Automobiles/ Trucks 1/43-1/50 scale let’s see them

Bell Lines was out of Charleston, WV and sold out to Smith's Transfer in Staunton, VA in 1970.  Pictures are about impossible to find, I have seen only 5 from all my books and internet searches.  Here are two Bell Lines B Macks and the prototype pictures they are modeled after.

Note the small mirrors and only two clearance lights.  The trailer is a scratched box on a Revell chassis.

The tractor had a second axle added, plus some details.  Note no stack, quarter fenders or mudflaps on the picture (That's the WV state capital in the background).  Weaver trailer.

Thanks to Christie at Graphics on Demand for the custom decal designs.  Nothing would have been possible without her work.

Gray

you knock it out of the park with these Wow! Your last pic of the real truck is my favorite. It’s a Mack B67 tandem  with a drag axle and a contour cab very rare. The B67 was a shorter hood than the B61. For those who never saw a Mack B contour cab here’s one I’m working on in 1/25 scale. They did this for length laws the cab was contour so the trailer would clear. Gray keep those old LTL’s coming 

Gray, Lee,

Thanks so much for sharing these models.  I’m really inspired by your efforts, which show modeling at its absolute finest.  It’s OK to see die cast photos, but those can be had anywhere.  

What you do to regular trucks, with both paint and details, provides a high standard for the hobby.  I especially like what you’ve done with Champ of the Road models.   I’m currently away from trucks, working on a layout addition, so no recent trucks to share... 

Great work!!!!

Don

Thanks Don for the nice complements that means a lot 

speaking of champs of the road I need to finish this one I got when I was a kid. It was a old TG&Y truck I played with it till wheels fell of but I never got rid of it. I striped the paint off about 5 years ago and repainted it and made some Custom decals for it. Here’s some pics of it. It’s going to be on a Revell honest John frame and Don Mills Wheels pulling a Reffer trailer 

Put this truck on the Layout tonight. I built this truck about 10yrs ago with a set of Don Mills wheels for a upgrade. I bought the Lionel  trailer last year. 

Thanks for the compliments on the trucks.  I had an uncle who drove for Bell only wish I had been old enough to have talked to him about driving, B series Macks, 2 stick transmissions etc.

What is a source of 1/48-1/50 1955-1970 (approx) trucks, especially looking for F and R model Mack's, White 9000, IH R and DCO, GMC conventionals.  Spec Cast made the White WC, but they are getting impossible to find, at least as a decent price to cut up and modify.  I know of Corgi, Spec Cast, Revell and some super expensive British made castings (Smith and EMD???).

Seems like all the kit and parts suppliers are drying up, It's a tough business.  I'm by no means a master modeler, but it's fun to see what an attempt might bring, and sometimes projects comes out well.

Some nice 1/43 from Iconic Replica and IXO, but 1/43 is just too big for O scale in my opinion.

Gray

Gray

WSI just release the Mack F 1963-1980ish outside that good luck. No one makes a R International series that I know of I have a bunch of old Rick Manz 1/48 cab casting that are super rare but they are in bad shape. Here’s a narrow nose Pete I’ve worked on for hours getting it this far.I plan on putting a Don Mills Log Trailer on it. Don Mills told me a couple months ago he’s not selling truck kits anymore not to anyone. 

Hi Lee, take a look at these new release from diecast direct'.. 100 bucks a pop, but  I'm having trouble from stopping myself from ordering  the aero willys, I've  always loved that car'... 

BTW, I must reemphasize everything Don has stated.  You and  Nhvrygray perform the epitome of truck modeling'.

Oh yes! I know it’s alot but hey you only live once and if you can afford it do it. I sold a lot of HO stuff this winter and took some of the cash and bought stuff that I’ve been wanting for years. I could have saved it but some of the O scale stuff just fell in my lap and I couldn’t get a deal like that again. 

Guys I moved some vehicles around tonight on the layout 

Quarter Gauger 48 posted:

Hi Lee, take a look at these new release from diecast direct'.. 100 bucks a pop, but  I'm having trouble from stopping myself from ordering  the aero willys, I've  always loved that car'... 

BTW, I must reemphasize everything Don has stated.  You and  Nhvrygray perform the epitome of truck modeling'.

 

 

Thank you. I love trucks and trains glad you like them 

The 33 Ford is nice but nothing captures the style of 1950s American iron like the Willys Aero!

MELGAR

I agree Mel, 1940 to 60 were the best looking cars of all time.  I think part of our affection for them is the fact that those are the cars we grew up in and traveled to trips with our families.  We have such fond memories of those years.  Plus the simple fact there was something special about them when we started driving them ourselves.  The sounds, power, handling and the ride itself.  With all the technology today, I miss not changing my own spark plugs, adjusting the carb, and changing the oil....  

Quarter Gauger 48 posted:

I agree Mel, 1940 to 60 were the best looking cars of all time.  I think part of our affection for them is the fact that those are the cars we grew up in and traveled to trips with our families.  We have such fond memories of those years.  Plus the simple fact there was something special about them when we started driving them ourselves.  The sounds, power, handling and the ride itself.  With all the technology today, I miss not changing my own spark plugs, adjusting the carb, and changing the oil....  

The days of our youth, as well as changing our own spark plugs and oil, and adjusting carburetors, are gone forever. The best we can do is remember...

MELGAR

Hey guys I’m only 50 but I got in on this stuff too my first vehicle was a 1970 International 3/4 truck with a granny low 4 speed. What I liked it was simple to diagnose why your vehicle won’t run back then all a engine needed was fire and gas if you had fire and getting gas to your carb it’s your carb. If no fire then it’s points, coil, or a bad plugs. And remember those inline fuses if your headlight fuse blowed dad taught me to care some aluminum foil and wrap it around the fuse to get you going till you could get one tuff luck doing that these days 

MELGAR posted:

Quarter Gauger 48 posted:

I agree Mel, 1940 to 60 were the best looking cars of all time.  I think part of our affection for them is the fact that those are the cars we grew up in and traveled to trips with our families.  We have such fond memories of those years.  Plus the simple fact there was something special about them when we started driving them ourselves.  The sounds, power, handling and the ride itself.  With all the technology today, I miss not changing my own spark plugs, adjusting the carb, and changing the oil....  

