Some Vehicle Prototype Questions for Rico...

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IronBeltKen

IronBeltKen

Lazy Daydreamer
...or anybody else who's familiar with trucking.

I bought some Herpa tractors to mate with a few dry-bulk trailers I scratchbuilt. One thing I've noticed about Herpa trucks in general, all the peripheral accessories are chrome-plated. I'm not sure if I should paint over these with flat aluminum or the color of the truck itself.

My questions:

(1) Would a corporation that owns tractors used solely for daytime towing of cement trailers, spend extra money on chrome-plated air filters/fuel tanks/exhaust stacks? And (2) would they usually have dual exhaust --- IOW is that a characteristic of high-horsepower truck motors or something private owner-operators do to beautify their rigs?

Inquiring minds want to know ;)

Thanx
 
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Hey Ken (the other one),
These days a lot of trucks come pretty decked out right from the factory. If a company specs out a fleet of trucks most likely the chrome will be minimized to bumpers, stacks, and air breathers if equipped. If they save $1000 on each truck they save $10000 on ten units, etc. Newer trucks have mirrors that match the color of the truck, bumpers also. Some have exhaust down spouts so no stacks at all. (a pain in the winter)
Wheels are usually highly polished aluminum which really looks like chrome, bumpers can be as well.
I soak chrome parts I want to strip in bleach for a day or so to "de-chrome" them, then paint them an aluminum color.
As for dual stacks, it's a preferance really. Many trucks have straight six cylinder motors with a single exhaust, then a wye pipe behind the cab to split into two.
So yeah it's mainly for looks.
Long story short... if the company is doing good then chrome looks right. If it's a company hauling scrap or some low paying load then I'd tone the rigs down.
Hope that helps?
BTW cool links Mike, thanx!
 
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Mike, ditto on the links - thanx for sharing them!

Rico, I figured you would know if anybody did!:cool: My modeling period is early 90's, so I don't know if chrome was as widely used on fleets back then. While cement is worth more than scrap [usually?], it's not a high-value commodity, so I'm guessing I should redo the chrome pieces in flat aluminum, possibly even light gray [which looks alot like aluminum].

Thank you for your feedback!
 
A friend of mine was hauling general freight back in the eighties with a fleet of Macks, little if no chrome at all. In the nineties he got into hauling cement and started upgrading the feet to Petes.
These days cement is his mainstay and he has pretty much all Petes decked out with chrome plus the drivers add extra to their trucks. Stuff like chrome wind deflectors, visors, and of course little naked ladies on the mudflaps. Someone makes those in HO scale, anyone remember who?

I was at the cement plant the other day and the boys say come on by for pics anytime... might just do!
 
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