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Looking for HO scale 1970s era Dump Truck

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  • Member since
    January 2002
  • From: Loudonville, NY
  • 776 posts
Looking for HO scale 1970s era Dump Truck
Posted by Benjamin Maggi on Monday, July 20, 2020 10:10 AM

Hey gang. I am not an expert on cars or trucks by any means, but I am building a combination boxcar/flatcar similar to one used by a local shortline. They cut down the boxcar and then would drive a dump truck onto it, with the bed pointing off the flatcar portion. When the truck filled with gravel tipped its bed, the gravel spilled onto the tracks. They also used a tanker truck to help weed control, also mounted on the flatcar.

I would like a model of an American HO scale dump truck to include on my model, and a Hot Wheels car won't cut it. Can anyone suggest anything, preferable RTR as I am not really an experienced vehicle modeler?

Thanks.

Modeling the D&H in 1984: http://dandhcoloniemain.blogspot.com/

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  • From: Mpls/St.Paul
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Posted by wjstix on Monday, July 20, 2020 12:02 PM

A quick trip to www.walthers.com and doing a search on "HO dump truck" came up with over 100 hits. Keep in mind that a) truck design hasn't changed that much over time, b) the dump truck could be 10-15 years old, so could be c.1955 vehicle, and c) don't be put off by "foreign" trucks from Wiking or Preiser etc. Go by appearance, some European trucks look similar to US trucks.

Stix
  • Member since
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  • From: Bakersfield, CA 93308
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Posted by RR_Mel on Monday, July 20, 2020 12:04 PM

ConCor makes a long dump.  It was an amber color before I painted it flat black.



I made the gravel load from Arizona Rock & Mineral Balast.



Con-cor HO Truck and Long Dump Palumbo #002016.

They also make several regular dumps #10240.

https://www.con-cor.com/product-category/ho-scale-models/vehicles-ho-scale-2/



Mel


 
My Model Railroad  
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/
 
Bakersfield, California
 
I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
 


  • Member since
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  • From: Milwaukee WI (Fox Point)
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Posted by dknelson on Monday, July 20, 2020 12:07 PM

Dump trucks seem pretty durable so presumably a dump truck used as you propose would not necessarily need to be right off the showroom floor. So your era can be fairly wide, 20 years or more.  Athearn had some nice Mack trucks in their line but they are discontinued - still worth searching for.  Mack used to keep the same model truck in their line for decades so even a truck that looks "old" might be one they sold in 1950 and in 1965.

The Walthers Scenemaster Internationals look a bit too new to me for 1970, but the Herpa Kenworth or Mack tri drive might do

Woodland Scenics vehicles are "generic/sorta-like" models, deliberately, to avoid licensing issues, but one of the their generic dump trucks might be good for your purpose.  785-5550 in the  Walthers catalog  

I'd have to think Classic Metal Works has or had something that would work

Dave Nelson

 

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Posted by m horton on Monday, July 20, 2020 12:42 PM

Classic Metals has both a "41 Chevy" and a "60's ford dump truck, either would work.

  • Member since
    January 2002
  • From: Loudonville, NY
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Posted by Benjamin Maggi on Monday, July 20, 2020 12:42 PM

Thank you all. I guess I didn't consider that it wouldn't need to be brand new, but you are likely right.

Modeling the D&H in 1984: http://dandhcoloniemain.blogspot.com/

  • Member since
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Posted by azrail on Monday, July 20, 2020 6:10 PM

Atlas makes the full size 70s Ford LNT 9000 which can kitbashed into a dump truck. There is also the old Lee Town white metal kits.

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  • From: Canada, eh?
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Posted by doctorwayne on Monday, July 20, 2020 7:03 PM

This Jordan Model A is likely too old and too small for your requirements, but if you can find a suitable truck cab-and-chassis, it's pretty easy to build a dump box...

...and Sylvan's Maple Leaf (Chev) can be built as a flatbed or with low...

...or high sides...

There's a pretty-good selection of dump trucks to be found HERE

Wayne

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  • From: Central Vermont
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Posted by cowman on Monday, July 20, 2020 10:25 PM

I go along with the idea of an older truck for such a use.

I think it was Athearn that had a series of Ford C trucks.  Can't remember if they had a dump truck or not.  The model was produced for a number of years starting in the late 50's or early 60's

Have fun,

Richard

  • Member since
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  • From: Milwaukee WI (Fox Point)
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Posted by dknelson on Tuesday, July 21, 2020 11:48 AM

One more thought, and I found this yesterday by accident while searching for something else.

In the June 1995 Model Railroader, "Workshop" page 22, then-staffer Keith Thompson shows how, yes, Hot Wheels trucks if re equipped with scale truck wheels from A-Line, Athearn, Kibri or Herpa, and details from Atheran or Herpa such as fuel tanks and rear view mirrors, re painted to unify the colors and treated with DullCoat, look darn good and are fully usable in HO (which he says the Hot Wheels automobiles are not - wrong size).  The pictures of a Hot Wheels Peterbuilt dump truck among others are very convincing, as is a garbage truck and cement mixer.  Changing the wheels makes a huge improvement.

Same issue of MR a modeler named Mike Mitchell mentions a line of toys called Road Champs; he replaces the frame and wheels and adds some details and the results look very good.  He found them at K Mart and Toys R Us.  Maybe that line has disappeared -- 25 years is a long time! - but there might be other toy trucks that are close to the right size.  It could be a fun and frugal project and heck, after 25 years maybe Model Railroader would regard it as a publishable article if you take some in-progress photos!

Dave Nelson

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Posted by azrail on Thursday, July 23, 2020 10:23 PM

I doubt if the Ford C was used for dump trucks, because the dump body overlaps the cab, and it would interfere with tilting the cab to get access to the engine

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