The days of our youth, as well as changing our own spark plugs and oil, and adjusting carburetors, are gone forever. The best we can do is remember...

MELGAR

When I was 16yrs old I used to change my own oil and plugs it made me feel so Manly 

lee drennen posted:

Hey guys I’m only 50 but I got in on this stuff too my first vehicle was a 1970 International 3/4 truck with a granny low 4 speed. What I liked it was simple to diagnose why your vehicle ...

Lee,  Geat summary of trouble shooting back in the good old days.  In addition to those tips, a friend always kept a can of Coca Cola on hand.  Pouring a little stream of it between the battery terminals gave a low battery enough of an acidic boost to start the car.  Guess that is one thing that would still work. (Kids, don't try this on your train sets or computer keyboards :-).

My second car was a 4-door 1969 Ford Falcon.  It had a simple way to by-pass a stuck/dead starter.  It was pure genius and so handy, too!

I am still hoping that the model manufacturers will produce that particular Falcon body style.   A 2-door in the earlier body style has been made in 1:43 scale, usually painted as a race car.  Some of you have posted examples.  The 1969 was perhaps more transitional?  The Falcon style following my car looked like pony cars, of which I think there are better known examples and plenty of scale models.  

Speaking of which, painting of the interior of my 1964 1/2 Mustang has stalled.  I really need a head lamp/magnifier or maybe see if I can find that little starter switch under the hood .

Tomlinson Run Railroad

Tom

Thanks I always poured Coke on them to get rid of the  corrosion I never knew that great tip.I’m sorry but I just never did like the 69 falcon body style I like the 61 through 63 no offense.  Will you post some pictures of you working on your interior I don’t care if you post work in progress pictures on here I would like to see what you guys are working on and stuff.  I also I thought of another trick my dad taught me was if your distributor cap got wet to spray WD-40 inside of it to keep it dry. And he also taught me to pour alcohol in your Windshield wiper fluid so it wouldn’t freeze and it wouldn’t freeze up the little holes where it sprays out my dad was a trucker for 43 years and I’m not bragging but he was a very smart man when it came to mechanics I guess because he owned his own trucks and worked on them.I’m proud to say I’m a fourth generation trucker in my family also.

MELGAR posted:

Quarter Gauger 48 posted:

I agree Mel, 1940 to 60 were the best looking cars of all time.  I think part of our affection for them is the fact that those are the cars we grew up in and traveled to trips with our families.  We have such fond memories of those years.  Plus the simple fact there was something special about them when we started driving them ourselves.  The sounds, power, handling and the ride itself.  With all the technology today, I miss not changing my own spark plugs, adjusting the carb, and changing the oil....  

The days of our youth, as well as changing our own spark plugs and oil, and adjusting carburetors, are gone forever. The best we can do is remember...

MELGAR

MELGAR, those were the day's.  I was 14 the first time had my hands literally in an engine.  My best buddy, two years older, had just gotten an English Ford.  Just happen over to his house finding his dad and he doing a ring and con-rod bearing job.  Literally put my hands down into the cylinders.

Ironically years later he and I pulled an 14-hour all nighter partially rebuilding to flathead six in his then 53 Plymouth.

Lots of engines since most notably the 392 Hemi from first car.

Ron 

My brother got these from a Chevron gas station in the late 70’s-early 80’s

Lee,  I used silicon spray on the distributor cap and wires -- a similar concept. :-)  It's great that your father passed on so much information from his extensive experience owning and driving trucks. And, four generations is impressive!  Per your suggestion ...

Here are some photos of the '64 1/2 Mustang. It's from the Ertl "Classic Vehicles" series from 1989, although I bought it new last year or so.

First, I painted the door handles and the front running and rear lights to match photos of restored cars:

I also painted the windshield wipers and "washed" the vent on the hood with black paint but I really should have used a grey instead of black.

At minimum, I wanted to paint the seats white. In my dreams, I also wanted to add "glass" to the side vent windows and maybe the backseat windows.  The model disassembled:

The hump for the stick shift is detailed enough to include chrome and wood -- with a steady hand and magnification.  It would be good to remove the steering wheel and give it the chrome and wood treatment, but it doesn't look easy to remove -- the plastic is kinda melted on the reverse side.

It's hard to see in black, but there's nice dashboard detail and room to paint the radio (translation: or "suggest" it with a dash of silver):

I've started the first coat. It needs a second one and the embarrassing "paint slop" cleaned up afterward :

Here's another view showing the potential for dashboard and etc. detail:

Tomlinson Run Railroad

There have been other posts of 1957 Ford Rancheros.  Here are photos of mine (Lucky Diecast, Road Signature), which I found while assembling the Mustang photos.  That's the Johnstown, PA train station in the background, sitting on the carpet layout:

Tomlinson Run Railroad

MELGAR posted:

Quarter Gauger 48 posted:

I agree Mel, 1940 to 60 were the best looking cars of all time.  I think part of our affection for them is the fact that those are the cars we grew up in and traveled to trips with our families.  We have such fond memories of those years.  Plus the simple fact there was something special about them when we started driving them ourselves.  The sounds, power, handling and the ride itself.  With all the technology today, I miss not changing my own spark plugs, adjusting the carb, and changing the oil....  

The days of our youth, as well as changing our own spark plugs and oil, and adjusting carburetors, are gone forever. The best we can do is remember...

MELGAR

Yes Mel, unless we obtain a classic car...(LOL) a 50s model, and we can again be shade tree mechanics....

PRRronbh posted:

MELGAR posted:

The days of our youth, as well as changing our own spark plugs and oil, and adjusting carburetors, are gone forever. The best we can do is remember...

