O Scale Motor Vehicle Chronicle August 1

Some of my 1:53's.

Thanks for this topic! I wish there were more trucks from the 1960-1990 era available at modest prices. I like the New Ray Mack Bs. Their van trailers are close to 40' at 1/48. They sit too high, almost like gravel trailers, but this is not hard to fix.

Older Ertl items include a '50 GMC cabover and a '60 Chevy conventional, though their wheels are a little too low-profile. Again, changes to the wheels and axle height can help mask differences in size.

Tractors I'd like to see include:

- Mack R-series conventional

- Ford Louisville conventional

- International Transtar cabover

All of these were very common in the '70s and '80s, and many of the Macks are still around today, at least in the Northeast. 

Again, thanks,

Alan

I model late '50s early '60s and I buy the 1/43 scale trucks because they look much better next to the 1/43 cars. What I have a problem with is a large variety of 1/43 tractors only. I have 3 TOFCs with two Milw Rd pups on each for a total of 6. I found 4 tractors that are cartage lettering on the doors which I use as independent truckers pulling my pups. I still need two more which I will get sooner or later. Brooklyn has a nice selection but I can't see paying over $100.00 for one tractor.

I stumbled across this photo earlier today, thought I would ad it.

Love the trucks. Wish there were more in 1/43

The 1/50 and 1/53 work well in the backgrounds for forced perspective.

Diecast Direct a forum sponsor is a great place to look for trucks. They have some nice new cab overs modern that look pretty sharp. But a good variety of all scales and vintage years of trucks and price ranges.

The one I like the best is the Corgi MacDonald's truck great colours and detail.

 The Lionel offering of the SP truck was missing details that the 1st gear model has. Pity the Lionel trailer did not have matching wheel sets and the trailer pin does not fit in the truck 5th wheel opening so sits a little high need to drill it out to fit.

The Lionel trailer detail is nice and they offer many different types.

 The red and white stripped White Road Boss is by Neo 1/43 and I have it paired with the New Ray trailer as seen in the top post from the set with the Mack.

The Red Diamond Reo (also available in Blue) is from Neo 1/43 with an AMT trailer I built.

The Orange and red modern trucks are 1/53 very nicely detailed got these from 3000 toys who have a good selection of trucks.

Yellow Cat and Blue trucks 1/43

The light blue Chev 61 truck is from Premium X 1/43

Early good year truck is larger scale

Lots of various modern trucks in 1/50 and 1/53 very nicely detailed.

Starbucks truck that was offered one Christmas is nice.

An the blue truck is paired with a Weaver silver Trailer ?? 1/48?.

Corgi International cab over heavy hauler

AMT had some nice 1/43 scale kits as shown on the box are and also a Peterbilt tow truck. Got a few old ones to build when time.

I've gotten kind of used to the !/50 scale trucks and buses next to and in the same traffic jam as 1/43 scale cars.  Somehow, they all look "right" when you view them as a group.  In fact, I picked up a couple of 1/48 scale cars and they actually look small when parked next to the undersize trucks.  So, I've used them in more distant scenes, away from the primary parking lots.

As I've mentioned, my era is 1950 and I don't let anything newer than that on the layout.  Makes collecting vehicles for the layout a bit more of a challenge, however, I have found a number of cars as well as trucks that do reflect this time in history.  Within the last 3 or 4 years there have been a few new trucks from about 1950, some of which now occupy prominent places on the layout.

Paul Fischer

Neo has been doing a few new trucks in 1/43 but lots of cars.Wonder perhaps if many of us write in with requests to them or any other 1/43 diecast manufacturer we might see some more offerings. 

Love this truck. Almost makes me want a McDs hamburger.

Love the Doodlebug. I have one in 1/32 that will probably end up as a Standard Gauge flatcar load, but I've never seen one in 0 scale. 

Frankly I like 1:50 tractor trailers better than 1:43.  A 1:43 Kenworth big rig is BIG!  1:50 trucks are still a lot bigger than 1:43 cars and not quite so overpowering of the scene.

