Truck bodies

[bparrish]

I'm starting this because of several conversations, both here on the forum and elsewhere, over the last weeks.

I met Darryl of Interaction Enterprises, BC Canada, at the PNR convention last month in Salmon Arm BC.  I had discovered his truck box modifications among other things recently.  Darryl shows up on this forum as Rail and Tie.............. I think...

Some days ago Darryl put up a question here about Cab Over Engine (COE) trucks and what might be out there that could be put into production.  There were several replies.

I purchased two of his radio tower kit and one of the hardware wagon.  The radio kit is designed to fit a Jordan company Packard C cab truck and the hardware kit is to fit a Jordon company 1925 Model T flat bed truck #238. 

Unfortunately after 50+ years Jordan is going away.  My hopes are that Tichy or Dave Rygmyer at NWSL considers picking up this line but as yet the jury is still out.

I did have a model T kit but I didn't have Packards.  Sooooooooooo  I decided to see what else might work.

From a thread elsewhere on this forum I noted that the frame rails of prototype trucks have been relatively standardized for a very long time. That is, what ever utility box a company might want to put on a truck is not a big thing and in fact the major truck manufacturers have long marketed trucks with bare frame rails and are routinely sold as that for what the buyer might want to do with the truck.

Shown below is a 1933 Mack truck cab and frame rails.  It's heading to the paint shop this afternoon.  I'm not sure who the manufacturer of the kit is as I got it in a plastic zip lock baggie and no instructions. 

I know that Walker kits are now offered by Wiseman Models and those trucks can be easily modified to receive one of Darryl's body kits. 

I'm sure also that the Sylvan model trucks could be used.

With that.... Let's see where this thread might go.

see ya
Bob

[NEMMRRC]

Hi,

I used to drive a COE Ford when I worked at FedEx. It was a good truck tractor. It had fantastic visibility. It was a chore climbing into the cab though.

I've seen Darryl's kits. They are cool.

Jaime

[Raymo]

Bob, your Mack CJ is one produced by Alloy Forms. The cab is interchangeable with their BM Mack kit. They took over the kits from Lee Town in the 1980's and simplified the kits with common parts. The grill was changed as were the wheels and tires. Sheepscot wheels & tires are a substitute for the plastic wheels & tires.

[Raymo]

My mistake about the cabs. Even though they look the same they're not.

[bparrish]

So the truck is back from the paint shop.  I let it gas out for about a week before I do much to them.

The glass is microscope slide covers.  There are all manner of stuff for glass but in my opinion, nothing looks like glass except glass. 

There is still a lot of detail stuff to do and the radio shack is only part way done so I have another week on this before done.

see ya
Bob

[Zephyrus52246]

Looks good, Bob.  Did you cut the glass on a curve for the windshield, or is it just glued behind the pillars.  It's hard to tell.

Jeff

[Rail and Tie]

Looking good Bob.  Hope you had a great time on your BC trip and the Selkirk Express Show.  It was great meeting you.

Can't wait to see how this turns out for you.

Darryl

[bparrish]

Jeff.......

That's right it's hard to tell...................  it's supposed to be.  All of the glass is behind.

What is cool about glass is that when it is in place you can't tell how thick it is and you really can't tell in HO that the glass is behind the pillars.  Slide covers are about .010" thick so there is not much there but they cut really easily with a machinist's carbide scribe and a straight edge.

In these early vehicles all glass was flat so that also makes things easy.  After WWII it's a little tougher when curved glass came along.

I use styrene glue to hold the glass in.  You need to be careful about strings but you can't use super glue as when it kicks off it turns the glass blue and can't be washed off.  It's even worse if you accelerated the super glue.

I long ago gave up using any clear sheet plastic as it is never quite clear of marks and it curls with glue and time. 

What makes all of this work is that glass gives a really flat reflection that cannot be duplicated.

see ya
Bob

[bparrish]

Well Darryl........... you are there ! ! !

Since the demise of Jordan I'm experimenting with different truck chassis here in this thread and hopefully you can keep marketing your radio shack with recommendations for what other truck models might be used. 

Recall that I two of the radio shacks from you. The other is going on a Walker (now Wiseman) Kleiber truck chassis that I will start next.

The one I'm building now is for a modeler friend who is also a ham radio operator so I'm changing the signs and putting his call sign on it.

Yep.... It was fun to visit with you.
 
see ya
Bob

[bparrish]

I'm adding some photos of trucks by other manufacturers so as to allow thinking of what to do in the absence of Jordan Models.

Below are photos of several options.

I'm building two additional chassis that are suitable:  First is the White Tank truck available from Wiseman models in Kentucky.  I spoke with Keith earlier today and he is OK with using is name here.

This model comes with the cross ribs that may or may not be used.  Darryl provides those ribs as a laser cut part.  If you chose to use the cast cross ribs there are four studs that locate the tank that must be filed off.  The dimensions of the base of the house is a perfect fit.

The first two photos show the house base on the truck frame as provided from Interaction Hobbies.





The next photos are use if you want to use the provided cast cross members.

[Rail and Tie]

Great idea Bob!  I sure wish there was a way to insure that the Jordan molds could find a home before they are lost to history.  I would even consider purchasing them if they were available.

I think the wiseman truck frame is going to look great!

D

[bparrish]

So here are the photos for the 37 Mack CJ

I took some liberties both with the kit as supplied by Darryl and the lettering.

I'm building this for a modeler in town who is called by most, Mac.  He is also, in addition to a model railroader, a ham radio operator hence the name and call sign..

As we are getting short on Jordan trucks here is one that Darryl's kit goes onto with almost no modification.

see ya
Bob

[NEMMRRC]

A traveling radio station. Was that allowed ?

Jaime
Narrow Gauge Convention photos

[Rail and Tie]

A traveling radio station. Was that allowed ?

Jaime
Narrow Gauge Convention photos

YUP for shortwave which was not all that common at the time.

[MAP]

Great build you have going on here!