N scale tractor trailer

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GP30

GP30

Johnny B
After finding my lost box of N scale vehicles yesterday, I decided to post a few pics while waiting for some paint to dry on my layout. Theres very few choices when it comes to N scale trucks or cars, IMO. . At least the era I'm going for. 70's to present. I try to buy the Herpa ? 4 pack of trucks. They have 2 cabovers and 2 conventional tractors and 4 trailers which are a tanker,box trailer and 2 flat beds. I kind of come up with some different ideas to try spruce them up a little heres some of my trucks

This ones a cabover, frame lengthened, 1 flatbed trailer cut in half, 1/2 for the pup trailer, the other 1/2 for the truck bed. The tandem of the trailer split in two, to make the single axle trailer and bogey. added a curved stack and air intake,painted the visor and wheels
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A stretched out West coast truck. All I did to this was stretch the frame on the tractor, split the tandems on the trailer to make it a spread axle trailer. I'm planning on adding a reefer unit and fuel tank to the trailer.
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A cabover with new paint, flat bed with a spead axle suspension with a load of rusty old rails

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A couple of coventional tractors. One pulling a regular tanker and they other was made into another truck pulling a pup trailer. Both trucks have the big ole texas bumpers, painted visors, straight exhaust stacks made from plastic round stock. The mufflers that come on these stock are usually all bent and look like crap.

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Cabover with scratchbuilt wrecker body. Custom paint. The Yellow lights on top are a tad to big, but the serve the purpose. I lost a mirror to it, but can make another one.
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A Cabover with a scratchbuilt dump trailer. This ones my favorite I think. If I ever find any extra time, I'm going to build me a couple more of these.
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And finally, an old Athearn HO scale Freighliner I got bored with and repainted it. Added 2 exhaust straight pipes and 2 air breathers to the back of the cab.
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WOW Johnny! Those are some beautiful N scale trucks, and HUGE improvements over the cheapo Herpa looking rigs! I love the first Cabover Lumber Pup truck and the scratchbuilt Gravel Truck. Awesome models and some great work, and if you build anymore, make sure you post them up :D :D
 
Very nice work overcoming some of the vehicle shortcomings in N scale. For cheap beacon lights, check the bead section in a craft store like Michaels. They have transparent beads in many colors and sizes, some of which would about right for N scale. The light bar, grill lights, and side lights on the ambulance in this picture were all made with different color beads. They have smaller ones that would work for things like your wrecker.

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DakotaLove39 said:
Wow Johnny. Sounds (And looks) like you really know your haulers! Love the trucks.
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I SHOULD!! I drove one cross country for 22 years. Now I sit behind a desk and dispatch trucks. I love big trucks and trains. They both work side by side
 
GP30 said:
I SHOULD!! I drove one cross country for 22 years. Now I sit behind a desk and dispatch trucks. I love big trucks and trains. They both work side by side
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you kinda sound like me. I just generally like big machines. trains, trucks, ships, and tanks. All very svelte. The rest of my family is into cars, so they have some trouble trying to understand my power over speed concepts.
 
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bigford said:
real nice work on the tractors :D there the one thing i miss
about H.O. :o
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the only Ho one is the last pic. the others are N. I know what you mean though, theres alot more choices ( i think) in HO scale than there is N for sure

Johnny B
 
Nice stuff, Yeah there is a shortage of vehicles for me too... in the 1984 range.
Man I'd sure hate to have to back that stretched out West Coaster into some tight spots, gimme a Volvo 770 anyday!
 


The stretch frame could be used for things like workshops on trucks used in specialist auto carriers or such---seen one a friend has on a moving truck as a mobile home for a small transcontinental moving operation----numerous reasons--
 
Alot of trucks in CA needed stretched frames to get legal bridge weights after the length laws were relaxed. they look cool, ride nice but bring one into any large city and well... you get the picture...;)
 
lmackattack said:
nice looking trucks. Your from NY you need some Brockways and Macks for your fleet
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I'd love to be able to score some Brockways!! My Dad had 2 of them years ago. Very cool old trucks. Sorry to see them close there doors years ago. Good old NY, they don't care if businesses leave or not.