I've converted a number of Corgi and Speccast to 'Streets.  There is nothing as cool as seeing big rigs running on the roads. The UP 18 wheeler is my favorite: it is so good looking, and the cab still has its opening hood with model engine and opening doors and interior.  

I failed utterly to puzzle anyone for long with the Pegaso a while back.  Maybe this car will.  It was made in much much larger numbers.  I put it next to a Mini to show its size.  

While I have tracked down many of the 1940 and prior truck models that exist, such as the L Model Mack, then the brands become many, and include Mack, White, IH, Federal, Indiana, Hewitt, Pierce-Arrow, Packard, Hendrickson. LaFrance, Corbitt, GMC, Reo,  Moreland, Sterling, Nelson LeMoon, Dodge, Studebaker, Autocar, Diamond T, Walter, Fageol, FWD, Oshkosh, Kenworth, with the first diesel (Cummins)  in 1932, Schacht, Brockway, Gramm, Peterbilt, Marmon-Herrington,etc., etc.. and there is nary a model of but very few of them.

I have a DMP model of this beauty.

Now there is a postwar car I never heard of: Gutbrod (German for "good bread")

Superior.  Were any imported?  I remember seeing one two cycle German brand,

name escapes me, that was parked in front of a Kansas farmhouse years ago , and that I still think was "purt fur" from home.

Back to the trucks, here are a few of mine: 

 Chevy, about a 1930 or 1931

A nice Diamond T from Texaco

Now this is the delivery truck you want to see pulling up in front of your house!

This one is great for Milwaukee Road fans - Fairbanks Morse was on the Milwaukee main line between Milwaukee and Chicago.

A beautiful decoration job for the famous Miller "Girl in Moon" logo. A pity about the coin slot, but the truck could be placed so the roof is concealed, or I could make an overlay for the roof. I also think it's a bit undersized, maybe 1/64, but if I put it in the background that just gives me a little forced perspective.

Another one for the Milwaukee Road fan. These were made in lots of railroad paint jobs, as well as Lionel blue and orange.

A Mack for Mobil

An REA canvasback. I think this one is pretty scarce, at least I've only seen one or two others like it.

REA 1934 Ford

One of my favorites. Vernor's Ginger Ale was iconic when I was growing up in Detroit, and I still keep some in the fridge. 

THE truck I always relish seeing pulling up in front of my house, was called by a family

member, "the little brown truck".   However, they came too late for my era, so, I too,

have tracked down, and kitbashed a few, REA trucks.  I know I don't have that 1934

Ford box version above. Is that an "L" model Mack on that Mobil tanker?  Have not

seen an "L" version, but the tank looks familiar.  That looks like an "L" on the front

of the Vernor's truck.

Yes, the Vernor's and the Mobil are both Mack LG, if I remember the boxes correctly. The REA 1934 Ford box truck was a special run for the Milwaukee LRRC. They may still have some available on their website.

Southwest Hiawatha, who makes that F-M truck, and how big is it? That's the Mack R from my wish list.

Just for reference, here's a Louisville and a Transtar COE:

Thanks! I've found a couple for sale for less than $20 a pop. The cabs look good though the tires seem a little too "knobby." I might keep one as a straight truck and make the other into a semi.

Here's something I just got. It's called the Willys Rural. From the side it's Willys, the front is modern. I think the 1:1 was made in Argentina or Brazil.

Bob

That is cool!  A Willys Rural.  Nice.

I found one of these new (diecastdirect) but they say that even though listed and marked as 1:43 it is actually closer to 1:64 - only 4.5 inches long.  

Anyone have this?  Is this true?

I want a good one in the 1:50 to 1:43 range enough I will scratchbuild one if necessary, but that would take along time. 

