I have no idea why I get these goofy ideas, but my latest brain seizure happened when I looked at a Bruder TGA Lowbed Trailer MAN Truck with JCB Backhoe Loader on Amazon. It was only $70 delivered. Gee, how could I go wrong with a deal like that?




I converted one a few years back into a1944 Autocar U7144T tractor, but the trailer just stayed stock with just an OD paint job. The Autocar tractor model I converted from Bruder stayed a 6X6 (the real ones were 4X4). I overlook a lot of inaccurate details when I build my toys, and I do take artistic liberties when I think I can get away with anyone not noticing my goof.




Anyhow, I got to wondering how close I could get to converting another one of that Bruder model into a relatively accurate M26 Dragon Wagon with an M15A trailer that would be fairly decent looking (from a distance). Now I know --- it's nothing that would win awards, but it's an interesting project that will keep me busy and having fun for a while.

The reference bible. (Thank you David Doyle)



Comparison of Bruder trailer to M15A trailer.




I'm glad my expectations are low on how this is going to work out ---- I think I would have been better off using Legos, but I do a lot of laughing about what I have accomplished so far, it may give you guys a laugh as well. A lot of detailing still needs to be done on the trailer, and then I get to do some surgery on the tractor --- it is going to need to be lengthened and widened to the correct wheel base and tracking dimensions.



The end of the tunnel on the trailer part is in sight. The tractor is gonna be a challenge. That David Doyle walk around has no end of detail photos that I just may pretend don't exist. There's a lot of little stuff that my fat fingers and old eyeballs are not going to be happy with.
rex