both intermodal and over-the-road trucking shorter used trailers were available, but those acquired were gen- erally in rough condition. Repairs were made to side and nose panels where necessary, the swing doors were re- moved and chain gates installed, thus making them specialized trailers for the local pick-up and delivery trade. This equipment was the responsibili- of
ty the contractor; however, the MAHLON EBERHARDT COLLECTION
Monon elected to paint the trailers black with aluminum roofs and apply new image yellow lettering touting “Rails Right to Your Door” to promote their l.c.l. service. Although these trail- ers were painted like the Monon’s new intermodal fleet, they were not intend- ed for piggyback service. In fact, they should not be confused with the Monon’s popular “Trailer Maid Serv- ice” piggyback trailers that used the same colors.
The model
This project came together nicely due to four factors. First, there is an excellent photograph of trailer num- ber T-120 spotted at the South Ham- mond freight house. Then, Sylvan Scale Models produced a resin kit for a Fruehauf 26-foot, Aerovan trailer, which is a good match for trailer T- 120. Next, the decal lettering for these trailers turned out to be available from Chicago-area piggyback modeler Don Halffield. Halffield’s decals are printed by well-known decal printer Rail Graphics. Finally, Archer Fine Transfers makes resin tread plate and weld seams on decal paper as part of their surface details line, essential for capturing the rebuilt side and nose panels on trailer T-120.
To capture the look of the trailer (top), start with a Sylvan Scale Models Fruehauf Aerovan trailer (middle) and remove the flash from the body. Next, airbrush the body with Floquil gray primer. The primer allows you to better see your work when scraping off the side door details and highlights any flaws in the casting. It also provides a better surface for painting. The side door details have been scraped off (above) and any nicks or scratches have been filled with automotive body filler. Archer Fine Transfers weld seams have been added to define the new panel locations; they blend in with the remaining cast-on side details. Also note the Archer tread pattern decals applied on the sides and nose to represent the patch panels seen on the prototype trailers. These panels added strength and covered body damage. Finally, Detail As- sociates m.u. air hose glad hands for the trailer air line couplings have been added.
RAILROAD MODEL CRAFTSMAN
The Sylvan kit is easy to build, but some preliminary work should be done. As with any resin kit there is al- ways flash remaining from the casting process. Separate all of the parts and cut the bulk of the flash away with a hobby knife, then sand these areas smooth with sanding sticks. When all the clean-up work is done, test fit the major components together and adjust them with sanding sticks where nec- essary for a tight fit. Wash all of the components in warm soapy water to remove sanding dust and any mold re- lease residue, and, when dry, airbrush all
of the components with Floquil
gray primer. Covering the white resin castings with gray primer makes sur- face flaws that you may have missed easier to spot and remove as model construction proceeds. The heavy work should be done first so as not to risk the finer details which will be added to the model as it nears completion. As with the prototype, the
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