New N Scale tank truck project Gemini trucking/Love's

Carl Sowell Sep 18, 2022

  1. Carl Sowell

    Carl Sowell TrainBoard Supporter

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    You all have seen the following image before and are most likely tired of it. You also know that I am a truck freek as I drove transport for Chevron many moons ago out of Albuquerque.
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    So what's new; and here is the 1:1 that I found and just have to model it:
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    I found a "right on" trailer and an older Pete, but it will be fine :
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    Thanks John for your usual excellent prints !

    This is going to take a while but will be very relaxing and enjoyable.

    Be well !
     
    Last edited: Sep 18, 2022
  2. Traindork

    Traindork TrainBoard Member

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    That's a big tank! I wonder how many gallons it holds?
     
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  3. Ozarked

    Ozarked New Member

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    Here in Missouri we load 8500 gallons of gasoline or 7500 gallons diesel. Who makes those models? Ed
     
  4. Carl Sowell

    Carl Sowell TrainBoard Supporter

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    TD,

    Back in the day we had 6 compartment trailers with top marker set @ 1500 gls, middle set @1200 gls, and low marker set @ 1000 gallons. A typical load of mo-gas was 9,000 gallons, #2 D/F was 7,200 gallons. Amounts were to keep the loads weight legal. I can tell you, for sure, the state of New Mexico had a scale station @ Pojouque, just below Los Alamos on hwy 84 between Santa Fe and Espanola that was a real BEAR on weights.

    Having said all that, we had the following body load and pup unit that we were legal with 10,000 gallons mo-gas and 8,400 gallons of #2 D/F. This is the unit that I drove:
    [​IMG]


    4,500 gallons on tractor with 5,500 gallons in pup. This had a Cummins 350 with Roadranger 13 speed transmission. Brings back a lot of memories as I really enjoyed being out, alone with no boss hovering over.


    Ed,

    This 3D resin print is from Royale Models, you can reach them @ ,com or facebook
     
  5. Carl Sowell

    Carl Sowell TrainBoard Supporter

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    Enough of the prelims, so lets get started on the project.

    Here are some images with a coat of auto primer sprayed on. You can see the quality of the print job.

    1st two are the cab:
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    The chassis, the braces on the exhaust stacks will be clipped off later :
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    Two sides of one trailer, the 2nd trailer is identical :
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    Tomorrow or Thursday I will wet sand with 2,000 grit paper, very carefully, and if necessary spray another very light coat of primer.
    In the meantime I will start working on the decals for this long semi trailer. I am testing on scrap how to get a good chrome or polished aluminum look for wheels, fuel tanks, exhaust stacks, sun visor and such. Lot of work but a great deal of enjoyment and fun.

    Later, be well !
     
  6. Carl Sowell

    Carl Sowell TrainBoard Supporter

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    It has been a month since I last posted, so here is an update.


    I airbrushed the rig with Tru-Color TTX yellow yesterday and as I like to do made this image this morning to check for paint flaws. Wow, way more than I expected on the cab unit. Time to get out the 2000 grit wet/dry paper. I also need to "chrome" the wheels. I will most likely be putting another coat of yellow before I clear coat and start decal work.

    [​IMG]

    Be well !
     
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  7. gmorider

    gmorider TrainBoard Member

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    Looks sharp. Will be even sharper.
     
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  8. Carl Sowell

    Carl Sowell TrainBoard Supporter

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    I was sure not happy with the 1st paint application. What I think showed on the cab were the little nodules left after the print supports were removed, so I got out my 2,000 grit wet/dry and went to work. The other side of cab is not as bad but I have not massaged it yet. The trailer lines did not show but I felt them, so massaged it as well. Here are some images :

    Trailer :
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    Curb side of cab :
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    Driver's side of cab : ( needs a lot more work )
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    Be well !

    I forgot to mention that I am converting my jpeg logo images from raster to vector, so they should print much crisper.
     
    Last edited: Oct 22, 2022
  9. Carl Sowell

    Carl Sowell TrainBoard Supporter

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    Weather cooperated today so I air brushed this rig again.

    Looks better, I think, at any rate no more painting:
    [​IMG]

    Trailer is OK. the skewer on top side was so I could flip the trailer and spray the under carriage:
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    Here is cab chassis, I will "chrome" the stacks, tanks and battery boxes next :
    [​IMG]

    The 2 tongue depressors have the wheels and compartment hatches glued on and are sprayed black. Next up is to "chrome" them as well.

