Hello model builders,
I’ve been wondering about what to build for the last few months. One plan was to build a 1/24 C-500 tri-axle, Texas bed truck. Another was to try a C-500 tandem/tandem bed truck. Either would be a fun challenge, but both would require the collection of lots of parts and materials, which could get pretty expensive and time consumptive.
So, here we are, not doing either. Instead, I’m going to make a diorama of an old lumber/construction yard, but set generally today. This idea stems from a kit I purchased a couple years ago, which is a Dnepro 1/35 Marmom Harrington, 1 ton, 4x4 pickup - which happens to be very similar to a truck I saw as a kid, with my dad at our local lumber yard.
So the plan is to build a group of old and new vehicles you’d see in a lumber yard, and build a small collection of era specific buildings. I collected some images of old yards:
Above, some old buildings for inspiration and prototypes - which aught to be fun to make - and below, the vehicles I’d like to make:
Starting in the upper left, a 6x6 flat bed; a bed mounted lift truck; and, old Hyster forklift. On the next row, an F-350 with a loggers box bed; an old straddle carrier, and finally, the old Marmon Harrington 1 ton 4x4 Ford.
This will include a few base kits and scratch building. Happily I have parts for most of these languishing in the junk box or stash, except for the forklift. For the fork lift, I’ve ordered a kit but it could take a long time to arrive, while the straddle and bed mounted lift will be mostly scratch built.
I’ve started with the lumber truck, per below, but, of course, mine will be a 6x6:
And to do something like this, easy - mix together parts from a MK.23, M1083, an old Italeri M923, and other remnant parts:
The MK 23 MTVR is a short bed, with independent 6x6 suspension, which is not what I want for a lumber truck. So, I 've made it into a long bed, added the M923 suspension in the rear - which is not ideal for this, as it uses the old Rockwell axles. I’d rather use something more modern with a walking beam or air ride suspension, but that’s the way it is. I haven’t decided on tires and wheels just yet,. Hopefully the stash will provide - I still need to dig a bit more.
I’ve got several sets of resin single wheels, which would be fine for the front, but I’d rather use doubles on the tandem. so the search is on. The Italeri tires wheels are fine, but the diameter is a bit small for my liking, and they’re singles too.
The front leafs and axle are from something else and looks more modern than the Rockwell axles. I used the newer axle on the front because it will be more visible than the rear. I fabbed up some front steering knuckles, so the steering will be posable.
OK gents, thanks for having a look -
Cheers
Nick
Yes, this will be a bit of a design/build project - the plan is to keep going until I’ve had enough of it!
which is good. I like weathering scale lumber and then making scale buildings!
yes, common sense might suggest not doing this - but, one of the big hurdles, in addition to figuring out how to make what I had in mind, was the price for the whole project - wow…a 3d printed truck cab, about $120! plus a donor kit for an engine, resin: tires, wheels, and axles = way too much money for me! In desperation, I reached out to the guy who makes the 3d prints, and asked if he could downsize to 1/35 - and no, he said as small as 1/32 which while close, would look ridiculous matched with detailed 1/35 parts.
