Scratch-Built Flatbed

[mototodo]

I made the base for the deck out of two sheets of 8" x 18" steel trimmed to 7 1/4" which is approx 102" scale. The sheets are attached to the chassis rails using small bolts. I framed the steel with angle aluminum. The angle aluminum was a little thick for scale so I shaved 3mm off of one edge. It was laborious but I am happy with the thickness now. I cut a sheet of 1/4" MDF to fit inside the frame. The lip of the frame protrudes 1/16" above the MDF to leave room for deck boards.

[mototodo]

I found a set of landing gear in our box of leftover Knight Hauler parts. Our dry box trailer has electric landing gear so this was the original gear from the Tamiya dry van. The chassis rails of the Bruder are about an inch wider than the Tamiya trailer rails so I had to modify the landing gear release to work properly. The coupling guide needed a spacer to correctly contact the coupler. And the angle of the release arms needed to be greater so I added an arm to properly contact the release levers. I also had to fabricate a new push rod since the gear was a little further away from the coupling plate. I have added detail shots of the mods. Works like a charm.

[mototodo]

I was happy with the neatness of the Bruder rear bumper but it was European so I got to work on a U.S. bumper. I styled it after Great Dane bumpers.

[mototodo]

I learned to appreciate how useful the Bruders are on this build. And though pricey, they are relatively inexpensive compared to Wedico and Tamiya stuff. Not totally comparable but very usable.

I found a tool box in the Knight Hauler leftover parts box. I hinged it so it opens.

[mototodo]

More work on the bumper.

[mototodo]

Finished up the deck and started paint. The deck boards are 1/16" x 1/2" x 36" balsa strips stained with dark walnut and then lightly sanded to simulate weathering. The boards are glued to a sheet of MDF which is screwed to the metal deck from the underside by some of the chassis rail screws in the center and the aluminum angle frame on the edges.

[mototodo]

Painted and assembled. Still some bumper work left as well as some additional details. Also, the wheels look toyish. They are in need of some weathering.