Sunday 10 August 2014

28mm Big Rigs

Introduction

A little while ago, I mentioned that I was building some WorldWorks trucks for my 28mm modern wargames such as All Things Zombie: here.  Note that this was an impulse decision and not based on a need for trucks in any upcoming scenario.  Still, here we are!

So far, I have built 3 semi-trailers and 2 tractors.  That's probably enough for now; much as I enjoy building these vehicles I do need some time for all the other model-making projects which have been on hold for the past 2 weeks or so!

The Container Semi-Trailer

Both the red and the blue tractors have been built straight from the WorldWorks Mayhem Industrial kit and so I won't spend a lot of time describing them - the only modification is the addition of a socket to take the trailer's coupling, as described in my previous article.  Mayhem Industrial gives 3 choices of colour scheme for each of the long-nose and cab-over variants (blue, yellow & green for the long-nose and red, white & black for the cab-over), but sadly there's no black long-nose.  Maybe I'll kitbash one some day, with a little rubber duck mascot on top of the bonnet/hood?

The container semi-trailer is also built straight from the kit and is also one of the 3 possible variants that are supplied.

The Flatbed Semi-Trailer

As well as the container semi-trailer, I thought that a flatbed would be useful.  I can put any kind of loads I like on this: logs, concrete pipe sections or large pieces of machinery.

For the most part, this is also built straight from the WorldWorks kit; it's basically just the container semi-trailer but without the container on top.  There are a few minor modifications to my version, though:

  • I've added a "headboard" at the front, to stop loads from sliding forwards into the tractor.  This was cut from a spare piece of the trailer bed, so it matches the colouring and style perfectly.
  • The card for the upper and lower sides of the trailer bed were separated and then used to sandwich a piece of mounting board.  This makes the model much thicker and rather stronger than it would have been otherwise.
  • As with all of my semi-trailers, I've glued a Hama bead on the underside to act as a pivot.  This fits into the tractor's socket and thus holds the rig together.

The Tanker Semi-Trailer

Articulated tankers are such an important part of many movies and other sources of inspiration that I just had to have one.  However there was no such model in the Mayhem Industrial set.  What was I to do?

So, there are essentially 2 parts to this model: the undercarriage and the tank itself.  The undercarriage is all from the WorldWorks kit, but very heavily modified.  The tank is entirely my own design.

I'm not a graphic designer of any kind, but I'm reasonably good with 3d shapes and how they can be built up from 2d designs (nets).  The tank itself is just an oval prism, though I swept back the front end a bit.  I have added some texture to the model, but sadly it doesn't look very evident in any of these pictures.

Rolling a card tube of this length is very difficult, so I added an old block of balsa along the centreline.  Even with this support, I'm not entirely happy with the way that the tank turned out.  The front was particularly troublesome and I couldn't get the curve even from top to bottom - I don't know why.  Perhaps I should have added more formers along the length of the tank?

Compared with the tube, the top block (with the hatches) was very easy to build.  Note that this tanker is about 4 or 5cm shorter than it would be if the model were true to scale.  That matches the length of the WorldWorks semi-trailers.  I haven't measured them but I suspect that this is a compromise in the name of playability.

As mentioned before, the undercarriage of this model has been adapted from the WorldWorks components.  Here are the main differences:
  • The "underbody" has been narrowed considerably, so that it just peeks out from underneath the tank.
  • I've changed the wheel arrangement from 2 axles with double tyres on each side (i.e. 8 wheels) to a 3 axle, single type arrangement (i.e. 6 wheels).  This involved both widening and lengthening the axle unit, as well as sourcing some single wheels from the tractor unit.
  • A mudguard was taken from the "long-nose" tractor and lengthened (a lot) and narrowed (a little).  I also changed the colour to a neutral grey, before fitting the mudguards around a specially-designed black half-oval.

Conclusion

These are nice models to have and will no doubt find a use in my ATZ games or anything with a similar (modern) setting.  For the most part, they're straightforward to build (but oh, I'm tired of making wheels!).  The tanker semi-trailer took far longer than all the others put together; this was entirely due to the design work needed.  Every time I undertake such a task, I come out of it wondering where all the hours went!

10-10, Good buddy!

31 comments:

  1. I have got to say just how good these look. As soon as I saw them I sparked several game ideas straight away. Thanks for showing tem.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Clint. It's good to know that you liked this post!

