popeye the sailor

I've seen some trailers in HO scale.........pre assembled, but I'm sure there are kits out there. with a little weathering, one could add a touch of realism . today is out 35th wedding anniversary.........I had to work, and we had the younger son and his girlfriend over to do their laundry. they normally eat with us, so I grilled up some burgers. not much of a celebration, but we'll make up for it later. these past two days at work, I have been on the trailer side by myself. my co worker called out, right along with our only tech 3.......since covid, we have dwindled down to a skeleton crew. so it was just Brian and I...and our manager John. it's distraction night....I'd better get moving the kit does have some problems......what kit doesn't?! there is a lack of location pins and tabs throughout the kit, so care must be taken to get the important parts straight. some parts are misshaped, which requires extra fitting before it sees any glue. the joints for the sides and the bottom need to be trimmed to fit. these pictures probably aren't that good, but as it is, the holes and guides for the tandem rails can hardly be seen. two guides are on the last cross member the front two guides can be see on the cross member before the one with the two holes. I used a ruler to insure that they were straight. another thing that I totally got rid of, was the chrome. no shiny bobbles here I de-chromed the whole thing and will rely on metallic paints. I started to assemble the wheels after the rim parts were out of the 'soak'. the landing legs had a lot of mold lines and mis-shapened parts...still in the process of being refined. the tandem was assembled and fed onto the rails to see how it would track. it is supposed to be movable, but there is no real reason why it must be {as a model}. it is tight enough to stay where you put it, but there is no adjustment mechanism to show it locked into position. I may add it.........I'll get into this more when we speak again

really interesting project.........looks well done

hello Ken model train........this would be a bit too big. HO is what.......1:87, or something like that. but even at that scale, you can acheive a lot of detail. I was looking for Wal Mart decals for the other trailer........I guess I'll stick with the Coca Cola decals for this one. I found them in HO and O scales, but haven't seen them in 1:25 scale. I could pass it off as a Wally 'Circus' trailer. I did see a 53 foot trailer kit, but the admiral was not happy with my choice. I hope the log helps or gives you ideas. how about some good 'ole graffitti!!!!!!!!

