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HO vehicles - coal trucks

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  • Member since
    March 2011
  • 6 posts
Posted by LVGuy on Wednesday, December 2, 2015 6:46 PM

Frank, thanks for the info. I should have mentioned in my original post that I'm not too up for building a kit. Assembled is what I need. I appreciate your input.

  • Member since
    March 2011
  • 6 posts
Posted by LVGuy on Wednesday, December 2, 2015 6:43 PM

Thanks, George. I found this very helpful.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Chamberlain, ME
  • 5,084 posts
Posted by G Paine on Wednesday, November 25, 2015 10:36 PM

Go for it Richard, it sounds like a neat project!

George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch 

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Central Vermont
  • 4,565 posts
Posted by cowman on Wednesday, November 25, 2015 5:33 PM

I am thinking of a little kitbashing project for my coal truck.  I have a '23 Mack High-Lift from Jordan 360-227. which I am thinking of attaching to a CMW '41-'46 chassis.  Haven't put the pieces next to each other, so not sure how it's going to work. 

Just an idea.

Have fun,

Richard

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Chamberlain, ME
  • 5,084 posts
Posted by G Paine on Wednesday, November 25, 2015 5:06 PM

GCLaser makes a coal / grain truck body for a Classic Metal works R-190 truck. It probably would fit the Athearn Mack or most any tandem axle straight truck body as well. Basically, you remove the CMW body and install the dump body in its place. They also make a couple of kits that mount the old body on a platform as a storage unit or something similar.

http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/292-12234

the platforms
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/292-12363
or
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/292-12362

I built of of these a few months ago, along with the Bulk Ice platform. They are good kits, with some fragile wood parts like the handrails

The basic message here and above is you probably will not be able to find much in the way of a built coal truck. Even if you see somethng like Hot Wheels, it will need some work to make it look like a real truck, not a toy.

George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch 

  • Member since
    January 2010
  • From: Chi-Town
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Posted by zstripe on Wednesday, November 25, 2015 4:11 PM

LVGuy,

While there are dump trucks RTR out there, they are usually of the European flavor or too new for what You seek. On the other hand...if You want to try Your hand at building some kits...there are many...not for the light handed modeler though, some require some skill and a lot of patience....also helps to have the proper tools, medium cut jewelers files for metal and diamond for resin, along with different size drill bits. Sylvan has a large selection of dump trucks, single & tandem axle, from the 40's to 60's era. They are Polyeurethane resin kits. Alloy forms, who is controlled by SS LTD now, has white metal casting kits, large selection of dump trucks, Macks, Fords, Autocars, Diamond Reo's. Don Mills also has some even different style trucks, that many of You probably never seen before....Bullnose Kenworth, as an example. Those are also Polyeurethane resin kits....not cheap though. Sheepscot also, but I don't care for them, mainly because, they are solid cast resin cabs, window's have to be painted on.

A couple pic's:

First with Br. Elia's Bros. Is a Alloy forms white metal casting dump truck 12ft tandem axle, with A-line wheels and tires with brass axles, A-line etched mirrors, full interior, that I scracth build.

Second is another Alloy forms kit of a 69 Diamond Reo tractor, pulling a old Lee Town tri-axle dump, which is also a white metal casting kit. SS LTD makes that dump trailer now. I have quite a few more dumps made, just showing a taste.

Some sites to view:

http://www.amerproto.com/sylvan.htm

http://scale-structures.com/af300/

http://donmillsmodels.com/product-category/187-scale-truck-construction-kits/

Need help with any info...feel free to send Me a PM.

Take Care! Big Smile

Frank

Member ATHS Northwest IL. Chapter.

 

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Miles City, MT
  • 375 posts
Posted by P&Slocal on Wednesday, November 25, 2015 12:43 PM

Mike couldn't have said it better. Yes, home coal delivery declines, but large load increased. In my home area of western Pennsylvania, large load coal trucks and coal mining spiked in the late 60's and into the early 70's. Ti-Brook Industries was behind my house and they were busy as all get out putting their dump bodies on tandem and tri-axle chassis'. As a kid I remember the R Model Mack being real popular, but there were a few Diamond Reo's and some Autocars around too. Ti-Brook was bought by Trail King Industries, Inc. just to acquire the Ti-Brook dump body line.

Maybe Shapeways has something along the line of the tandem or tri-axle large load coal trucks.

Robert H. Shilling II

  • Member since
    September 2003
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Posted by mlehman on Wednesday, November 25, 2015 11:55 AM

Lumpy's will work for home delivery. Yeah, it was on it's way out, so little in new equipment for that.

However, for haulage, large coal trucks were a growing segment during the same time. This was partly at the expense of the RRs, as it no longer made sense to extend sidings to small mines, they wanted unit trains more and more. So coal hit the road more.

If you don't mind building, Sheepscot Scale Products offers a number of items you'd likely find useful. Good folks.

http://www.sheepscotscale.com/site/search/node/dump

Mike Lehman

Urbana, IL

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    May 2007
  • From: North Myrtle Beach, SC
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Posted by Beach Bill on Wednesday, November 25, 2015 11:34 AM

Take a look at Woodland Scenics,   part #5555 "Lumpy's Coal Company".   Coal was starting some decline in the '60s as many homes converted from coal heat to natural gas, and trucks used by coal companies often were kept running for years after their normal service life.

Bill

With reasonable men, I will reason; with humane men I will plead; but to tyrants I will give no quarter, nor waste arguments where they will certainly be lost. William Lloyd Garrison
  • Member since
    June 2014
  • From: Ohio
  • 231 posts
Posted by josephbw on Wednesday, November 25, 2015 11:31 AM

By the 60's most small coal dealers were still using equipment they purchased back in the 40's & 50's. Classic Metal makes some nice dump trucks.

 

Joe

  • Member since
    August 2013
  • From: Richmond, VA
  • 1,890 posts
Posted by carl425 on Wednesday, November 25, 2015 11:05 AM

Athearn made some Mack "B" and "R" dump trucks in HO that are pretty nice.  My understanding is that the "R" is good for 1966 or later, but the "B" started in 1949 and were still in use throught the 60's.  You still see a "B" on the road now and then.

You can almost always find an "R" or two on ebay.  The "B" doesn't come up as often.

I'm assuming since you didn't say otherwise that price is no object. Smile These usually approach $50. 

I have the right to remain silent.  By posting here I have given up that right and accept that anything I say can and will be used as evidence to critique me.

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    March 2011
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HO vehicles - coal trucks
Posted by LVGuy on Wednesday, November 25, 2015 10:38 AM

Does anyone know where I can find some HO scale, assembled USA 60's era coal/dump trucks?

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