Tractors (Semis) for Lionel & MTH Trailers

In my experience, the trailers on flatcars mix best with 1:48 or 1:50 tractors.  1:43 tractors tend to be a bit too big by contrast. 

That is very helpful, thanks Lee, you're always full of good information!!  I was reading the "Diecast Vehicles on Your Layout??" thread and saw that you enjoy the New Ray '53 Mack tractor trailer.  I know I've read, possibly by you, that indeed the 1:43 are huge, is that not the case with this one?  

Also, any ideas where I could find 1:48 & 1:50 tractors without trailers? 

Thanks,
Mike 

Both Lionel and MTH have made either flatcars with just the tractors or seperate tractors. I suggest going to www.grzyboskitrains.com or www.nstrains.com or www.aronscitytrains.com and look for the following:

Lionel 6-12794 Orange Tractor @$12.95

Lionel 6-17534 Diamond T Flat w/2 Mack Tractors (were $19.99 @ arons)

MTH 20-98531 Flat w/2 CAT Store Haulers @ $54+-

 

Also at Grzyboski they sell complete Tractor & Trailer for $12 to $20 each as does Nicolas Smith. It is unlikely that you can by just the tractors for less so why not use all the extra trailers in a transfer station? Same money.

 

To be honest with you I think the Lionel/Corgi tractor trailers are much smaller than 1:43. They look S gauge to me or even smaller. The New Ray models a very large by comparison.

 

Paul Goodness

 

 

Try Trainland/Trainworld for Athearn 1:50 tractor cabs & box trucks.

Thanks Paul, I actually have 2 Lionel train cars with the 2 trucks on them, one is a NS and the other a NJ Transit.  I get what you're saying about "why not just buy the sets," but my goal was to have variety and not all matching tractors (other than color).  I do like the idea of a transfer station though!  Thanks for the input!

 

The only thing I found on here BK was a few fire trucks :/

 

 

John,

That is such a great idea, thank you!

 

Mike 

I just pulled a bunch of my T & Ts out of the closet to check if a scale is listed on the undercarrage or box. The K-line HEAVY HAULERs are marked 1/49 and are larger than either the Lionel or Corgi which were not marked. These HEAVY HAULERs have two different cab styles.

 

All my Lionel made Tractors have the same cab style. But the Corgi have different cab styles. The Ertl are about the same size as the Lionel & Corgi.

 

If you have the trucks in hand you can compare the door sizes etc to see if they are compatable. If you are buying on-line I do not know ... GUESS? Like has been said many times in other posts about die cast cars and trucks, SCALE even if listed can vary all over the place. Maybe if you were thinking about a specific item make/number you could post them to see if other forum members who have it could give you the measurements.

 

Paul Goodness

The New Ray '53 Mack is one of my favorite tractors to bash: for $13-$15 I will buy it just to take the metal cab and cut/fit it to Superstreets 18-wheelers a lot.  It fits Superstreets wheels and chassis well and I've done three and intend one more truck (a three axle van) with one.  As a complete model, the Mack is noticeably but not objectionably bigger than some 1950's 1:50 models, for example, the very nice SpecCast KB-8 shown below (I found two on MB Klein's website yesterday and snapped them up).  Best not to put them side by side though: the Mack cab looks only a little out of place and the box trailer is much bigger, however, alone, and/or alongside a big loco, the new Ray looks good on a layout in my opinion.  The New Ray Peterbilt is another matter entirely, just too big to use.  I posted a photo of it as a dumptruck some time back and it is too big, either to fit any Superstreets chassis and wheels well (in particular it is too wide) and too big to look good next to anything O-gauge. For Peterbit or Kenworth style cabs, I like the R Collection ($23 Amazon) - it is 1:50 or 1:48 (not sure they know, frankly) and a really nice size.  The wrecker (second photo), modified, makes a dandy tractor.

 

Lee,

I've seen both your post with the dump truck (I believe compared to a race hauler), and your modified tractor trailer to run on Superstreets.  That is very cool!  I have a couple of these wreckers saved in my watch list on "the bay." (are you not allowed to say that on here??).  I never gave it any thought about modifying it to be a tractor.  What all do you think it'd take?

Thanks!

Mike

Thats a great idea too!

What would you use as the "receiver" on the tractor?

 

Mike

Wasn't clear - I will modify it to a Superstreets tractor with a dual (power driven) rear axle.  The cab is particularly good for fitting 'Streets beceause of its size and weight.  But as a model the wrecker with its trhree axles would be great slightly shortened, with a really long multi-axle overwieght chassis or even a Schnabel trailer - you're right.

Ah, that makes sense, I bet that'd look good on your layout Lee.  And I definitely like this idea.  What would you do to shorten it?  I mean, put it back together after you cut it?

Thanks,
Mike 

John,

Are they two different tractors, or the same one cut?

Thanks,
Mike 

Interesting to carry the scale ruler right on your LCCA card.  Good way to have it with you at all times.

 

Exact adherence to scale is just not a major criteria for me.  I go by "look and feel" which is a judgement call based on, well . . . how it loosk when on the layout.  The best example with regard to trucks may be the New Ray '53 Mack the New Ray much newer model year Peterbilt.  Both are just about exactly 1:43 scale, but I use the former (alot) even though it is on the edge of being too big in places, but never, ever the latter - it is just too big, because of the scale added to which it is a really big truck.  With regard to cars, as I've said I like 1:43 as it makes the cars a bit larger and that just works for me.  I have recently found a great use for the New Ray '50s cars which are anywhere from 1:47 to 1:53 - I have an area of my downtown where their use along with a slightly compressed set of printed storefronts, creates just a bit of forced perspective.  They work nicely there.   