Johnny B
 
those longe frame tractors dont have a chance in the city. I know some guys have there dedacated routes but take a trip down to a new place you have never been where you have to go around the block once because you mistakenly passed it....... See it all the time.. Or better the guys pulling doubles that cant back up after they turn down a dead end street.. I feel for them!

here is some info on the old Brocks

Merger with Mack

Another player entered the field in 1956 when Mack Trucks acquired the Brockway nameplate. Mack had been experiencing their own financial woes. Mack had expended significant capital developing a new cab during the early 50s, a cab that became their famous B Model. Financial investors bought large shares of Mack stock and eventually became directly involved in operations. The question was whether to liquidate the company or continue and even expand operations. Expansion won, and Brockways were offered as part of the Mack stable of products. Brockway trucks were offered as a custom-ordered item, allowing for reduced inventory costs. Mack trucks on the other hand were mass produced, raising the capital requirements on the company significantly. In 1955 Mack enjoyed a 55% gain in earnings on a 31% gain in sales, due in large part to their Brockway line.

The company sought a distinctive logo for its offerings. The Huskie was selected in 1957, an apt addition to parent Mack's Bulldog logo.

The next year saw introduction of Brockway's Huskie models. That same year Mack (and Brockway) suffered a strike by their union production lines. Five plants, uncluding Brockway's Cortland, NY facility were idled. The strike was ended in December 1958.

The next year saw Brockway sign agreements with the Air Force to provide 94 Huskies for a contract of $800,000, delivery to be by summer's end 1959.

The 1960s saw the 50th anniversary of the company (1962), as well as a million dollar contract with the military to provide trucks to the Navy and Air Force. Brockway introduced their first COE truck in 1963, a truck based on Mack's F model COE design. Mack enjoyed growth of sales of over 25% in 1966, a mixed blessing. Increased sales demanded increased inventory and service facilities, a combination which kept Mack in a cash strapped position, The ever present White Consolidated Industries (former White Motor Company) sought to acquire Mack in 1967, an offer which was rejected by Mack. The company was acquired by the west coast firm Signal Oil and Gas Company in 1967. Mack was to remain autonomous, with no other truck manufacturers to merge at any future date.

Struggle to survive

The late 60s saw Brockway continue introduction of new models. Trade magazine Overdrive Magazine declared Brockway The Most Rugged Truck in the World in their May 1968 issue.

The 1970s saw introduction of Caterpillar diesels as an option. More models were added to the Brockway lineup. The Arab Oil Embargo during the early 70s gave Brockway (and other truck makers) a severe case of snake bite. Brockway could sell every truck they could produce, but they were snake bitten by a shortage of parts. High interest rates and tight capital dried up the market of available truck buyers. Federal regulations requiring costly changes to brake standards iced the cake.

Brockway managed to circumvent the gathering storm by entering the glider kit market. These kits were complete cab/frame assembly less engine and rear drive axles. This obviated the shortage of engines from which the industry had been suffering. A backlog of orders also helped the company get 85% of their workers back on the assembly line with the aid of an order for 575 trucks destined for delivery to Iran. The contract was for an estimated value of 22.6 million dollars.

An inglorious end
Brockway had beat out parent company Mack Trucks for the Iran truck contract as well as a very large order from the NY Dept. of Transportation, causing friction between the truck makers. UAW members of Local #68 had been working without a contract for almost a year. A wildcat strike erupted at the Cortland facility in 1977, the strike called without a vote of the rank and file. Mack threatened to shut the plant down forever, then begged the union to go back to work for a year without a contract. Mack promised to work out details plus pay retroactively for contract upgrades in exchange for these concessions. Behind the scenes Mack was feverishly negotiating with several potential buyers. One buyer almost had a completed deal ready on April 29, 1977. On May 2, 1977 it was announced the deal had fallen through and the plant was closed. Mack liquidated the Cortland, NY production facility and a parts warehouse was set up in Pennsylvania, Mack's home state.

Brockway still was under contract to complete the Iran truck order. Parts to assemble the final 45 trucks were shipped to Miami, Florida and assembled there. The last Brockway was produced on June 8, 1977.
 
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Mackattack: Thanks for posting that info. very cool stuff. some stuff I knew and other stuff I didnt. I didnt know that Mack and Brockway merged that early in years. I thought they had merged in the 70's! I myself , liked they old Brock cabovers and the old B model macks.

Johnny B
 


yea They were both great trucks. I never have driven a Brockway but know they were tuff machines. There still are a few running around the east cost used for on/offroad dump trucks.I havent seen one here in years tho:o

I currently own a 1965 B model Mack and a 1977 RS700L Mack
 
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