I am in the process of converting the Corgi two-tractor big-rig set shown in the photo below to 'Streets. The cab-over International Transtar will be straightforward to convert and I will pair it with a standard two-axle box trailer to make a really nice 18-wheeler that I will run alot.
I thought the Kenworth deserved something special. The three-axle trailer that came with these guys proved unusable but it led me to scratch-build the three-axle depressed center trailer shown below, obviously still incomplete. Its powered by what is by now my standard drivetrain: full-size motor with 3:1 reduction gearing driving the first axle of the trailer, like every other big rig I've made. The thing is wonderfully big and impressive, at 14.5" end to end. I have completed the Kenworth tractor though, modified for its new roll with a short flat bed to better accommodate the large gooseneck trailer it will drag. The trailer will take another weekend at least.
I designed the trailer to carry, and positioned the motor to just hide within, the Lionel crawler-shovel kit shown below, which I shall bash at bit (and add details to) so that it fits, looks good, and cover the motor completely. I will substitute a lattice-type crane arm for the shovel mechanism, folded back on the trailer as they are for transportation. You can see I have a lot of work to do - this took all yesterday and today and I stopped for the day after I saw it run once around my country road. This longest vehicle I've run, and revealed itself to have rather large amounts of rear side-stick out on corners so that it knocked over a motorcycle parked on the side of the road and pushed aside two parked cars and brushed aside several trees, too. I won't get back to my worksiop until next weekend, and the trailer will probably take all of that to finish. Video when eventually done.