MELGAR

MELGAR, those were the day's.  I was 14...  My best buddy...had just gotten an English Ford. ...doing a ring and con-rod bearing job.

Lots of engines since...

Ron 

Those British 4-cylinder engines often had three-bearing crankshafts and did not have robust bottom ends - like my Sunbeam Alpine.

Like everything else, cars are changing. The gasoline engine may someday disappear altogether. I heard a few weeks ago that General Motors is looking to hire more electrical engineers and fewer mechanical engineers - to support future electric vehicle development.

To keep the thread on topic, and with due deference to the 21st century, here is a picture of the 1930s gasoline truck on my layout.

MELGAR

MELGAR posted:

The 33 Ford is nice but nothing captures the style of 1950s American iron like the Willys Aero!

MELGAR

I ordered the Aero last night after thinking about it for a spell'.. Just out of principle,  I've never let myself spend a 100 bucks on a 1/43 diecast model.  Lee, said go for it, and my wife said, "Great, that will be your father's day gift'... So I went for it, what the heck...I deserve it.. Speaking of favorite cars, I had a used 64 Falcon sea foam green..was a decent little car and I enjoyed driving it to and from work.  I blew out a freeze out plug, and it was to expensive to repair it.  While stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas, after returning from Nam, I bought a 63 Impala, from a fellow solider that was shipping out.  Needed a lot of work, but at 200 bucks a good deal..

No problems changing plugs and oil on this 327 CI, with glass packs. Drove this baby back and forth, Kansas,/New York several times.. Finally blew a rod, by over revving.  Had well over 200K on the clock'...And in those days going through Indiana, @ 70 plus MPH, the legal limit, the State Troopers would wave the high sign back at you'...Truly one of my all time favorites'..  Best ever, was a 1970 Dodge Coronet. Coast to coast pulling a Uhaul and family twice and shipped to Germany and ran on the 'Autobahn and around Germany/Europe.  Only thing I ever changed was tires and exhaust pipes.  Great car, and fast 302 V8 4brl... Sold it when I returned to CONUS...   

randr posted:

My brother got these from a Chevron gas station in the late 70’s-early 80’s

Randr, those are some magnificent vehicles!

Quarter Gauger 48 posted:

MELGAR posted:

The 33 Ford is nice but nothing captures the style of 1950s American iron like the Willys Aero!

MELGAR

I ordered the Aero last night after thinking about it for a spell'.. Just out of principle,  I've never let myself spend a 100 bucks on a 1/43 diecast model.  Lee, said go for it, and my wife said, "Great, that will be your father's day gift'... So I went for it, what the heck...I deserve it..

Glad to hear that you ordered the Willys. Please post pictures when you get it. You clearly liked it too much to pass it up. Money is not everything!

MELGAR

MELGAR posted:

Quarter Gauger 48 posted:

MELGAR posted:

The 33 Ford is nice but nothing captures the style of 1950s American iron like the Willys Aero!

MELGAR

I ordered the Aero last night after thinking about it for a spell'.. Just out of principle,  I've never let myself spend a 100 bucks on a 1/43 diecast model.  Lee, said go for it, and my wife said, "Great, that will be your father's day gift'... So I went for it, what the heck...I deserve it..

Glad to hear that you ordered the Willys. Please post pictures when you get it. You clearly liked it too much to pass it up. Money is not everything!

MELGAR

Mel, that is what my wife say's all the time'...However, I'm VERY, VERY< frugal'...I keep telling her, it don't grow on a tree..........

A few days ago I asked about sources for several trucks including an F model Mack.

Look what I found at the MackShop.  1/50 by Tekno.  Really nice trucks at half or less than a WSI.  I can find no mention or listing anywhere except the MackShop.

Wanted to share the source ASAP, this hasn't even made it to the shop yet.

Check out the MackShop, you will be glad you did.

Another that I haven't received yet will become my Smith Transfer successor to Bell Lines tractor. 

My only concern is they are so detailed how to get it apart to repaint without messing things up-  Anyone ever done one of these before?

Gray Lackey

https://www.mack-shop.com/esho...700-model-white-blue

https://www.mack-shop.com/esho...-model-american-flag

Gray, you are right about the amazing detail of the models at the Mack-Shop!  I enjoyed browsing the website and even picked up some tips for further detailing my Market Basket Supermarket Granite cab.

Thanks for posting.

TRRR

Good score Gray

I tore this one apart it’s all resin and photo ech it was a nightmare but I repainted the cab and hand painted the interior and put some Don Mills wheels and put it back together 

Gray, great site and models'... Very cool.  Thanks for the info. The B-61s are 1/64th scale S Gauge..And boy are they gorgeous. They would look great on a S Gauge layout'...

Quarter Gauger 48 posted:

...take a look at these new release from diecast direct'.. 100 bucks a pop, but  I'm having trouble from stopping myself from ordering  the aero willys, I've  always loved that car'...

Quarter Gauger 48 posted:

I ordered the Aero last night after thinking about it for a spell'.. Just out of principle,  I've never let myself spend a 100 bucks on a 1/43 diecast model.  Lee, said go for it, and my wife said, "Great, that will be your father's day gift'... So I went for it, what the heck...I deserve it..

QG48,

As I said before, given how much you like that Willys Aero, you did the right thing by ordering it, no matter the price. My father used to say that the name "Jeep," as first used by the U.S. Army during WWII, came from the initials "GPW," which supposedly stood for "General Purpose Willys." I keep this model on my layout to remind me of him.

MELGAR

Tom thanks for posting the work bench pics

Randr. Thanks for posting tankers look great the horse drawn is my favorite 

og48 glad your getting the Willy’s you won’t be disappointed 

mel. Nice pic of that Tanker 

Gray. Thanks for the heads up 

I finally got this tanker done  

Smith's Transfer F700 Mack.

I would say a simple repaint, but not so simple.   

