|
|
Santa Fe Chevy C70 MoW Truck with Flatbed Trailer
These vehicles were used in the 1990's by Santa Fe MoW forces on the Stockton Sub in Northern California.
I kitbashed together parts from several vehicle kits and models to get a close approximation of the
Chevy C70 truck, and scratch-built the flatbed trailer from styrene, basswood, and assorted detail parts.
These vehicles were used in the 1990's by Santa Fe MoW forces on the Stockton Sub in Northern California.
I kitbashed together parts from several vehicle kits and models to get a close approximation of the
Chevy C70 truck, and scratch-built the flatbed trailer from styrene, basswood, and assorted detail parts.
My kitbashed model is inspired by this truck and trailer as seen in Pittsburg, CA in the early 1990's.
I frequently saw the Chevy C70 flatbed truck pulling the flatbed trailer, and also found the trailer by
itself a couple times. Both have many intriguing features that made them interesting vehicles to model.
I frequently saw the Chevy C70 flatbed truck pulling the flatbed trailer, and also found the trailer by
itself a couple times. Both have many intriguing features that made them interesting vehicles to model.
Parts used to build this model (see image, below):
Athearn F850 flatbed/crane truck (blue parts): flatbed with sides modified to reduce number of vertical supports, the front piece was modified
and used as rear gate. Walthers 166-1023 peel-and-stick tread grip plate was applied to flatbed floor and outer side panels between supports.
Lonestar Models flatbed trailer (not shown): front headache rack, modified.
A-Line tires and wheel hubs: front wheels trimmed down to single-tire, exposing the 5-spoke hub detail.
Shapeways 3D printed (gray parts): fuel tanks, tool boxes mounted below the flatbed.
CinC Castings Chevy C60 dump truck metal kit, no longer available (silver parts): cab/hood, interior,
underframe, driveline,suspension (modified to accommodate the Athearn flatbed and A-Line wheels).
Plano Models (in package): #13756 mirrors.
All Scale Miniatures (not shown): welding equipment mounted in the flatbed.
Atlas (not shown): green oxygen bottles in the flatbed.
Decals: Oddballs #655 for ATSF markings, assorted Microscale sets for
miscellaneous markings, custom-made for the grill and license plates.
Athearn F850 flatbed/crane truck (blue parts): flatbed with sides modified to reduce number of vertical supports, the front piece was modified
and used as rear gate. Walthers 166-1023 peel-and-stick tread grip plate was applied to flatbed floor and outer side panels between supports.
Lonestar Models flatbed trailer (not shown): front headache rack, modified.
A-Line tires and wheel hubs: front wheels trimmed down to single-tire, exposing the 5-spoke hub detail.
Shapeways 3D printed (gray parts): fuel tanks, tool boxes mounted below the flatbed.
CinC Castings Chevy C60 dump truck metal kit, no longer available (silver parts): cab/hood, interior,
underframe, driveline,suspension (modified to accommodate the Athearn flatbed and A-Line wheels).
Plano Models (in package): #13756 mirrors.
All Scale Miniatures (not shown): welding equipment mounted in the flatbed.
Atlas (not shown): green oxygen bottles in the flatbed.
Decals: Oddballs #655 for ATSF markings, assorted Microscale sets for
miscellaneous markings, custom-made for the grill and license plates.
This model is almost entirely scratch-built from styrene with a basswood platform. I used a few cast plastic parts
from my scrap boxes including the tow loop (from a Roco military vehicle), single landing gear (from an Athearn
container chassis), side tie-down hausers (don't recall where those came from), ramps (don't recall where those
came from), suspension (an A-Line trailer part), and low-profile dually wheels/tires (from River Point Station).
from my scrap boxes including the tow loop (from a Roco military vehicle), single landing gear (from an Athearn
container chassis), side tie-down hausers (don't recall where those came from), ramps (don't recall where those
came from), suspension (an A-Line trailer part), and low-profile dually wheels/tires (from River Point Station).
Right: The various subassemblies
before primer and painting.
