Truck (vehicle) Question - model

[jimmo]

The previous owner thoughtfully(?) glued the cab to the frame, and the front of the bed, but I managed to pry the bed loose.  Two cuts, reverse the section with the wheels, and glue everything back onto the bed.  No measuring, just make it "look right".

The previous owner didn't thoughtfully glue the truck together, Roskopf did. Whatever you do, don't try to get the glazing out of the cab. I totally trashed one of mine trying to get it out because it was installed crooked.

[jimmo]

For anyone wanting an interesting farm truck, here's one I like.  I kitbashed a very similar one from a CMW cab, a shortened Athearn stakebed and rear frame, some GMM ladderstock, and a lot of styrene scraps.  Naturally, mine also got the repainted fender, as that's part of the character!

http://www.confluence.org/confluence.php?lat=24&lon=107
Photo by Targ Parsons, July 1, 2004

Looks like a Russian farm truck to me. What country are you modeling?

[daniel_leavitt2000]

I'm going with China. I think I see some Chinese markings on the front of the license plate.

[jimmo]

Are you still doing clear casts by request?  When that Ford PU is ready I'm wanting a couple dozen at least for autoracks + on layout.  And trucks like the Loadstar that will find placement @ industries close to viewers would welcome clear casting as well.  Or separate windshields...

Sorry, we are not taking special resin requests at this time. But we are working on making them with hollow cabs, glazing and interiors. Way better than clear cast resin.

[nkalanaga]

Jimmo:  OK, I'll quit muttering about the previous owner.  Seriously, it wasn't a big deal, except that I wanted to repaint the cab.  The second truck, with a different bed, had no glue at all.  Not only did the cab come apart, but the glazing fell out on its own.  The bed was still glued on, though, but very poorly (crooked), and it came apart easily.

That truck's from China, and may be Russian, or a Chinese copy.  It can be found at 24 north latitude, 107 east longitude.  The body details may change, but I've seen similar "contraptions" both in the Northwest and here in Appalachia.  Farmers are much the same worldwide.  I model Montana, 1974.

[sirenwerks]

Sorry, we are not taking special resin requests at this time. But we are working on making them with hollow cabs, glazing and interiors. Way better than clear cast resin.

Hollow cabs, glazing and interiors on the '67 Ford pick-up?! Hurray! When will they hit the eBay store shelves?

[jimmo]

Hollow cabs, glazing and interiors on the '67 Ford pick-up?! Hurray! When will they hit the eBay store shelves?

No specific release date yet, I'm still working on getting my pressure pot blended into normal production. I have over 60 items in my catalog and pressure casting requires that I remake all of my molds.

The Pete 377 will be the first model with hollow cab, etc. (unless I get a big order request from someone requiring vehicle for autoracks or something).

[sirenwerks]

The Pete 377 will be the first model with hollow cab, etc. (unless I get a big order request from someone requiring vehicle for autoracks or something).

I have three bi-level auto racks ready for those pick-ups, at ten each rack, plus I could use 1/2 dozen more to start for non-load scenarios.  Is 36 a big order?  PM me with cost and details if so.

[nkalanaga]

Here's what the two International's look like with the shorter wheelbase.  Still "toy-like", and obviously not modern models, but much more typical of American trucks.

http://imageshack.us/a/img41/9856/internationaltrucksside.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img32/3730/internationaltrucksangl.jpg

Then we have two more trucks.  The first is another from the collection I bought a week ago.  This is a Magirus tractor, of unknown origin, as there are no identifying marks anywhere on the truck.  The only reason I know it's a Magirus is the logo cast on the front.  It may be from RMM, as it has separate wheels, unlike the Wiking trucks, and feels more substantial than the Herpa models I've seen.  With a little work it's usable for my construction company.  My only question, probably best answered by a European member, is "Where is the exhaust stack?"  Do European semi trucks have the exhaust under the frame, like many American straight trucks, or is it just missing?

http://imageshack.us/a/img585/3566/magirustractorlsltraile.jpg

Finally, just for some fun, lets see if anyone can identify the trailer in the last picture, and the tractor in this one.  They ARE related!  The trailer in this one was scratchbuilt many years ago, and, yes, the stake is rather crooked.  One of these days I'll replace it, as it's nothing more than a piece of copper wire.

http://imageshack.us/a/img37/3750/lsltractorscratchtraile.jpg

[jimmo]

Another easy thing you can do to help domesticate the Loadstar COE is to shorten the rear of the fender. Most US versions only went a little ways past the cab.

[nkalanaga]

Probably a good idea, but I'd have to touch up the paint on the light blue one.  It was painted with Tamaya spray paint, a can I bought to see if it was usable for GN Glacier Green, and I don't have a jar for brushing.  Considering that the rest of the truck isn't accurate anyway I'll just leave it. 

The dark blue one seems to be cast in that shade, so it would be easy, but then they wouldn't match.  I'll have to think on that one.  The beds are solidly glued on, which could also complicate things.

Thank you for the comment, though.  It's good to know if I ever find another of these, or if another company decides to make a modern version.  CMW, maybe, since they already do other International trucks?

[jimmo]

The Int. COE I'm doing will most likely be a Cargostar, which was a slightly wider cab with a Transtar-style grill. I haven't seen a lot of interest in the old Loadstar COE, not like I have with the conventional.

[RAILCAT]

No specific release date yet, I'm still working on getting my pressure pot blended into normal production. I have over 60 items in my catalog and pressure casting requires that I remake all of my molds.

The Pete 377 will be the first model with hollow cab, etc. (unless I get a big order request from someone requiring vehicle for autoracks or something).

What changes do you need to make to the molds for pressure casting?

[jimmo]

What changes do you need to make to the molds for pressure casting?

Since all of my old molds were made without any vacuum or pressure, I found out (the hard way) that they are full of bubbles. Not usually a problem when casting without pressure, but as soon as you pressurize them any bubbles near the surface of the image form either little balls of resin on your casting where the bubbles in the rubber popped, or teats where the bubble collapsed creating a sort of a tiny cone shape on your casting.

Since I don't have a vacuum chamber, an associate advised me to do what he does and pressurize my new molds after pouring them until they cure. I also switched to Smooth-On Mold Max, which is a more durable compound than what I was using. This solved all of my pressure casting problems. It's going to take some time to get everything changed over but the outcome is well-worth it for bubble-free resin castings. My rejects have diminished considerably.

[RAILCAT]

Since all of my old molds were made without any vacuum or pressure, I found out (the hard way) that they are full of bubbles. Not usually a problem when casting without pressure, but as soon as you pressurize them any bubbles near the surface of the image form either little balls of resin on your casting where the bubbles in the rubber popped, or teats where the bubble collapsed creating a sort of a tiny cone shape on your casting.

Since I don't have a vacuum chamber, an associate advised me to do what he does and pressurize my new molds after pouring them until they cure. I also switched to Smooth-On Mold Max, which is a more durable compound than what I was using. This solved all of my pressure casting problems. It's going to take some time to get everything changed over but the outcome is well-worth it for bubble-free resin castings. My rejects have diminished considerably.

Thanks for the info. I made a presssure vessel and using some old molds found that same problem.