thanks for the welcome Egilman I will try and make something of the contents......what I see in trailers that the kit leaves out. I should have done an overview of the contents......I could point out some of the shortcomings. I'll just have to point everything out as I go along. I noticed that the title has been changed....did I do something wrong.........I tried to follow what others have done in their titles?! Wal Mart never had any 40 foot trailers...what Fruehauf trailer we have {had} were mostly 53 footers. Trailermobile, Wabash, Pines, Hyundai, and Great Dane are names that we use, although the first three are being pushed out due to age. we are begining to receive newer Wabash trailers.........I pointed out a lighting issue, but the GM doesn't see it as a big deal. since all the lights on the trailer must be lit while on the road, the issue is moot. the timeline that I've found for Freuhauf puts the 40 footer somewhere around the early 50's {they might have produced a shorter version before this}. I didn't see anything about a 48 footer, but by the late 60's / early 70's, the 53 footer rolled out, and has been the staple since then. the picture I showed of the Sante Fe trailer is a 1972....so I dated the model around this time. of course, the trailer is showing some age....it might even be dated 1962. the Freuhauf trailer used the Pro par suspension system, which might account for the airbag at the front of the leaf spring. most other types of suspension has them in the rear. none of the trailers I've seen has backing plates. although trailers with 'wedge' type brakes might have had them. I've never seen this type of brake system...I've been meaning to look them up. the brake system shown here is the s-cam system. the front ends of the shoes rest on anchor pins, fastened by springs. the rear spring can be seen in the rear ends of the shoes......at this end, there are rollers that sit on the s-cam pawl, which gives the system it's name, since the pawl is shaped like the letter S. what I see here are the shoe pad thickness and the condition of it. DOT is 8/32nds..........these are clearly at or below 10/32nds. there is also separation between the pad and the shoe backings, which suggests rust jacking. rust is forming in between and left unchecked, will crack the pad and cause it to be edjected, leaving the condition to be metal to metal.........not good! it has manual slack adjusters that are so old, that the protective sleeve that surrounds the adjustment nut is stuck in the slack {the pop out ring can be seen around the adjustment nut}. we're talking a brake job and new slack adjusters. there is an early type........another type seen on Pro Par systems are called Crusen Bruner {I may have spelt the name wrong here}, which are self adjusting (but only to a point}. they were suseptible to becoming as rusted and jammed up like this type seen here, and a real bugger to remove due to the double clevis pins that connect them to the brake chamber yoke. the brake chamber is another interesting aspect....note that only one hose is connected to it. this is a single stage chamber, capable of releasing the brakes only. braking for the trailer is controled by a valve on the reserve air tank. another type of valve that might be seen on this trailer is called a full function valve. I hated these valves....they were more trouble than they were worth! on a few of the trailers I worked on, I did away with it and changed it over to the two valve system I forget the name of this type of brake chamber, I've always just seen them on trucks. modern trailers use a two chambered chamber......... the front part of the chamber {bolted to the axle} is the service {brake} side.........the back section is called the emergency {release} side. each side is governed by it's own valve....emergency {relay} and the brake valve. the brake valve has evolved to contain ABS abilities and the electronics to send pulses to the truck as it functions. there is a warning light, in the event that there is a malfunction. we even have trailers with disc brakes.....one can really see in there now!!! the wheel seal is fully in view, as well as the brake pads to check for wear. I like the system only because there is nothing to grease........but I hate it because it's a bugger to get the tires off. in this picture, you can see that there is plenty of meat on the brake shoes. the protective rings around the slack adjuster nuts is popped out, doing what it's supposed to be doing while it is still a rust bucket, note that there are multi leafed springs under here. the type used depends on the amout of weight the trailer can carry....whatever it's rated for. there are trailer on the road today with single leaf....and some of them are not made of metal. Buick passenger cars in the 80's had such a spring set up in the rear, made of a plastic that is extremely stiff and can support a lot of weight. the Pro Par system used two types of brake drums........inboard and outboard. inboard drums are bolted to the hub from the back.......outboard drums are slipped on from the outside of the hub. careful not to mix them up........one guy in the shop did it, and after zapp'in up the wheels, found that he couldn't turn the wheels! he found, after removing the tires again, that he had cracked all four drums, due to the clamping pressure of tightening the lug nuts! walk of shame anyone? they didn't fire him, but they definitely weren't happy. yes......you are right on the split rims........if they were found bad in an inspection, they were replaced. but as a rule, you can get a longer life out of them.......close monitoring is key. when I worked at Granite State tire, I did a couple for a company called Knoxland farms. they always did business with us, but it was agreed that we wouldn't do split rims. well........a pair slipped through the cracks, and none of the borthers would touch them. my older brother worked with me, and he took it upon himself to put me in the middle of it...........oh......Den's done them before......he can do them! yea......so I was chosen for the task. it's not bad really......tire casing goes on the bottom part of the rim.........slip in the tube, making sure nothing is pinching it and the stem is sticking out correctly, and then put the outer ring on. I took an air guage and put on an extended air supply hose to the tire and inflated it to 20 - 30 PSI. lightly tap around the ring to insure that it is seated properly {don't stand over it}. I then pushed the assembly under the alignment rack, and finished inflating the tire. the story of what happened to my dad was his own foolishness. he couldn't wait for me to come home {I was at work} he didn't follow what I just outlined and likely inflated the tire to full pressure. putting it on the dump truck, it got jammed, so he hit it with a sledge hammer. the force knocked him a few feet {distance varies} from the truck....the tire was laying on him when mother found him. the account was that she took the tire and sent it rolling down the private driveway {I had to go get the darn thing}. I got the call at work {I forget who called}.......but I told them I would see him after work. "at least I know where he is". when I saw him........I chewed him out, mainly because he deserved it. he got mad, but I reinterated that he would have done the same to me. what's good for the goose....as the say'in goes he had fractured ribs, a broken collar bone, a fractured jaw, and a compound fracture of the lower leg {tibia?} the bone was sticking out of his boot for cry'in out loud! it got fun after that........we'd be working on something in the carport, and dad would come down stairs with his crutches and all..............soon after, mom would show up with the cast iron skillet and shag him back upstairs. she didn't take any guff from him it's kinda condensed, but it gives some insight on the suspension and braking. there is more, but a lot of it pertains to modern trailers. we have some trailer that not only keep the tires inflated, but will adjust the air pressures to maintain 100 PSI. like I told the GM........we have been adjusting air pressures since the dawn of time. what are ya gonna do whe someone comes in and says all eight tires are flat! well folks, we are about to find out.....such nonsense has BEEN going on! last week, we had to disable over 80 trailers outfitted with this faulty air inflation system! Holland, the company that developed this abomination, is trying to diagnose a fix for them. I say send 'em all back..... but I am just a thrawl and carry no weight in making sensible suggestions. we get this system.......given no instruction on how to maintain it.........can't even touch it due to warrenty reasons, and NOW they want us to deal with it!?!?!? oh.....we did get an audio file to listen to, which basically said that we don't need to do anything with it....we don't even need to check the air pressures anymore! oh happy days! I can't wait to hear what we need to do next..........too late to put everything we took off back on..........Holland told us to toss everything out once they find the fix, they are going to send us kits to get them up and running again. my word........look at the time........time to hit the hammock. see.........go off the radar for a spell, an' when I git back, I'm like a blink'in chatty Kathy! haven't even gotten into what I've done with the model yet....... well, that means that I'll have to make it a point to get my duff on here tomorrow and get some progress going! a lot of it has been experimental.......but it is in getting the parts to fit good. I'll explain more when I post the next session. perhaps I'll have something juicy to tell yas about work