The tractor started off as a 1976 red/white/blue/stars by Tekno from the Mackshop.

The cab will come off and all cab details will come off VERY DELICATELY.

The frame and wheels were hand painted black from factory white as attempting to dissemble the running gear was more trouble than is worth.

Use Testors window glue when reassembling as some press fits don't work on the second try. 

Trailer is a KLine.

Smith's Transfer was an LTL carrier so show was not an important feature on their trucks as the model shows.  Smith's as an independent company sold out to ARA Services in early 1980 and was gone entirely by mid 1987.

Great job Gray! 

Total transformation 

Another car for my used car lot:

Added fog lights

Changed to left hand drive

Painted wheels and hub caps

Changed interior colors (two different shades of Suede Green)

Detailed the grille

Redid the dash using photos of the real instruments (did not come out quite as well as I wanted, but they are better than what was there)

Redid the steering wheel.

All in an effort to make a model of the real thing:

Lee nice work on the tanker.

John I think that is a smashing job.

John Sethian posted:

Another car for my used car lot:

John,

A most impressive model and extraordinarily beautiful sporting car. But, even the folks in England had some problems getting them bolted together properly.

MELGAR

John

dead spot on great work had to take a double take 

Joe

thanks I’m glad I finally got that thing done 

Dang. As my one late coworker would say, "now that is spiffy". That is one great looking model. I've got to dig out some of my auto's, don't have many, but I should.

Picked up this '41 Chevy pickup at the Hudson, MA train show last weekend. I had never seen it with whitewall tires before.

Richie C. posted:

Picked up this '41 Chevy pickup at the Hudson, MA train show last weekend. I had never seen it with whitewall tires before.

An impressive paint job.

Thanks for posting Richie very nice truck and pic  

Very pretty truck.  Who is the manufacturer.

briansilvermustang posted:

 

 

 

 

The police here in Mexico usually use pick-up trucks rather than cars. By the way, that is a nice-looking police truck.

Ed, your first picture is a beautiful pick-up truck!

Your second picture shows Ken and Barbie (both of whom have either plastic brains or empty space) parking on an elevated grass plot. They deserve a ticket.

Brian. Thanks posting nice old truck I know you have more pics of your vehicles on your layout come on let’s see them 

Ed.  Thanks for posting Vincent is right that’s a good looking truck

Vincent Massi posted:

Ed, your first picture is a beautiful pick-up truck!

 

Your second picture shows Ken and Barbie (both of whom have either plastic brains or empty space) parking on an elevated grass plot. They deserve a ticket.

Vince, I’m hurt. That’s me and my bride!😂. Actually, we were pulled over for speeding and, as you know, we layoutists live on a flat-earth. I didn’t want to go any further because there be dragons there!!!😂

Thanks for commenting.  Appreciate it.  

lee drennen posted:

Brian. Thanks posting nice old truck I know you have more pics of your vehicles on your layout come on let’s see them 

Ed.  Thanks for posting Vincent is right that’s a good looking truck

Thanks Brian. 

NHVRYGray posted:

Very pretty truck.  Who is the manufacturer.

It's 1/43 scale and from the 1998 Mattel "Models of Yesteryear" Series. Nothing opens on it, but it has a spare whitewall tire mounted in the frame under the bed, which I thought was pretty good detail for a $15 truck and no shipping charge.

FWIW, it was part of the product brought to the Hudson Show by Kevin Macomber of Narrow Gauge Modeling Company. He had a large collection of vehicles there and a gorgeous construction set which someone grabbed right away. He was a very nice guy and it looks like they might have also acquired the tooling from Schomberg Models.

http://www.narrowgaugemodeling.com/

Brian - looks like a nice '63 split window.

trumptrain posted:

Patrick,

The detail in the top scene is amazing - so life-like.  I especially like the packing tape detail on the boxes waiting to be unloaded once lunch is over.

Great street scene, too! Lots of busy vehicles.

Tomlinson Run Railroad

          here's one for you Lee...

Would like to know some more about the third picture, Is this a good photoshop?  Tractors are slippery at best without a trailer, thats why you have concrete ballast boxes when pushing or using a non fifth wheel trailer AND thats with rubber tires.  Steel on steel with no weight wouldn't do much.  Now there are Hirail trucks that can be used as locomotives such as the Canadian Brandt.  WWII saw lots of "innovatons" such as duece and a halfs and jeeps.

I am suspicious until I see proof.

"Vince, I’m hurt. That’s me and my bride!😂"

Ooops!

briansilvermustang posted:

 

 

 

 

 

          here's one for you Lee...

 

 

Thanks Brian I love it! You always come up with something.

Ed. Great dump truck pic! Thanks for posting.

Patrick. Another great set of pics Thanks for posting. 

Brian. I knew you would come up with something 

          camping out train watching... 

 Two of my favorite things Brian thanks for posting nothing like hearing  A locomotive airhorn late at night 

I have to second  this post'.. I don't see any sand boxes??? 

Would like to know some more about the third picture, Is this a good photoshop?  Tractors are slippery at best without a trailer, thats why you have concrete ballast boxes when pushing or using a non fifth wheel trailer AND thats with rubber tires.  Steel on steel with no weight wouldn't do much.  Now there are Hirail trucks that can be used as locomotives such as the Canadian Brandt.  WWII saw lots of "innovatons" such as duece and a halfs and jeeps.

I am suspicious until I see proof.

John

love that sword Peterbilt dump rig thanks for posting 

QG I think your on to Brian 

I found another Matchbox 1937 International, so l wonder who made a school bus body in 1/48/43?  I have only seen one, and that may have been Tootsietoy?  Squared-off modern bus bodies won't work..

Does anyone know where I can get a 1/48 - 1/50 GMC Crackerbox, day cab preferred.  GMC Cannonball sleeper cab, GMC 630, or whatever the tractor is in the attached pictures.

Parts sources besides Don Mills.  Loads I got, even the locomotive.  Trailers I can get by with.  Tractors are killing me.

