griggsDinky Studebaker Tanker
Truckby
Randy Griggs
I recently learned about the very near S-Gauge DINKY Studebaker
tanker truck on eBay where someone mentioned that the "length" was a little
over 4 3/8". Several folks mentioned the DINKY Studebaker tankers
were 1/43 scale - TOO BIG FOR US! So, I pretty much ruled it out
as a potential "S" model. I found on eBay where someone had photographed
the bottom of the Studebaker tanker. I printed the photo to "scale"
and measured the "width". It turned out to be about 1.41" wide, which
to ME equals about 7.5' in1/64 scale! Good enough for this vintage
& type of truck!
I finally was successful in bidding on an eBay offering - THAT NEEDED
TO BE RESTORED! When I received the little gem, I saw that it had
been subjected to pretty rough use, and had apparently been used for BB
gun practice as it had a bunch of little round BB "dents" in several
places.
After taking it apart, doing some body work & dent "filling", repainting,
decaling, and installing scale "S" wheels & tires it turned out GREAT.
I had to modify the sheet metal "chassis" and the rear wheel axle support
on the body of the model for the new, scale wheels & tires. I
drilled out the rivet supports, tapped them for a small brass screw so
I can now reassemble the model with 2 small screws. (This turned
out much better than I thought it would!) I also recontoured the
front wheel well openings as the DINKY model was a little off with respect
to the REAL Studebaker trucks of the early 50's which this represented.
The original DINKY had sort of a 3-sided front wheel opening whereas the
REAL trucks had rounded ones. I plan on adding a rear view mirror
on the driver's side as well as some proper ICC clearance lights on the
top of the cab, but that can wait until I get a "round 'tuit"!
I also purchased a second Stude tanker off eBay which I photographed
next to the previously restored one.
I think you would agree the "restored" is suitable for just about any "S"
layout - ESPECIALLY IF YOU JUST HAVE TO HAVE A STUDEBAKER!
This past Christmas holiday I spent a LOT of time restoring the
little DINKY Studebaker tanker truck as well as an ERTL MACK semi tractor
I had bought years ago which had a broken chassis. I decided the
MACK would look nice (after I removed its "sleeper" and shortened the
chassis about 2 scale feet) in UP armour yellow paint with a UP emblem
on each door. I figured I had to use SOMETHING to load/unload all
those "S" TOFCs with! :-)
The tanker is shown with two SHROCK BROS. diecast model Studebakers
that are also VERY CLOSE to 1/64. One's a little '49 or '50 pickup, the
other is about a '62 Stude CHAMP pickup. Both of these little gems
are the same color as the ones my Dad & Mom used to own. (They
still own the REAL light blue CHAMP pickup!) What I'd REALLY like
to see someone like ERTL or Racing Champions make is a 1/60-1/64 scale
Studebaker AVANTI! WHY NOT? Our "S" layouts should ALL have
several Studebakers! ;-)
Randy Griggs (Always looking for "S" Studebakers!) rlgriggsXXX@megsinet.net
