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Miniatures Adventure => The Conflicts that came in from the Cold => Topic started by: eilif on November 21, 2022, 10:01:08 PM

Title: More Cheap Trucks! (not just USA...)
Post by: eilif on November 21, 2022, 10:01:08 PM
Edit. van with international  option a few posts down.

Just picked this up at Menards. A nicely sized panel truck and undersized forklift for 5 bucks! The wookie in the picture is 34mm and the stormtrooper is 29mm so the truck looks spot on for 1/56, maybe sightly smaller. Cargo doors open on rear and 1 side and figures can stand upright inside.

Peeled off the Menards stickers from the box and MEK on a rag removed the Menards logos from the cab (MEK did fog the windshield though...) And I like it much better now.
Title: Re: Cheap Panel Truck (USA)
Post by: vodkafan on November 21, 2022, 11:06:01 PM
That is a great wargaming find! Well done!
Title: Re: Cheap Panel Truck (USA)
Post by: has.been on November 22, 2022, 06:48:05 AM
Wrong side of the pond for me, but a good find there.
Title: Re: Cheap Panel Truck (USA)
Post by: AKULA on November 22, 2022, 09:31:28 PM
A good find

 8)
Title: Re: Cheap Panel Truck (USA)
Post by: FifteensAway on November 23, 2022, 04:34:36 AM
Nice truck.  But MEK?  That shit is seriously dangerous to work with.
Title: Re: Cheap Panel Truck (USA)
Post by: eilif on November 23, 2022, 08:58:20 PM
Nice truck.  But MEK?  That shit is seriously dangerous to work with.
Thanks.
MEK is strong stuff and should be used with proper protections, but it's not quite the villain that some folks think.  If you've used Plastruct Plastic Weld, you've used MEK.  I've been using MEK to refill my Plastic Weld bottles for years and for stripping metal models.
Title: Re: Cheap Panel Truck (USA)
Post by: CapnJim on November 29, 2022, 12:38:01 AM
Interesting. I may have to head off to Menards...
Title: Re: Cheap Panel Truck (USA)
Post by: eilif on December 02, 2022, 06:13:38 PM
Another $5 Menards deal! This time a Ford Transit Panel van.

Interestingly, this one has a rather thin coat of orange (probably to save $) but it works out for the best.  The finish isn't so glossy and unsurprisingly doesn't fill in the grooves, leading to nice darker panel lines.  A couple of ford logos and some pretty good details make this nicer than you'd expect for $5.  I miss the more interesting $3 vehicles they used to sell, but I'd happily buy more of these $5 vehicles if they were as nice as this.

5 other versions are available. No ubiquitous "White van" unfortunately but between blue and orange, there's nice options for undercover operations and the rescue versions would be good scene setting for any modern crisis scenario.


Surprised they didn't do a straight passenger version as all they'd have to do would be darken the "window" panel areas like the do on the fire version.  No worries though as I have a passenger version with actual windows from "Caipo" (available cheaply on Ali express for international buyers) which is quite well done.   For non-USA folks, the Menards option may be hard to come by, but here's a link to the Caipo passenger version which also comes in a police version as well.  It's listed as 1/42 on the box, but is much closer to 1/52 on the sale title.
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2255800163617242.html?
Title: Re: More Cheap Trucks! (not just USA...)
Post by: syrinx0 on December 03, 2022, 05:43:46 AM
Nice trucks.   Have you bought MEK lately?  Last time I looked ACE, Lowes and Home Depot didn't carry it.  Of course I didn't visit a Menards which you seem to...
Title: Re: More Cheap Trucks! (not just USA...)
Post by: eilif on December 04, 2022, 05:34:00 AM
It has been a while since I bought MEK (auto correct just tried to inserts "Meth"...) and it was at Menards that I bought a tin a few years ago. I recall they had an impressive selection of solvents,  I'll check next time I'm there. 
Title: Re: More Cheap Trucks! (not just USA...)
Post by: Daeothar on December 08, 2022, 08:49:47 AM
Nice ones. I've been looking for ubiquitous transport/delivery vans for a bit now, and none seem to pop up here. I suppose they're too bland, but they're such a big part of the trafficscape (is that even a word?) over here, I really think I need a couple.