The dark red Lonestar Models
trailer headache rack is mounted
to the blue Athearn F850 flatbed,
which has some vertical side braces removed. The Shapeways
3D-printed toolboxes are attached
below the flatbed side rails. The
flatbed front wall has been
removed, shortened, and will be
re-attached as the tailgate.
The CinC C60 kit cab interior has
been assembled, the cab/hood
mold seams have been cleaned
up and filled with Tamiya putty.
The CinC frame, bumper, springs,
and driveline are assembled, with
Shapeways 3D-printed fuel tanks
attached, and A-Line wheels in
place ready for a coat of black.
The finished model is a bit fragile,
as the cast-metal leaf springs are
rather soft, and it's possible to
accidentally deform them if the
model is pressed on from above.
The axles do not turn as a side-
effect of the CinC frame design.
before primer and painting.
The dark red Lonestar Models
trailer headache rack is mounted
to the blue Athearn F850 flatbed,
which has some vertical side braces removed. The Shapeways
3D-printed toolboxes are attached
below the flatbed side rails. The
flatbed front wall has been
removed, shortened, and will be
re-attached as the tailgate.
The CinC C60 kit cab interior has
been assembled, the cab/hood
mold seams have been cleaned
up and filled with Tamiya putty.
The CinC frame, bumper, springs,
and driveline are assembled, with
Shapeways 3D-printed fuel tanks
attached, and A-Line wheels in
place ready for a coat of black.
The finished model is a bit fragile,
as the cast-metal leaf springs are
rather soft, and it's possible to
accidentally deform them if the
model is pressed on from above.
The axles do not turn as a side-
effect of the CinC frame design.
I display these together, just as I often saw them while railfanning.
To add more interest, I place my Bobcat skid-steer loader on the trailer.
To add more interest, I place my Bobcat skid-steer loader on the trailer.
Below: The trailer's ramps hinge up or down. I used wire eyelets
(diesel lift ring details) strung onto wire bars to create the hinges.
(diesel lift ring details) strung onto wire bars to create the hinges.
The grill is actually a custom-made decal. I downloaded a "front shot"
image of a similar truck from the internet, did some photo-shop editing
to it, and then printed it on blank decal paper. I also custom-made
decals for the license plates.
image of a similar truck from the internet, did some photo-shop editing
to it, and then printed it on blank decal paper. I also custom-made
decals for the license plates.
Below: The underside construction. I first layered sheet styrene onto the basswood deck to provide a good
gluing surface for the various stripwood bits making up the inner longitudinal supports, side C-channels, and
end plates. The inner supports bend at a slight angle at the front and continue into a V-shaped towing structure.
gluing surface for the various stripwood bits making up the inner longitudinal supports, side C-channels, and
end plates. The inner supports bend at a slight angle at the front and continue into a V-shaped towing structure.
Below: The front construction. Assorted bits of sheet styrene make up the front plates and details on the towing structure. I created the
single landing gear by modifying an Athearn container chassis lander gear. The tow loop came from a Roco military vehicle parts set.
single landing gear by modifying an Athearn container chassis lander gear. The tow loop came from a Roco military vehicle parts set.
Below: The rear construction. I applied Walthers 166-1023 peel-and-stick tread plate to the drop tail, followed by styrene
angle stock for the treadways. The ramps came from the scrap box, with styrene I-beam framing. These are hinged
using wire eyelets strung onto wire bars mounted horizontally. The tie-down hausers also came from the scrap box.
angle stock for the treadways. The ramps came from the scrap box, with styrene I-beam framing. These are hinged
using wire eyelets strung onto wire bars mounted horizontally. The tie-down hausers also came from the scrap box.
Finishing: With the wood deck masked, I painted the model yellow, then made and applied custom decals.
Weathering is a combination of artists oils (e.g., heavy rust) and powdered chalks (e.g., road dust).
The deck was "stained" using diluted paint washes of various brown and gray tones.
Weathering is a combination of artists oils (e.g., heavy rust) and powdered chalks (e.g., road dust).
The deck was "stained" using diluted paint washes of various brown and gray tones.