Trainworx N scale Vintage Fuel Tankers

[James Costello]

Cost prohibitive?  When a tiny model truck costs fifty bucks, I expect nothing less than perfection.   Why do we always have to lower our standards and accept the unacceptable?   The longer I live, the more of this I see all around me.

Accept the unacceptable? Oh, please....

[peteski]

Accept the unacceptable? Oh, please....

I guess you don't feel as strongly about your hobby as I do.
Trainworx has build up their reputation as the manufacturer of the best quality N scale model trucks.  Their model prices reflect that. It is sad to see the quality of their models declining.

[wazzou]

I mean, they have surpassed the cost of nearly any Freightcar that I'm aware of in our Scale and are not far behind the cost of a lower end Diesel Locomotive.
I think most that had bought either of those items and deemed the quality less than expected for the cost would not be out of line for expressing their opinion.

[James Costello]

I guess you don't feel as strongly about your hobby as I do.

Clearly I'm not getting my knickers in a twist over the appearance of n scale tires.... but that's also a dangerous personal assumption you're making.

Trainworx has build up their reputation as the manufacturer of the best quality N scale model trucks. 

They have? I must have missed all the self-grandizing advertisements that Trainworx does... Their ads are amongst the blandest in the industry - have they failed to delivered something they advertised?

I mean, they have surpassed the cost of nearly any Freightcar that I'm aware of in our Scale and are not far behind the cost of a lower end Diesel Locomotive.
I think most that had bought either of those items and deemed the quality less than expected for the cost would not be out of line for expressing their opinion.

Yeah for sure, but the automatic reach to cutting corners, and as such - profiteering, without any regard for the state of the industry for the last 5 years and Trainworx's situation is disappointing considering how often such topics are discussed here. 

[wazzou]

I don't think the majority or even more than one comment claims they've cut corners, moreso that the quality just doesn't appear to be the same despite the increasing cost.

[peteski]

Clearly I'm not getting my knickers in a twist over the appearance of n scale tires.... but that's also a dangerous personal assumption you're making.

I just voiced my opinion about a decorating step that they missed.  As for you, I stated "I guess you don't feel as strongly . . ."  I was guessing, and I don't see that being in any way dangerous.  Or are you planning on coming over and beating me up? 

They have? I must have missed all the self-grandizing advertisements that Trainworx does... Their ads are amongst the blandest in the industry - have they failed to delivered something they advertised?

They have build up their reputation for quality models not by self-grandizing advertisements, but by the word of mouth, and high praises from modelers in online forums and on social media.   I was one of those modelers, and now I'm voicing my disappointment in what to me seems like a step in the wrong direction.

Yeah for sure, but the automatic reach to cutting corners, and as such - profiteering, without any regard for the state of the industry for the last 5 years and Trainworx's situation is disappointing considering how often such topics are discussed here.

Ok, that was just an assumption on my part, but whatever the reasons are, IMO it is a step backwards.

[thomasjmdavis]

I may be wrong, but shouldn't there be some assemblance of door relief below the main tank body?
Access to pumps, hoses and other assorted paraphernalia?
It is a nice touch, with the early Peterbilt logo on the hood sides and the early Pete grill.
Very era appropriate.

Not sure about doors on the lower sides, but a lot of the photos of tankers from the 50s show them with the lower skirting removed all together (or some tankers did not have it when new?).
for example
https://chuckmanchicagonostalgia.wordpress.com/2009/11/25/sinclair-fuel-tanker-truck-bigane-3596-archer-ave-1950s/#jp-carousel-11762

It would appear that the skirting was removed (or not installed) to facilitate access to the machinery underneath. 

Wondering if someone who has theirs could show a photo of the back of the trailer?  Are there doors or connections on the rear of the trailer?

[carlso]

Back in the mid '60's - '70's, I delivered product out of the Chevron Albuquerque Terminal. I have seen these style trailers and also we had 2 1,500 gallon tankwagons that had this style tank body mounted to Ford chassis's. In the case of the bobtails the tank had an open air compartment on the curb (passenger) side of the tank that housed a meter and the quick disconnects and internal valve assemblies. No doors for  proper ventilation purposes. On the rear end of the tank just past the wheel well there was a compartment with doors for placing hoses, downspouts, and a pipe wrench or two. As I recall, there were a couple of compartments on the street side as well but nothing on the tail end. As a matter of fact the rear had a small cargo box so we could take a couple of drums or cartons of oil to customer. These bobtails were, at top marker, only 1,500 gallon capacity and were used to deliver to the Mom/Pop stations and commercial accounts. Back in that day there were over 100 Chevron stations in Albuquerque. Try finding one now.

The larger trailers were built to suit the customer but most had compartments. I have some photos, if I can find them after all these years.

Oh BTW, how many of you can remember seeing a bobtail delivering in your town with a chain attached to the tank and left long enough to bounce around on the ground as the vehicle moved down the street? Them was the good ole days! Did I mention that I turned 80 last Saturday.

Stay well,
Carl

[peteski]

Oh BTW, how many of you can remember seeing a bobtail delivering in your town with a chain attached to the tank and left long enough to bounce around on the ground as the vehicle moved down the street? Them was the good ole days! Did I mention that I turned 80 last Saturday.

I believe this was to electrically ground the tanker (since tires are rubber insulators).  I still see similar chains on contemporary fire engines.

Happy Birthday Carl!

[cfritschle]

Wondering if someone who has theirs could show a photo of the back of the trailer?  Are there doors or connections on the rear of the trailer?

Tom,

No doors or connections on the rear of the trailers, just some really cool graphics!

[thomasjmdavis]

Thanks Carter.  I am not quite so far along as Carl, but I am old enough to remember those graphics on the back end of tankers, and the grounding chains

So, happy (belated) birthday, Carl!

[mu26aeh]

Found this on the interwebs, showing the doors open.  Photo title says 1950 White Tractor

From : https://www.autopaper.com/1950-white-truck-with-highway-tanker-trailer-press-photo-0019-shell-oil.php

[Mark5]

Did I mention that I turned 80 last Saturday.

Stay well,
Carl

80 and still in N. Excellent!  (happy birthday!)

Mark

[tom mann]

Should I invest my retirement savings in these?

[MystrJBL]

I think a cabover suits those Fruehauf trailers better.
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