I have some space on my layout to add some larger trucks, tractors, trailers, etc., but I'm concerned about size and scale. Thinking about starting with something simple, like the attached tractor trailer from DD in 1/43 scale (which looks like a good price), but I'm concerned that it might look too large for O gauge and the buildings and structures on my layout.

Thoughts about scale and size ?

https://www.diecastdirect.com/...oductCode=NR16303-RD

Thanks in advance.

I have some 1/43 trucks and in my opinion they are just too big, I keep them on display as trucks, not with the trains.  I use 1/48 or 1/50 with the trains maybe a 1/53 or 1/55 if it's something I really want.

Automobiles and pickup trucks you are just about stuck and have to do the best you can.

The model you are referencing is a New Ray and if scaled out, I think you will find it even bigger than 1/43.

I can't tell you the topic name, but scale ratio's concerning trucks - including New Ray have been gone through with pictures.  Give the search function a shot.

Gray

That’s a GMC 630 see the the  small pick up Cab the 700- 850 has a bigger and wider cab. No one makes a cracker box  Mark Savage did back in the 80s I know one person who has one and he won’t sell it I’ve tried. I have a couple resin  GMC cannonballs but don’t want to sell them there very rare. Rick Manz made several 1/48 resin trucks in the late 80s. I think Herb Dekes has some of his trucks look him up maybe he can help. I hope you have deep pockets to deal with herb. 

NHVRYGray posted:

I have some 1/43 trucks and in my opinion they are just too big, I keep them on display as trucks, not with the trains.  I use 1/48 or 1/50 with the trains maybe a 1/53 or 1/55 if it's something I really want.

Automobiles and pickup trucks you are just about stuck and have to do the best you can.

The model you are referencing is a New Ray and if scaled out, I think you will find it even bigger than 1/43.

I can't tell you the topic name, but scale ratio's concerning trucks - including New Ray have been gone through with pictures.  Give the search function a shot.

Found it - very interesting - I guess I'll have to re-think that purchase.

Thanks 

NHVRYGray posted:

Does anyone know where I can get a 1/48 - 1/50 GMC Crackerbox, day cab preferred.  GMC Cannonball sleeper cab, GMC 630, or whatever the tractor is in the attached pictures.

Parts sources besides Don Mills.  Loads I got, even the locomotive.  Trailers I can get by with.  Tractors are killing me.

 

I model 1943, so modeling Moss Movers taking ET&WNC #12 to Blowing Rock wouldn't make sense. But man, what a model that would make!

For years, Moss had billboards in the region showing artwork depicting that move. I remember as a kid, seeing a badly faded one and my folks first told me how 12 got up there...

I want one of these busses badly. If anyone made a mode of this type of bus, I'd pay almost any price to get one, to make it into this very bus.

Hampton, Tennessee, within sight of the ET&WNC tracks, in early fall of 1941:

Yup...a circa 1940 Dodge schoolbus would work, too.  I rode to school on a circa 1940 Chevy bus driven by my uncle.  I need two, one for a schoolbus, and one to bash into a railbus.

colorado hirailer posted:

Yup...a circa 1940 Dodge schoolbus would work, too.  I rode to school on a circa 1940 Chevy bus driven by my uncle.  I need two, one for a schoolbus, and one to bash into a railbus.

As far as I can tell, nobody makes a pre-war US-made school-type bus in O scale. If they did, they could almost name their price.

NHVRYGray posted:

Does anyone know where I can get a 1/48 - 1/50 GMC Crackerbox, day cab preferred.  GMC Cannonball sleeper cab, GMC 630, or whatever the tractor is in the attached pictures.

Parts sources besides Don Mills.  Loads I got, even the locomotive.  Trailers I can get by with.  Tractors are killing me.

 

Revel 1/48 Chevy 1 1/2 ton cab on a scratch built chassis ?

Lee. That’s one cool bus. I will keep my eyes open for one. 

I moved some vehicles around last week. Enjoy the pics 

Thanks Harley Rider

While the grill is different and the hood too short, that's about as close as there is.

I've got plenty of Corgi B Macks, may have to make a sacrifice for a frame.

Don Mills will get the detail parts.

Richie C. posted:

I have some space on my layout to add some larger trucks, tractors, trailers, etc., but I'm concerned about size and scale. Thinking about starting with something simple, like the attached tractor trailer from DD in 1/43 scale (which looks like a good price), but I'm concerned that it might look too large for O gauge and the buildings and structures on my layout.

Thoughts about scale and size ?

https://www.diecastdirect.com/...oductCode=NR16303-RD

Thanks in advance.

 

Richie,

I find if you keep all the same scale vehicles on the layout (1:43) for instance, they look just right.  If you mix 1:50, 1:48, and 1:43, the difference is very noticeable.   I keep the same sizes in groupes, and they blend well. Trucks though in 1:48 verses 1:43, and especially 1:50 are significantly different.  I find most 1: 43 Tractor Trucks are closer to 1:40 and are very large and look out of place alongside their cousins'...  

I'm with Quarter Gauger here. Even slight differences in scale are noticeable. If you keep the same scales grouped together, most people won't notice the difference.

Wanted to share my latest find to everyone.  

SHAPEWAYS

3D printing has been talked about on numerous topics.  I was thinking about my sought after GMC 630, Cannonball and others and I thought about printing and I remembered Shapeways.

Their search isn't too friendly but I found cabs and complete trucks for a GMC Crackerbox, GMC Astro early and late, Dodge L1000, Mack Superliner, Ford L9000, various Pete's and KW's and more parts than you could imagine.  LOTS to spend money on, most fairly reasonable.

Big designer names to look for Model Mechanic, MadAboutCars, Dennys 3d classic trucks and implements.

If anyone does come across a GMC 630 or Cannonball please post, as I said their search isn't too friendly.

Now I have even more places to spend money on than my train sources.