Lee

4-1/2" sure does seem undersized to me. I haven't seen that version, but I have a larger Ertl model, which appears to be about 1/32 or 1/34. It is 8" long and 2" wide, and has a coin slot in the top. Here are two photos of it next to a 1/43 Rextoys Cadillac, which is 5-1/2" long and 1-3/4" wide. According to an article I found on the Web, the prototype was 26 feet long, which would be 6-1/2" at 1/48.

Oh, and I just noticed the price for the little one on Diecast Direct. Takes your breath away. There are two on Amazon.com for about $12 each, shipped. One is $5.00 plus 6.50 shipping, the other is eleven something and is eligible for Amazon Prime shipping. The big ones like mine can easily be found in the $10-15 range.

I really would like to find a correct-sized 1/43 or 1/50 Doodlebug. The one I have will probably wind up as a Standard Gauge flatcar load. 

Where is OGR forum member TRUCKTRAIN??? This thread is right up his alley.

One of the first trucks I added to my collection is the vintage McDonald's truck seen in the above photo. It really is a beauty. When I set my layout up I plan to park this truck behind my MTH/RK vintage McDonald's restaurant. Now if only I could find an O-scale Ronald McDonald figure!

There is a similar vintage truck that also I adore -- a yellow Coca Cola truck. It looks awesome as well.

Other classic trucks in my collection include: 7-Up, Budweiser and Greyhound Van Lines (I was inspired by Trucktrain to pick that one up -- it appears in almost all of his YouTube videos). I am on the hunt for an ERTL Eskimo Pie tractor trailer.

I need to dig out some goodies and post some photos. Just about everything is still in storage in the garage. 

Check out this YouTube video from OGR member Trucktrain. Watch closely to see his amazing collection of cars and trucks:

Yes, I also found the 1:36 model (bank) which you have.  It is too big.  

I have downloaded detailed plans for the Daimond T Doodelbug (Oh I love the internet) and am going to make my own in 1:43 scale.  It will be aabout a inch or a bit more shorter than ERTL bank.  The truck was not actually that large - 26 feet long.and only about 6 feet high. 

Sad how few pre-war larger trucks they make in that scale...

Yes it is.  It is hard to find big trucks from the 30s and early forties.  

I went ahead and ordered the 1:36 Diamond T Doodelbug from Amazon.  Since it was really a small truck, it might not be that big, and thus fit in enough that I can go ahead and convert it to 'Streets and run it.  It would surely save me gobs of time. 

Well, my Doodlebug arrived.  The photo on Amazon was clearly of an ERTL 1:36 model (the seller listed it in the 1:36 diecast section and their photo showed a model with a slot as for a bank on top as ERTL's 1:36 model has, sitting on a keyboard, so you could plainly tell it was a bit over 8 inches long).  

But this is what arrived; pretty, but just a bit under 4.5 inches long, or about 1:70 scale.  No slot, missing some details in the photo.  It will be useful to look at when building a 1:48-1:43 model, but not much else

Oh..boy...1/70th.  I was often frustrated by Ertl (and most other mfrs.) wondering

what they used to pick scales for MODEL vehicles?  Dart board, shotgun, roulette

wheel...? To a price point or to a size they think a kid can clutch in his paw? Rude,

bad model toys, any scale.  1/87th as I saw made in Canada in all these HO prewar vehicles I drooled over in a show, makes sense...there are a lot of people in HO.  Europe is 1/43rd, the third LOGICAL size/scale is 1/48th-1/50th.  G scale stuff makes

sense, if the market is big enough, and if they can pin THAT down, but whimsical?

When I was a teenager off on a tangent of building 1/25th auto models, I then thought

one brand, other than AMT, was weird, for they made them in 1/24th.  There is a lot

of weird in model vehicles...and I don't buy that, would think it loses a lot of sales,

and the logic escapes me..

Here's one I've never seen:

Does anybody make 1/50 to 1/43 mid fifties Honey Dipper truck?

A quick search suggests that it's Australian.

Here's another oddball...

That must be the Elio's granddad!!!:

http://www.eliomotors.com/