I took a picture of the page for you, but in reviewing it, I though it came out bad. once transferred to my computer, I saw that it didn't look as bad as I thought........so here it is. it might give you ideas for code lettering. not sure what the V5 / V7 and the V15 / V17 is about.......perhaps possible variants. there is also an S12 listed. hope you can glean anything frm it

it's been a while friends.........models started, and models put back in their boxes.........the draw just faded {but not forgotten}. I'll get back to them. I'm getting ready to get nutz with this one, ans I thought I'd share it with you. I bought two of these trailers at Wal Mart...the last place I thought I'd ever see models......... the box shows a Peterbuilt 352 Pacemaker cabover, but Wally had a GMC "General" {I'm sure there is a model name}, and this one is showcased on a Holiday trailer. this kit is versitile......there are other kits with different subject matter. anyway.........the General will have to do. looking over both truck and trailer, I do see some points to correct or expand on, but I'll keep it to what I know. I'll try to give some insight to what I do at the shop........I'll try to keep it somewhere between a pity party and a rant this is pretty close to the kit. this thing that sticks out here is the landing legs. most modern trailers have a platform style foot {feet 'cuz there's two}, but this particular trailer has the wheels. now, whether they turn or not leads to be see....I've never dealt with them. the reason for this, is in how they are retracted up to the body and away from the ground. it's not readily seen here, but the early design of landing leg folded up under the body.......there was no telescopics to them at all. modern legs have a hand crank that retract the legs into themselves. the next thing to note are the wheels and the spoked hubs. these are what they call split rim, a rim with a ring that serves as the outer bead. I dealt with them when I was young.......and my father was nearly killed with one. there is a procedure to mount these tires, and if not followed, it can take your head off! I could tell yuns a couple of stories, but the admiral mentioned that it's time to run errands.............so, I'll continue when I get back. what can you glean from this picture? I thought it interesting

mop stripes.........now we know why the pictures were only in black n white they look great.........scares the hell out of me just look'in at 'em! super job thus far

hello Rob......thought I'd pop in and browse......your log caught my attention. I recall building an He 219 in the past....this is one plane I've never seen before. even in war time pieces, there are subjects that are rarely touched on or modeled {yea, I'm drawn to them too }. I've rarely done short run kits.......I have one on the table still. Special Hobby is another company from the Czech republic, and they are not known for locator pins or tabs either. I really like what your putting into this model.......going to be awesome when finished! an offer of a book reference was put out there........and I happen to have a Luftwaffe book as well. it fits the rool this plane performed...Luftwaffe KG 200. in the back of the book, it lists every plane that the KG 200 flew on thier missions. most of them were B 2 variants...there are about 15 listed. they wer already pre coded.......the 200 never changed them. they were in service for a relatively sort amount of time, given less than a year before they were reported crashed or shot down. I'll browse the text to see if there is any info on them. meanwhile, your doing a superb job thus far, and I'll be follow'in along

very nice job on the chevy.......you did a super job in getting that older rod look then again, no one can hold a candle to that rounded body look I've lst count of the chevies in my stash.

looks very good.........the gaps filled in quite well

awesome job Jav!.........very well done on the camo too! I wouldn't worry too much about the yellow......I get the same nonsense with it scream'in out at me too

don't feel bad Craig.........I feel even worse for not commenting before now, and I followed the build! the paint is so good, one would never know this was a plastic kit! .....and I agree with everyone else.........your rendition is better great job on the model........hope to see another one!

