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

always amazing work Rex

sent you a PM check it out

sending you another PM

There is a friend of Chris at Ludwigs that does the basic M26 kit in cnc plastic. It's around €90 and fits on the Tamiya truck chassis.

ya but Rex likes to make his own stuff

Yes, I've seen it and have considered getting it.

Airbrushler has it right about the fun I get from building my own ---- but I have been known to take a shortcut and use the fine efforts of someone else.

rex

Looking "GRAND" as always Rex!

(just double check the label on the spray can this time)




Jeff

Thanks for reminding me Jeff.

Is that bruder truck 1/16?
Is it RC?
Will the trailer fit on a Tamiya semi truck?
I have a friend that has a Tamiya semi that wants to make a tank hauler trailer.

Yes, that is a 1/16 Bruder truck ---No, it isn't RC, but I guess that could be done



It might be made to fit --- I don't know. It is 7 inches wide and the bottom is 4 inches high when on the tractor. This is the underside of the fifth wheel hookup.



Rex

Huh? Oh, right... too soon aye? Just tryin' to help.


Lot's of Bruder toys have been RC'd. Even given active suspensions as well!




Jeff

No worries about being reminded of the paint can incident, I can handle that one. The incident I will never tell anyone about is the time I accidently super glued my thumb and two fingers of my left hand together.

We've converted many bruder trailers for tank recovery battles and logisitcs. Use a simple esc and a tamiya educational kit gearbox to r/c the ramps. We widen them and add the tamiya king pin as well as some Led's for loading lights.

I like that last one. Its a lot like my LCM.

SSSSSSSSSSSHHH i sometimes do this...lol

The guys on this forum are clever model builders.

If the SWMBO ever complains about this hobby, all ya gotta do is say --- "But Honey, it's for the kid".


rex

I've shown my better half how expensive tanks can REALLY get and she's much happier now. Especially since I no longer slot car race ($$$) and don't travel all across the country ($$$) anymore.




Jeff

Hi Nice Trailer would look nice on the back of my Dragon wagon

Sweet

So which tamiya tractor is needed for that modelspiegel conversion?

Any way to get the correct tires and rims? Ive seen alot of those on shapeways recently.

it looks like he doesnt include the details of the brass hinges and shacles and such...

I hope my M26 turns out to look as good as yours.

Hi Its a Tamiya chassis and gearbox with a 80t motor the diffs have thick Grease to make them limited slip . moved the axels to correct distance and fitted extensions to rear axels to make them the right width. Bought a small scale model of dragon wagon to scratch build the body , don't try and guess the body I tried 3 times before buying a kit , its a doodle with the kit there are a lot of compound angles which makes it hard to do from a drawing.

regards pete

I agree with your comments about the wheel base and tracking dimensions. Over 10 years ago I was going to do a dragon wagon using the 1/14 Tamiya Globeliner. That model came the closest to being the easiest conversion for an M26 in my opinion. The cab shape and how everything was installed was good for a M26 cab. Back then the Globeliner was a $300 kit with all of the electronics, now I see them for sale for $300 for a static shell. no electronics.

I used to buy a 1/35 scale model of whatever I was scratch building in the beginning, that was back when a lot of kit models cost $10. I would measure the plastic model parts, do the math for 1/16th scale and then making drawings on cardboard to check for proper fit of the parts. Using Scotch tape to fit the cut out cardboard patterns together saved a lot of mistakes when I cut styrene parts. There is also a ton of reference material available on the internet and in publications.

Plan ahead - measure twice and cut once - be careful with an Exacto knife and a Dremel tool - and it will be fun.
rex

I'm going to take a short break from finishing the trailer and start on the tractor cab. The crew cab doesn't look like it will be a problem, but all of those winches and stuff behind the cab looks like it's going to cause more brain damage to me. The details of all of that mechanical gear looks more like work than fun.

I lengthened the wheel base and widened the tracking dimensions to more correct dimensions. That was a hammer and hacksaw job and turned out ok. Now I get to start the cab. You guys may not hear from me for a few weeks (months?



I slapped together a rough cardboard parts pattern for a quick test to see how everything would fit together (it is very rough). The biggest goof that jumped out at me was that the cab was 15 mm too wide. Everything else fits pretty close and will be easily correctable when I measure twice and cut once.



If I send back all of the Bruder parts that got removed and will not be used, do you think Bruder would issue me a cash refund or credit on my next purchase?


rex

looks Cool already