Skip to main content

Replies sorted oldest to newest

With a green cab, green cargo compartment and red wheels it could be a fine companion to the REA panel truck previously offered. Fleets in the mid '50s would not have had chrome wheels.  Painted solid or spoke wheels would have been used.  How easily can the cargo box be removed to facilitate painting or converting to a semi tractor?  John



DSCN2607

Attachments

Images (1)
  • DSCN2607
Last edited by rattler21

Great looking truck.  The reported 2"W figure of the model would be a strong indicator that the model is indeed a true 1/48 scale.  For 1/48 scale, 2"W = 8'-0"W prototype dimension, which would be the overall width limit of a full-size commercial truck, and is usually the bed or the box on back of the truck.

A few other dimensions that might confirm true 1/48 scale: The width across the model's front fenders should be right around 1-7/8" to 1-15/16".  The outside diameter of the model's tires should be right around 3/4" dia. to 13/16" dia.  Of course, somebody will obviously have to confirm these dimensions with the model in hand.

1950's-era purists might find one major flaw with the truck - that being the 10-lug chrome or aluminum rims on the truck.  Commercial medium-duty trucks in the 1950's were pretty utilitarian, and had almost no major parts that were chrome-plated or aluminum/magnesium, like a lot of modern day commercial trucks do.  Instead, the rims would have been 5-bolt steel (or 6-bolt at the most), and in most circumstances painted a glossy black.

The "Menard's" decorating scheme seems a little too 'newish' for a 1950's era vehicle.  I'm almost thinking the scheme would be more believable for maybe the 1970's at the very earliest, and maybe even later than that.  But that's probably just a personal preference thing, and repainting and redecorating the truck wouldn't be very hard at all, in my opinion.

Regardless, this is still a great looking truck, and if it's anywhere from 1/43 scale to 1/50 scale, I'm definitely in for at least a few!

Last edited by Mixed Freight

Input needed:

I'm trying to come up with decorations/signage for another batch of 1956 box trucks that we are planning to produce and I am looking for suggestions. What are you guys looking for and what do you find attractive (color, branding, etc.). All help is welcomed!

Thank you,
Mark the Menards Train Guy

Hi Mark,

Here a few suggestions of companies I haven't seen much of (if at all) from the time period and whose branding I think would look great on a box truck:

Admiral TV's/appliances, Tide (to go w/your soap factory), Quaker State (motor oil), JELL-O, Pepsi-Cola, Sealtest, VanCamp's, Motorola, Kool-Aid, A&P, ALKA-SELTZER, Champion (spark plugs), 7up, Zenith.

As you know, Sunoco is a major partner and supplier in motor racing, particularly NASCAR where Menards is a sponsor of Team Penske.

1956 introduced "custom blending" at Sunoco stations and the "Sunoco Blue" logo was the distinctive symbol of this new product feature.

"Sun revolutionized the oil industry when it introduced the Custom Blending Pump, a novel system for dispensing a choice of five octane grades of gasoline from a single pump. A model of the pump is currently on display at the Smithsonian." - Sunoco Website

products-sign-sunoco-blue-12-1000

The box truck could be delivering the new pumps to Sun Oil Company service stations around the country.

Attachments

Images (1)
  • products-sign-sunoco-blue-12-1000
@david1 posted:

Mark,

Food fair, Panty Pride, A&P, Pathmark, Acme, Giant "All supermarkets!"

Sears Roebuck, strawbridge & Clothier, Wanamakers, pep boys, Horn and Hardant,

Dave

Btw, I worked for all the above except for one!

PS, some of them in HO would be great

David is a guru of the Philly area.  The city of brotherly love,  as long as you do it their way.  a member of the "straight outa Philly" string band!

Western Auto,  Southern States Cooperative,  Montgomery Ward, IGA Supermarkets, Westinghouse, May Company Department Stores.  All these done with advertising schemes of the time.  

Of course I also vote for painted but undecorated models, as there were many small companies which did not have signage on their fleet of 1 - 3 delivery trucks in the 1950's.   Doing this would also allow purchasers to decorate the truck anyway they wish.    

As for Menards' current 1956 truck, one scenario for those who model the 1980s and up .... this current truck can be used on your layouts as  a rebuilt/repainted & customized  56 with a contemporary advertising scheme painted on it's box.   Used in a contemporary setting, this truck catches the eye and reminds folks that Menards has been around for many years ... just sayin.    This model is a great looking truck IMHO, but as one who models the 1950's, it's current livery ( and chrome applications ) does not fit into my scheme.  

Last edited by trumptrain
@prrjim posted:

It sorta looks like a 1950s truck, but what is the prototype?     It has sort of a Ford Grill, but the cab does not look right for a ford.    Is it a GM, or Chrylser, or something else. 

The prototype would be a 1956 Ford COE (Cab Over Engine).  A quick Google search thereof yields a lot of pictures that sure look like the prototype to me, or darned close to it.

@Menards posted:

Input needed:

I'm trying to come up with decorations/signage for another batch of 1956 box trucks that we are planning to produce and I am looking for suggestions. What are you guys looking for and what do you find attractive (color, branding, etc.). All help is welcomed!

Thank you,
Mark the Menards Train Guy

I would suggest trucks that reflect Menard's existing universe of buildings.  Like one painted up to match Wally's service station.  Also, I have no idea how much it costs to acquire a license to paint something like the old Sears trailers on the PUP Trailers MTH just ran for Stockyard Express, but they are really neat - as seen in this thread.  https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...h-old-sears-trailers

Old transportation stuff would always be a good call - Champion Spark Plugs, MoPar, etc.

As far as colors go, the color scheme is less important to me than having something that's just neat.  Cripple Creek (or any other) Lumberyard would fit in with my theme.  But you could just also brand it with some delivery company name and it would fit in on just about any layout.  

Add Reply

Post

OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×