Latest project in works - McLean IH Transtar with a Ragtop trailer.  Will post when finished.

This is addictive - I need to to get back building the layout!!!!

There are also a lot of train detail parts there as well.

Gray

Nice pic Brian thanks for posting 

Gray. I don’t know if you missed my post on the Cannonball Jimmy or Ignored it but I have some Cannonball Jimmys in resin I told you to try Herb Dekes. If I decided to sell one I’ll let you know 

Thanks Lee, I missed until this AM.  I tried to find Herb Dekes (or Deeks) on the net, but was not successful.  If you have a contact or a web site I'd appreciate the help.

Per my previous post looks like Shapeways has some items worth exploring.  3D printing is the new casting??

Quarter Gauger 48 posted:

Richie C. posted:

I have some space on my layout to add some larger trucks, tractors, trailers, etc., but I'm concerned about size and scale. Thinking about starting with something simple, like the attached tractor trailer from DD in 1/43 scale (which looks like a good price), but I'm concerned that it might look too large for O gauge and the buildings and structures on my layout.

Thoughts about scale and size ?

https://www.diecastdirect.com/...oductCode=NR16303-RD

Thanks in advance.

 

Richie,

I find if you keep all the same scale vehicles on the layout (1:43) for instance, they look just right.  If you mix 1:50, 1:48, and 1:43, the difference is very noticeable.   I keep the same sizes in groupes, and they blend well. Trucks though in 1:48 verses 1:43, and especially 1:50 are significantly different.  I find most 1: 43 Tractor Trucks are closer to 1:40 and are very large and look out of place alongside their cousins'...  

All the cars and pick-up trucks currently on my layout are 1:43 scale (sample pic attached) and they work pretty well with the existing buildings and structures, but I want to dip my foot into larger tractors and trailers and needed to get a sense of what scale would integrate well with what I've already got, especially because I'd be buying on-line and don't want to end up with something too large or small that doesn't work well.

Thanks

Richie C. posted:

Quarter Gauger 48 posted:

Richie C. posted:

I have some space on my layout to add some larger trucks, tractors, trailers, etc., but I'm concerned about size and scale. Thinking about starting with something simple, like the attached tractor trailer from DD in 1/43 scale (which looks like a good price), but I'm concerned that it might look too large for O gauge and the buildings and structures on my layout.

Thoughts about scale and size ?

https://www.diecastdirect.com/...oductCode=NR16303-RD

Thanks in advance.

 

Richie,

I find if you keep all the same scale vehicles on the layout (1:43) for instance, they look just right.  If you mix 1:50, 1:48, and 1:43, the difference is very noticeable.   I keep the same sizes in groupes, and they blend well. Trucks though in 1:48 verses 1:43, and especially 1:50 are significantly different.  I find most 1: 43 Tractor Trucks are closer to 1:40 and are very large and look out of place alongside their cousins'...  

All the cars and pick-up trucks currently on my layout are 1:43 scale (sample pic attached) and they work pretty well with the existing buildings and structures, but I want to dip my foot into larger tractors and trailers and needed to get a sense of what scale would integrate well with what I've already got, especially because I'd be buying on-line and don't want to end up with something too large or small that doesn't work well.

Thanks

 

Richie, is that Greyhound bus 1:43 or maybe actually 1:50?

Ron

Richie, found the image I was looking for.

In this image the autos are 1:43 but the trucks (except panel) and graders are 1:50 scale.

Hope this is of some help.

Ron

Pretty sure it's 1:50 - it's an MTH Railking item, which describes it as "near scale proportions". It looks a little small compared to the 1:43 cars.

https://mthtrains.com/railking/spotlight/10_2016/g

Howdy Everyone,

Here is a North Carolina State Trooper Dodge Charger I just shipped to LEO.RET who is one of our forum members that I have custom built police vehicles for previously. Hope you guys like it.

Chief Bob (Retired)  

PRRronbh posted:

Richie, found the image I was looking for.

In this image the autos are 1:43 but the trucks (except panel) and graders are 1:50 scale.

Hope this is of some help.

Ron

That does make it clearer - thanks, Ron - love the REA stake truck and highway patrol car.

PRRronbh posted:

Richie, found the image I was looking for.

In this image the autos are 1:43 but the trucks (except panel) and graders are 1:50 scale.

Hope this is of some help.

Ron

I like the model A Fords, May I ask who made them?

Pokey

pokey493 posted:

PRRronbh posted:

Richie, found the image I was looking for.

In this image the autos are 1:43 but the trucks (except panel) and graders are 1:50 scale.

Hope this is of some help.

Ron

I like the model A Fords, May I ask who made them?

Pokey

Pokey, they are both by Athearn.

Ron

PRRronbh posted:

pokey493 posted:

PRRronbh posted:

Richie, found the image I was looking for.

In this image the autos are 1:43 but the trucks (except panel) and graders are 1:50 scale.

Hope this is of some help.

Ron

I like the model A Fords, May I ask who made them?

Pokey

Pokey, they are both by Athearn.

Ron

Thank you, they will definitely be on my list of vehicles to buy.

Pokey

"I like the model A Fords, May I ask who made them?"

Henry Ford

Joke, joke joke! No rudeness intended! Sorry, Man, but I just couldn't help it.

Vincent Massi posted:

"I like the model A Fords, May I ask who made them?"

 

Henry Ford

 

Joke, joke joke! No rudeness intended! Sorry, Man, but I just couldn't help it.

You made me smile. I just spent the day working on my ‘31 model A Ford pickup.

Pokey

Guys thanks for posting I think this is the most  activity this thread has seen for a long time and I appreciate you supporting it 

Brian.  Thanks for the pic that’s some cool looking Photoshop 

Bob.  Once again you out done yourself just when I pick out my favorite one you come up with another one I think this one is my all-time favorite thank you very much for posting it 

Gray. Can’t wait to see that corn binder ragtop when you get it done.  Be careful when buying from shape ways sometimes they hire programmers who doesn’t know a thing about the dimensions or the looks of a subject I’ve seen some of their work and is very disappointing so be careful plus you have to deal with the lines in the product trying to sand these lines out of the product can result to diminishing the fine detail that once there  unless you get the high dollar ultra plastic one good luck 

Well I ordered a Crackerbox, will be awhile before it gets in plus the build.

