Modifying older Atlas trailers

Before we had such a nice selection of accurate N Scale truck trailers, one of the most common types available were generic 24-foot and 40-foot trailer models from Atlas.  These were offered in many road names with either 2 of the 24-foot models or 1 of the 40-foot model either on a 50-foot flat car or by themselves.  Over the years I had acquired a few of the flat cars to get the trailers and once at a train show a bag of 10 undecorated 24-foot models.  Some of these got painted and decorated for various trucking lines using Microscale decals.

These Atlas trailers are decent models but were designed only to be a load on a flat car or parked with the stand down.  If you want to place them on the road behind a tractor, the under frame does require a bit of modification.  The stock under frame has no king pin but it's not difficult to add one.  In this first example a 40 foot trailer is used.

Some of the ribs on the underframe were removed with a hobby knife and sanded smooth.  Then a scrap of .040 styrene was glued to the top side directly above the area where the ribs were removed.  Then a .035 sized hole was drilled through the center between the first and second ribs and a scrap of .032 steel wire was glued into place.

Here's an example of one of these trailers behind an Athearn C cab tractor after these modifications.

The 24 foot trailers require a bit more work.  Not only is there no king pin, but the parking stand is too close to the front end of the trailer to allow clearance for the tractor.

This photo shows the modifications I made to make this trailer work as either a parked or towed model.  The forward section was smoothed, then the styrene block, and the steel wire king pin were added the same as with the 40 ft model.  Then the longitudinal ribs were filed smooth in the area shown in the photo and new holes were drilled for the jack stand assembly.

Here are two of the 24 foot models shown as both parked and towed. Again, an Athearn C cab tractor is being used.

The addition of a Fine N Scale Products cast resin refrigeration unit can turn these trailers in to refrigerated trailers.

Truck trailers for the grocery warehouse

A key visual feature I wanted to create in Lovelock at the grocery distribution warehouse was a large truck loading dock area with trailers parked at the dock doors and also in the lot.  This facility receives products both by rail and truck then ships by truck in company branded trailers.  The trailers delivering products could be from various freight companies but I needed to create some IGA trailers for this warehouse.

Years ago I had a Cannon printer that I got really good decal prints from.  When it died I replaced it with an Epson that I never got as good of results from.  The Epson got replaced last year with a Cannon G5020 but I had not yet tried to print any decals with it.  Recently I had purchased some decal paper that is supposed to be compatible with this specific printer.  So the first attempt was some IGA logo decals of various sizes to use on these trucks. 

I was so impressed with the way these came out I then made another sheet of decals with some trailer numbers and some colorful grocery store related graphics.  Both sheets were sealed with a spray coat of  Krylon Crystal Clear.

I painted and decaled 5 of the old Atlas generic 24 foot trailers models and 1 of the 40 foot models. Got those painted in white after first washing and applying a coat of gray primer.  Then the decals were applied and all the trailer bodies were given a coat of Dullcoat.

In the next post, I will describe what I did to improve the chassis parts to these trailers.

Finishing the grocery distribution warehouse

Gold Medal Models chain link fence was installed around the track side and vacant lot side of the truck parking area.  At that point I had run out of the fence material so planted hedges along the road.  Small bits of static grass clumps were added in a few spots to represent weeds growing through cracks in the pavement.  A few pallets and a dumpster were added and more details will be added later.  This view taken from the back of the bench work when it was removed from the layout.

On the building itself, details were added to the roof which help to break up the repeated pattern of the printed roof.  I used the larger air conditioning units that came with the kit, and added some turbine vents from California Freight and Detail.  I also added some plumbing vents which are styrene rod and a scratch built roof access hatch.

This is how the track side of the building looks.  I added brush around the area from static grass clumps I made myself along with some ready made ones from Scenic Express. 

And here is the finished scene of the truck area.  I knew building this that the small awnings above the truck doors were going to be delicate so I did not add them until almost everything else was done but I still managed to knock one off and can't find it.  If it does not turn up, it won't be difficult to make a replacement.

This has been a rewarding project that I actually started last August.  I'm quite happy with the way it came out and look forward to having the local from Carlin service this industry.