The prototype IH R-190 had very little room in the cab. Likewise, the cab for the model has limited space for the driver. To install him (above left), trim the legs and file down the posterior to get him low
they purchased their combines, hay balers, farm tractors and even home ap- pliances. This rugged gasoline powered truck was built tough, was easy to maintain and was priced to sell. Mini-Metals could not have made a
better choice when they decided to pro- duce the IHC R-190 classic heavy truck in HO and N scales. The models fea- ture a one piece die-cast metal cab and hood combination, a nicely detailed styrene chassis, and real rubber tires. Mini-Metals offers ready-to-run mod- els of both semi-tractor and straight truck versions of the R-190 in two- and three-axle versions painted in several popular colors. I had the red version on hand at the time I chose to model a green Consolidated Freightways (CF) unit, but because the model disassem- bles so well changing the color is easily accomplished. As with almost all ready-to-run models, some additional work can be done to enhance their ap- pearance and realism. The Mini-Met- als “binder” is no exception so let’s get to work.
Begin by completely disassembling the model. Peel the tires off of the wheels in the same manner as on the prototype. Then pull the wheels off of the axles using pliers placed behind the wheels to avoid damaging the wheel details. The axles with the re- maining wheels attached can then be removed from the chassis by slipping them out of the suspension on the op- posite side.
The cab is held to the chassis by a single rivet located on the underside of the model where you would normally find the engine oil pan. Drill the rivet out with a No. 50 drill and pull the cab free. The cab interior (seat and steer- ing wheel) and window molding will then fall out leaving the cast metal cab, hood and fenders as a single assembly. If you need to paint your cab and hood
RAILROAD MODEL CRAFTSMAN
enough to fit. Test fit the driver (above right) in the cab and make sure that the cab window molding fits correctly. Also, make sure the driver’s clothing is the appropriate color for the company.
casting or the chassis now is the time. The Mini Metals R-190 binder comes with disc type wheels which although nicely detailed were not all that com- mon on a truck this heavy. It is more likely that you will find cast steel spoke wheels with separate rims on most binders, the five spoke version be- ing the norm. After looking around at several sources, it became obvious that the easy solution to the wheel problem was to simply rob the cast spoke wheels from a Mini-Metals “bubble nose” White 3000 model. The wheels have an un-prototypical chrome finish and the axles are too long for the R-190 but they are close to the correct style of caste spoke wheels. Reuse the binder axles and modify the White 3000 wheels to fit on them and install. One of the most notable characteris- tics of 1950’s and 1960’s era CF semi- tractors was their wheels, chassis and front bumpers all of which were paint- ed red. After the bubble nose White wheels have been fitted to the IHC R- 190, but before the tires are installed, airbrush over the chrome wheel finish and the chassis and front bumper with Floquil Caboose Red which leaves a flat finish. Our green binder with a red front bumper setting on a red chassis fitted with the red cast spoke wheels is looking more like a CF cartage tractor all of the time. Consolidated Freightways was an early convert to the larger exterior, mounted rear view mirrors often re- ferred to as “west coast” mirrors. As the story goes a driver who had just been assigned a tractor with these new “gi- ant” mirrors that replaced the tiny mirrors which were about the size of today’s spot mirrors was quite im- pressed
with this new equipment.
While traveling eastbound he noted that the new mirrors worked so well that he could see “all the way back to
the west coast” with them hence the term “west coast mirrors” which stuck. Of course their use could have also started on the west coast. Stainless steel A-Line 50152 etched metal west coat mirrors with arms are a good fit for our binder. Snip them out and bend them to shape; then use them as a guide for drilling No. 75 holes in the sides of the upper door frames and door body of the R-190 as shown in the photos. Check for a proper fit, but do not install the mirrors until after the cab has been painted. Technically these mirrors should be mounted on the trac- tor doors, but they are a little oversized requiring this compromise.
Chrome or stainless steel west coat mirrors like the A-line mirrors were practically non-existent on in-service trucks during the 1950’s. Once you have determined the orientation of the mirrors for your tractor and before they are installed, paint the arms and backs of the mirror heads black, white or the same color as the tractor cab. Leave the portion of the mirror heads that the driver looks into the natural stainless steel color to represent the mirror faces. Most tractors of the era had individ- ually operated windshield wipers. They were powered by air or vacuum de- pending on which system operated the tractor (and trailer) braking system and other accessories. The model lacks the windshield wiper details which are easy to install. The A-line No. 20120 vehicle size short wiper set is appropri- ate
for the R-190. Install the two
wipers in No. 78 holes drilled just be- low the windshield opening.
Now is a good time to enhance both the interior and exterior of the R-190 by putting a driver behind the wheel. Just about any sitting figure will work. Test fit the interior with driver in the cab and with the window molding in to
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