    BTW - I also sprayed a new Chevron tanker, next up will be gray trim, that will be decorated for "Breast Cancer - find a cure ". Decals are made and are next up for printing :
    [​IMG]

    Be well ! !
     
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  10. Carl Sowell

    Carl Sowell TrainBoard Supporter

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    I was able to airbrush the "chrome" today and took this image to check out the results. fairly pleased with the results but I see a "fix" needed under the left side of the sun visor as well as some brush touch up on fenders. Not too shabby, however for n scale :

    [​IMG]

    Be well !
     
  11. BNSF FAN

    BNSF FAN TrainBoard Supporter

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    Looking really good so far Carl!
     
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  12. Carl Sowell

    Carl Sowell TrainBoard Supporter

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    Decal work has begun. I am a bit po'd about this decal tearing in a couple of places and was wondering how to fix. What the heck, I drove these things way back when and know that some tank trailers look a lot worse than this with scrapes and scratches. Right George ? ? At any rate I shall leave well enough alone and not mess it up more. A little weathering ? ?

    [​IMG]

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    Fun, fun, fun, till her daddy took the T-Bird away ...........

    Be well !
     
  13. alister

    alister TrainBoard Member

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    Ooooh bright and shiney!!! They are supposed to be as new looking or the trucking company will have words with the driver :eek:
     
  14. DeaconKC

    DeaconKC TrainBoard Member

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    Hey you could always put this over that spot.
     

    Attached Files:

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  15. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    When I drove...we drove 'assigned' tractors. These where our 'homes'. We took care of them. Most guys took real good care of their 'homes'. Trailers on the other hand where another story ! Sometimes we pulled the same trailers for years. Then other times you where told to drop your trailer and latch onto one setting loaded in the yard. You always hoped those trailers where going to look nice. I always hated getting one that looked like it had been thru a war !

    To most drivers...Fleet pride was always the tractor...seldom the trailer.

    Carl...I would lightly weather that tank. Taking extra care to weather the 'front' of the 'equipment boxes'. Being underneath and low to the ground...the front of the box takes a beating and gets tons of nicks...dents...and chipped paint ! Same with the trailer fenders. We drove lots of miles between 'wash jobs' and 'road grim' took it's toll on our rigs. JMO
    .
     
  16. Sumner

    Sumner TrainBoard Member

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    Beautiful work Carl. I'd love to spend a day watching you paint and doing decal work.

    [​IMG]

    I should of seen if Love's would of bought my station wagon when I sold it. It might of been their fleet color or close to it that I used when I had it painted. I bought it for $150 in the late '80's and was going to use the frame under my '48 GMC pickup when I was turning it into a street rod. Found out that a Camaro sub-frame was a much better approach so did a little body work on the chevy and had it painted the 'fleet' color above.. Used it for my service guys in the computer store to go on service calls. Later sold the business and moved to Moab, UT and sold the car to the guy that had the 'Thrifty Nickle' sales mag and he used it to deliver them. Went to buy it back a couple years later and he had given it to his daughter in Salt Lake City and someone stole it from here.

    Your pictures brought back memories, wish I could say the same about the hair I had then,

    Sumner
     
    Last edited: Nov 8, 2022
  17. Carl Sowell

    Carl Sowell TrainBoard Supporter

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    Thanks for all the nice comments & likes. I like to post images as I work to be able to check for less than quality work. Here is a good example of that, as I see a need to dress up the grille work:

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    I will do the headlight area later.

    These angles look OK, I think :
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    Thanks for looking & be well !
     
  18. Carl Sowell

    Carl Sowell TrainBoard Supporter

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    Latest : Cab is not mounted to chassis yet.

    [​IMG]

    Guess I need to get the wheels/tires installed as well as some "glass" in windows, side mirrors, on and on and on !

    Thanks for tagging along,

    carl
     
  19. in2tech

    in2tech TrainBoard Member

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    That is some nice work there :) Looks awesome!
     
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  20. Carl Sowell

    Carl Sowell TrainBoard Supporter

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    Thanks my friends for the kind comments. Here is the completed trailer :

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    The decals are all made by me. I vectorized my jpeg images and that creates an excellent decal. You can even read the UN # on the haz-mat placards. This truck & trailer unit is resin 3D printed N scale.

    I shall lightly weather when I get the tractor finished. All the decals have been applied and I am presently adding "glass".

    Images when completed !
     
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