      Delete
  2. Great builds C6. I've kinda just got into paper models and these are inspiring.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Some people love paper modelling, some don't. If done with a modicum of care then the results can be quite impressive (and relatively quick and cheap as well).

      Delete
  3. These are really great. I've always tended to view cardboard models a bit like CGI background - Deliberately a bit less sharp, creating the image without detracting form the main characters.

    How these pictures have changed my mind. Big tough trucks; zombies or not they'll deliver the goods!!

    I'd love to see a picture alongside some appropriate sized figures.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! Just so long as the zombies don't know how light these models are in reality :-) .

      A size comparison shot is a good idea. Rather than add that retrospectively to this article, I might do a further post on vehicles in general and add in such shots.

      Delete
  4. They really are eye catching, great job.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Michael. Big trucks are something I've wanted for quite a while. Now if someone would only make card kits for some construction vehicles such as road rollers, cement trucks...

      Delete
  5. Great models C6, they're goiing to look great on the table when you do use them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm looking forward to seeing them in action, Joe :-) .

      Delete
  6. Truly inspirational, Hugh. Seeing yours makes me want to build my own now!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Bryan - that means a lot to me! This was a distraction from what I'm *really* trying to build, mind...

      Delete
  7. Replies
    1. Ta, Robert. Mind you, I'd need at least one or two more before I can create a convoy...

      Delete
  8. Whow, man! These look amazing. And I can definitely understand the thing with the wheels :D
    Any chance you might share the tanker-semi kitbash? Now that you mentioned Rubber Duck I absolutely need one :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Stefan, I'd be happy to share the upper part of the tanker; it's all my own work and therefore there won't be any copyright issues. However the undercarriage for that model is based on components from WorldWorks so I'd have to get their permission first. As an alternative, I suppose you could just use the flatbed undercarriage from the Mayhem Industrial kit?

      I'll need to investigate how this might be done.

      Delete
    2. That lower part would count as a kitbash on their terms and is not to be distributed freely; I think I'd have to convince you that I own the set and all (which I do, btw). As they play dead for quite a while now one might get away with it, but I don't want to get you into trouble.
      The top part would be nice to get me started on a conversion so I'd only have to worry about the texturing. The rest I could manage starting with the undercarriage of the set, like you said, and use your pictures as a guideline.

      Delete
  9. Wow, great work!
    I'm not the biggest fan of card vehicles, but rigs aren't cheap out there. I really like the tanker, great job.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've looked for a long time for toy trucks that would work with 28mm figures. While they do exist, they're hard to find. Although this isn't the cheapest card kit around, I can now build as many rigs as I want with a relatively small amount of work.

      Delete
    2. What kit is this ?!? I've been looking tirelessly for 28mm semi style trucks ???
      Nighthawk118@gmail.com

      Delete
    3. Aaron, these come from the defunct WorldWorks "Mayhem Industrial" set. Although I don't believe it can be obtained from WorldWorks any more, the set is still available from paizo.com: http://paizo.com/products/btpy8600?Mayhem-Industrial .

      Note that the original kit has a variety of tractor units and container trailers. The flatbed and tanker trailers are my own conversions - but you could do something similar for yourself.

      Delete
  10. They all look great mate. Despite your issues with the tanker its really does look good and realistic to me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, you're not seeing the tanker close up :-) . If I built it again then I think I'd pay more attention to getting the curve of the tank more symmetrical. Also I think I'd try to add more texture to it, though that's something I don't feel very competent to do.

      Delete
  11. Damn fine work yet again!! Need to make mine damn quick!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks again! Hmm - it would be interesting to see other people's versions :-) .

      Delete
  12. And of course a tanker full of something hazardous (and possibly explosive) opens the storyline for a truly devastating chance card.

    I suggest sticking your B team characters at the help of this fleet.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yup, something explosive is a must. After all, in the movies even a tanker full of milk will blow up at the drop of a hat :-) !

      Delete
  13. Great job on these. It reminds me how many paper models I have sitting unbuilt on various computers. I need to remedy that. Loved the closeup on the Banditos and your recap of Claymore.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ah, I have *so* many paper model kits that I could build! I know deep down that I'll never make them all, though :-( . Thanks, Sean.

      Delete
  14. They look great and well done for seeing them through. Your additions look great too

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks. The trucks aren't really too difficult to make; they just take longer than most smaller vehicles.

      Delete