Where can i get ribbed aluminium or steel sheet?

[kingbob]

Actually, the styrene way is even more expensive. To scale, the panels need to be 20cm tall, the styrene sheets are only 15cm. Need to add 2 or 3 more sheets plus chrome foil.
Easily hits the $200 mark.

And i dont think the Tamiya panels are 20cm tall. Anyone got one they can measure?

[WhiteWolf McBride]

Well...

I just watched the Tamiya time-lapsed assembly of the #56326 RC Container Trailer "Maersk", and looked at the specs. At a width of 188mm (18.8cm) and would be the aluminum angle at the corners, so the panels would be a bit less. OH, and the ribbing runs up/down, the box-trailer's run lengthwise!

The Container panels are only half the container long! They have a seam in them ANYWAY, at the 20' mark. I have to assume its because Tamiya plans to make 20' contailers available at some point, so you can put 2x 20'ers on your 40' container trailers (they are assembled with mounts for this, after all)

If you'd used the container panels, you'd use 13' of the extra 20' panel you'd need to make a 53' side panel, leaving 7' extra, and after two sides, you'd have two 7' leftovers to make the extra roof length. Then you'd need longer L-stock for the upper edges, and a longer floorplate as well.

I hope you ARE factoring in the other pieces you'll need...

WhiteWolf
- looking forward to 20' cargo mods...

PS: watch the time-lapse assembly of 56326, its rather informative!