Do you have any pics of a miniature next to the Caipo one?

+++EDIT+++ I just did the maths (because I'm like that), and that type of Ford transit is 5531mm in real life, and the AliExpress site states the model to be 112mm long. This comes down to a scale of 1:49  :D
Title: Re: More Cheap Trucks! (not just USA...)
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on December 08, 2022, 06:26:32 PM
Depends on what you are after.
Crooked Dice have a Transit van.
(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oIy8znNVWAY/XGW_0wrnDJI/AAAAAAAAE0Y/uIrU1Bt1vs01r7BFL0awg4mIjJjqAevQQCLcBGAs/s1600/qfo1-5.png)

And a large truck (Tortuga)
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-maW7ocpg93A/YQ_cLt9ulDI/AAAAAAAAILE/jpaREFZz2sAnUKrYJ4TIPDmhLmbcPp52ACLcBGAsYHQ/s500/q017-18.png)

They also have a US style van.
(https://crooked-dice.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Soldier-of-Fortune-Van.jpg)
And a Box Van (though that looks a bit small).
(https://crooked-dice.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Box-Van-NEW.jpg)

Title: Re: More Cheap Trucks! (not just USA...)
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on December 08, 2022, 06:30:25 PM
Rather a long while ago I bought this from QD for £3.
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zGHxs34JnOY/TbWiF5nQ-NI/AAAAAAAAABM/vqty9B-iTIE/s1600/jcbtruck.png)
It is a JCB branded 'Site Truck', 1/60 scale. The cab is die cast, with interior detail in white plastic (right hand drive). The chassis and tilting back are plastic, the tyres are a rubbery plastic. The cab appears to be held in place by two screws, which should assist in repainting.

The photograph above shows two Copplestone Guards in Berets about to slap a parking ticket on it for parking across the loading area.
Title: Re: More Cheap Trucks! (not just USA...)
Post by: Daeothar on December 08, 2022, 07:27:52 PM
Depends on what you are after.

In this case, vehicles commonly seen on EU roads anno 2022...
Title: Re: More Cheap Trucks! (not just USA...)
Post by: eilif on December 09, 2022, 04:12:28 AM
Nice ones. I've been looking for ubiquitous transport/delivery vans for a bit now, and none seem to pop up here. I suppose they're too bland, but they're such a big part of the trafficscape (is that even a word?) over here, I really think I need a couple.

Do you have any pics of a miniature next to the Caipo one?

+++EDIT+++ I just did the maths (because I'm like that), and that type of Ford transit is 5531mm in real life, and the AliExpress site states the model to be 112mm long. This comes down to a scale of 1:49  :D
Thanks!
I'll throw a couple figs next to it in a day or two.  I the CAIPO one is passenger, but can probably be made cargo by painting over the windows.

I like bland. These are most use on our Christmas O Gauge layout which is vaguely modern and needs lots of everyday cars.
Title: Re: More Cheap Trucks! (not just USA...)
Post by: eilif on December 09, 2022, 02:26:23 PM
Here's the shots with a figure and the Menards/Denver and Caipo/AliExpress Transit vans.
Not counting base, the figure is 31mm from sole of shoe to eyeline.  Though I think they may be slightly different model years I think vans really look to be the same scale and - as Deothar points out- pretty spot on the advertised 1/48 of the Menards van.

I also included a picture of a third van.  It's a Ford Transit Connect in 1/34 from Welly.  I include it because though it's a minivan and technically quite oversized, it really looks quite like the full size Transit in size.  Also, being from Welly, there's a chance it might be more available internationally.
Title: Re: More Cheap Trucks! (not just USA...)
Post by: CapnJim on December 12, 2022, 06:01:54 PM
I picked up a blue Mercedes panel van at a souvenir shop in Lisbon in August, when my wife and I were on vacation there.  Actually, that shop had a bunch of diecasts vehicles raging in scale from 1/76 to 1/43. 