We'll see how things work out, you never know until you try,  Never even thought about bashing truck models until about a year ago.

Everyone will see the results no matter how they come out.  Hopefully OK

Gray

Hey Lee,

When a modeler of your skill set says it’s good, it has to be good.   Thank you for your encouraging comments.   However, just when you think you have seen your “all time favorite” this one appears.  This one started out as a completely different unit, (that’s a story all by itself).  A set of Ohio State Highway Patrol decals and a few LED’s later and presto this is what you get.  This unit has 16 individual LED’s of various sizes which produce the lighting effect seen here.  Also, there are 2 separate circuit boards located under the hood and trunk which independently control the blue and red LED’s.  BTW, this one is MY favorite and will have a prominent place on the layout.  Thanks again!

Chief Bob (Retired)

Bob you are unbelievable when it comes to these you achieve something I could never do. I envy your work and always have I honored you post your work here on my thread. Keep those Emergency vehicles coming. 

Gray

you are right but I just can’t see throwing good money at bad. I was afraid you were going to buy from this designer he also designed this one in 1/32 that someone castes in resin let’s hope yours will be different but I have my doubts. Here’s some reference pics of the 1/32 one it is way off 

lee drennen posted:

Bob you are unbelievable when it comes to these you achieve something I could never do. I envy your work and always have I honored you post your work here on my thread. Keep those Emergency vehicles coming. 

Lee,

By the same token you accomplish things that I cannot do.   That's what makes this a GREAT Hobby.   We are all driven by the accomplishments of people we admire to try to do just a little bit better for ourselves!   Thank you again my friend!

Chief Bob (Retired)

An assortment of vehicles on my layout.

WAROK: Nice views of vehicles you have, especially the big trucks, and the campers in the last photo. The silver one on the left looks like the EM-50 Urban Assault Vehicle from the movie "Stripes"

Rusty

Lee Drennen, these two pics are for you.  Yesterday at the North Carolina Transportation Museum (NCTM) in Spencer, NC (old Southern Shop's) they hosted a three prong event.  "national Train Day", a toy train show and the "Antique Truck Historical Society" show.  Saw this as I was walking to the Backshop.

Wish I had the time (actually ENERGY) to walk through the hundreds of older trucks , mostly tractor/trailers that were on display.

Ron

PRRronbh posted:

Lee Drennen, these two pics are for you.  Yesterday at the North Carolina Transportation Museum (NCTM) in Spencer, NC (old Southern Shop's) they hosted a three prong event.  "national Train Day", a toy train show and the "Antique Truck Historical Society" show.  Saw this as I was walking to the Backshop.

Wish I had the time (actually ENERGY) to walk through the hundreds of older trucks , mostly tractor/trailers that were on display.

Ron

Thanks Ron for taking the time to post that for me. I used to love taking my old Autocar to those truck shows but like you it’s getting harder to walk around all that and work on my truck. Glad you have fun 

Warok. Thanks for posting I like that crane I think I bought one of those last winter. Also like the KW T-800 wide nose and that Oshkosh Great pics 

As for pre-war school buses, a bus plant in the south, that l think is now closed, was selling O scale models of its first mid-20's Model T Ford school bus.  I sold a case of them in train shows some years ago, but it is too primitive for my purposes. Do not know if they are still available, but doubt it.

PUFFRBELLY posted:

Howdy Everyone,

Here is a North Carolina State Trooper Dodge Charger I just shipped to LEO.RET who is one of our forum members that I have custom built police vehicles for previously. Hope you guys like it.

 

 

Chief Bob (Retired)  

Another beauty'... Bob'... Love it'  

 Click on the > guys'...

My latest rework and what it came from, prototype and model.

McLean Tucking out of Winston Salem NC.  IH Transtar, typical LTL carrier no frills.  

Tractor is an Ertl Transtar, repainted and decaled, frame shortened, windshield wipers relocated to bottom of windshield and de-fancied from the owner operator version it came as (shown) to an LTL carrier, Don Mills spoke wheels replacing the chrome Budds.  It's not exact, but gets the point across.   

Trailer is a Weaver repainted and decaled with a actual canvas ragtop, tie strips and the tie ropes sewn on.

I was concerned about the tractor and thought the trailer would be no problem, boy I got that backwards.

Don't blink too long, that fancy IH Transtar pictured in the opposite lane is due to become another NC LTL carrier, Johnson Motor Lines.

Gray Lackey

Nice Gray

I guess I better get going on my LTL Carolina Carrier I’ve been holding out on 

 That is a great looking piece of equipment'.. I would guess your road is a asphalt shingle.  It makes the scene realistic.  Nice work all the way around'.. Gray'.. 

My "road" is a piece of cardboard with a very liberal coating of cheap black paint sprinkled with reclaimed coal from an aborted hopper load while wet.  The paint markings are pre cut scotch masking tape.

I never thought about a shingle, would have been much simpler.

I must say, I use shingle samples I got in Lowe's.  They look very similar to your road.  So, it did come out good in spite of the work required.  I also use them on actual roofs on certain scratch built structures I build...

John

thanks for posting what a beautiful Mack of course I’ve never seen a ugly Mack truck before

lee drennen posted:

John

 I’ve never seen an ugly Mack truck before

Obviously, you have never worked at the Marlboro Paper Mill in Bennettsville, South Carolina.

Wow, that is a beautiful Mack'.. Nice color'....

Gift from The Old Man, circa 1964 or so...

