mask them off? So far, I have just painted the trucks solid colors or used decals.

    Thanks.
     
  7. Flash Blackman

    Flash Blackman TrainBoard Member

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    Great patch job! :thumbs_up:

    Classic Metal Works Carolina tractor and drop bottom pup.
    [​IMG]

    What is that funky looking silver blob on the top of the tractor? Is that supposed to be the horns? Air Conditioner? Thanks.

    I flat coat all my vehicles so that they don't have a glossy finish. Does anyone else do that? Everything else on this layout has a flat coat so, why not? Maybe that is not proper for vehicles.
     
  8. Puddington

    Puddington Passed away May 21, 2016 In Memoriam

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    Few other custom jobs........

    [​IMG]

    The Van Kam pup is perfect for my British Columbia location and the Schnider's meats trailer would have been a TOFC arrival from Kitchener, Ontario

    [​IMG]

    Whilst politically incorrect for the current era, a cigarette trailer would have been right at home in the 1970's....

    [​IMG]

    Appless and other tree fruits are a huge business in the B.C. interior so a couple of orchard specific trailers makes sense.

    [​IMG]

    A long way from home but that's the beauty of TOFC................The WM in BC !
     
  9. ns737

    ns737 TrainBoard Supporter

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    Hi yes I made a new bumper for the 9000. and the stripes are masked then painted. The black Pete has a custom sleeper. I used a sunrise sleeper made a mold then made a copy then reshape the molded sleeper. Then made a new mold so i could update my Peterbuilts. I am also working on creating century class freightliners. So I will have more modern tractors that will be in my truck stop which is one corner of my twelve foot innermodel yard modules.
     
  10. Flash Blackman

    Flash Blackman TrainBoard Member

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    Chuck did market the pup frame inserts. See attached photo. I have started to modify the existing frame. It is fairly simple to remove the leading axle. I CA glue the remaining axle back in place.
     

    Attached Files:

  11. bman

    bman TrainBoard Member

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    Think they are supposed to be the air horns maybe? Nice job on the CFCC drop bottom pup. May I ask how you did the decals. I am toying around trying to make some for the LTL terminal on my N scale module. I know micro scale makes GI and I need to make some Red Arrow as well as it seemed we had a good mix of trailers at our terminal in the late 80's. thanks
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 24, 2009
  12. Greenlightintermodal

    Greenlightintermodal TrainBoard Member

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    WORKBENCH PHOTO:

    [​IMG]

    Atlas 45' trailers, custom made decals....
     
  13. Flash Blackman

    Flash Blackman TrainBoard Member

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    The decals are just basic ink jet decals. There are several threads on TB about how to make them. Just do a search for "decal" in the title. That should get you a bunch of hits.

    The ink jets only work for me on white, silver, or gray backgrounds. See these very nice decals by Greenlightintermodal:

    I would expect them to be ink jet decals because of the trailer colors. They certainly look very nice. White, silver, and gray covers most trailers, but not all.
     
  14. Flash Blackman

    Flash Blackman TrainBoard Member

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    Semi-Trailer Markings

    Are there specific markings on semi-trailers that are always there? ICC numbers? This vehicle make wide right turns? Safety markings? The dashed red-white line on the side? Required lights?

    I was thinking about a trailer with no logos on it and wondered what other markings might be required. Thanks for the help.
     
  15. WPZephyrFan

    WPZephyrFan TrainBoard Member

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    I think the red reflector stripes are required (but not sure). I see them on almost all the trailers I've seen. The company I work for will sometimes lease trailers and some of those are unmarked, but will have some kind of number on them (like on a freight car) so the leasing company can keep track of them. I don't know if any company puts ICC numbers on them. I've never seen a completely blank trailer.
    I think most of the models have all the required lights on them. You could add more if you like. Our trailers have a large round light shaped like an arrow on the right side for protection during right hand turns. It flashes the the right turn indicator is on. Damned if it helps, though!
     
  16. HoosierDadIndy

    HoosierDadIndy TrainBoard Member

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    I need 3-4 Semis and tank trailers for a Marathon gasoline depot on my Indiana Railroad N scale layout. My brother works at the refinery so I have all the pictures I need for the scratch building project.

    The only tank trailer I have seen so far is an unpainted resin kit that is about $15 per trailer. Does anyone know of any other alternatives?

    TIA
    HoosierDadIndy
     
  17. Flash Blackman

    Flash Blackman TrainBoard Member

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    Please search for "Herpa" to see some European examples. They can be kitbashed. Here is a possible link.

    Concor(?) makes some tank trucks.

    Join the Yahoo Groups "N Scale Vehicle Association" for a lot of help on this topic.

    Welcome to TrainBoard!
     
  18. cec209

    cec209 TrainBoard Member

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    You might try this link: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/standards/conspicuity/Trlrpstr.html
     
  19. WPZephyrFan

    WPZephyrFan TrainBoard Member

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  20. PacRail

    PacRail TrainBoard Supporter

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    A few years back I went to a GATS show in Tucson and there was a guy who had a business that he was starting called HyWay N Trucks & Trailers. He only had samples but they all looked great. I think he said they were based on photos he took at truckstops. No major carriers, just smaller companies that had eye catching logos and designs. After that I never saw or heard anything about him again. Does anyone know what happened to his products?
     

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