Vietnam Era JP-4 Fuel Tanker in 1/72 Scale - Finished

Beautiful start on a tough cab to scratch, but I know your abilities.

Hello Russ!

That sure is an ambitious project! Just the reference photos for something like that seem to be hard to find, not to mention any form of a kit. Say, what make and model is this truck? We're in the XXIst century now - maybe it would make sense to draw it in 3D so that it could be 3D printed? It could also be, that the cab is already available for 3D print, for example on Shapeways, just in different scale (1/64 is popular) - you could then ask its maker to rescale it for you to 1/72. I'd gladly check it out for you, just need to know what cab is required.

Good luck with your build and have a nice day

Paweł

Took a quick look on Shapeways....Stoney Smith Designs has a 1/43 "C" cab for around $38.  Might be able to scale it down.  Says it has a slightly grainy feel so would take some sanding/filling to get smooth if he could downsize it.

Just searched 1/72 Ford C cab and it popped up.

goldhammer

Beautiful start on a tough cab to scratch, but I know your abilities.

 

Thanks, GH!

Pawel

Hello Russ!

That sure is an ambitious project! Just the reference photos for something like that seem to be hard to find, not to mention any form of a kit. Say, what make and model is this truck? We're in the XXIst century now - maybe it would make sense to draw it in 3D so that it could be 3D printed? It could also be, that the cab is already available for 3D print, for example on Shapeways, just in different scale (1/64 is popular) - you could then ask its maker to rescale it for you to 1/72. I'd gladly check it out for you, just need to know what cab is required.

Good luck with your build and have a nice day

Paweł

 

Thanks, Pawel. Good idea there, bud! My brain is still in XXth century mode lol. I got my measurements from what pictures I could find. As near as I can tell, the cab used with the tankers was the Ford C-600 series.

Cheers, and thanks again!

Russ

goldhammer

Took a quick look on Shapeways....Stoney Smith Designs has a 1/43 "C" cab for around $38.  Might be able to scale it down.  Says it has a slightly grainy feel so would take some sanding/filling to get smooth if he could downsize it.

Just searched 1/72 Ford C cab and it popped up.

 

Thanks GH! Very interesting find. I wish I had known about that before I started this project.

However, looking at the 3D product and all the drilling, cutting, cleaning and sanding that would be required on such a small item, then considering what I have left to do on my model, I think I'm better off completing my cab. But that would certainly be a useful consideration if someone else wanted to build their own tanker, or any other cab-over version.

Many thanks for checking into this!

Cheers,

Russ

Hey Russ,

Wonderful start on this great project! Your scratch building skills are top notch, and I have no doubt that it is going to turn out perfect. I'll be along for the entire ride. Thank you for posting this project.

Thanks for the good words, Jeff! Much appreciated!

Hello, All.

Hope you are all safe and healthy. It's been a while, but I finally got the urge to finish this beast. So far, the major parts are just about complete. Still some work and detail to do on  the cab and I need to add the walkway on top of the tank, but at least things are moving again. Below are a few pictures of my progress. Many thanks for looking!

Great progress.  Looks sharp.

Hot Diggety Dawg!

 Can I pick Nit? Well, I am gonna anyway. Round the tops of the fender ledges a little more for the scale. Otherwise, This is a hard one for sure. Now, all that said. If you want real good looking Walkways look to Model RailRoad Supplies. For sure! Looks like the trucks from Danang!

Thank you, John!

Hey, Tanker, feel free to Nit all you want, bud!   BTW, do you mean the rear fender ledges?  Model Railroad supplies - wait...is that the name of a company? Do you by chance have a specific link for the walkway material? Otherwise, Walthers it is.

When were you in Danang?

Many thanks for the advice and the good words!

Hello Russ!

I would say it's more about the front fenders - the cab:

From what I heard this type Macks had the same cabs the Fords did.

Dang, if this was at least partly 3D printed, more people could build this baby themselves - I wouldn't say no to one!

Good luck with your build and have a nice day

Paweł

Pawel

From what I heard this type Macks had the same cabs the Fords did.

Yes they are the same cab. The cabs were built by Budd Corporation, same company that makes the steel "Budd" wheel. Mack called it the N series or N model, Ford called it the C series. Ford would eventually transition from the dual headlight configuration on each side like Mack had to the single round headlight. Very versatile and popular truck that was produced into the 1980's.

https://public.fotki.com/modeltrucks25thscale/truck_brochures/ford-us/ford_c-series_1980/

Hello, Pawel, and thanks!  Yeah, the cab is not quite the right shape but heck, neither am I! lol.  I'll round those fenders off some more.

You're right - 3D printing, at least for the cab, is the way to go, although...  can it be done without making the insides solid? That would be a lot of work to carve out the insides if you wanted to detail the interior or add windows.

So if you had a 3D printed cab and the chassis and wheel sets from an Academy M35 kit (or equivalant), that would take care of the hardest portions of the model. The chassis has to be extended in two places, but that's easy.

For the tank, I used a plastic 1 1/2" diameter sink tail piece that you can pick up at a hardware store, so that was pretty easy to make. The pump house is pretty straight forward and a good way to use up some scrap pieces of styrene.

I only had two or three photos of the actual fuel truck that I could use for measurements and those were mostly at angles. And wouldn't you know it - after most of the truck was finished, I came across a website that had a full walkaround of the truck. Augh! This has happened to me many times before.

If you or anyone else is interested in doing one of these trucks, let me know. I'll be happy to help in any way I can.

Thanks for the help, Pawel and best of luck to you too, my friend.

Russ

Hey, thanks MTB for the info!

BTW, here's the website I found with the full walkaround of the Ford T-800 fuel truck. 70+ photos. The truck is missing the pump house assembly, but I have other pictures of that.

https://www.govplanet.com/for-sale/Fuel-%26-Lube-Trucks-Ford-T-800-Fuel-Truck-Idaho/4167949

Hello Russ!

The one from the link you posted is gone - but I found another one (or maybe it's the same being resold?):

https://www.allsurplus.com/asset/5/12660

Guess you have to save the photos fast, as long as they last!

Good luck with your tanker and have a nice day

Paweł

Pawel

The one from the link you posted is gone - but I found another one (or maybe it's the same being resold?):

Wow, that's wierd. The truck was there last night when I added the link. However, I have a series of the photos if anyone wants them. That's  not the same one though - the tank is different and it still has the pump house, which the other one didn't have.

Thanks, Pawel!

Danang-1966-1977;

   Yes I was, But only in transient passing through both times. The company is Tichy Train Group. Hot, Noisy, and Couldn't wait for that 130 to get airborne!

Tanker-Builder

Danang-1966-1977;

   Yes I was, But only in transient passing through both times. ....Hot, Noisy, and Couldn't wait for that 130 to get airborne!

I hear that!

The company is Tichy Train Group.

Got it. Thanks!

 Hi, All,

 Well, the beast is finally finished. I admit to a case of hurryitis at the last but I just needed to get this thing done .  This vehicle is pretty imposing and is certainly eye-catching. I think it would be a good candidate for an Academy kit (hint, hint…) – they did such a good job on their M35 and other truck kits that I know this one would be a winner. Also,  many folks like this COE (cab over engine) style and the cab and chassis could be used for other truck versions.

Anyway, here are a few photos of my finished truck. Many thanks for looking!

Hello Russ!

Another very cool model no one else has! Congratulations and thanks for sharing!

Paweł

Thanks, Pawel! 

Come on now, if you build one, mine won't be unique...   

Excellent job!

Awsome modeling Striker. Well done mate.

Thanks, TigerII!

Thanks, Dodgy!