PD. Thanks for posting that’s a nice car 

Vincent. I would have to be pretty bad to be a ugly Mack  

Thanks guys for keeping this going I know it’s not much but we’re almost on page 20. I would never dreamed that anyway I’ve blowed up some pics hope you enjoy them

While not my pic do have two of these tractor/trailers.  The intent was to have one wandering the roads and the other spotted behind the local McDonald's delivering.

Ron

Now this, Ladies and Gentlemen, is about the sharpest-looking station wagon I have ever seen. Assuming that it IS a station wagon. 

Is that a 1939 Olds or Buick? Who made the model and is it available? 

Thanks

That is a 1939 Cadillac series 75 Imperial sedan. Years ago (1970s) a friend of mine had one of these that had belonged to Warner Brothers Studios.  A massive beast of a car!   Doug

PRRronbh posted:

Neat looking rig.

I know many of these models are fantasy-based, so I wonder if this was a type of truck you'd really see on the road with this paint and marking?
Note the more modern McD's logo on the doors.

Not knocking the rig, just wondering. It really looks cool.

p51 posted:

PRRronbh posted:

Neat looking rig.

I know many of these models are fantasy-based, so I wonder if this was a type of truck you'd really see on the road with this paint and marking?
Note the more modern McD's logo on the doors.

Not knocking the rig, just wondering. It really looks cool.

I am pretty sure you are correct. I remember red Mc Donald's trailers  but not that art work or much art work either.

Ron

Checking the web, I found McDonald's trailers, but no McDonald's cabs.

McDonald's might not have owned the trailers--renting advertising space on the sides of trailers is a common practice.

PRRronbh posted:

I know many of these models are fantasy-based, so I wonder if this was a type of truck you'd really see on the road with this paint and marking?
Note the more modern McD's logo on the doors.

I am pretty sure you are correct. I remember red Mc Donald's trailers  but not that art work or much art work either.

Such a great looking rig, I was hoping it wasn't a fantasy truck.

Still, it's your layout, Ron, and your world. In your layout's 'reality', McDs had lots of them, right?

Ron, I remember when McDonald's hit "Over 4 million sold." And I remember a TV commercial in which the guy sent his butler to McDonald's with a dollar bill. The butler returned with a hamburger, milk shake, and fries, and had to give back the change.

Vincent Massi posted:

Ron, I remember when McDonald's hit "Over 4 million sold." And I remember a TV commercial in which the guy sent his butler to McDonald's with a dollar bill. The butler returned with a hamburger, milk shake, and fries, and had to give back the change.

Vincent, I think it was 1956 my much older brother tried to convince my parents buying into and opening a Mc Donald's.  He had the info sheet.  Yes one sheet of paper printed on both sides.  It described the two different sized building footprints with cost of under 35K plus the land.  How the windows would be staffed with only young men, no girls/woman to prevent guys from loitering at the sales windows.  Boy I wish I still had that one sheet of info.  More over my parents and I wish they would have made the investment at the time.  But I recall parents could not see making money selling a 15-cent burger!

Ironically in about 1959/60 a Mc Donald's opened up caddy-corner from our business located on a four-lane state highway.  So for about 13-years (until we sold the business) we were daily reminded of that mistake.

Ron

Thanks guys for the complement on the Caddy it’s one of my favorite too Vincent. I think White Box or White Rose I’ll look tomorrow when I’m at the layout. 

I think McDonald’s always had out side distributors delivered to the store like now GSF golden state foods delivers now and there trailers advertise for McDonald’s. Who says back in the 1960s when this B61 Mack made it could have pulled one of those  trailers. Rim thanks for posting. 

In 1963, my sister took a job with McDonalds.  My entire family would drive over to 'Sunrise Highway, in Patchogue, we would get hamburgers, fries and shakes free, because she was an employee that worked the window and took the orders.  Everyone paid in cash, and she made change by hand.  I remember other folks would look at me funny, as I was always selected to pick up the order.  In those days, you paid when it was ready.  Not up front like today'...  I think I vaguely remember seeing a McDonalds delivery truck one time when we were there.  This photo of the trailer has brought back memories of that time....  And boy was it a good time'  The burgers were delicious... Of course I haven't had one in over 35 years .   The last time I got one for my Grand kids, they didn't look too appetising '..... 

QT. Thanks for posting that story. The nearest one to me when I was a kid was 40 miles away we went there maybe 3 times a year boy what a treat to get to go to McDonald’s now in my hometown where I grew up and love currently there’s 3 McDonald’s with in 3-5 miles 

PRRronbh posted:

While not my pic do have two of these tractor/trailers.  The intent was to have one wandering the roads and the other spotted behind the local McDonald's delivering.

Ron

Pardon me for bring this forward but have some internet research info (for what that is worth !) to add.

The art work refers to "Over 100 million sold"  the search found that the 100 million mark was hit in (edit)  1958.

MTH's model of the classic McDonald's :

This sign states 1-million sold.  According to one source  this would be 1955 Ray Kroc's first McDonald's opened in Des Plaines, Illinois.  But another source states the original sign  as 15-million.

Just some perspective(s).

Ron

Does this thread include 1/50 scale busses?  I have an extensive collection.

Fred Lundgren posted:

Is that a 1939 Olds or Buick? Who made the model and is it available? 

Thanks

This red/white '39 Cadillac is for sale on eBay for $30. shipped from Russia. In other colors as well from various sources. Made by Whitebox. Although Diecastdirect sells many Whitebox models ($30.), they do not offer this one.

Joe Hohmann posted:

Fred Lundgren posted:

Is that a 1939 Olds or Buick? Who made the model and is it available? 

Thanks

This red/white '39 Cadillac is for sale on eBay for $30. shipped from Russia. In other colors as well from various sources. Made by Whitebox. Although Diecastdirect sells many Whitebox models ($30.), they do not offer this one.

Thank you so much.

I just bought it.

Fred

ICRRE8 posted:

Does this thread include 1/50 scale busses?  I have an extensive collection.

Yes!! Please post them we would like to see them we have bus fans here