I also picked up a DHL delivery van at a gas station/convenience store here in the states this fall.  Maybe I'll post pics of them (with figures to show scale) here one of these days...
Title: Re: More Cheap Trucks! (not just USA...)
Post by: eilif on December 12, 2022, 06:49:59 PM
Would be cool to see those, especially if we can identify a brand and scale.

I may have to eat my words against 1/64 trucks. Picked up some LIONEL brand Semi Trucks. Compressed all the way down to what appears to be 1/64 for use with traditional toy sized O Gauge trains, these seem to have fallen out of favor with train enthusiasts and are quite cheap on eBay. The trailer boxes can be removed and used as "containers" though that is not what they are.  Also found a 1/68 semi Tractor in my random vehicles bin.

Clearly underscale but I quite like them. Will adding them to my Christmas Lionel layout and I think they'd be great on a wargaming table because 1/48 semi trucks are HUGE.  I also discovered that the W. German bus (maybe available second hand in Europe?) I've been parking at the train station is 1/60th.

Blue Kenworth: KINSMART 1/68th
Red Semi and Trailer: 1/64-ish Lionel
M2000 Bus: 1/60 NZG Modele (vintage)
Figure: 31mm sole to eye
Title: Re: More Cheap Trucks! (not just USA...)
Post by: CapnJim on December 14, 2022, 12:20:57 AM
Would be cool to see those, especially if we can identify a brand and scale.

Here you go.

The blue Mercedes Panel Van measures out to 1/51 scale.  Welly made it.  Cost me $7.

The DHL Mercedes Panel Van is by Kinsmart, and is labelled as (and measures out to) 1/48 scale.  Cost me $6, IIRC.

Just for kicks, I've added a 1940s bus I got at a toy show last year near Toledo, OH, US.  Cost me $5.  It's 1/64, and is by Superior Diecast.

The figure is a 28mm Spectre Miniatures scenario figure.  He measures 29mm, sole to eye.

The 2 Mercedes look good, but the bus is a tad small.  But I think it'll work well enough.
Title: Re: More Cheap Trucks! (not just USA...)
Post by: eilif on December 14, 2022, 04:11:32 AM
Those look great. Thanks so much for the pics! The Bus is small as you say, but a very cool vehicle.  In fact it's probably almost ideal for wargaming. A properly scaled bus takes up alot of real estate.

I think I have the UPS version of the DHL van en route to me now. The DHL, UPS and plain white Sprinter Vans in 1/48 are on Amazon now for between 7 and 9 bucks.
Title: Re: More Cheap Trucks! (not just USA...)
Post by: Daeothar on December 14, 2022, 07:25:31 AM
...The DHL, UPS and plain white Sprinter Vans in 1/48 are on Amazon now for between 7 and 9 bucks.

Cheers; I'll check those out then. They look to be just perfect  8)
Title: Re: More Cheap Trucks! (not just USA...)
Post by: iDreamofMinis on December 14, 2022, 01:25:31 PM
Those Menard's Denver Die Cast vehicles work really well.  I have a table full of them! 
Title: Re: More Cheap Trucks! (not just USA...)
Post by: eilif on December 14, 2022, 02:19:30 PM
Cheers; I'll check those out then. They look to be just perfect  8)
You're very welcome!

For any who are interested, plug "Kinsmart sprinter" into Amazon and there's a bunch of Kinsmart 1/48 sprinter options that pop up including DHL, UPS, and 4 different solid colors of the same high-roof cargo version.  I'm tempted by the 4 solid colors for $25 deal, but I think I have enough vans now.
Title: Re: More Cheap Trucks! (not just USA...)
Post by: Daeothar on December 14, 2022, 03:20:00 PM
I did just that and nabbed me two white ones and a DHL one. Dutch streets are rife with both, so this should really help fill those streets with contemporary wheels 8)
Title: Re: More Cheap Trucks! (not just USA...)
Post by: eilif on December 14, 2022, 08:16:09 PM
I did just that and nabbed me two white ones and a DHL one. Dutch streets are rife with both, so this should really help fill those streets with contemporary wheels 8)
Glad to hear it!  I had a suspicion that since they're made by Kinsmart they might be available internationally.