Companion for my little pup (trailer)

[Old Busted Hotness]

About a year ago I built this trailer:

http://www.scalemotorcars.com/forum/images/imported/2009/07/140.jpg

Recently decided to make another so I can pull a double. Maybe a triple somewhere down the road. But for now, a companion is in order.

Started by building the rear suspension from brass:

http://www.scalemotorcars.com/forum/images/imported/2010/06/164.jpg

The airbags are semi-functional. There's a couple foam washers in between the brass tubes, and wrapped with contoured foam from a transmitter steering wheel. They might be a little over-scale, but it beats spending big bucks for the aftermarket bags that are out there. Anyway, they're somewhat hidden by:

http://www.scalemotorcars.com/forum/images/imported/2010/06/165.jpg

the DOT bumper.

Real trailers don't have a frame, but the various Tamiya components are made to go on one, so I used some 24" sections of C-channel aluminum to connect the legs, kingpin and suspension:

http://www.scalemotorcars.com/forum/images/imported/2010/06/166.jpg

The frame will be hidden by the trailer sides.

Since I already have one rather old and beat up trailer, I'm building this one as a brand-new job, since doubles rarely match. And rather than cut up another Intercontinental Express sticker sheet with its somewhat dated graphics, I hired an actual graphic artist to do me a new logo on vinyl.

Waiting on my huge sheets of styrene to arrive, and then I can really get moving on this one.

[Brizio]

Looks good!

[46SuperDeluxe]

Look'in good...I'm anxious to see what you come up with for a con-gear. I never could back a set up worth beans but I'll bet you can. You will be all set to haul some "dispatcher brains!" keep up the good work!

[hot ford coupe]

Gorgeous work as usual OBH. 1clap1

[Old Busted Hotness]

Look'in good...I'm anxious to see what you come up with for a con-gear. I never could back a set up worth beans but I'll bet you can. You will be all set to haul some "dispatcher brains!" keep up the good work!

I've got a scratchbuilt A-train dolly that will hook them up nicely. And it won't back up more than a few inches before it gets all codlocked, just like the real thing. You can see the dolly in my video:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUVMMRkr9cc

Dolly makes its appearance at 4:43

I'll have to do another video when this is finished ;';;';

And I don't have heavy enough springs to haul dispatcher brains. I remember going thru the mega-construction zone in Chicago, got within 10 miles of my destination and the QC beeps: Turn around and drop it at the yard up in Wisconsin. [color=red]*[/color][color=red]*[/color][color=red]*[/color], why not drop it at the yard in Gary, since it's closer and I'm almost there anyway? Nope, Wisconsin. So I got to do the construction zone all over again.

Meh, I got paid by the mile so I guess it's all good.

[Brizio]

Cool video!!!

[46SuperDeluxe]

Your video was awesome!!! It's just like watching the "real thing." when you put that set together it will look real with the one weathered one and the new one! Brings back memories!

[Old Busted Hotness]

Some progress in the last few days:

http://www.scalemotorcars.com/forum/images/imported/2010/06/197.jpg

Paint, door frame, mudflaps

http://www.scalemotorcars.com/forum/images/imported/2010/06/198.jpg

Taillights, dock bumpers

http://www.scalemotorcars.com/forum/images/imported/2010/06/199.jpg

Detailed landing gear

[Old Busted Hotness]

Well that was a productive day:

http://www.scalemotorcars.com/forum/images/imported/2010/06/204.jpg

http://www.scalemotorcars.com/forum/images/imported/2010/06/205.jpg

http://www.scalemotorcars.com/forum/images/imported/2010/06/206.jpg

I cheated a little bit: The door doesn't open, since this will be the lead trailer.

Still got a few details to add, and of course the graphics.

[46SuperDeluxe]

I don't remember seeing too many trailers licensed in California...even in California. California rips owner/operators, and people trying to do business in the People's Republic of California IMHO. How about Oklahoma? I love the rust detail on the latch, however...very true to life. Also neglected to mention that the working sliding tandem in the video blew me away!!

[Old Busted Hotness]

Yeah, I know about Cali, but that's the only tag I had left. I suppose I could do one up on Acme, but they don't have commercial tags. I probably should anyway, the other trailer has a Nevada tag and the tractor's registered in Indiana. Sounds a little dodgy; I was hoping nobody would notice.

[46SuperDeluxe]

OBH...I wasn't trying to bust your chops...just old me blowing off, you do great work featuring subjects that aren't being covered elsewhere. It knocks me out the way that you can prop a few pieces of styrene together and BAM, you nail it. Loved the "Zook" too, considered building a real tintop w/ a 1.6 or 2.0 or VW diesel.

