Coca - Cola FB Freuhauf Trailer by Popeye the Sailor - AMT / Round 2 reissue - 1:25 scale

[popeye the sailor]

hey there folks!  finally, I get to pop in to report an update on the project, as well as what I've been up to.  in short, my health is still good......made a major improvement on the leg issues, but one 'small' issue is yet to be tested {I'll leave that one up to the imagination  }.  the Murano is inspected and no reappearance of the check engine light..........I am soooooooo stoked!  now to take care of a couple more things I want to do, before 'ole man winter shows up.  another birthday came and went......

it's all hype folks..............67 isn't so bad!    I hope I feel the same when these numbers are reversed!    had a very good day.

 

  so, this brings us to the update.............it's not super huge, but time allowed me to tinker, so I'm not complaining.  I'm not really liking windows 10..........I can't seem to do thing I used to do with windows 8.  the update begins with painting around the front edges of the underside, and installing the approach plate.  I will wait to add the kingpin until later, for fear of knocking it off.

then I took a look at the tandem dolly and what I would need to do, to install the stop bars.

there is one for the back too, that I will need to drill holes for.  the approach plate and the front apron were masked off and painted in the under carriage gray.

to add the front wall, I had to double up on the posts {ribs}, in order to cover the abnormalities.  I had to allow for how the part was molded.

the inner radius on both sides and along the top were painted aluminum, since these areas would be visible.  

the bottom wood panel was added, along with the scuff liner.  molding was added to separate the panel to create a top and bottom.  the use of this molding is optional.........some manufacturers don't use it.  for those who do, when repairs are made and plywood is replaced, if it is damaged, some techs will cut out the bad part and put the replacement panel up without it.  the nice thing about adding this interior detail, is I don't have to be concerned with how it looks.  heck, I might even add in some graffiti, but leave out some of the colorful stuff I've seen.    EG/example: 'for a good time call.....................' 

I'm debating whether to hit this with a flat lacquer.  it's really flat and natural as it is, but I will need to add some color to the floor {blend in some grime, drybrush}.

the landing gear was the next aspect to look at.  I'm going to show the model with the legs lowered.........the other one I will do with them raised and attached to the tractor.  I will do the interior differently too.  the wheels that are seen on these legs is an early version.  it was thought to be a smart idea, in the event that the trailer was moved without hooking up to a tractor, or it was jostled while being back under by one.  I'm sure there were many scenarios where the use of wheels would be a plus.  modern trailers utilize a simple plate, or a saucer {or square} dish called a sand shoe.   wheels would often sink into bare ground and would need to either be set on pavement or cement surfaces {square or otherwise}.  the sand shoe changed all that and made the trailer more 'all terrain'.  to arrest the wheels in place so they wouldn't fall off, they either used a bolt pin, or a large pin was driven through the axle.  since trying to emulate a bolt type fastening was impossible for me to do, I went for the pin idea.  holes were drilled through the axles and brass rod was inserted through them after the wheel was put in place. 

with this done..........it's time for paint.  I hope to have more for you soon.  I want to get some paint on the body, and get the roof on.

 

[CDW]

Happy Birthday Denis. Trailer looks awesome!

[Canute]

Happy Birthday, Denis.

 

The trailer is looking great. I've taken an interest in intermodal railroading, moving trailers on flatcars. Although mine is more 50s-60s. And its in HO, not your large scale build.

[Old Collingwood]

Happy Birthday   from me also  Dennis.

 

OC.

[Haliburton]

Happy Birthday looking good and love your enthusiasm!

Scott

[mtaylor]

Happy belated birthday, Denis.  Good news on your health and on the build.

[Landlubber Mike]

Happy belated birthday Denis!  Glad to hear you're doing well

[Egilman]

Happy Birthday Brother....

 

The insides of the trailer looks good, what are you going to load it with? {chuckle}

 

The round landing gear wheels are a throwback to earlier days, but their ability to sink into asphalt paving on short notice caused their demise....

[kpnuts]

Lot of work going into this, looks great.

[popeye the sailor]

hello to all!  nice to see a few new folks looking in....don't be afraid giving insight....that's what MSW is all about    it's you new folk that come to the table with different ways of doing stuff     unfortunately,  I don't have anything new to report,  but I've still been busy.   you ought to post a picture of one of your flat cars with trailers on it Ken.  going out on a limb here,  but this trailer might be suited with G scale.......perhaps a bit larger,  if there is such a scale    I don't believe there were 53 foot trailers back then........I think the largest would have been a 48'.  when I started at Wally,  we had 48' and 53' trailers.  they used the 48' trailer for locations that were tight on space.........53' for everything else.  Marcy, New York had the 48' trailers that had air hook ups and electrical in the buck plate {rear}..........I forget the term,  but two trailers could be hooked together.  browsing through web sites,  I've found that many back in the day, used the 48' as a subject.......I believe AMT had a kit featuring two pup trailers {I think they were only 27'}. tankers,  flatbeds,  dry van,  reefers.......maybe a couple others.  quite a few of them are old kits...........I've seen very few 53' trailer kits though......odd?!?  the 'Smokey and the Bandit' trailer being a prime example   

 

  thanks again for the good vibes.......sorry about not looking in sooner.  I should have something soon