Early Piggyback Project 1953-1957 1/4 Scale

[Pacific Limited]

[Pacific Limited]

2 rail converted TOFC Lionel cars are pretty nice.

[Pacific Limited]

[Pacific Limited]

Some progress images of my tarps on a few of the open top trailers.
“Ragtops”


I need to resume this, get to the cables and tie downs









https://www.ogrforum.com/fileSendAction/fcType/0/fcOid/40145252483919200/filePointer/43665862719072525/fodoid/43665862719072512/imageType/LARGE/inlineImage/true/image.jpg

[Pacific Limited]

Hoarding flat cars, Erie, CB&Q, and Wabash leased these F39’s from T.T.X. 1956-1959











I reproduced these in resin, turned out well.

[Pacific Limited]

Beginning the roping stage of some of the tarped open trailers.








I think it makes an excellent simulation of this type of tarp installation.

[Pacific Limited]

Gallery

[Pacific Limited]

Early TOFC 1950s piggyback for forum discussion by Erik C Lindgren Fine Art, on Flickr

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Beginning the roping stage of some of the tarped open trailers.

I think it makes an excellent simulation of this type of tarp installation.

Looks good and really finishes the details. What are you using for the eyelets in the tarp and for the cables?

[Pacific Limited]

So far Martin, it’s just punch a hole and attach the stretchy wire with ACC. I have more refinement I need to do and many many more vans.

[Pacific Limited]

Another possible carrier is West Coast Fast Frieght. Photo reference copyrights Thanks go to Ken Goudy, Stan Holtz, and Hanks Truck Pictures for the reference on another project early 50's tractor trailer.














West Coast Fast Freight had a partnership of sorts with Watson Brothers of Omaha. Often these transcontinental vans were loaded on TOFC.

[Pacific Limited]

SCALE

As we all know it's either 1/50 or 1/43... In most cases it's ok. When it comes to tractor trailers 1/43 is outrageously too big; autos can be fudged a little even though I don't like too. 1/50 is a wee bit small. Unless you set one up next to a locomotive you really don't see it. Truth be known; 1/50 is too small but far better than 1/43.


The following I have researched this is a conclusive list in 1/43-1/48-1/50 of 1940's-1950's era tractor trailers of what you are looking for. Revelll, Lionel, Weaver, and Berkshire Valley all produce trailers in stand alone and as kits.


1/50 Corgi Mack and van sets were made in a variety of liveries.


1/50 Corgi Mack Bullnose and trailer available in a variety of liveries



1/50 First Gear 1955 Ford tractor trailer sets. Lionel later used this tooling in their Piggy Back sets. This is not 1/48.


1/50-1/48 Lionel's Piggyback sets. The Ford tractor was a First Gear die cast 1/50 model as stated above. The trailers are spectacular.




1/48 Revell 1955 Bekins van with Kenworth tractor. A rare collectors item; to date the best stainless steel van ever done in o scales. Mold broke? Was history after 1956 I'm told.




1/48 Revell Mack Mobile Gas Fruehauf tank truck. Still around cheaply as it was remade in the 1990's.





1/48 Revell Honest John Missile carrier. The left over Revell Bekins kit became a flatbed. The fabulous Fruehauf stainless van body is gone.



Some examples of the elusive 1/48 Revell Bekins trailers I have rebuilt and improved and Don Mills Models custom builds.


1/48 Don Mills Models custom built 1952 Mack LT and Fruehauf Stainless 34' van. These are the best 1/48 1950's era tractor trailers I can find. Expensive and beautiful but worth it.




1/50 Spec Cast Mack tractor trailer sets. Available in a variety of liveries.


1/50 Speccast trailers are magnificent and HEAVY!



1/50 Matchbox Collectibles "Birth of the Big Rigs" collection. Three of these are out there. I prefer the Peterbilt.



1/50 Matchbox Birth of the Big Rigs Collection Mack



1/50 Matchbox Birth of the Big Rigs Collection Diamond Rio

To be continued….

[Pacific Limited]

Still ever so slightly continued work gathering trailers and reference.

Back to Ringsby...

1955-1963 scheme I'm told. "rocket" the nice lady at Ringsby gave me the "rocket" explanation was due to the government contracts hauling missiles and later Minuteman Missiles to the silos in the late 50's and 60's. Also is was a dual meaning "rocket freight".

The trouble is this neat scheme requires a vertical ribbed trailer of a unique design not exactly offered by the late Weaver. I could do a trick like another OGR mentioned and place a layer of styrene and add the ribs on my own. I tried it but I'm not happy. Let's look at these old Max Gray US Hobbies trailers.

They look good, and 1/48!




The trailers are almost an exact match. Not as tightly detailed as we are used to today; that can be fixed.

[Pacific Limited]

Some great reference:

https://youtu.be/Id6WSO9lT5A

[Pacific Limited]

More snails pace progress on the mid-late 50's trailers.

The Ringsby "Rocket" trailer got a fresh coat of paint and some new rubber! Taillight and marker lights I think this trailer will be an excellent 1957-1963 epoch steel trailer. It's the shape and length that I am after. These trailers were all unique; no two alike.