[Old Busted Hotness]

No worries, SD. I enjoy building stuff that nobody else has done. For one thing nobody knows how accurate I am he1he

Some detailey bits:

http://www.scalemotorcars.com/forum/images/imported/2010/06/239.jpg

Dispatch box and registration pocket, some leftover rivets too.

http://www.scalemotorcars.com/forum/images/imported/2010/06/240.jpg

Hmmm... "miscellaneous hazardous material". Could be anything from bug spray to time bombs.

http://www.scalemotorcars.com/forum/images/imported/2010/06/241.jpg

Pulls nice behind the S-series daycab

http://www.scalemotorcars.com/forum/images/imported/2010/06/242.jpg

Gotta stand back pretty far to get the whole train in there.

Outdoor pics once my graphics get here.

[Old Busted Hotness]

A little side project:

http://www.scalemotorcars.com/forum/images/imported/2010/06/253.jpg

The old dolly (a cobbled-together last-minute abortion) is out, say hello to the new dolly. 100% styrene except for the axle stubs and airbags.

http://www.scalemotorcars.com/forum/images/imported/2010/06/254.jpg

The airbags are an old Losi touring-car insert wrapped around a couple pieces of styrene tube. Tailights are Axial.

http://www.scalemotorcars.com/forum/images/imported/2010/06/255.jpg

In place the new dolly looks much better than the old. But now I have two dollies. Anyone up for a triple? gringrin

[hot ford coupe]

It's a pleasure to watch this stuff being built. Amazing detail.

[Old Busted Hotness]

My graphics arrived today! gringrin

http://www.scalemotorcars.com/forum/images/imported/2010/06/281.jpg

http://www.scalemotorcars.com/forum/images/imported/2010/06/282.jpg

Thanks to Freq E Tag for the awesome job 1thumbup1

And here's the pair of 'em:

http://www.scalemotorcars.com/forum/images/imported/2010/06/283.jpg

http://www.scalemotorcars.com/forum/images/imported/2010/06/284.jpg

Looks like I need to weed the driveway again 1gramps1

[Old Busted Hotness]

More progress on the third:

http://www.scalemotorcars.com/forum/images/imported/2010/07/1.jpg

Hub odometer

http://www.scalemotorcars.com/forum/images/imported/2010/07/2.jpg

Rust and signage

http://www.scalemotorcars.com/forum/images/imported/2010/07/3.jpg

Another latch

http://www.scalemotorcars.com/forum/images/imported/2010/07/4.jpg

More Axial taillights. They look like LED clusters.

http://www.scalemotorcars.com/forum/images/imported/2010/07/5.jpg

Trailer depot is starting to get a little crowded.

[46SuperDeluxe]

Just a thought, not a criticism...what about some red and blue airlines w/gladhands (or something that approximates a connection) and some electrical pigtails? This has been great...transportation is the backbone of our economy, and too many people don't realize what those trucks are doin on "their" highway. Taxes on transportation pay the lion's share for upkeep on their highway. Everything that you see in a store to buy, got there by truck. enough 'politics' from old me. One more comment since you mentioned it...Cali doesn't allow more than 2 24' pups in a set, so imagine my amazement when I got out of the state and saw "triples" or a Rocky Mountain set, or those multi car highway ore freight trains that they allow down in Australia!

[Old Busted Hotness]

The only thing keeping me from putting air lines on is the prospect of hooking them up when I back into a trailer. By nature these things operate at ground level and it's hard enough getting the big gray pigtail hooked up. But yeah, they really should have air lines. Just something that gets left out in the name of convenience.

As for your "politics," that's a big 10-4 1thumbup1

[Old Busted Hotness]

Holy cow! A triple play!

http://www.scalemotorcars.com/forum/images/imported/2010/07/27.jpg

http://www.scalemotorcars.com/forum/images/imported/2010/07/28.jpg

O noes! Injuns! Quick, circle the wagons!

http://www.scalemotorcars.com/forum/images/imported/2010/07/29.jpg

The whole rig drives pretty good, but I need more weight in the lead trailer as traction gets to be an issue sometimes. And yes, it does the triple wig-wag going down the road.

[46SuperDeluxe]

i thought of something else...how about "rookie" dents in the upper front corners covered with metal foil to simulate weatherized tape temporary fixes that never get fixed! Ouch!:)'