DalaGStanator's Customs, Mods and Experiments

Last Tuesday, I revisited the packing foam tread idea with a bigger wheelset knowing it would be easier to work with (due to the foam's thickness). If I hadn't focused on making them smaller than trains, aircraft or watercraft, I could've done the same for anything with rubber tyres. Even with the inevitable seam where the ends of the tread meet, they roll smoothly and quietly and the discs are more evenly cut. Also look forward to trying cardboard strips glued in a tread pattern someday.



Since I only made two and have plans for a batch of generic construction equipment (with more varied designs than my childhood ones in roughly the same scale), I built a small open-station tractor with them to try building typically massive vehicles without making them "train sized" or bigger. In part thanks to a book I grew up with that stars one, I tend to associate agrotech with these tractors over more modern types with cabs. The front wheels were meant to be attached with separate axles, but I have yet to find a good design for that. For the (heavily simplified) engine detail, I relied on some rolls of cardboard and aluminium, matchsticks and a silver marker and glued it in 'after' it had a bonnet. The steering wheel is a wick sustainer fitted to a nail, and the seat is glued to a negative (spring) battery terminal.



Painted (marker) orange instead of red, since the latter is apparently too common. Apart from the engine, aluminium was used for the headlights, start crank, exhaust pipe and tail light assemblies. The grille is corrugated cardboard. Like on some of the 2022 batch, the headlights were filled in with glue. Although it won't have its own trailer or other equipment, it could still tow a TOMY/TrackMaster/other vehicle with a hook/pin coupling. Size comparison:



I then realised I made the bonnet too long and it had a part that wasn't needed (or would look better near the front), so I shortened it by cutting the tractor in half. Despite how the engine is mounted, the nail for the steering wheel still fits.



That said, regluing the front did cause a minor issue in that one wheel doesn't touch the ground anymore. Later, some more pieces were added underneath to strengthen the rejoined halves. While both axles can move freely, there are cases where one of them will jam (usually the front one, which has no treads on the painted tyres).

It's a better scale than my Jack and Alfie, and even the custom wheels are alright given the size and technique. Might even redesign J&E and build the rest of the Pack after my own equipment.