Menards new 1:48 Die-Cast Trucks

Bowled OVER Friday. Thanks for nice "dope". Die cast trucks have never been EZ to find in proper scale for O-Gauge modelers. I'll put a 1/2 dozen on my table at train shows. Thanks Menards!  

 LOL!! How do you turn a tractor trailer with no 5th wheel? 

RickO posted:

 LOL!! How do you turn a tractor trailer with no 5th wheel? 

The frame goes front to back, its not a trailer.

That odd , spread-axle arraignment is not used much on trucks in the lower 48. That axle spacing is found on some trucks in parts of Canada.

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OK...all the 'I want 1/48 vehicles' crowd.........If they fit my 50's era I'd buy them all........Mark........

sharp looking trucks. I'm with AMCDAVE- give us some 50's- 70's vintage vehicles for us post-war/ MPC guys.

Are you listening Mark the Menards Guy!

Seems they don't care about us 50- 70 guys

mowingman posted:

That odd , spread-axle arraignment is not used much on trucks in the lower 48. That axle spacing is found on some trucks in parts of Canada.

Mowingman, to be honest they are all over the place on the west coast! The wheels right behind the cab are Drop axels, so they can carry more weight!

cabinet Bob posted:

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Bob you need to angle the blade on the snow plow more to the shoulder or your going to put a windroll of snow next to the bus!

Seems they don't care about us 50- 70 guys
Bill

More like 1960-80's! With the ONE exception of the Mack Turret Cab

Powerhorse, there just thinking about the future!!! They know that younger railroad guys will like the trucks better then the old guys as the amount of older guys gets smaller. LOL Just Kidding, it was funny in my head!

Menard's gave us a very nice 50's era truck with the Frenchies Hobby Shop truck.  I can only hope more post-war era 1/48 vehicles (trucks and cars, especially 4-door sedans) will be offered.

Those drop axles also steer in a turn. You see a lot of them in Ohio.

I agree those are really nice but I need the 1940s - 1950s era.

Dennis

mike g. posted:

cabinet Bob posted:

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Bob you need to angle the blade on the snow plow more to the shoulder or your going to put a windroll of snow next to the bus!

I wouldn't  know,  we don't  get snow in Iowa..LOL

How about a B Model Mack? One of the best looking trucks ever built.

I think the tow truck would look better hooked to a school bus at the bus maintenance shop! LOL

Bob, I always thought Iowa was closed for the Winter! LOL

Playtrains, they don't open, you need a special pass just to cross the state borders!

Mike, I didn't need a pass, just told them I was Bob's son! Bingo, in! But I did hear the guy say," Geez, another one?" LOL

RickO posted:

 LOL!! How do you turn a tractor trailer with no 5th wheel? 

 

This configuration is called "twin steer"

I see a lot of these in Canada, literally as soon as you cross the border (I take a bus trip up there every year). It seems to be the majority configuration among dump trucks and cement mixers.

Question: are the Menards trucks properly equipped with single tires on the second axle like in the above photo? Can't quite tell from existing photos.

---PCJ

Great idea Mike !

RailRide posted:

RickO posted:

 LOL!! How do you turn a tractor trailer with no 5th wheel? 

 

This configuration is called "twin steer"

I see a lot of these in Canada, literally as soon as you cross the border (I take a bus trip up there every year). It seems to be the majority configuration among dump trucks and cement mixers.

Question: are the Menards trucks properly equipped with single tires on the second axle like in the above photo? Can't quite tell from existing photos.

---PCJ

Yes, they have a single tire. Thanks for asking..Bob

I  wrote the manufacturer of Menard's diecast stuff  ,  here is  thier reply 

Dear Douglas, 

Thanks for your kind contact. And we appreciated your compliment on our products.

Yes, most of our products are made of EU style, but now we had developed some truck are suitable for US market, which suitable for North American market too. 

Here attached the 2017 E-catalogue and new product leaflet for you reference, kindly let me know the US style truck are suitable for you?

Best regards,

Moon

GuangDong KaiDiWei Culture Co.,ltd 

Add:Qidouwei,Shanghua South, Chenghai, Shantou, Guangdong, China

Tel: +86-0754-89863013

Fax:+86-0754-89863100

Email: kdw202@gdkdw.cn 

www.gdkdw.cn

Perhaps if we all write back with some  photos showingthem what we might like in 1/48 scale  we  might stand a chance of getting some of the items we want  . I have begun taking photos of  what i would like, hopingto send it off to them shortly

cabinet Bob posted:

RailRide posted:

RickO posted:

 LOL!! How do you turn a tractor trailer with no 5th wheel? 

 

This configuration is called "twin steer"

I see a lot of these in Canada, literally as soon as you cross the border (I take a bus trip up there every year). It seems to be the majority configuration among dump trucks and cement mixers.

Question: are the Menards trucks properly equipped with single tires on the second axle like in the above photo? Can't quite tell from existing photos.

---PCJ

Yes, they have a single tire. Thanks for asking..Bob

Yes, these are the type of trucks Menards is making and you are correct, they are twin steer. They are not drop axle, and they are not commonly used anywhere in the US to my knowledge. Canadian "bridge laws", (axle weight limits), are different than in this country, which is why this axle arraignment does not work here. Lift axles are used in most states, but are located further back on the frame to spread out the weight on the rear tandems. If you see a twin steer truck in the U.S., it likely will have both axles located close together under the front hood or under the cab, but not behind the cab. FWD and Oshkosh used front twin steer axles, on a lot of concrete mixer trucks back in the 70's and 80's.

Mowingman, Ohio has a lot of them running on the highways. They sure turn your head when you see one coming around the corner.

Mowingman, also most larger mobile cranes have to steer axels do to the weight of the boom they have! the ones that do have drop axels also turn just like a trailer! 

mike g. posted:

Mowingman, also most larger mobile cranes have to steer axels do to the weight of the boom they have! the ones that do have drop axels also turn just like a trailer! 

Yes, quite common on cranes, I forgot about cranes when I was posting.