First-time contributor E. Oswald Strohmei built this GMC Tilt Cab truck tractor with chemical tank trailer that was inspired by the old TV serial, CHiPs, where two similar trucks which played roles. This was a very early project and one of Oswald's first attempts to use Matchbox components for an HO model. It's a least 25 years ago that it was completed with a slightly modified GMC cab from Matchbox on a shortened Wiking chassis. The tanker trailer is completely scratchbuilt. Appropriate decals were not available, so he took a Kibri decal of German crane carrier "FRANKE" and cut off the first and last letters to get a fictitious company named "RANK". Oswald says he wouldn't build this model the same way today, but he still likes it very much. The parked passenger cars are from Heljan, CMW, and Brekina.

The background photo are from an at least 50 year old book, which Oswald bought in a heavily damaged condition to cut out some of the pictures. Because of it's bad condition the only details are that it's title was "USA - Europa sieht Amerika" (USA - Europe looks at America) and that the pictures were taken by a photographer named Bernhard Moosbrugger.

Posted June 9, 2012