I recall building a few of these models back in the day.....not this particular brand, but there were a fair selection of smaller car kits available in the 70's. there were quite a few military models out there too, but at least they had an outlet for survival........wargame enthusiasts sweet littler car.......brings back memories

superb looking model..........amazing, right down to the rigging! very well done!

I sent away for the conspicuity tape decals.........got 'em just the other day getting some pictures together. won't be long

hey Mike very nice project you have here! the interior looks really sweet! look'in forward in seeing how all this gets put together

something to experiment with perhaps?

WOW.........very nice progress you've made on the Goshawk! truely a colorful bird! it had a rather short life though. it was ordered by the navy in 1933 as the XF11C-3. twenty seven were built, and near the time of delivery, (in 1934} their designation was changed to the BF2C-1. you did a really nice job on the Cyclone engine..........the engine was the main cause of their short life. at crusing speed, the vibration from the engine cause the plane to shake badly enough, to cause problems with the wing structure. a remedy that Curtiss came up with, was to replace the wing with a wooden one, but it was shot down by the navy, and plans for future planes was scrapped. the cowl coloration shown on the box, designates the plane as a carrier plane.....could be plane #1......or plane #2, depending where the {in this case} red is on the cowl. I painted the cowls on the seagulls, on the Arizona, in this way........red was the color for the Arizona if memory serves me. I haven't checked when the seagulls replaced the Neuports....likely around 1937. what carriers recieved the Goshawks?

look'in really good Thomas! I also have a log going on this model.......I'm at the railing stage too, before I tabled it. one thought I had was to cut the top and lower parts of the railings to length and come up with some way to slot them, so the photo etch fills would have something to sit in. I haven't had the time to try it, but I would imagine that the slot wouldn't need to be too deep.......all I think it needs is a guide the spiral stairs were a trial as well, but I managed to get 'em done. I hope to pull it back out one of these days.......... I also have parts for the Roberet E. Lee, but that is going to be a total rework project I didn't run into the problem you seem to be having at the moment, but if your not going to motorize it, you can simply cover it over. keep it up.....you doing great!

I built the model........not an easy one with all it's short comings. the closest ship that can be derived from it is the Le Flore. I'm sure you'll find what your looking for with enough research

thanks for the head's up......I'll check them out tomorrow not too sure what I'm gonna do with the decaling, but there are too many 'coke' models out there. I was a bit awed that there were chrome parts in the trailer.....that is a no go for me. I'm in the process of de-chroming for the time being.........I have made a start. I think a log is in order

following along as well.....very nice start

hey there! good to see others enjoying old kits I built the Monogram kit when I was a teenager. there are some kits that have been reproduced by other manufacturers.......the 1:72 stukas I posted a while back is a good example. molds travel. I've made my own decals from time to time............it would be hard to do your though due to the white areas. you could use white decal paper, but cutting them out is a drag! I bookmarked that site that was mentioned.......can't have too many avenues look foreward in seeing more!

breaker.....breaker.......good buddy..........any takers??? ran into a deal I couldn't pass up. quite a few folks mentioned buying models at Wal Mart...........I have never seen Wal Mart stocking 'em. we were at our local Wal Mart a while ago and I saw an entire selection of model kits!........most of them though sported the Coke motiff {pick ups, cars, ect}. I bought a few during this time, but I saw that they also had a tractor and trailer kit {sold separately} available. the display disappeared after a couple of months, making me think that this was merely a test display to see if they had any viability......a marketing interest. they ended up in the clearance asile at a reduced price. so, I picked up these two: I picked up the second trailer just last week.........bought them @ $25.00 a piece! I think that's a Peterbuilt day cab, but the GMC will fit the bill just as well. one question I do have concerns the conspicuity tape. searching for these decals has been tough........no one seems to carry them. the trailer is likely the same as yours....produced by a few companies. Round 2 picked up the molds and produced these kits. DOT requires conspicuity tape on trailers.......there is limited use on tractors {mud flap brackets mostly}. if these were 48 foot or 53 foot trailers, I could try and do Wally trailers. early Wally trailers were 48 foot and nicknamed Circus trailer because of the distinctive lettering along the sides. they are also too long to be Pup trailers. do you have an idea on where to find conspicuity tape?

Hmmmmmmm,,,,,,a Howitzer to a gun range? kinda negates hitting the bull's eye....the whole target IS the bull's eye!