Flatbed trailer

[Rockford]

Everything on this trailer is scratch built except for the wheels and tyres and the sand shoes on the landing legs. I wanted a flatbed to go with my assortment of 1/32 tractors but at this scale there's only dry vans, reefers and the fuel tanker. My only option was to modify a diecast unit or build my own. Looking at the die cast stuff I could see it really wasn't suitable, the suspension detail was dire so I chose the "build" path. I bought various plastic profiles from a hobby shop and set to work copying the construction of the real thing. I modelled it on some Trailmobile trailers on auction websites. The rear tandems slide and the landing legs operate. The paint is Post Office Red over red oxide primer. I modified the AMT 1/32 chrome wheels to look like 2 hole Budds. I made my own decals for the mudflaps using Microsoft Paint and reduced some Trailmobile badges for the front and back. 

This has been one of the most satisfying models I have ever built. I'm over the moon with it and am now wondering what I could build next, despite having 4 projects on the go already. I'm thinking of a removable goose neck trailer.  ?

[DRIPTROIT 71]

Excellent scratch building! Looks great! The decals really set it off!

[Jim B]

Great looking trailer, Steve.  You really did a fantastic job.

[TruckerAL]

Ive been following this build since day 1. It's a fantastic work of art. I'm jealous at your skills. It came out great! 

[slusher]

Great looking trailer!

[Mopar - D]

Awesome scratch building Steve! You will have the same satisfaction or more with building a detachable lowboy trailer!

[towman1271]

Very nice 

[Dutzie]

Great looking trailer! awesome scratch building work. 

[Doug 1061]

Beautiful work there.    You could build another one of these and it could be the load for this one.   I wish they had more 1/32 truck kits.   

[Bills72sj]

I too caught this while WIP. The results are impressive. You should be justifiably proud of this one.

[PappyD340]

Super nice trailer!

[Rockford]

Gents, I've got to make a bit of an apology here, I never thanked you for your kind comments about my trailer. 

My brain's a bid scrambled nowadays since I got COVID in Feb of this year and I keep forgetting to do things. It's getting better but I'm still missing stuff. 

So thanks very much for your observations on my flatbed. I'm very proud of it, l look back at my work and I really don't know how I did it!

[TarheelRick]

Wow, don't know how I missed this one.  That is some excellent scratchbuilding, beautiful piece of craftsmanship.  Where did you acquire those wheels and tires?  Most of the 1/32 kits I see have open backs on the tires.

[Rockford]

Thanks Rick. I still can't believe I built a trailer that looks like a trailer and not a stick with some wheels on it. 

The wheels and tyres are AMT 1/32 pieces. The tyres are excellent the wheels are dire, 10 hole featureless rubbish. They took a lot of work to look credible. The sad part is that the tyres are too small and can ruin the look of a kit if you don't reposition the axles for the correct spacing. I used them here because at the far end of the trailer your eye doesn't notice the difference between the two sizes, Monogram to AMT. I considered using them on a tractor but they look ridiculous in the wheel arches etc... on a trailer there's little for the eye to use for proportion. Such a shame because I love the tyres. 

[ChrisR]

Looks great!