John,

I should've known fifth-wheel!  Ugh I hate when that happens.  I am familiar with the concept and how all of that works.  I think I'm going to use your idea with the hash marks, good idea.

 

Lee,

 

I agree, look and feel works.  Its not like every car and truck out there are exactly one size (real-life)

 

Mike

From left to right:
Older Lionel Chessie System GP20

K-Line Hauler

Lionel Semi

1:50 Beer Truck

1:43 Chevy (Eastwood)

1:43 Chevelle

 

Personally in this picture, I think the K-Line looks a lot better than the Lionel.  I think it mixes well with the 1:43 cars and the train. 

 

 

That's a great photo.  I have been disappointed with the Lionel trucks as they seem vastly undersized.  What scale do you think the K-line truck might be?

 

thanks!

After putting this together the other day, I myself am disappointed with the size of the Lionel.  I"m glad I didn't purchase any recently for that reason.  I actually do not know what scale the K-Line is, I'd like to find out though.  I dont think it looks too bad next to the train (sorry Lee, I have a feeling you will disagree).

Mike

Some of the K-Line by Lionel trucks, on flatcars, were much too small.  1/64?  I never measured because I never bought one - obviously way, way too small.

 

The "Piggyback" box trailers provided with Lionel flatcars recently appear to be right at 1:48 scale - at least in width and height.  The photo below shows one of the two from (6-27545) the recetnly released REA PS4 with piggybacks fitted with a Speccast International KB-8 cab.  I think it is a good match, if perhaps the tractor is a fraction too small (dare I say, perhaps 4%).  The photo below that shows it with a variety of other trucks from 1:43 Peterbilt on the left to a 1:48 Peterbilt and a 1:43 '53 Mack (both converted th "Streets_ and the Speccast tractor with the trailer it is meant to pair with.  Lionel offers a tractor for their box van (6-37850 - second image) which I think looks a bit too big for it. 

 

Good comparison Lee. I like the R Collection Pete, looks good (where'd you find it?). I agree about the Lionel trucks, I have not measured either, but they look maybe 1:64 to me too. I have two of the flat cars with the two trucks on them plus the refrigeration truck shown in my picture.

The 1:48 Peterbilt cab comes from this critter below.  Part of the "R collection" - it is often available on Amazon toys and game section - I enter "1:48 truck" or "1:48 wrecker) in the search box and it comes up.  I checked today and there don't seem to be any. The cab(diecast)  is sometimes part of plastic-bodied garbage trucks, police trucks, etc. always R collection, always around $20-$25.

Thanks Lee.  I'm eventually going to buy two of those wreckers I think.  One to leave alone, the other to modify to haul trailers.  So they are plastic bodies?

I can't remember exactly, not at home now.  The cab is definately diecast, but alot if not everything else is plastic

currently those Lionel 18 Wheelers are 1:64 scale and are really for S scale rather than O scale. Hence the reason why there are many around for sale.

They're nice models but just way, way too small for O gauge.  I ordered two of the trucks last year and never even opened them once I saw the size, just gave them to Toys for Tots at Christmas, along with our other donations. 

Amazing Toy and Hobby has the wreckers for $17.95.

Diecast Direct has them for $14.95.

I just ordered 2 White dual axil 1:50 Spec Cast tractors from Die Cast Direct for $19.99 each. They are kind of plain looking but will be fine for yard duty tractors in my steel transfer area. Now I just need to find some 50's era flatbed trailed. And find a home for all those Lionel 1:64 rigs. How do the trailers on these rigs measure up as far as being paired with the 1:50 tractors?

 

Looks like everyone walked away in the 2nd photo.  It best illustrates the size difference.  The basic tractor is about half the height.  

Just looked into this and overall (truck + shipping)  the one from Diecast Direct is about $5-$6 cheaper than amazing toy.  Thanks guys!

 

Strogey,

Thats a good question.  I know Lee posted on the other topic about flat trailers with those Speccast trucks but I'm also curious to see how they'd look with the Lionel trailers.

 

Apple,

I think the K-Line truck looks right next to the train too.  I started reading your next post with the pictures through email on my phone.  Well I saw the first picture and thought "this is exactly the type of example I was looking for, every time I searched Google, all I could find were train vs. truck accidents" then I scrolled more and saw your second picture and had to laugh.  It definitely puts the scale sizes into perspective though, thank you

Mike

 

I know this is a old thread but I just picked up a truck and trailer needing a trailer for the spline car I just got and I think after reading this it might be the wrong size. here's what I picked up . it's 1/43 scale. the lionel ones are too small the rail king ones are to small so I took a gamble .

 

 

I too believe that the older Lionel semis are 1/64 scale. The tractors are smaller than a 1/43 car! The new tractor/trailers that Lionel has come out with are 1/48. A while back I bought 3 Lionel flat cars with two pup trailers on each. I wish that I could get matching tractors (Milw Rd) to go with them. I know they have those for sale now, but the tractor is not a separate sale item. I have been getting older ('47, '53) tractors from die-cast to team up with my Milw. Rd trailers. These tractors are "leased" by my railroad to haul the trailers. 

Many of the older Lionel and some K-Line (I think) were 1:64.  The current Lionel are 1:48.

 

JHainer - you don't say who made that truck but it looks like the New Ray 1:43 Kenworth, which is right at 1:43 scale of a very, very big truck.  I have two of them, and it is a monster.  

 

Everybody: the attached file is two pages from my next book (Modifying and Scratch-building 'Streets Vehicles - Improving and Building Superstreets and E-Z Street Cars, Buses, and Tractor Trailers) outlining why I much prefer to also use 1:43 scale  for cars but only go with 1:50 for trucks and buses.  It might prove useful to some of you.